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T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Assets reached a record level: Ending AUM rose $183.7 billion in the quarter to $1.9 trillion; the release describes the level as a record. Source
  • Net revenues rose on advisory fees: Net revenues were $1,907.4 million, up 10.7% from Q2 2025 and 2.7% from Q1 2026; investment advisory fees were $1,744.8 million, up 11.3% from Q2 2025. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $2.88 on a U.S. GAAP basis and $2.57 adjusted, against $2.24 in Q2 2025 on both bases; adjusted net operating income was $709.1 million, up 15.4%. Source
  • Equity drove the quarter's outflows: Equity net cash flows were negative $13.5 billion; fixed income added $4.6 billion, multi-asset $0.4 billion and alternatives $2.5 billion before manager-driven distributions. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses rose on quarter: GAAP operating expenses were $1,366.9 million, up 9.8% from Q2 2025 and 16.2% from Q1 2026; adjusted operating expenses were $1,203.2 million, up 4.9% from Q2 2025. Source
  • Fee rate fell on product mix: The investment advisory fee rate excluding performance fees was 38.1 basis points, down from 39.6 in Q2 2025 and 38.4 in Q1 2026. Source
  • Returned $441 million to holders: The firm returned $441 million to stockholders through the recurring quarterly dividend and stock repurchases in the quarter. Source

“We ended the quarter with a record $1.9 trillion in assets under management and positive flows in May and June reflected client demand in areas where we are investing for growth.”

Rob Sharps, chair and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Effective income tax rate SourceFull year 2026, U.S. GAAP and adjusted basis23.0% to 26.0%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The full-year 2026 tax rate range was kept at 23.0% to 26.0%, matching the first-quarter release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Assets reached a record level: Ending AUM rose $183.7 billion in the quarter to $1.9 trillion; the release describes the level as a record. Source
  • Net revenues rose on advisory fees: Net revenues were $1,907.4 million, up 10.7% from Q2 2025 and 2.7% from Q1 2026; investment advisory fees were $1,744.8 million, up 11.3% from Q2 2025. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $2.88 on a U.S. GAAP basis and $2.57 adjusted, against $2.24 in Q2 2025 on both bases; adjusted net operating income was $709.1 million, up 15.4%. Source
  • Non-operating income lifted by hedge gains: GAAP non-operating income was $369.1 million, including $133.7 million from investments that hedge deferred compensation liabilities; adjusted non-operating income was $38.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted investment gains fell: Adjusted non-operating income fell 18.3% from Q2 2025; management attributed the drop to portfolio rebalancing that left less equity exposure in discretionary investments. Source

Segments and regions

  • Equity drove the quarter's outflows: Equity net cash flows were negative $13.5 billion; fixed income added $4.6 billion, multi-asset $0.4 billion and alternatives $2.5 billion before manager-driven distributions. Source
  • Equity AUM rose on markets: Equity AUM rose $108.9 billion in the quarter to $919.4 billion, with market appreciation of $122.4 billion. Source
  • Equity advisory fees grew 9.6%: Equity investment advisory fees were $1,011.9 million, up 9.6% from Q2 2025 and 3.8% from Q1 2026; fixed income fees were $113.5 million, up 7.6%. Source
  • Multi-asset fees rose 16.1%: Multi-asset investment advisory fees were $529.5 million, up 16.1% from Q2 2025, on average multi-asset AUM of $671.2 billion, up 21.5%. Source
  • Non-U.S. investors rose to 9.1%: Investors domiciled outside the United States were 9.1% of AUM at June 30, 2026, up from 8.6% at March 31, 2026 and 8.8% at December 31, 2025. Source

“While fundamental active equity remains under pressure, I am confident that the progress we are making positions us to deliver long-term value for clients and stockholders.”

Rob Sharps, chair and CEO

Products and customers

  • Multi-asset portfolios grew: Multi-asset portfolios from the firm's advisory division, predominantly in the U.S., reached $31.1 billion, up from $27.8 billion at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Alternatives commitments held steady: Unfunded capital commitments were $21.0 billion; they are not included in fee-basis AUM, and were $20.9 billion at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Retirement administration assets rose: Assets under administration were $349 billion, of which the firm manages $192 billion; the first-quarter release reported $314 billion. Source

Operating costs and drivers

  • GAAP operating expenses rose on quarter: GAAP operating expenses were $1,366.9 million, up 9.8% from Q2 2025 and 16.2% from Q1 2026; adjusted operating expenses were $1,203.2 million, up 4.9% from Q2 2025. Source
  • Deferred compensation charge rose: The market-related change in deferred compensation liabilities was $126.5 million, up from $66.3 million a year earlier; the adjusted measures remove it along with related hedge gains. Source
  • Restructuring charge of $6.7 million: The restructuring charge of $6.7 million, primarily severance, relates to the expense management program announced earlier. Source
  • Distribution costs rose with assets: Distribution and servicing costs were $106.1 million, up $13.6 million from Q2 2025, on higher assets distributed through third-party intermediaries. Source

Margins, pricing and tax

  • Fee rate fell on product mix: The investment advisory fee rate excluding performance fees was 38.1 basis points, down from 39.6 in Q2 2025 and 38.4 in Q1 2026. Source
  • Performance fees mostly from alternatives: Performance-based advisory fees were $6.5 million, against $6.4 million in Q2 2025; they were primarily in alternatives strategies. Source
  • Carried interest income dropped sharply: Capital allocation-based income was $11.9 million, down from $28.1 million in Q1 2026, after a $15.2 million change in accrued carried interest and $3.3 million of acquisition-related amortization. Source
  • Six-month tax rates reported: The six-month effective tax rate was 23.5% on a U.S. GAAP basis and 24.1% adjusted, compared with 23.1% and 24.0% a year earlier. Source

Demand and net flows

  • Market gains outweighed outflows: Net cash flows were negative $6.5 billion in Q2 2026, while net market appreciation and income added $190.2 billion. Source
  • First-quarter outflows were larger: In Q1 2026 net cash flows were negative $13.7 billion, with net market depreciation and income of $52.2 billion negative.
  • Six-month outflows before distributions: For the six months, net cash flows before manager-driven distributions were negative $18.8 billion, with equity at negative $36.1 billion. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Returned $441 million to holders: The firm returned $441 million to stockholders through the recurring quarterly dividend and stock repurchases in the quarter. Source
  • Share count declined in six months: Common shares outstanding were 213.3 million at June 30, 2026, down from 218.6 million at December 31, 2025, and 214.9 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow reported: Operating cash flow attributable to the firm was $1,765.0 million for the six months, against investing outflow of $822.5 million and financing outflow of $1,086.4 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined, investments rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,234.3 million at June 30, 2026, versus $3,378.2 million at December 31, 2025, while investments rose to $4,090.2 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • ETF and SMA expansion continues: Management said it continues to expand its ETF and SMA business and advance its strategic partnerships. Source
  • Technology costs tied to outsourcing: Technology, occupancy and facility costs were $205.9 million, up $10.9 million from Q2 2025, on higher technology costs and the prior-year decision to outsource certain capabilities. Source
  • Administrative fees affected by reporting change: Administrative, distribution, servicing and other fees were $144.2 million, down $5.5 million from Q2 2025, reflecting a Q3 2025 change that moved some revenue into advisory fees. Source

People and leadership

  • Associate headcount down year over year: The firm employed 7,544 associates at June 30, 2026, down 6.4% from June 30, 2025 and up 0.5% from March 31, 2026. Source
  • Three executives named for webcast: Rob Sharps, Jen Dardis and Eric Veiel were named to present the webcast; the first-quarter webcast also included OHA's Glenn August on alternatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Form 10-Q filing the same day: The firm expected to file its Form 10-Q for Q2 2026 with the SEC later on July 31, 2026, with further unaudited detail at June 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ending assets under management Source$1,893.4 billion
Average assets under management Source$1,837.7 billion
Net client outflows Source$6.5 billion
Equity AUM Source$919.4 billion
Fixed income AUM Source$222.3 billion
Multi-asset AUM Source$690.0 billion
Alternatives AUM Source$61.7 billion
Investment advisory fee rate excluding performance fees Source38.1 basis points
Assets under administration Source$349 billion
Associates Source7,544

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said fundamental active equity remains under pressure. Source
  • Demand: Client flows and transfers shifted assets toward lower-fee products, reducing the fee rate excluding performance fees. Source
  • Financial: Deferred compensation liability changes move compensation costs with markets; the charge was $126.5 million this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The Q2 restructuring charge relates to actions under the previously announced expense program, which management says will reduce expense growth. Source
  • Not stated: Technology cost growth was attributed in part to the firm's decision in the prior year to outsource certain technology capabilities. 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.