How BlackRock Makes Money: Investment and Advisory Fees (2024)

BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is by some measures the biggest investment management company across the globe, with more than $10.0 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of Dec. 31, 2021. As a major publicly traded company with a market capitalization of about $112.3 billion, BlackRock provides investment and technology services to both institutional and retail clients around the world.

The firm offers a variety of funds and portfolios investing in vehicles such as equities, money market instruments, and fixed income. Clients look to BlackRock for access to mutual funds, investments focused on objectives related to retirement income and college savings, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

BlackRock is the parent company for the iShares group of ETFs, the largest global provider of ETFs. BlackRock derives the majority of its revenue from investment advisory and administrative fees charged to its clients. Among BlackRock's major competitors are The Vanguard Group, State Street Corp. (STT), and T. Rowe Price Group Inc. (TROW).

Key Takeaways

  • BlackRock is one of the world's largest investment management companies by AUM.
  • The company operates as a single business segment.
  • The firm derives most of its revenue from investment advisory and administration fees.
  • BlackRock said that it has halted purchases of Russian securities amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

BlackRock's Financials

BlackRock announced in mid-January financial results for Q4 of its 2021 fiscal year (FY), the three-month period ended March 18, 2021. The company reported a net income of $1.6 billion, up 6.1% compared to the year-ago quarter. Revenue grew 14.0% year over year (YOY) to $5.1 billion. The company's AUM rose 15.4% YOY to a new high of $10.0 trillion.

BlackRock generated $212 billion of net inflows during the quarter. The Americas region led all other regions with long-term net flows of $139 billion. The company's ETF offerings generated $104 billion in long-term net inflows, more than the long-term net inflows of retail and institutional investors combined.

BlackRock's Business Segments

BlackRock operates as a single business segment and does not report on income for individual parts of its business. However, it does divide its revenue according to categories for "Investment advisory, administration fees, and securities lending revenue," for "Investment advisory performance fees," for "Technology services revenue," for "Distribution fees," and for "Advisory and other revenue."

Investment Advisory, Administration Fees, and Securities Lending Revenue

BlackRock derives the majority of its revenue from investment advisory and administration fees levied over time and is typically based upon predetermined percentages of AUM. This category of BlackRock's business includes fees related to the firm's equity, fixed income, multi-asset alternative, and cash management services. In Q4 FY 2021, this category accounted for $4.0 billion in revenue, or about 78% of total revenue. This was up 16.9% compared to the year-ago quarter.

Investment Advisory Performance Fees

In contrast with administrative fees, performance fees are assessed to certain types of BlackRock accounts when performance exceeds a predetermined threshold. Performance fees accounted for $329 million in revenue, or about 6% of total revenue in Q4 FY 2021. This was down 21.5% compared to the year-ago quarter.

Technology Services Revenue

BlackRock offers a range of investment management technology systems, risk management services, wealth management, and digital distribution tools to various insurance company, bank, pension fund, and asset manager clients. Technology services accounted for $339 million in revenue for Q4 FY 2021, or about 7% of the total. This figure was up 11.1%.

Distribution Fees

BlackRock levies fees associated with the distribution and service of its various products, as well as for support services related to investment portfolios. In Q4 FY 2021, this category accounted for $411 million in revenue, or about 8% of total revenue for the year. This was up 30.9% compared to Q4 FY 2020.

Advisory and Other Revenue

BlackRock also separates out a category of revenue associated with its advisory services for global financial institutions, regulators, and governments. These fees are set at a fixed rate. In Q4 FY 2021, this category accounted for $59 million in revenue, or about 1% of total revenue. This was up 25.5% compared to the year-ago quarter.

BlackRock's Recent Developments

On March 3, 2022, BlackRock said that it had halted purchases of all Russian securities in both its active and index funds amid Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine. Russian securities comprise less than 0.01% of the company's clients' assets.

How BlackRock Reports Diversity and Inclusiveness

As part of our effort to improve the awareness of the importance of diversity in companies, we offer investors a glimpse into the transparency of BlackRock and its commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and social responsibility. We examined the data BlackRock releases to show you how it reports the diversity of its board and workforce to help readers make educated purchasing and investing decisions.


Below is a table of potential diversity measurements. It shows whether BlackRock discloses its data about the diversity of its board of directors, C-Suite, general management, and employees overall, as is marked with a ✔. It also shows whether BlackRock breaks down those reports to reveal the diversity of itself by race, gender, ability, veteran status, and LGBTQ+ identity.

BlackRock Diversity & Inclusiveness Reporting
RaceGenderAbilityVeteran StatusSexual Orientation
Board of Directors
C-Suite
General Management
Employees✔ (U.S. Only)
How BlackRock Makes Money: Investment and Advisory Fees (2024)

FAQs

How does BlackRock make money? ›

1 BlackRock derives the majority of its revenue from investment advisory and administrative fees charged to its clients. Among BlackRock's major competitors are The Vanguard Group, State Street Corp. (STT), and T. Rowe Price Group Inc.

What fees does BlackRock charge? ›

Fees Under BlackRock
Wrap Fee Schedule for Equity, Balanced, Retirement Journey and WDP Strategies
Asset LevelsAnnual Fee
First $500,0002.50%
Next $500,0002.00%
Next $2,000,0001.50%
3 more rows
Jul 18, 2022

Why is BlackRock a good investment? ›

BlackRock Inc's trailing 12-month revenue is $18.6 billion with a 31.3% profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was -14.6%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $35.146 per share for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Inc currently has a 2.6% dividend yield.

Why is BlackRock so successful? ›

BlackRock has grown from a start-up to a market leader by attracting clients and employees, and by acquiring several other asset management companies. BlackRock's mission is to create a better financial future for our clients, by building the most respected investment and risk manager in the world.

What does BlackRock do in simple terms? ›

BlackRock is one of the world's leading providers of investment, advisory and risk management solutions. We are a fiduciary to our clients. We're investing for the future on behalf of our clients, inspiring our employees, and supporting our local communities.

Is BlackRock the biggest investment company in the world? ›

Founded in 1988, initially as a risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with US$10 trillion in assets under management as of January 2022. BlackRock operates globally with 70 offices in 30 countries, and clients in 100 countries.

Is BlackRock Advisor Center Free? ›

BlackRock's Advisor Center is a free suite of sophisticated, yet simple-to-use, tools that help you make informed decisions quickly, and communicate them clearly to your clients and prospects.

Who owns most of BlackRock fund Advisors? ›

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Which is better BlackRock or Fidelity? ›

BlackRock's brand is ranked #602 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of BlackRock. Their current market cap is $108.30B. Fidelity Investments's brand is ranked #162 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of Fidelity Investments. Their current valuation is $11.88B.

What is the problem with BlackRock? ›

June 5, 2018 — A global group of 10 environmental organizations — including the Sierra Club — launches a campaign dubbed “BlackRock's Big Problem.” Seeking to pressure the firm over its impact on the environment, the group accuses the asset manager of being one of the world's biggest investors in “climate destruction.” ...

What is the minimum investment for BlackRock? ›

Minimum initial investment*: Investor A & C Shares, $1,000 per fund or $50 per fund with an Automatic Investment Plan.

How many banks does BlackRock own? ›

As of 31 December 2020, the Official Institutions Group has $579bn in assets under management (AUM) on behalf of 109 clients globally. This includes: 45 Central Banks.

Why do people not like BlackRock? ›

The weapon companies that BlackRock promotes have been accused of groundwater contamination, misconduct, labor violations, and overinflated pricing, resulting in overbilling defense contracts issued by the federal government.

What is BlackRock's strategy? ›

BlackRock's Multi-Asset Strategies team provides investment strategies and outcomes to our clients, generating investment returns primarily through asset allocation across global equity, fixed income, currency, commodities and alternative investment markets.

Does Bank of America own BlackRock? ›

BofA owned as much as a 34 percent stake in BlackRock that has shrunk to 7 percent before this share sale was announced.

How do you answer why BlackRock? ›

Examples of reasons you want to work for BlackRock:
  1. People turn to them when planning their most important goals.
  2. BlackRock is building a culture of innovation, curiosity, and compassion that enables every one of its employees to make an impact.
  3. The company's commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
Sep 13, 2022

How does BlackRock own everything? ›

BlackRock and Vanguard do not “own” all the biggest corporations in the world. They invest trillions of dollars into leading companies on behalf of their clients, who ultimately own the shares.

Does BlackRock own Tesla? ›

And next up is BlackRock, another giant in the ETF industry. The company owns 171 million shares of Tesla, accounting for 5.4% of the company's shares outstanding.

What bank owns BlackRock? ›

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

What is the number 1 investment company? ›

25 Most Trusted Financial Companies By IBD Trust Index Rating
RankCompanyQuality
1USAA95.3
2USAA92.3
3Vanguard Brokerage89.2
4Charles Schwab88.1
21 more rows
Nov 12, 2021

How much does BlackRock own of Pfizer? ›

2022-02-01 - BlackRock Inc. has filed an SC 13G/A form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing ownership of 409,985,645 shares of Pfizer Inc. (US:PFE). This represents 7.3 percent ownership of the company.

Are 1% advisor fees worth it? ›

Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee. But psst: If you have over $1 million, a flat fee might make a lot more financial sense for you, pros say. (Looking for a new financial adviser?

Are advisory fees worth it? ›

A financial advisor can give valuable insight into what you should be doing with your money to reach your financial goals. But they don't offer their advice for free. The typical advisor charges clients 1% of the assets that they manage. However, rates typically decrease the more money you invest with them.

How are advisory fees paid? ›

There are three ways financial advisors get paid: Fee-only advisors charge an annual, hourly or flat fee. Commission-based advisors are paid through the investments they sell. Fee-based advisors earn a combination of a fee and commissions.

Does China own part of BlackRock? ›

New York-based BlackRock is the first foreign-owned company allowed by Beijing to operate a wholly-owned business in China's burgeoning mutual fund industry.

Does BlackRock own Amazon? ›

Institutional investors hold a majority ownership of AMZN through the 59.87% of the outstanding shares that they control.
...
Top 10 Owners of Amazon.com Inc.
StockholderBlackRock Fund Advisors
Shares owned375,545,302
Total value ($)31,545,805,368
Shares bought / sold+3,648,678
Total change+0.98%
9 more columns

Is BlackRock owned by JP Morgan? ›

ownership in JPM / JPMorgan Chase & Co. - 13F, 13D, 13G Filings - Fintel.io.
...
BlackRock Inc. ownership in JPM / JPMorgan Chase & Co.
SecurityJPM / JPMorgan Chase & Co.
InstitutionBlackRock Inc.
Latest Disclosed Ownership192,249,551 shares
Ownership6.50%

What is the reputation of BlackRock? ›

In 2021, BlackRock received an A- which is in the Leadership band. This score is higher than the North America regional average of C, and higher than the Financial services sector average of B.

How does BlackRock compare to Vanguard? ›

As of 2022, Vanguard has more than $8 trillion in assets under management (AUM), second only to BlackRock, Inc ($9.5 trillion AUM). 4 Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Vanguard is the largest mutual funds issuer in the world and the second-largest issuer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Which investment firm has the best reputation? ›

Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard have specific qualities that appeal to investors, which I'll discuss shortly. But they're the best overall because they charge minimal fees, including $0 commissions on stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and options.

Is BlackRock an ethical company? ›

Our reputation for integrity is one of our most important assets. We hold ourselves to standards that not only meet those required by the laws and regulations that apply to us, but also to our principles, which are rooted in exceeding our clients' expectations.

How much debt does BlackRock have? ›

Long term debt can be defined as the sum of all long term debt fields. BlackRock long term debt for the quarter ending September 30, 2022 was $12.458B, a 39.47% decline year-over-year.
...
Compare BLK With Other Stocks.
BlackRock Annual Long Term Debt (Millions of US $)
2020$23,771
2019$20,421
2018$25,634
2017$24,190
9 more rows

Does BlackRock outperform the market? ›

BlackRock has outperformed the market for years and there's nothing stopping it from continuing to do so. BlackRock (BLK -0.56%) recently reported another stellar quarter of earnings, with revenue in the period increasing 32% to $4.8 billion while net income was up 14% to $1.4 billion.

Is 15% investment enough? ›

Believe it or not, it's your savings rate—the fact that you're actually investing money every month—that's most likely to help you have a successful retirement. The big takeaway is this: No matter how much or how little you make, investing 15% of your income will put you on track for a secure retirement.

Can individuals invest in BlackRock? ›

Online dealing. You can buy and hold shares in BlackRock-managed investment trusts through most online brokers. Here is a list (and links) to some popular online platforms.

What percentage of the stock market does BlackRock own? ›

BlackRock is the No. 2 holder with 10.2% of the company.

Is Walmart owned by BlackRock? ›

ownership in WMT / Walmart Inc. 2022-11-14 - BlackRock Inc. has filed a 13F-HR form disclosing ownership of 96,570,711 shares of Walmart Inc (US:WMT) with total holdings valued at $12,525,224,000 USD as of 2022-09-30.

Is Wells Fargo owned by BlackRock? ›

Institutional investors hold a majority ownership of WFC through the 74.78% of the outstanding shares that they control.
...
Top 10 Owners of Wells Fargo & Co.
StockholderBlackRock Fund Advisors
Shares owned161,153,425
Total value ($)6,654,024,918
Shares bought / sold-183,926
Total change-0.11%
9 more columns

Is Netflix owned by BlackRock? ›

The top shareholders of Netflix are Leslie J. Kilgore, David Hyman, Greg Peters, Capital Research Group Investors, Vanguard Group Inc., and BlackRock Inc. (BLK).

What family owns BlackRock? ›

Laurence D. Fink is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock. He and seven partners founded BlackRock in 1988, and under his leadership, the firm has grown into a global leader in investment and technology solutions.

Who is black rocks competitor? ›

BlackRock competitors include Edward Jones, Wellington Management, Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley and State Street. BlackRock ranks 1st in Product Quality Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Is BlackRock being investigated? ›

Austin, TX, August 5, 2022 — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is among 19 state attorneys general pressing financial titan BlackRock for clarity on its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment policies.

What are Blackrocks 5 principles? ›

BlackRock's five principles
  • We are a fiduciary to our clients. A fiduciary is a person or organisation who holds a legal or ethical position of trust. ...
  • We are One BlackRock. ...
  • We are passionate about performance. ...
  • We take emotional ownership. ...
  • We are committed to a better future.

How does BlackRock expect to manage its investment portfolio? ›

BlackRock intends to allocate all or a significant percentage of the BlackRock model portfolios to funds for which it and/or its affiliates serve as investment manager and/or are compensated for services provided to the funds (“BlackRock Affiliated Funds”).

Is BlackRock owned by Starbucks? ›

ownership in SBUX / Starbucks Corporation - 13F, 13D, 13G Filings - Fintel.io.
...
BlackRock Inc. ownership in SBUX / Starbucks Corporation.
SecuritySBUX / Starbucks Corporation
InstitutionBlackRock Inc.
Latest Disclosed Ownership82,463,593 shares
Ownership7.00%

Who is the largest shareholder of BlackRock? ›

Hedge funds don't have many shares in BlackRock. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 9.0% of shares outstanding.

Does China own Bank of America? ›

No, Bank of America is not partly owned by China. It is an American bank.

Does BlackRock control the world? ›

BlackRock and Vanguard do not “own” all the biggest corporations in the world. They invest trillions of dollars into leading companies on behalf of their clients, who ultimately own the shares.

Who gives BlackRock money? ›

Contributions. NOTE: The organization itself did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate family members. Organizations themselves cannot contribute to candidates and party committees.

Is PayPal owned by BlackRock? ›

Hedge funds don't have many shares in PayPal Holdings. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 8.2%. With 6.6% and 3.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc.

Who is the largest shareholder of BlackRock Fund Advisors? ›

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Does Walmart own BlackRock? ›

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE INC.
...
BlackRock Inc. ownership in WMT / Walmart Inc.
SecurityWMT / Walmart Inc
InstitutionBlackRock Inc.
Latest Disclosed Ownership96,570,711 shares
Latest Disclosed Value$ 12,525,224,000

Is BlackRock invested in Amazon? ›

Institutional investors hold a majority ownership of AMZN through the 59.87% of the outstanding shares that they control.
...
Top 10 Owners of Amazon.com Inc.
StockholderBlackRock Fund Advisors
Shares owned375,545,302
Total value ($)31,545,805,368
Shares bought / sold+3,648,678
Total change+0.98%
9 more columns

Does BlackRock own Johnson Johnson? ›

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE INC.
...
BlackRock Inc. ownership in JNJ / Johnson & Johnson.
SecurityJNJ / Johnson & Johnson
Latest Disclosed Ownership200,021,352 shares
Ownership7.60%
1 more row

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