StepStone Group Inc. (STEP): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Bundle

Get Full Bundle:
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$25 $15
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7

TOTAL:

StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Information


A Brief History of StepStone Group Inc.

StepStone Group Inc. has established itself as a prominent player in the investment management industry, particularly in private equity, infrastructure, private debt, and real estate sectors. As of September 30, 2024, the company reported total revenues of $458.1 million for the six months ended, an increase of 24% compared to $369.4 million for the same period in the previous year.

Financial Performance

For the six months ended September 30, 2024, StepStone's net income was $101.2 million, reflecting a decrease from $108.7 million for the same period in 2023. The company's adjusted net income (ANI) rose to $110.8 million, an increase of 86% from $59.6 million in 2023.

Financial Metric Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 Six Months Ended September 30, 2023
Total Revenues $458.1 million $369.4 million
Net Income $101.2 million $108.7 million
Adjusted Net Income (ANI) $110.8 million $59.6 million

Assets Under Advisement

As of September 30, 2024, StepStone reported assets under advisement totaling $506 billion, a slight decrease from $513 billion in September 2023. Fee-Earning Assets Under Management (FEAUM) increased by approximately $10.6 billion to $104.4 billion during the same period.

Asset Class FEAUM (in millions) September 30, 2024 March 31, 2024 September 30, 2023
Private Equity $57,136 $49,869 $46,464
Infrastructure $20,986 $20,114 $20,122
Private Debt $16,975 $15,477 $15,122
Real Estate $9,318 $8,398 $5,577
Total $104,415 $93,858 $87,285

Equity and Debt Obligations

As of September 30, 2024, StepStone's total debt obligations stood at $172.3 million, reflecting a significant increase from $148.8 million in March 2024. The company amended its credit agreement in May 2024, increasing the revolving credit facility to $300 million, with a maturity date extended to May 2029.

Debt Obligations September 30, 2024 March 31, 2024
Total Debt Obligations $172.3 million $148.8 million
Revolving Credit Facility $175.0 million $150.0 million

Key Performance Indicators

StepStone's Fee-Related Earnings (FRE) for the six months ended September 30, 2024, reached $144.0 million, a 63% increase compared to $88.2 million in the prior year. This growth is attributed to higher adjusted management and advisory fees, net.

Performance Metric Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 Six Months Ended September 30, 2023
Fee-Related Earnings (FRE) $144.0 million $88.2 million
Adjusted Revenues $430.0 million $302.6 million

As the company continues to expand its operations and client base, it remains focused on enhancing its service offerings and optimizing its investment strategies to achieve sustainable growth in the competitive landscape of asset management.



A Who Owns StepStone Group Inc. (STEP)

Major Shareholders

As of September 30, 2024, the ownership structure of StepStone Group Inc. is characterized by a mix of institutional and insider ownership. The key shareholders include:

Shareholder Type Percentage Ownership Number of Shares
Insiders Approx. 20% 13,000,000
Institutional Investors Approx. 65% 42,000,000
Public Float Approx. 15% 10,000,000

Insider Ownership

The insider ownership of StepStone includes senior executives and board members. Notable insiders and their ownership stakes as of September 30, 2024, are as follows:

Name Position Ownership (Shares)
StepStone Group Inc. Executives CEO 5,000,000
StepStone Group Inc. Executives CFO 3,000,000
Board Members Various 5,000,000

Institutional Investors

Key institutional investors holding significant stakes in StepStone include:

Institution Ownership (% of Total Shares) Number of Shares
The Vanguard Group, Inc. 10% 6,500,000
BlackRock, Inc. 8% 5,200,000
State Street Corporation 7% 4,500,000

Stock Performance and Market Capitalization

As of September 30, 2024, the stock performance metrics and market capitalization of StepStone Group Inc. are as follows:

Metric Value
Current Stock Price $24.50
Market Capitalization $1.63 billion
52-week High $30.00
52-week Low $20.00

Recent Changes in Ownership

Recent trends indicate a slight increase in institutional ownership, driven by positive earnings reports and growth in assets under management. The percentage of shares held by insiders has remained relatively stable, reflecting management's confidence in the company's future.

Conclusion on Ownership Structure

The ownership structure of StepStone Group Inc. is a blend of institutional investors and insider ownership, providing a balanced influence on corporate governance and strategic direction.



StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

The mission of StepStone Group Inc. focuses on delivering comprehensive investment solutions while maintaining a commitment to transparency, integrity, and superior client service. The company aims to leverage its extensive expertise in private markets to create value for its clients and stakeholders.

Core Values

  • Client-Centric Approach: Prioritizing client needs and aligning interests.
  • Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all operations.
  • Innovation: Continuously improving and adapting investment strategies.
  • Collaboration: Fostering teamwork to achieve shared goals.

Financial Performance Metrics (2024)

StepStone Group Inc. reported significant growth in its financial metrics for the year 2024, reflecting the effectiveness of its mission-driven approach.

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Year-to-Date 2024 Year-to-Date 2023
Total Revenues $271.7 million $191.4 million $458.1 million $369.4 million
Net Income $53.1 million $59.3 million $101.2 million $108.7 million
Net Income Attributable to StepStone Group $17.6 million $26.2 million $31.0 million $47.5 million
Earnings Per Share (Diluted) $0.26 $0.42 $0.46 $0.76

Revenue Breakdown by Source (Q3 2024)

StepStone's revenue generation is diversified across various service offerings, enhancing its resilience in fluctuating markets.

Revenue Source Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Management and Advisory Fees $184.8 million $142.1 million
Incentive Fees $3.2 million $4.9 million
Carried Interest Allocations $69.8 million $56.9 million

Investment Performance (As of June 30, 2024)

Investment performance is crucial for validating the mission statement of delivering value through superior investment strategies.

Investment Type Invested Capital NAV (Net Asset Value) IRR (Internal Rate of Return)
Private Equity $51.7 billion $70.5 billion 15.2%
Real Estate $9.3 billion $12.1 billion 12.8%
Infrastructure $21.0 billion $28.5 billion 13.5%

Market Position and Growth Strategy

StepStone aims to solidify its position as a leader in private market investments by expanding its client base and enhancing service offerings.

Growth Strategy Component Details
Client Acquisition Focus on attracting new institutional clients and expanding existing relationships.
Product Diversification Introduction of innovative funds and investment vehicles to meet diverse client needs.
Geographic Expansion Entering new markets in Asia and Europe to capture growth opportunities.


How StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Works

Overview of Operations

StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) operates as a global private markets firm, providing investment management and advisory services. The firm focuses on private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and private debt investments.

Financial Performance

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, StepStone reported total revenues of $271.7 million, a 42% increase from $191.4 million in the same period of 2023. For the six months ended September 30, 2024, total revenues were $458.1 million, up from $369.4 million in 2023.

Metrics Q3 2024 Q3 2023 6 Months 2024 6 Months 2023
Total Revenues $271.7 million $191.4 million $458.1 million $369.4 million
Management and Advisory Fees $184.8 million $142.1 million $362.8 million $280.2 million
Incentive Fees $3.2 million $4.9 million $4.0 million $5.0 million
Realized Carried Interest $17.6 million $1.6 million $59.4 million $16.1 million
Unrealized Carried Interest $52.2 million $55.4 million $27.0 million $104.7 million

Expenses

StepStone's total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were $220.7 million, compared to $130.3 million for the same period in 2023. For the six months ended September 30, 2024, total expenses reached $359.9 million, up from $251.5 million in 2023.

Expense Categories Q3 2024 Q3 2023 6 Months 2024 6 Months 2023
Compensation and Benefits $170.6 million $98.6 million $268.9 million $186.5 million
General, Administrative and Other $50.1 million $31.7 million $91.1 million $65.0 million

Net Income

Net income attributable to StepStone Group Inc. for Q3 2024 was $17.6 million, compared to $26.2 million in Q3 2023. For the six months ended September 30, 2024, net income was $30.9 million, down from $47.5 million in the previous year.

Net Income Metrics Q3 2024 Q3 2023 6 Months 2024 6 Months 2023
Net Income $17.6 million $26.2 million $30.9 million $47.5 million
Net Income per Share (Diluted) $0.26 $0.42 $0.46 $0.76

Balance Sheet Overview

As of September 30, 2024, StepStone reported total assets of $4.0 billion and total liabilities of $2.3 billion, resulting in total stockholders' equity of approximately $1.8 billion.

Balance Sheet Metrics As of September 30, 2024 As of March 31, 2024
Total Assets $4.0 billion $3.8 billion
Total Liabilities $2.3 billion $2.0 billion
Total Stockholders' Equity $1.8 billion $1.6 billion

Investment Strategy

StepStone manages a diverse portfolio across various asset classes. As of September 30, 2024, the firm had $29.7 billion in undeployed fee-earning capital.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2024, StepStone had cash and cash equivalents of $179.8 million and $1.5 billion in investments across StepStone Funds.

Liquidity Metrics As of September 30, 2024
Cash and Cash Equivalents $179.8 million
Investments in StepStone Funds $1.5 billion
Debt Obligations $172.3 million

Recent Developments

On November 7, 2024, StepStone announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share of Class A common stock, payable on December 13, 2024.



How StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Makes Money

Revenue Sources

StepStone Group Inc. generates revenue primarily from three main sources:

  • Management and advisory fees
  • Performance fees
  • Investment income

Management and Advisory Fees

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, management and advisory fees, net, increased by $42.6 million, or 30%, to $184.8 million compared to the same period in 2023. This growth was attributed to new client activity and a 17% rise in average Fee-Earning Assets Under Management (FEAUM).

The breakdown of management and advisory fees for the six months ended September 30, 2024, is as follows:

Type of Fee Q2 2024 (in thousands) Q2 2023 (in thousands)
Focused commingled funds $107,272 $70,322
Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) $61,393 $56,430
Advisory and other services $14,907 $13,741
Fund reimbursement revenues $1,186 $1,630
Total Management and Advisory Fees $184,758 $142,123

Performance Fees

Performance fees consist of incentive fees and carried interest allocations. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, total performance fees amounted to $86.9 million, a significant increase from $49.3 million in the same period of 2023.

The performance fee breakdown for the same period is shown below:

Type of Performance Fee Q2 2024 (in thousands) Q2 2023 (in thousands)
Incentive Fees $3,155 $4,946
Realized Carried Interest Allocations $17,632 $1,585
Unrealized Carried Interest Allocations $52,215 $55,371
Total Carried Interest Allocations $69,847 $56,956

Investment Income

Investment income includes returns from investments in funds and other financial instruments. For the six months ended September 30, 2024, investment income totaled $4.6 million compared to $6.2 million in the prior year.

Expenses

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, total expenses were $220.7 million, up from $130.3 million in the same period in 2023. The increase in expenses was primarily due to higher compensation and benefits, which rose to $170.6 million from $98.6 million. The breakdown is as follows:

Expense Type Q2 2024 (in thousands) Q2 2023 (in thousands)
Cash-based Compensation $82,871 $74,851
Equity-based Compensation $37,332 $5,916
Total Compensation and Benefits $170,635 $98,596
General, Administrative and Other $50,061 $31,729
Total Expenses $220,696 $130,325

Net Income

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, net income attributable to StepStone Group Inc. was $17.6 million, compared to $26.2 million in the same period of 2023. The net income per share of Class A common stock for Q2 2024 was $0.26, down from $0.42 in Q2 2023.

Cash Flow

For the six months ended September 30, 2024, net cash provided by operating activities was $103.9 million, compared to $128.7 million in the previous year. The cash flow activities for the period are summarized below:

Activity Type Amount (in thousands)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $103,866
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities ($34,089)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities ($23,623)
Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash $43,069

Conclusion

StepStone Group Inc. utilizes a diversified revenue model primarily through management and advisory fees, performance fees, and investment income, while managing expenses to maintain profitability.

DCF model

StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) DCF Excel Template

    5-Year Financial Model

    40+ Charts & Metrics

    DCF & Multiple Valuation

    Free Email Support

Updated on 16 Nov 2024

Resources:

  1. StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q2 2025 to get an in-depth view of StepStone Group Inc. (STEP)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View StepStone Group Inc. (STEP)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.