Banking, finance, and taxes

Blackstone Loses & Contracts, Yet Assets Grow To Record (BX)

The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX) has reported earnings this morning, and it’s really hard to find anything pretty in the release. 

The private equity leader posted a GAAP net loss of $246.7 million after items, and its "economic net income" was listed also a s a loss at -$93.6 million.  Its total net reportable segment revenues were $32.3 million, driven down by declines in all business segments from $1.23 billion in 2007.  Its GAAP revenues were $68.5 million.

This will show you the magnitude of the drops in segments reported:

  • Corporate Private Equity had negative first quarter revenues;
  • Real Estate revenues down 94%;
  • Marketable Alternative Asset Management down 81%;
  • Financial Advisory Revenues decreased 24%.

You can look through the entire release, but as the company noted, most business segments were indeed lower.

Interestingly enough, the company now has $113.53 billion in assets under management.  That assets under management figure represents a 37% increase from last year. It has also decided to make a dividend payment of $0.30.

Shares of Blackstone are down about 4% at $18.70 in pre-market trading with about 30 minutes to the open.

Jon C. Ogg
May 15, 2008

Credit Card Companies Are Doing Something Nuts

Credit card companies are at war. The biggest issuers are handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers.

It’s possible to find cards paying unlimited 1.5%, 2%, and even more today. That’s free money for qualified borrowers, and the type of thing that would be crazy to pass up. Those rewards can add up to thousands of dollars every year in free money, and include other benefits as well.

We’ve assembled some of the best credit cards for users today.  Don’t miss these offers because they won’t be this good forever.

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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