ARES
Financial ServicesAres Management Corporation · Asset Management · $41B
What is Ares Management Corporation?
Ares Management Corporation is a global alternative asset manager headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1997, the firm deploys capital across credit, private equity, and real estate strategies for institutional and retail investors worldwide.
Ares generates revenue primarily through management fees and performance-related income tied to the assets it oversees. Its business spans four main segments: tradable credit, direct lending to small-and-medium enterprises, private equity with a focus on under-capitalized companies, and real estate investing across development, repositioning, and middle-market commercial financing. The firm operates across the United States, Europe, and Asia, serving a broad mix of institutional and retail clients through commingled funds, separately managed accounts, and publicly traded vehicles.
Ares Management was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
- Tradable and non-investment-grade corporate credit funds
- Direct lending solutions for small-to-medium sized businesses
- Private equity investments in under-capitalized companies
- Real estate development and repositioning strategies
- Middle-market commercial real estate financing
Is ARES a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates ARES as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed picture across its five quality pillars.
The Growth pillar stands out as a relative bright spot, suggesting Ares has been expanding its asset base and fee-earning capacity at a pace that compares favorably within the financial services sector. The Valuation pillar also registers as Good, indicating the market price may not be stretched relative to the firm's fundamentals.
The Risk pillar is rated Weak, which is the most significant drag on the composite score — investors should weigh the leverage and fee-income volatility inherent in alternative asset management. Quality and Moat both land at Neutral, offering limited differentiation.
See the exact pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does ARES pay dividends?
Yes — Ares Management Corporation pays a dividend.
Ares Management pays a regular dividend, which is common among alternative asset managers that distribute a portion of fee-related earnings to shareholders. The dividend cadence reflects the firm's recurring management fee revenue stream. Income-focused investors should review the current yield and payout history on Ares's investor relations page, as distributions can vary with performance fee cycles.
When does ARES report earnings?
Ares Management reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed financial services companies.
Quarterly results for alternative asset managers like Ares tend to reflect movements in fee-earning assets under management, realized performance income, and deployment activity across credit and equity strategies. Revenue can be lumpy given the performance-fee component, so trends in management fees are often the steadier signal to watch.
For the most recent quarter's results and management commentary, visit Ares Management's investor relations page directly.
ARES Price History
+153.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Ares Management Corporation?
Based on Ares Management Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
ARES Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth pillar rating for ARES points to a continued expansion trajectory in assets under management, driven by ongoing institutional demand for private credit and alternative strategies. However, the Weak Risk pillar signals that this growth path carries meaningful uncertainty — fee income tied to market conditions and credit cycles can compress quickly in a risk-off environment. The Good Valuation rating suggests the current price already factors in a reasonable growth scenario, leaving limited margin for error if deployment slows.
Growth drivers
- Structural demand for private credit as banks pull back from middle-market lending
- Geographic expansion across European and Asian alternative asset markets
- Growth in retail-accessible alternative investment vehicles
Key risks
- Credit cycle deterioration reducing direct lending portfolio quality
- Performance fee volatility compressing earnings in down markets
- Elevated competition compressing management fee rates across the sector
ARES vs Peers
Ares Management operates in a competitive landscape that includes large traditional asset managers and custody banks with growing alternatives platforms.
State Street focuses primarily on institutional custody and index-based asset management, contrasting with Ares's active alternative credit and private equity orientation.
Ameriprise combines retail wealth management with asset management, whereas Ares concentrates on institutional-grade alternative strategies across credit and real assets.
Northern Trust emphasizes wealth management and asset servicing for high-net-worth clients, while Ares targets institutional capital deployment in less liquid alternative markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ares Management do?
Ares Management is an alternative asset manager that invests across credit, private equity, and real estate on behalf of institutional and retail clients. Its four main segments cover tradable credit, direct lending, private equity, and real estate strategies. The firm operates globally with a significant presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Does ARES pay dividends?
Yes, Ares Management pays a regular dividend. The distribution is funded primarily by the firm's recurring management fee income. The yield and payout schedule can shift with performance fee cycles, so investors should check the current figures on Ares's investor relations page.
When does ARES report earnings?
Ares Management reports on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed financial companies. Earnings releases typically include updates on assets under management, fee-related earnings, and deployment activity. For the exact schedule, refer to the investor relations section of the Ares Management website.
Is ARES a good stock to buy?
The UQS Score rates ARES as Below Average overall. Growth and Valuation pillars are rated Good, but the Weak Risk pillar and Neutral readings on Quality and Moat weigh on the composite. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your own risk tolerance and investment goals — view the full breakdown with a UQS Pro account.
Is ARES overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for ARES is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals within the financial services sector. That said, valuation should always be considered alongside the Risk profile, which UQS rates as Weak for Ares.
How does ARES compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like State Street, Ameriprise, and Northern Trust, Ares is more concentrated in illiquid alternative strategies — private credit, direct lending, and real estate — rather than traditional custody or retail wealth management. This gives Ares a differentiated revenue mix but also a different risk profile. The UQS platform provides side-by-side pillar comparisons for registered users.
What is ARES's market cap bracket?
Ares Management is classified as a large-cap company. This places it among the more established players in the alternative asset management space, with sufficient scale to attract large institutional mandates across its credit, private equity, and real estate platforms.
Who founded Ares Management?
Ares Management was founded in 1997. The firm's founding history and leadership background are publicly available on the Ares Management corporate website and in its SEC filings for investors who want the full founding context.
Is ARES a long-term quality investment?
From a long-term quality standpoint, the UQS composite rates ARES as Below Average, driven largely by a Weak Risk pillar. The Good Growth rating suggests the business is expanding, but sustained quality over a full market cycle depends on how the firm manages credit risk and fee-income volatility. Pro members can access the complete multi-pillar view.
What is the main competitive advantage of Ares Management?
Ares's scale across private credit and direct lending positions it to capture deal flow that smaller managers cannot access. Its multi-strategy platform — spanning credit, private equity, and real estate — allows cross-selling to large institutional clients. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Neutral, reflecting meaningful competition in the alternative asset space.
What sector does ARES belong to?
Ares Management is classified in the Financial Services sector, specifically within the alternative asset management industry. It sits alongside other fee-based asset managers but is distinguished by its focus on private markets and credit strategies rather than traditional public-market fund management.
Is ARES a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, ARES shows characteristics of both. The Growth pillar is rated Good, indicating above-average expansion in assets and revenues. The Valuation pillar is also rated Good, suggesting the price is not stretched. This combination places ARES in a middle ground — neither a deep-value play nor a high-multiple pure-growth name.
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Pro Analysis
ARES — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 53.6 | 55.0 | 48.0 | 60.8 | 38.1 | 66.6 | +0.2 |
| May 21, 2026 | 53.4 | 55.0 | 48.0 | 59.4 | 38.1 | 67.0 | 0.0 |
| May 20, 2026 | 53.4 | 55.0 | 48.0 | 59.4 | 38.1 | 67.2 | +0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 53.3 | 54.8 | 48.0 | 59.4 | 38.1 | 66.7 | +5.0 |
| May 15, 2026 | 48.3 | 54.8 | 48.0 | 59.4 | 5.8 | 65.7 | -0.2 |
| May 14, 2026 | 48.5 | 54.8 | 48.0 | 59.4 | 5.8 | 66.8 | -6.1 |
| May 13, 2026 | 54.6 | 54.7 | 48.0 | 60.7 | 42.2 | 69.8 | 0.0 |
| May 12, 2026 | 54.6 | 54.7 | 48.0 | 60.7 | 42.2 | 69.6 | +3.2 |
| May 11, 2026 | 51.4 | 42.4 | 48.0 | 60.7 | 42.2 | 69.0 | +1.4 |
| May 10, 2026 | 50.0 | 42.4 | 48.0 | 60.7 | 42.2 | 59.8 | -0.7 |
ARES — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 55.0/100 (25%)Ares Management Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 60.8/100 (20%)Ares Management Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 38.1/100 (15%)Ares Management Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 66.7/100 (15%)Ares Management Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 48/100 (25%)Ares Management Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ARES.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the ARES UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Ares Management Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Ares Management Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Ares Management Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.