Bank of America 13F: Cuts Ares Management (ARES) Stake by $41M

Bank of America Reduces Stake in Ares Management Corporation

Bank of America trimmed its investment in Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) during the period covered by its latest Form 13F filing with the SEC. The filing reflects holdings as of the reporting period and may not represent the investor's current position today. The bank sold off a portion of its holdings, adjusting its portfolio balance in the alternative asset manager.

Trimming the Ares Position

Bank of America cut its stake by 305,595 shares, which worked out to a 6.8% reduction compared to the prior period. Before the trade, the bank held 4,502,442 shares of the company. After the reduction, it wrapped up the period with 4,196,847 shares. Based on market values around the filing period, that remaining block of shares carried a value of roughly $557.4 million.

Stock Valuation and Trading Levels

Shares of Ares Management trade near the middle of their historical band, changing hands around $132.82. The company carries a forward P/E ratio of 17.6, while its trailing P/E stands at 58.1 since it logged an EPS of $2.18 over the past year. Over the last twelve months, the stock has moved between a low of $95.80 and a peak of $186.85.

Dividend and Earnings Profile

The asset manager returns cash to shareholders through an annual dividend rate of $5.40 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 4.4%. That payout is backed by a dividend payout ratio of 2.3. On the financial front, the firm generated $5.99 billion in revenue with a growth rate of 5.8%, alongside a net margin of 10.6% and a return on equity of 14.9%. Management's next financial update is slated for November 2, 2026.

Wall Street Ratings and Price Targets

Analyst opinion on the financial services firm remains largely favorable. On October 13, 2026, UBS maintained its neutral rating on the stock while lowering its price target to $134.00. Earlier, on October 12, 2026, TD Cowen kept a buy rating in place while adjusting its target to $159.00. Wells Fargo initiated coverage on October 2, 2026, with an overweight rating and a $136.00 price target, following Piper Sandler's overweight initiation at $150.00 on September 24, 2026. Oppenheimer also updated its view on August 27, 2026, keeping an outperform rating and lifting its target to $162.00. Overall, the stock carries a consensus buy recommendation from 18 analysts, with a mean price target of $147.78.

Inside the Alternative Asset Manager

Ares Management Corporation operates as an alternative asset manager based in Los Angeles, California. The firm runs several segments, including a Direct Lending Group that offers financing to small and mid-sized companies, a Private Equity Group focused on various buyout and venture strategies, and a Real Estate Group that handles property developments and commercial real estate debt. The firm typically invests in businesses with solid earnings across North America, Europe, and Asia.

What to Watch at ARES

Observers will want to monitor upcoming institutional filings to see how other large banks and investment firms manage their stakes in the asset manager. The upcoming earnings release on November 2, 2026, will provide fresh details on fee-related earnings and deployment capital.