In Practice

A New Cycle for Private Markets

November 12, 2024

By Joan Solotar

Investing is pattern recognition. The ability to anticipate trends, rather than chase them, is a performance differentiator.

November 12, 2024

By Joan Solotar

Optimism is in the air as capital markets adjust to a new rate environment in many parts of the world and deal volumes have picked up.[ 1 ] These are welcome trends, and not surprising based on what Blackstone was seeing over the past year in the firm’s own investment portfolios.

The trend is our friend. About a year ago, Blackstone detected signs of moderating inflation, continued but moderating growth and stabilization in sectors disrupted by nearly two years of higher interest rates. Rather than wait for the all-clear, the firm’s investment teams began deploying capital. Between that point and the third quarter of this year, Blackstone’s businesses invested some $123 billion across asset classes and markets, a remarkable figure that was double the comparable prior-year period.

Investing is pattern recognition, and the ability to anticipate trends, rather than chase them, is a performance differentiator. This ability – to gather valuable real-time insights from Blackstone’s large portfolio across sectors, asset classes and regions that are not reflected in public sources – is a private market advantage that can help navigate cycles of disruption. These on-the-ground perspectives helped Blackstone weather the global financial crisis and other cycles. It also enabled Blackstone Real Estate to see signs that the commercial real estate market was bottoming and get ahead by investing or committing $22 billion over the first nine months of 2024.

Staying power is another significant advantage in private markets. With no forced selling of assets at inopportune moments, the firm can lean in when others hesitate, investing in businesses with strong fundamentals and sticking with them until the tide turns, so that values can truly reflect the underlying attractions. Blackstone can act quickly when warranted, bringing scale capital and know-how to its investments, and it can also simply wait out the storm when patience is needed.

These private market advantages and the performance and income they yield are some of the reasons we view these investments as all-weather in nature, and essential components of a well-constructed portfolio.

Joan Solotar, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions

“Increasingly, financial advisors and their clients are tapping into private markets.”

Joan Solotar

Increasingly, financial advisors and their clients are tapping into private markets. Recently, more than 80% of financial advisors surveyed by Blackstone Private Wealth Solutions say private market investments help them attract new clients.[ 2 ] The majority of these same advisors recommend higher allocations than clients currently have, reflecting the value they see for individual investor portfolios as well as the currently low level of allocations.

Partnerships with advisors are among the key reasons Blackstone was named Asset Manager of the Year at the 2024 MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards, which recognizes asset managers that innovate to achieve better outcomes for investors and financial advisors.[ 3 ] We take great pride in being the first private markets manager to receive this prestigious award.

We deeply value your partnership. Our objective, as always, is to provide access to institutional quality offerings with a best-in-class service experience. Our high-quality educational resources and our team stand ready to help your clients build wealth with Blackstone.

Joan Solotar
Global Head, Private Wealth Solutions

Important Disclosures

Past performance does not predict future returns. There can be no assurance that any Blackstone fund or investment will achieve its objectives or avoid substantial losses. Any investment involves a high degree of risk and you may not get back the amount originally invested. There is no guarantee the trends depicted herein will continue or will not reverse. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against losses. Investing involves risk, including loss of capital.

All information is as of September 30, 2024 (the “Reporting Date”), unless otherwise indicated and may change materially in the future. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Offering Documents.

This webpage (together with any related materials or links, the “Materials”) does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or instrument, or a solicitation of interest in any Blackstone vehicle, account or strategy. If any such offer is made, it will only be by means of an offering memorandum or prospectus, which would contain material information including certain risks of investing including, but not limited to, loss of all or a significant portion of the investment due to leveraging, short-selling, or other speculative practices, lack of liquidity and volatility of returns. Nothing herein constitutes investment advice or recommendations and should not be relied upon as a basis for making an investment decision. The foregoing information has not been provided in a fiduciary capacity under ERISA, and it is not intended to be, and should not be considered as, research or impartial investment advice. Nothing herein constitutes investment advice or recommendations and should not be relied upon as a basis for making an investment.

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