BlackRock's shares rose about 4% after the company announced a net profit of $2.21 billion for the first quarter of 2026, surpassing analysts' expectations. This growth was primarily fueled by robust inflows into its iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which saw $130 billion in total net inflows during the quarter. The firm also reported a significant increase in performance fees, climbing to $272 million from $60 million a year earlier, reflecting strong returns from its actively managed strategies. Despite a challenging backdrop with the S&P 500 declining 4.6%, BlackRock's assets under management rose to $13.89 trillion, compared to $11.58 trillion the previous year. Chief Executive Laurence Fink highlighted the firm's competitive position, attributing it to its integrated model across public and private markets. However, the private markets segment, which holds $320.4 billion in assets, remains under scrutiny due to concerns about transparency and risk, particularly following recent high-profile bankruptcies.