Ares Ranks 502nd in Liquidity Despite Solar Expansion and Record Fundraising Shares Lag Peers

On August 7, 2025, Ares Management (ARES) closed at a 1.24% decline with a trading volume of $0.23 billion, ranking 502nd in daily liquidity. The stock’s performance followed mixed analyst commentary and operational updates. Recent earnings highlighted robust fundraising and asset growth, with Q2 results showing record inflows into direct lending and private credit segments. Ares also announced a joint venture with Savion to expand U.S. solar energy investments, signaling strategic diversification into renewables.

Analysts at Raymond James initiated coverage with a “Market Perform” rating, citing Ares’ strong fee-based model and direct lending momentum but noting valuation risks. Meanwhile, Citi’s appointment of a new North America private credit leader underscored sector-wide competition, indirectly influencing investor sentiment. Despite these developments, Ares’ shares underperformed peers in the asset management sector, with liquidity constraints and market volatility weighing on short-term momentum.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day returned 166.71% from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This highlights the impact of liquidity concentration in high-volume stocks, particularly in volatile markets, though the approach carries inherent risks for long-term investors.