V Square Quantitative Management LLC Acquires Shares of 2,776 BlackRock $BLK

Key Points

• V Square Quantitative Management LLC opened a new position in BlackRock (NYSE:BLK), buying 2,776 shares in Q4 valued at roughly $2.97 million.
• BlackRock recently beat quarterly estimates (EPS $13.16 vs. $12.55), raised its quarterly dividend to $5.73 (≈2.3% yield), and holds an analyst consensus of “Moderate Buy” with an average target around $1,269.
• But the firm faces material headwinds — heavy outflows (including over $20B in crypto valuation declines and India ETF withdrawals), executive caution that estimates may be too optimistic, multiple price‑target cuts, and an investor‑protection probe.

V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in BlackRock (NYSE:BLK - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 2,776 shares of the asset manager's stock, valued at approximately $2,971,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its position in BlackRock by 450.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 22 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of BlackRock by 1,000.0% in the 3rd quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 22 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 866.7% in the 3rd quarter. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. now owns 29 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the period. Collier Financial bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Goodman Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in BlackRock in the third quarter worth $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.69% of the company's stock.

BlackRock News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting BlackRock this week:

• Positive Sentiment: BlackRock appears to be weathering the private‑credit stress better than peers, supported by a large, stable index/ETF franchise that is cushioning fund performance and valuation. Why BlackRock Is Weathering the Private Credit Storm Better Than Peers
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst consensus remains constructive: recent surveys show an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy,” and some analysts have revised forecasts ahead of the earnings call expecting stronger Q1 results. BlackRock NYSE: BLK Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: BlackRock filed to launch an iShares Nasdaq‑100 ETF (IQQ), challenging Invesco’s QQQ — a potential AUM growth opportunity if iShares captures flows, given investor sensitivity to fees and product breadth. BLK & STT Enter Nasdaq 100 Index ETFs, Challenge Invesco QQQ Fund
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts have revised Q1 forecasts upward ahead of the earnings release, indicating expectations for higher near‑term earnings. BlackRock Likely To Report Higher Q1 Earnings; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call
• Neutral Sentiment: The SEC’s approval of dual‑class fund structures and BlackRock’s related filings may change product wrappers (mutual fund + ETF classes); structural but not immediately earnings‑material. BlackRock Moves On Dual Class Funds And Nasdaq 100 ETF Competition
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces highlight three stocks BlackRock is backing for long‑term gains — useful for sentiment but not directly material to BLK’s own fundamentals. 3 Stocks BlackRock Is Betting On for Long-Term Gains
• Neutral Sentiment: State Street’s immediate follow‑up filing shows competition for Nasdaq‑100 ETF flows — confirms the market opportunity but also signals a potential fees/market‑share fight. State Street Follows BlackRock With Filing to Challenge Invesco’s QQQ
• Neutral Sentiment: Regulatory/ownership filings: BlackRock disclosed stakes and also ceased being a substantial holder in an Australia listing — routine moves that generally have limited market impact. BlackRock Ceases to Be Substantial Holder in Technology One
• Negative Sentiment: BlackRock executives (Helen Jewell) warned that earnings estimates are overly optimistic due to inflationary fallout from the Middle East conflict — a caution that can pressure consensus and share multiples. BlackRock’s Jewell Says Earnings Estimates Are Overly Optimistic
• Negative Sentiment: Large outflows: BlackRock saw heavy withdrawals from its India ETF amid geopolitical/energy concerns, and reported over $20B of crypto portfolio valuation declines in Q1 — both are direct flow and AUM headwinds. Billions Flow Out of BlackRock’s India ETF as Iran War Escalates BlackRock sees over $20 billion in cryptocurrency outflows in Q1 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple firms trimmed BlackRock price targets (Barclays, Jefferies, KBW, Goldman among others) — even with constructive ratings, lower PTs can sap near‑term momentum. Barclays adjusts price target on BlackRock
• Negative Sentiment: An investor‑protection firm announced an investigation into BlackRock, adding legal/PR overhang risk (likely limited unless claims escalate). Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of BlackRock, Inc. - BLK

BlackRock Stock Up 4.5%

NYSE BLK opened at $1,001.44 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 2.98, a quick ratio of 2.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. BlackRock has a 12 month low of $799.15 and a 12 month high of $1,219.94. The stock's 50 day moving average is $1,020.84 and its 200 day moving average is $1,072.88. The stock has a market cap of $155.76 billion, a PE ratio of 28.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.48.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The asset manager reported $13.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $12.55 by $0.61. The firm had revenue of $7.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.80 billion. BlackRock had a net margin of 22.93% and a return on equity of 14.78%. BlackRock's revenue for the quarter was up 23.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $11.93 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that BlackRock will post 47.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th were issued a dividend of $5.73 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 6th. This represents a $22.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from BlackRock's previous quarterly dividend of $5.21. BlackRock's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.71%.

Insider Transactions at BlackRock

In related news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 385 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,084.91, for a total value of $417,690.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 3,335 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,618,174.85. This trade represents a 10.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Stephen Cohen sold 225 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,069.56, for a total transaction of $240,651.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 5,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,054,779.16. The trade was a 3.82% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 111,319 shares of company stock worth $123,999,249. 1.98% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,340.00 to $1,150.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of BlackRock from $1,550.00 to $1,368.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. Freedom Capital raised shares of BlackRock from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,300.00 to $1,250.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised BlackRock from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, January 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, BlackRock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,269.11.

About BlackRock

BlackRock, Inc is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of products and services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors. Its core activities include portfolio management across active and index strategies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the iShares brand, fixed income, equity and multi-asset solutions, as well as alternatives such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also offers cash management and liquidity solutions and retirement-focused products designed for defined contribution and defined benefit investors.

In addition to traditional investment management, BlackRock is known for its technology and risk management capabilities, most prominently its Aladdin platform, which combines portfolio management, trading and risk analytics and is used both internally and licensed to external clients.

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