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Acadian Asset Management Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Management fees rose 38%: Management fees rose 38% to $187.8 million on higher average AUM, driven by market appreciation and positive net client cash flows. Source
  • Net income and EPS more than doubled: Net income attributable to controlling interests was $35.5 million, up 135%; diluted EPS was $1.00, up 138%. Non-cash revaluation charges on Acadian LLC equity partly offset the gain. Source
  • ENI EPS reached a record: Economic net income was $48.3 million, up 78%; ENI diluted EPS was a record $1.36, up 79%, on revenue growth and margin expansion. Source
  • Net client inflows of $2.6 billion: Net client cash flows were $2.6 billion, 4% annualized organic growth, led by Enhanced and Extension equity; down from $4.3 billion in Q2'26. Year-to-date net inflows were $28.3 billion. Source
  • AUM hit another record high: AUM ended at $239.6 billion, up 44% from a year earlier and from $232.7 billion at June 30, 2026; market appreciation added $4.3 billion. Source
  • 96% of strategies outperformed benchmarks: 96% of strategies by revenue outperformed their benchmarks over the prior 3-, 5- and 10-year periods, unchanged from the June 30, 2026 figure. Source
  • ENI operating margin up 9.4 points: ENI operating margin was 42.6%, up 9.4 points from 33.2%, driven by higher recurring management fees. Source

“Our success reflects deep research expertise, an innovative culture and a technology-driven investment process.”

Kelly Young, Acadian Asset Management Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Variable compensation ratio SourceFull-year 202634%-38%Lowered from 38%-42%
Acadian LLC key employee distribution ratio Source2026 full-year12%-14%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: The full-year 2026 variable compensation ratio range moved down to 34%-38% from 38%-42%. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 2026 full-year distribution ratio range of 12% to 14% was restated without change. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Management fees rose 38%: Management fees rose 38% to $187.8 million on higher average AUM, driven by market appreciation and positive net client cash flows. Source
  • Total revenue rose 32.6%: Total revenue was $191.2 million, up 32.6%, on higher average AUM. Source
  • Net income and EPS more than doubled: Net income attributable to controlling interests was $35.5 million, up 135%; diluted EPS was $1.00, up 138%. Non-cash revaluation charges on Acadian LLC equity partly offset the gain. Source
  • ENI EPS reached a record: Economic net income was $48.3 million, up 78%; ENI diluted EPS was a record $1.36, up 79%, on revenue growth and margin expansion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 67%: Adjusted EBITDA was $75.1 million, up 67% from $45.1 million a year earlier, primarily from higher recurring management fees. Source

Client flows and assets under management

  • Net client inflows of $2.6 billion: Net client cash flows were $2.6 billion, 4% annualized organic growth, led by Enhanced and Extension equity; down from $4.3 billion in Q2'26. Year-to-date net inflows were $28.3 billion. Source
  • AUM hit another record high: AUM ended at $239.6 billion, up 44% from a year earlier and from $232.7 billion at June 30, 2026; market appreciation added $4.3 billion. Source
  • Gross inflows and outflows both lower: Gross inflows were $11.1 billion against $14.5 billion in Q2'26; gross outflows were $10.0 billion against $11.5 billion. Source

“Our strong cash generation continues to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our financial flexibility, positioning us to invest in future growth while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital management and shareholder returns.”

Kelly Young, Acadian Asset Management Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Segments, strategies and regions

  • Quant & Solutions segment ENI rose: Quant & Solutions segment ENI was $73.6 million, up from $44.2 million in Q3'25. Source
  • Enhanced Equity is largest strategy: Enhanced Equity AUM was $75.1 billion, 31.3% of the total, up from $71.6 billion at June 30; Non-U.S. Equity was $49.1 billion, 20.5%. Source
  • U.S. clients hold 51% of AUM: U.S. client-location AUM was $122.3 billion, 51.0% of the total, up from $117.3 billion; EMEA was $64.4 billion, 26.9%. Source

Investment performance track record

  • 96% of strategies outperformed benchmarks: 96% of strategies by revenue outperformed their benchmarks over the prior 3-, 5- and 10-year periods, unchanged from the June 30, 2026 figure. Source
  • 95% of revenue outperforming on 1-year: 95% of revenue was outperforming benchmarks on a 1-year basis, up from 77% at June 30, 2026 and 73% a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • ENI operating margin up 9.4 points: ENI operating margin was 42.6%, up 9.4 points from 33.2%, driven by higher recurring management fees. Source
  • ENI operating expenses rose 18%: ENI operating expenses rose 18% to $69.7 million, on higher G&A, technology and infrastructure investment, AUM-driven servicing and compensation. Source
  • Operating expense ratio fell to 37.1%: The ENI operating expense ratio fell 6.2 points to 37.1% of management fees, reflecting operating leverage. Source
  • Variable compensation rose 21%: Variable compensation rose 21% year over year, primarily on higher profit before variable compensation. Source
  • Variable compensation ratio fell to 32.6%: The variable compensation ratio was 32.6%, down from 41.5% a year earlier and 37.5% in Q2'26. Source
  • Management fee rate fell to 32 bps: The ENI management fee rate was 32 basis points in Q3'26, against 35 in Q3'25 and 32 in Q2'26. Source

Acadian LLC distributions and tax

  • Distribution ratio rose to 14.2%: The Acadian LLC key employee distribution ratio rose to 14.2% from 11.5%, on management fee profit above contractual thresholds. Source
  • Income tax expense rose 94.6%: Income tax expense was $14.4 million, up 94.6%, mainly on higher pre-tax income attributable to controlling interests. Source
  • Performance fees fell from Q2: Performance fees were $1.3 million, down from $6.7 million in Q2'26 and up from $0.2 million a year earlier. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • No share repurchases in Q3: No shares were repurchased in Q3'26. Management expects continued free cash flow to support organic growth and balance sheet flexibility. Source
  • Cash and seed investments reported: Cash and cash equivalents were $150.0 million and seed investments $112.6 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Leverage ratios declined: The leverage ratio declined to 0.7x and the net leverage ratio to 0.2x, reflecting earnings growth and cash generation. Source
  • $1.5 billion returned since 2019: Since the end of 2019 the company has returned $1.5 billion of excess capital through dividends and share repurchases, cutting diluted shares 59%. Source

Strategy, distribution and anniversary

  • Capability expansion cited: Management cited expanding capabilities in Enhanced Equity, Extensions, Systematic Credit and Tax-Aware investing as support for future growth. Source
  • Growth via distribution and products: Management said the company is positioned to continue growth through targeted distribution initiatives and new product offerings. Source
  • 40th anniversary year: The company is marking its 40th anniversary and describes itself as a leading systematic investment manager. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • Dividend payable December 23: Quarterly interim dividend of $0.10 per share, payable December 23, 2026 to holders of record at December 11, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
AUM, end of period Source$239.6 billion
Average AUM Source$236.4 billion
Net client cash flows Source$2.6 billion
Annualized organic growth Source4%
ENI management fee rate Source32 bps

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Client rebalancing drove the majority of outflows in the quarter, while Enhanced and Extension equity led gross inflows. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.