KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) Announces Earnings Results

Key Points

• KKR beat Q1 expectations with EPS $1.39 (vs. $1.28 est.) and revenue $2.35B (vs. $2.18B est.), as revenue rose about 39% year‑over‑year and fee-related earnings and adjusted net income showed strong double‑digit gains.
• Fundraising and realizations were robust — roughly $28B raised in Q1 and ~$127B over the trailing 12 months, elevated monetizations (~$880M in Q1, $720M realized carry) and total embedded gains of $18.3B, signaling sizable realizable portfolio value.
• Management now sees 2026 adjusted net income likely below the prior $7+ per‑share target due to market volatility and timing/exit delays, even as KKR boosts capital returns ( $317M buybacks YTD, $500M repurchase authorization), closed the Arctos acquisition (~$16B AUM) and insiders materially purchased stock.

KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR - Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The asset manager reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.11, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $2.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.18 billion. KKR & Co. Inc. had a net margin of 11.97% and a return on equity of 5.57%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 38.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from KKR & Co. Inc.'s conference call:

• KKR reported a strong quarter with FRE $1.13 (+23% YoY), Total Operating Earnings $1.47 (+18% YoY) and Adjusted Net Income $1.39 (+20% YoY), marking some of the highest results in firm history.
• Fundraising momentum stayed robust — $28 billion raised in Q1 and ~$127 billion over the trailing 12 months, with diversified inflows across private equity, real assets and credit; closed North America Fund XIV at $23 billion and K‑Series AUM surpassed $38 billion.
• Monetizations were elevated (~$880 million in Q1, including $720 million of realized carry) with forward monetizations >$1.2 billion and total embedded gains of $18.3 billion, indicating substantial realizable value in the portfolio.
• Management now says 2026 Adjusted Net Income is more likely to fall below the prior $7+ per‑share target due to market volatility and timing/exit delays, although they expect delayed monetizations to shift into 2027 rather than be lost.
• Capital allocation actions include $317 million of buybacks YTD, a $500 million repurchase authorization, insider purchases, and the closing of the Arctos acquisition (≈$16 billion AUM, ~$10 billion fee‑paying AUM) to expand the franchise.

KKR & Co. Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of KKR & Co. Inc. stock traded down $2.32 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $101.01. 2,307,723 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,881,438. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.85. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $94.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $112.13. KKR & Co. Inc. has a 1-year low of $82.67 and a 1-year high of $153.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

KKR & Co. Inc. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $0.185 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. KKR & Co. Inc.'s payout ratio is currently 31.62%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Timothy R. Barakett acquired 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $94.47 per share, for a total transaction of $4,723,500.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 285,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $26,923,950. This trade represents a 21.28% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Scott C. Nuttall acquired 125,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $102.66 per share, for a total transaction of $12,832,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 15,503,748 shares in the company, valued at $1,591,614,769.68. The trade was a 0.81% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have purchased 393,872 shares of company stock valued at $40,090,679 over the last quarter. 23.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of KKR. Viking Global Investors LP bought a new stake in KKR & Co. Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $352,038,000. Farallon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. during the 4th quarter worth approximately $257,216,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. by 41.7% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,401,951 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $561,161,000 after acquiring an additional 1,295,099 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. by 39.4% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,253,775 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $287,311,000 after acquiring an additional 637,472 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia increased its position in KKR & Co. Inc. by 408.4% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 584,111 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $74,464,000 after acquiring an additional 469,229 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. HSBC raised shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $144.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $187.00 to $140.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $137.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $168.00 to $125.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $137.20.

Trending Headlines about KKR & Co. Inc.

Here are the key news stories impacting KKR & Co. Inc. this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations — EPS $1.39 vs. $1.28 estimate and revenue $2.35B vs. $2.18B; revenue rose ~39% YoY, signaling stronger fee/income generation. KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Monetization and deal exits accelerated in the quarter, helping earnings beat consensus and driving realized gains. KKR Q1 earnings beat consensus as monetization activity revives
• Positive Sentiment: Insurance business strength: insurance revenue more than doubled, helping KKR swing to a quarterly profit. This diversification is boosting recurring revenue streams. KKR Swings to a Profit as Revenue Climbs on Insurance Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic M&A and exits: KKR closed the acquisition of Arctos Partners (expands sports-franchise investing) and agreed to sell portfolio company Axius Water — both moves support growth and realized returns. KKR Closes Acquisition of Arctos Partners
• Positive Sentiment: Continued investments: KKR led a $125M Series C for Reserv (AI-driven insurance claims), showing active deployment into growth and insurance-adjacent tech. Reserv Announces $125 Million Series C Financing Led by KKR
• Positive Sentiment: Management tone: CFO Rob Lewin reiterated that private credit remains a "compelling" asset class, signaling continued focus on a high-fee, higher-growth area. KKR CFO Sees 'Compelling' Case for Private Credit
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/strategy pieces note KKR's potential for double-digit earnings growth over the medium term, but these are forward-looking perspectives rather than immediate catalysts. KKR Round Two: Poised To Grow Earnings At A Double-Digit Rate
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction: despite the beats and active monetizations, shares are trading lower today — likely reflecting profit-taking, broader market moves, or investor focus on valuation metrics (KKR's elevated P/E and below-200d SMA). No single negative company announcement explains the drop.

KKR & Co. Inc. Company Profile

KKR & Co Inc is a global investment firm headquartered in New York City that specializes in private markets and alternative asset management. Founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg Jr., Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, the firm built its reputation in leveraged buyouts and has since expanded into a multi-strategy asset manager. KKR operates across private equity, credit, real assets (including real estate and infrastructure), growth equity and hedge fund strategies, offering a range of investment products and strategies for institutional and private investors.

KKR manages capital through traditional closed-end funds as well as customized vehicles such as separate accounts, co-investments, and listed investment vehicles.

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