Private Equity Performance in Europe vs. North America: Recent data indicates that European buyout funds launched in 2021 are projected to achieve a median internal rate of return of 14.5%, outperforming North America's 11.6%. This trend is attributed to lower valuations in Europe, which may provide private equity managers with better acquisition opportunities.
Valuation Discrepancies and Market Dynamics: The significant valuation discount in Europe, currently around 40% compared to U.S. markets, raises questions about the sustainability of higher returns. Factors such as less competition for assets and potential inefficiencies in European public companies may contribute to this phenomenon, suggesting that private equity firms could be capitalizing on undervalued opportunities.
Wall Street analysts forecast BX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BX is 176.60 USD with a low forecast of 166.00 USD and a high forecast of 205.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast BX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BX is 176.60 USD with a low forecast of 166.00 USD and a high forecast of 205.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 154.910
Low
166.00
Averages
176.60
High
205.00
Current: 154.910
Low
166.00
Averages
176.60
High
205.00
Barclays
Equal Weight
maintain
$172 -> $171
2026-01-09
Reason
Barclays
Price Target
$172 -> $171
AI Analysis
2026-01-09
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Barclays lowered the firm's price target on Blackstone to $171 from $172 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the alternative asset manager group as part of its Q4 outlook. Barclays expect realizations to pick up meaningfully across the board. The market-wide concerns around credit performance are overblown, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Wells Fargo
Finian O'Shea
Equal Weight -> Underweight
downgrade
$26 -> $24
2026-01-07
Reason
Wells Fargo
Finian O'Shea
Price Target
$26 -> $24
2026-01-07
downgrade
Equal Weight -> Underweight
Reason
As previously reported, Wells Fargo analyst Finian O'Shea downgraded Blackstone Secured Lending Fund to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $24, down from $26, on a near-book valuation, which soon may be tested by its first dividend cut. An M&A comeback and slower wealth channel flows may lessen the Spreadwinds, but for now the firm sees one more year of earnings turbulence.
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Barclays
Benjamin Budish
Equal Weight
maintain
$165 -> $172
2025-12-12
Reason
Barclays
Benjamin Budish
Price Target
$165 -> $172
2025-12-12
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish raised the firm's price target on Blackstone to $172 from $165 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the brokers, asset managers and exchanges group as part of its 2026. Market conditions "look constructive" going into 2026, particularly for the alternative asset managers and wealth brokers, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Barclays sees a more mixed outlook for the exchanges and traditional asset managers.
UBS
Michael Brown
Neutral
initiated
$175
2025-12-11
Reason
UBS
Michael Brown
Price Target
$175
2025-12-11
initiated
Neutral
Reason
UBS analyst Michael Brown assumed coverage of Blackstone with a Neutral rating and $175 price target, noting strong sector fundamentals across 20 U.S. asset managers and brokers despite more mixed views on valuations and consensus expectations.The outlook favors undervalued growth, disciplined capital allocation, and firms positioned for margin expansion, while secular tailwinds support wealth brokers and independent investment banks whose robust earnings growth appears partly priced in, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
About BX
Blackstone Inc. is an alternative asset manager. Its asset management includes global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries, and hedge funds. Its Real Estate segment comprises its management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, and real estate debt strategies. Its Private Equity segment includes its management of flagship Corporate Private Equity funds, sector and geographically focused Corporate Private Equity funds, core private equity funds, an investment platform, and others. Its Credit & Insurance segment consists of Blackstone Credit & Insurance, which is organized into three overarching strategies: private corporate credit, liquid corporate credit and infrastructure and asset-based credit. Its Multi-Asset Investing segment is organized into four investment platforms: Absolute Return, Multi-Strategy, Total Portfolio Management, and Public Real Assets.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
