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Blackstone Tops Q1 Forecasts as Record AUM Collides With Credit Weakness

The firm is leaning into AI-linked data centers to power growth.

Overview

  • Blackstone, which reported results Thursday, lifted distributable earnings 25% to $1.76 billion and grew assets under management to about $1.3 trillion on roughly $68.5–$69 billion of inflows.
  • The private credit unit posted zero net returns after fees, its bank loan portfolio fell 1.4%, and distributable earnings in that segment dropped about 26%.
  • BCRED, Blackstone’s non-traded retail credit fund, saw March redemption requests equal to about 7% of its $47 billion in net assets, which executives said came from a small number of large investors.
  • Shares fell roughly 4%–6% on the day as investors fixated on soft credit performance despite strong fundraising, fee growth, and higher realizations.
  • Leaders spotlighted a data center push tied to AI, citing a $150 billion portfolio, a $160 billion development pipeline, and a filing to launch Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust.