Virtus Investment Partners Receives Sell Rating and $190 Price Target from Barclays

Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish maintains a Sell rating and $190 price target on Virtus Investment Partners. The analyst consensus is a Moderate Sell with a $177.33 average price target, implying an -11.85% downside from current levels. Budish covers the Financial sector and has a 73.98% success rate and 19.2% average return.

Virtus Investment Partners (NYSE: VRTS) reported preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $170.7 billion as of June 30, 2025, according to a recent press release [1]. This figure represents a 1.9% growth from March 31, 2025, driven by market gains and positive net flows in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The increase was partially offset by outflows in institutional accounts, U.S. retail funds, retail separate accounts, and global funds. The preliminary average AUM for the second quarter was $167.0 billion.

The report indicates that Virtus Investment Partners continues to attract assets, particularly in the ETF segment, which aligns with broader market trends favoring passive investment strategies [3]. However, the company also faces challenges in maintaining competitiveness in traditional fund segments due to net outflows in these areas [3].

Institutional investors have shown interest in Virtus Investment Partners, with several funds increasing their stakes in the company. For instance, MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Investment Partners worth approximately $283,000 in the first quarter [2]. Amundi grew its stake by 165.6% in the fourth quarter, owning 3,734 shares worth $803,000 [2]. Other notable investors include Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd., Picton Mahoney Asset Management, Kennondale Capital Management LLC, and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

The company's stock, traded under NASDAQ: VRTS, has seen mixed reactions from analysts. Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish maintains a Sell rating and a $190 price target, implying a -11.85% downside from current levels [2]. The analyst consensus is a Moderate Sell with an average price target of $177.33, indicating a significant downside risk [2]. Despite the negative outlook, Virtus Investment Partners recently reported earnings per share of $5.73 for the quarter, beating analysts' estimates [2].

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4466784-virtus-investment-partners-reports-average-aum-of-167b-for-q2
[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-mqs-management-llc-takes-283000-position-in-virtus-investment-partners-inc-nasdaqvrts-2025-07-15/
[3] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2971764/virtus-investment-partners-inc-vrts-reports-increase-in-assets-under-management-vrts-stock-news