BlackRock reported a higher first-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven in part by robust inflows into its exchange traded funds. Investors have shown interest in the firm’s active ETFs, which have been positioned as low-cost options to take advantage of market dispersion even as macroeconomic pressures tied to global geopolitics placed strain on the wider market.
The world’s largest asset manager said its total assets under management reached $13.89 trillion for the quarter, up from $11.58 trillion in the same period a year earlier. Management noted that strong inflows helped the firm offset the effects of a falling market on overall asset levels.
For the three months ended March 31, BlackRock reported net income of $2.21 billion, or $14.06 per share. That compares with net income of $1.51 billion, or $9.64 per share, in the prior-year quarter.
Despite the profit gain and rising AUM, BlackRock’s shares have declined 4.4% so far in 2026, an underperformance relative to its smaller peer State Street. The S&P 500 index fell 4.6% in the first quarter, a backdrop that the firm’s performance and investor flows navigated during the period. In premarket trading following the results, BlackRock shares were up 2.42%.
The company’s active ETFs have drawn investors focused on capturing dispersion across markets while using products marketed for their relatively low cost. The report emphasized that inflows to BlackRock’s ETF offerings were a central factor in the resilience of its AUM during a period when market values were pressured downward.
Separately, the release included a reference to valuation tools available to investors seeking to assess the stock. One such tool discussed is a Fair Value calculator that uses a mix of 17 industry valuation models to generate assessments for stocks, including BlackRock.
Quick facts
- First-quarter net profit: $2.21 billion, or $14.06 per share (three months ended March 31).
- Prior-year quarter net profit: $1.51 billion, or $9.64 per share.
- Total AUM: $13.89 trillion versus $11.58 trillion a year earlier.
- Share performance in 2026: down 4.4% year-to-date; S&P 500 fell 4.6% in Q1; shares were up 2.42% in premarket trading on the report.