Shares of Quilter plc rose 4.5% on Wednesday after the wealth manager announced record net inflows for the first quarter of 2026. Management reported core net flows totaling £3.1bn, a level that amounts to 9% of opening assets under administration on an annualized basis.
Within the Affluent segment, net flows reached £2.9bn, a result 50% higher than consensus estimates. The High Net Worth segment also produced flows above what analysts had forecast. The company closed the quarter with assets under administration of £141.9bn, which was 3% ahead of consensus expectations.
Gross flows improved in both the Quilter channel and the independent financial adviser channel, rising 22% in each case. Net flows in those channels increased by 22% and 24% respectively, underscoring broad-based client activity across distribution routes.
The report highlighted the Quilter Platform as a primary driver of growth in the Affluent business. Management described the platform as the most scalable and profitable part of the group, and it accounted for a substantial portion of the Affluent inflows during the quarter.
In the High Net Worth segment, gross inflows were £944m, above the two-year average of about £750m. The company attributed the strong High Net Worth performance to favorable conditions for tax planning and Quilter’s competitive position within the Affluent market, reflecting the firm’s ability to attract higher-value client flows.
Productivity metrics also improved. Annualized productivity per Quilter Adviser rose to £3.9m from £3.4m year-on-year. Client persistence held steady in the low 90% range, indicating stable retention levels among existing clients.
Assets in the WealthSelect managed portfolio service grew markedly, with assets under management in that suite increasing 35% year-on-year to reach £26bn.
The quarter did include a market-related headwind. Market movements were more negative than expected, which created pressure on assets under administration; despite that drag, the record flows are expected to support upward revisions to earnings estimates.
What this means
- Quilter delivered material net inflows across Affluent and High Net Worth segments, with the Quilter Platform central to Affluent growth.
- Productivity per adviser improved and client persistence remained in the low 90% range, supporting operational resilience.
- Negative market movements offset some of the benefits of flows by creating a headwind for assets under administration.