An allocation to private credit can help mitigate some of these challenges, as it offers an attractive high-yielding, shorter-duration option for portfolios. This diverse asset class includes corporate direct lending and asset backed finance (ABF), which is usually investment grade in quality, with amortizing loans secured on physical assets or a stream of cash flows. Already popular with institutional investors, some common examples of ABF include aircraft financing, pools of credit card loans and consumer debt secured on solar panels.
In terms of the equity bucket, the relative positioning of public and private equity markets currently offers an excellent entry point into the private space, particularly for investors with no exposure. Historically, private equity outperforms public markets over the long term and designating an allocation within an equity mandate improves a portfolio’s Sharpe and Information Ratio.
Today, the case for allocating to private equity is particularly strong, given current valuations of public markets and projected long-term returns. As of January 7, the S&P 500 Index traded at 27 times its trailing 12-month earnings. Looking back at history, an investor entering the market at these multiples can expect a forward 10-year annualized return in the mid-to-low single digits, less than the 13% average annual return investors have become accustomed to over the past decade. [ 5 ] These numbers line up with many sell-side firms’ long-term return assumptions, which point to a 7% annualized return upper bound for US large-cap equities over the next decade. [ 6 ]
Investors could move to small- and mid-cap stocks, where current valuations are lower both in absolute terms and relative to their own history. However, swapping some of the large-cap exposure into a private equity allocation could be more impactful. Historically, private equity offers an attractive spread of 750–800 basis points above large-cap public equities in these types of environments. [ 7 ]
Beyond private equity and private credit, the combination of moderating inflation and persistent capital scarcity in certain sectors creates attractive entry points in infrastructure and real estate, particularly in areas benefiting from structural changes in global supply chains and energy transition initiatives.
Whether looking at public or private markets, high-quality companies with strong cash flow generation and robust balance sheets should command investors’ attention in this environment. In our view, those companies with prudent capital allocation strategies, strong operating margins and sustainable free cash flow yield are positioned to outperform.
At Blackstone, we have identified several high-conviction themes within private markets for 2025 and beyond. In the following section, Global Co-CIO Ken Caplan explores how Blackstone is leveraging its scale and expertise to capitalize on these generational investment opportunities and create value for our investors.