Key actions by Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank has revised its recommendation on Man Group plc, lowering the stock from a "buy" rating to "hold" and raising its price target to 310 pence from 295 pence, the bank said in a research note. The move reflects the view that the share price has largely caught up with the company’s current positioning and outlook.
Performance review cited by the bank
Analyst David McCann at Deutsche Bank highlighted Man Group’s total shareholder return (TSR) of 16% for 2025, characterizing the year as volatile but ultimately positive. According to McCann, the firm saw returns fall 17% in the first half of 2025 before recovering with a 39% gain in the second half. Over the full year, Man Group’s TSR contrasted with a 24% increase for the FTSE All-Share index.
McCann also noted that the stock has "strongly continued" its momentum into 2026, with a year-to-date TSR of 34%, compared with a 7% gain for the FTSE All-Share index.
Drivers highlighted
The bank attributed the recent share performance primarily to a recovery in fund performance across most of Man Group’s flagship funds during the second half of 2025. That improvement, McCann said, carried into early 2026 and has "largely held ground" since. He suggested this could point to a healthier outlook for net flows and an improved prospect for performance fees, while cautioning both remain "fragile and volatile."
Capital return and shareholder authorizations
Separately, Man Group announced a share buyback programme of up to $50 million, running from May 12 to May 11, 2027, with Barclays Bank appointed to execute the repurchases. The company noted the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased is 115,151,767, an amount authorized by shareholders at its 2026 annual general meeting.
Recent asset and flow figures
For the first quarter, Man Group reported assets under management (AUM) of $228.7 billion, which was below analyst expectations of $231.3 billion. The company recorded net outflows of $1.6 billion in the quarter, versus consensus forecasts that had anticipated net inflows of $1.8 billion.
Summary analysis
Deutsche Bank’s downgrade to "hold" accompanies an upward revision in the price objective and reflects a view that recent share gains have already incorporated much of the positive news on fund performance and potential fee upside. The bank’s commentary emphasizes improved performance as a constructive factor for flows and fees, but it also highlights ongoing fragility and volatility in those areas.
Contextual note
The information in this report is drawn from the bank’s research note and the company’s recent announcements and reported figures. The assessment focuses on observable outcomes: past returns, recent fund performance trends, the buyback programme and the latest AUM and flow data.