KKR shares declined 8.9% on February 23, 2026, amid broader market concerns about the private credit sector. Blue Owl Capital's decision to permanently restrict investor withdrawals from one of its funds triggered a sell-off across alternative asset managers, including KKR. The $1.8 trillion private credit market faces investor anxiety regarding artificial intelligence spending concerns and lending standards. Shares of multiple asset managers including KKR, Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, and Ares Management declined following Blue Owl's announcement. However, KKR also announced positive developments on the same day, including a $1.3 billion deal to acquire a majority stake in XCL Education Holdings and a $4.0 billion pod manufacturing joint venture with Apollo and Goldman Sachs Asset Management for Keurig Dr Pepper. Multiple analysts maintained positive ratings on KKR despite the stock decline.
Read full analysisKKR shares declined 8.9% on February 23, 2026, amid broader market concerns about the private credit sector. Blue Owl Capital's decision to permanently restrict investor withdrawals from one of its funds triggered a sell-off across alternative asset managers, including KKR. The $1.8 trillion private credit market faces investor anxiety regarding artificial intelligence spending concerns and lending standards. Shares of multiple asset managers including KKR, Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, and Ares Management declined following Blue Owl's announcement. However, KKR also announced positive developments on the same day, including a $1.3 billion deal to acquire a majority stake in XCL Education Holdings and a $4.0 billion pod manufacturing joint venture with Apollo and Goldman Sachs Asset Management for Keurig Dr Pepper. Multiple analysts maintained positive ratings on KKR despite the stock decline.
KKR & Co. is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with operations spanning private equity, real estate, credit, and infrastructure across global markets. The firm has deployed roughly $15 billion in Southeast Asia alone and recently reported record annual figures for fee-related earnings and capital raised. Its significant private credit exposure has placed it at the center of the current sector-wide repricing triggered by liquidity concerns at rival Blue Owl Capital.