Federated Hermes Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

Federated Hermes ended Q2 with a record $912 billion in assets under management (AUM), driven by market appreciation and growth in equities and private markets. Equity assets reached a record $110 billion, while private-market assets rose $2.6 billion to $21.6 billion following the FCP acquisition. MDT equity and market-neutral strategies generated more than $3.5 billion in net sales, while fixed-income funds and SMAs recorded $362 million of third-quarter-to-date net sales. The company also had approximately $3.4 billion in institutional wins awaiting funding. Total money-market assets declined $7.9 billion sequentially, though fund assets remained 7% above the prior year. Federated Hermes launched a digital Treasury fund and is developing an on-chain share class for institutional and stablecoin-related distribution.

Federated Hermes NYSE: FHI ended the second quarter with record assets under management of $912 billion, supported by growth in equities and private markets, while money market assets declined modestly from the prior quarter, executives said during the company’s analyst call. President and CEO Chris Donahue said equity assets reached a record $110 billion at quarter-end, rising $8.8 billion, or 9%, from the first quarter, primarily reflecting market appreciation. Gross equity sales totaled $9.1 billion, near the prior quarter’s record level, while net redemptions were $1.1 billion. That figure included an expected $3 billion global equity sub-advisory redemption previously discussed by the company.

Equity sales were led by Federated Hermes’ MDT fundamental quantitative strategies. MDT equity and market-neutral strategies generated a record $6 billion in gross sales and more than $3.5 billion in net sales during the quarter. Across the company’s equity platform, 35 equity fund and separately managed account strategies posted net sales, including $2.7 billion from MDT offerings, excluding market-neutral strategies, and $470 million from Strategic Value. At the end of the quarter, 54% of the company’s equity funds outperformed their Morningstar peer groups over three years, while 30% ranked in the top quartile of their categories. Through July 24, combined equity funds and separately managed accounts had $61 million in net sales for the third quarter to date.

Fixed-income assets ended the second quarter at slightly more than $100 billion, up $689 million. Market appreciation added roughly $1 billion, partly offset by net redemptions and exchanges. The company cited net sales in 26 fixed-income funds and separately managed accounts, led by Core Plus and Core Aggregate SMAs, ultrashort bond funds and the Conservative Muni Micro Short Fund. Donahue said the firm believes its fixed-income product range and investment management capabilities position it for positive flows. He noted increased interest in shorter-duration offerings such as ultrashort and conservative micro-short strategies. Through July 24, fixed-income funds and SMAs had generated $362 million of net sales in the third quarter.

Alternative private-market assets increased $2.6 billion during the quarter to $21.6 billion. The increase included $3.2 billion in U.S. multifamily real estate assets added through the early-April completion of Federated Hermes’ acquisition of an 80% interest in FCP Fund Manager, L.P. The company said its MDT market-neutral fund and ETF recorded $150 million in net sales. Federated Hermes is also raising capital for the sixth vintage of its global private equity co-investment fund, which had closed on $300 million to date.