Lazard recorded a pronounced rise in first-quarter profitability, driven largely by inflows to its asset management business at a time of heightened market volatility. Net income for the three months ended March 31 increased to $101 million, or $0.91 per share, compared with $60 million, or $0.56 per share, a year earlier - a jump of 67% in reported profit.
The firm ended the quarter with average assets under management of $266 billion, up from $231 billion a year earlier. That growth in managed assets underpins fee-based revenue, which the company says tends to be more predictable and provides a buffer for earnings through turbulent periods.
Across the business, Lazard reported net revenue of $757 million in the quarter, a 17% increase from the prior year period. Within that total, the asset management division posted a 42% surge in revenue, reflecting stronger client activity as investors adjusted portfolios amid market swings. The article notes that such swings - prompted by tensions between major powers, uncertainty over interest rates and disruption tied to artificial intelligence - can increase engagement with asset managers, lifting inflows and fee income.
M&A advisory and deal timing
While asset management performed strongly, Lazard's merger-and-acquisition revenue was affected by the timing of deal closures, company management said. In a statement, Lazard CEO Peter Orszag acknowledged that the timing of when deals close had an impact on the firm's M&A revenue.
"There are some powerful forces operating in the M&A world, including the window of opportunity with regard to the regulatory environment, especially in the United States, and the march of technology, including AI, that is requiring firms to reconsider what they are doing"
Despite market volatility related to the Iran conflict, Orszag told reporters that the deal pipeline remained resilient. He highlighted a so-called "window of opportunity" around the regulatory backdrop in the United States and pointed to technology and AI as forces reshaping strategic decisions among companies.
Dealmaking and industry trends
Deal activity more broadly showed strength. Data cited in the article - Dealogic figures - indicated that global M&A revenue rose 19% in the first quarter to a record $11.3 billion, with technology, particularly activity linked to artificial intelligence, as a key driver. Healthcare and financial services were also important sectors, where some of the largest transactions were completed.
Lazard advised on notable transactions during the quarter, including Keurig Dr Pepper's $23 billion acquisition of JDE Peet's and Zurich Insurance Group's offer for Beazley. The firm's restructuring and liability management practice also took on debtor roles for several prominent clients, including auto company First Brands and technology firm Xerox Holdings.
Outlook and context
While some large banks on Wall Street continue to expect 2026 to be a strong year for dealmaking, the article notes that Middle East turmoil has delayed certain transactions. Lazard's leadership framed current conditions as a mix of opportunities and timing challenges - with asset management inflows bolstering near-term results even as M&A revenue proves sensitive to when deals finalize.