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BLK: Data Center Acquisitions Will Drive Expansion in AI Infrastructure Markets

Published
13 Oct 24
Updated
18 Jun 26
Views
937
18 Jun
US$1,051.74
AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
US$1,246.25
15.6% undervalued intrinsic discount
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6.6%
7D
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Author's Valuation

US$1.25k15.6% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update 18 Jun 26

Fair value Decreased 0.40%

BLK: Private Credit And Tokenization Expansion Will Support Future Multiple Re Rating

BlackRock's updated analyst price target has been trimmed by $5 to $1,246, as analysts fine tune fair value and P/E assumptions in light of recent mixed target revisions across the Street and heightened focus on its role as a key lender in situations such as Domo's covenant breach.

Analyst Commentary

Recent Street research on BlackRock reflects a wide range of price target moves, with some firms lifting their targets and others trimming them, as analysts reassess valuation frameworks, P/E assumptions, and the impact of BlackRock's broader lending and asset management activities.

Bullish Takeaways

  • Bullish analysts who raised BlackRock price targets point to room for higher valuation multiples, which feeds into the updated consolidated target near $1,246 and suggests confidence in the company's ability to execute on its business model.
  • Several upward target revisions, including moves higher from firms such as Goldman Sachs, indicate that some on the Street see the recent reset in assumptions as already embedded in current valuations.
  • Target increases from multiple large institutions signal that, despite mixed revisions, a meaningful group of analysts still views BlackRock stock as supported by its scale and diversified revenue streams.
  • Higher targets from bullish analysts relative to the newly trimmed average level suggest they see potential for earnings power to support a richer P/E than more cautious peers are using.

Bearish Takeaways

  • Bearish analysts lowering price targets, including those at JPMorgan, are taking a more conservative stance on valuation, which pulls the Street average down and highlights concern about how much investors should pay for BlackRock's earnings profile.
  • The series of target cuts from multiple firms reflects greater scrutiny of P/E and fair value inputs, with some analysts preferring to leave less room for execution missteps or slower growth in key segments.
  • BlackRock's role as a lead lender in situations like Domo's covenant breach underscores credit exposure that more cautious analysts factor into their risk assessment, particularly when they think about balance sheet and capital allocation priorities.
  • The combination of higher and lower targets around the same period illustrates a split in conviction, with bearish analysts emphasizing tighter valuation ranges and a higher bar for upside relative to the current share price.

What’s in the News for BlackRock

  • Vanguard has overtaken BlackRock as the largest US ETF issuer after more than 20 years at the top for BlackRock, with Vanguard now managing about US$4.39t in US listed ETFs versus BlackRock at US$4.36t, according to recent reports.
  • BlackRock announced a quarterly cash dividend payable on June 23, 2026, following a first quarter in which its digital assets division, including the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, reported US$935m in net inflows and identified crypto and tokenized assets as key themes in its 2026 outlook, according to company disclosures.
  • BlackRock plans to liquidate 19 US domiciled mutual funds and ETFs to align its product shelf with investor objectives. Investors will continue to incur management fees and may realize capital gains or losses until the liquidations conclude.
  • The US Supreme Court ruled that an existing federal statute does not allow shareholders to sue investment funds over bylaws and management decisions. The decision blocks activist cases against 11 closed end funds that include vehicles affiliated with BlackRock and leaves enforcement to the SEC.
  • BlackRock announced the elimination of about 200 jobs, just under 1% of its global workforce, in its fourth round of layoffs in 18 months as part of broader restructuring efforts. Recent reports have also highlighted around US$44.8m of insider share sales over the past three months.

Valuation Changes for BlackRock Stock

  • Fair Value: Trimmed slightly from $1,251.25 to $1,246.25, reflecting a small adjustment to the modeled intrinsic value per share.
  • Discount Rate: Reduced marginally from 7.94% to 7.93%, signaling a very small change in the risk or return assumptions used in the valuation work.
  • Revenue Growth: Held effectively flat at about 10.44%, with only a minimal numerical change in the long term growth input.
  • Net Profit Margin: Kept broadly unchanged at about 27.13%, indicating a steady view on BlackRock's long run profitability in the model.
  • Future P/E: Lowered slightly from 26.20x to 26.09x, pointing to a modestly more conservative valuation multiple being used for BlackRock stock.
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Key Takeaways

  • Strategic acquisitions and emerging market expansion position BlackRock to benefit from rising demand for alternatives and global wealth growth.
  • Technology integration and core product innovation support client retention, recurring revenues, and resilience against margin pressures.
  • Intensifying margin pressure, increased private market and tech risks, regulatory headwinds, and potential EPS dilution could hinder sustained growth and profitability.

Catalysts

About BlackRock
    A privately owned investment manager.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • BlackRock's expansion into private markets through acquisitions like HPS Investment Partners, GIP, and ElmTree positions the company to capitalize on the secular shift of institutional assets into alternatives and infrastructure, driving higher-fee revenue streams and long-term earnings growth.
  • The company's global platform and targeted expansion in emerging markets (e.g., India and Middle East) align with the continued growth in global wealth and the investable asset base, supporting AUM growth and future fee accretion as capital markets and retirement systems develop in these regions.
  • BlackRock's deepening integration of technology-via Aladdin, Preqin, and eFront-responds to increasing demand for analytics and transparency, strengthening client retention and cross-sell opportunities, which should support recurring revenue growth and margin resilience.
  • Leadership in retirement and the proliferation of public-private target date funds positions BlackRock to benefit from long-term demographic trends and regulatory changes that drive greater inclusion of private assets in defined contribution plans, supporting durable AUM inflows and higher-margin product offerings.
  • Sustained innovation and record flows in core products like fixed income and digital asset ETFs-particularly in under-penetrated regions such as Europe-support continued organic revenue growth, while fee compression is partially offset by scale efficiencies and product diversification.
BlackRock Earnings and Revenue Growth

BlackRock Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

How have these above catalysts been quantified?

  • Analysts are assuming BlackRock's revenue will grow by 10.4% annually over the next 3 years.
  • Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 24.4% today to 27.1% in 3 years time.
  • Analysts expect earnings to reach $9.4 billion (and earnings per share of $58.89) by about June 2029, up from $6.3 billion today. However, there is some disagreement amongst the analysts with the more bullish ones expecting earnings as high as $11.7 billion.
  • In order for the above numbers to justify the price target of the analysts, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 26.2x on those 2029 earnings, which is the same as it is today today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the US Capital Markets industry at 40.5x.
  • Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 0.25% per year for the next 3 years.
  • To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 7.93%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?
  • Persistent industry-wide fee compression, especially in ETFs and passive products (where BlackRock is a leader), continues to pressure net margins as evidenced by a 0.4 basis point decline in the effective fee rate and commentary about lower performance fees impacting operating margins; this trend could erode revenue growth even amidst record AUM.
  • Ongoing expansion into private markets (GIP, HPS, Preqin, ElmTree) introduces elevated integration, execution, and operational risks (including higher G&A and compensation) at a time when margins are already down year-over-year; failure to realize expected synergies or manage increased expenses could squeeze overall earnings and profitability.
  • Structural regulatory and litigation risks remain significant for BlackRock's core ambitions, especially as the company looks to innovate with private allocations in retirement products (i.e., required reform in advice/litigation for U.S. DC plans); heightened regulatory scrutiny or adverse legal developments could impede adoption, limit product launches, and negatively impact potential revenues.
  • Technology investments such as Aladdin, Preqin, and tokenization initiatives bring higher near-term spend and increase exposure to cyber, obsolescence, and operational failures; should these platforms fail to maintain industry leadership or become subject to costly disruptions, BlackRock's subscription and technology revenue-and client stickiness-could deteriorate.
  • Increased share issuance related to acquisitions (e.g., up to 13.8 million new shares possible with SubCo units and RSUs) and higher compensation ratios associated with performance-related pay raise the risk of EPS dilution for shareholders and may offset the benefits of rising operating income, putting pressure on long-term per-share earnings growth.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?

  • The analysts have a consensus price target of $1246.25 for BlackRock based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors.
  • However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $1393.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $1140.0.
  • In order for you to agree with the analysts, you'd need to believe that by 2029, revenues will be $34.5 billion, earnings will come to $9.4 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 26.2x, assuming you use a discount rate of 7.9%.
  • Given the current share price of $1057.38, the analyst price target of $1246.25 is 15.2% higher.
  • We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.

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Disclaimer

AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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