Amid a crowded field of 47 institutional asset managers, BlackRock earns the highest ratings on nearly every measure of brand strength, including top billing among both pension and non-profit investors for the firm they are most likely to consider for future mandates in the coming year. These and other findings are included in the annual US Institutional Investor Brandscape®, a Cogent Reports study by Market Strategies International.
¡°While BlackRock has consistently been on the leaderboard among both pensions and non-profits for several years, this is the first time we¡¯ve seen the firm claim such a strong position in both segments of the institutional market,¡± says Linda York, vice president and author of the study. ¡°This is truly a remarkable achievement, as very few asset managers are ever able to effectively meet the unique needs of both pensions and non-profits.¡±
The report found that institutional investors are continuing to follow two very divergent paths, with pensions very clearly focused on de-risking, while non-profits seek higher returns and further diversification opportunities. This in turn dictates the use of very different investment approaches and creates specialized demands of external asset managers courting these institutional assets.
¡°BlackRock is clearly firing on all cylinders in the institutional space,¡± York continues. ¡°They have created the right mix of product, price and promotion with an expansive offering of investment products and strategies, industry-leading passive management capabilities, and tremendous reach through effective thought leadership and advertising. While formidable competitors like Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors and J.P. Morgan Asset Management will continue to battle for the lead, we are also seeing dramatic improvements in consideration potential for challenger brands including Goldman Sachs Asset Management, UBS Global Asset Management, Franklin Templeton Investments, BNY Mellon Investment Management and Invesco, proving that BlackRock cannot rest on its laurels if it wants to continue to remain on top.¡±
