Q2 2026 Perella Weinberg Partners Earnings Call

July 31, 2026

Speaker #2: Please stand by. Your meeting is about to begin. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Perella Weinberg second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. Currently, all callers have been placed in a listen-only mode and following a management's prepared remarks.

Operator 2: Please stand by. Your meeting is about to begin. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Perella Weinberg Q2 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Currently, all callers have been placed in a listen-only mode, and following management's prepared remarks, the call will be open for your questions. If you would like to ask a question at that time, please press star one on your telephone. If you would like to remove yourself from the queue, press star two. Finally, at any time, if you should need any operator assistance, please press star zero. Please be advised that today's call is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to Ms. Taylor Reinhardt, Head of Communications and Marketing. Please go ahead, ma'am.

Speaker #2: The call will be open for your questions. If you would like to ask a question at that time, please press star one on your telephone.

Speaker #2: If you would like to remove yourself from the queue, press star, two. And finally, at any time, if you should need any operator assistance, please press star, zero.

Speaker #2: Please be advised that today's call is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to Ms. Taylor Reinhardt, Head of Communications and Marketing.

Speaker #2: Please go ahead, ma'am.

Speaker #3: Thank you, operator,

Taylor Reinhardt: Thank you, operator, and welcome all. Joining me today are Andrew Bednar, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Alex Gottschalk, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Before we begin, I'd like to note that this call may contain forward-looking statements, including Perella Weinberg's expectations of future financial and business performance and conditions and industry outlook. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future events or performance. Please refer to Perella Weinberg's most recent SEC filings for a discussion of certain of these risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations. The firm undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Speaker #1: And welcome all. Joining me today are Andrew Bednar, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Alexandra Gottschalk, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Before we begin, I'd like to note that this call may contain forward-looking statements, including Perella Weinberg's expectations of future financial and business performance, conditions, and industry outlook.

Speaker #1: Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of future events or performance.

Speaker #1: Please refer to Perella Weinberg’s most recent SEC filings for a discussion of certain of these risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations, and the firm undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Speaker #1: During the call, there will also be a discussion of some metrics, which are non-GAAP financial measures, which management believes are relevant in assessing the financial performance of the business.

Taylor Reinhardt: During the call, there will also be a discussion of some metrics, which are non-GAAP financial measures, which management believes are relevant in assessing the financial performance of the business. Perella Weinberg has reconciled these items to the most comparable GAAP measures in the press release filed with today's Form 8-K, which can be found on the company's website. I will now turn the call over to Andrew Bednar to discuss our results.

Speaker #1: Perella Weinberg has reconciled these items to the most comparable GAAP measures in the press release filed with today's Form 8-K, which can be found on the company's website.

Speaker #1: I will now turn the call over to Andrew Bednar to discuss our results.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Taylor, and good morning. Today, we reported second quarter revenues of $157 million. Up 1% from a year ago. Bringing our first half revenues to $305 million down 17% compared to last year.

Alexandra Gottschalk: Thank you, Taylor. Good morning. Today we reported Q2 revenues of $157 million, up 1% from a year ago, bringing our H1 revenues to $305 million, down 17% compared to last year. Our booked revenues does not yet reflect the momentum we're seeing across our business. Announced transactions have picked up significantly. We're running ahead of where we were at this point in 2025. The pace has accelerated this summer with nearly 40% of our year-to-date announcements occurring since the start of June. Our announcements are M&A weighted with recent elevated activity in our healthcare, industrials, energy, and TMT businesses. In addition, our restructuring and liability management pipeline continues to grow with new mandates and with 10 transactions announced in the quarter.

Speaker #3: Our booked revenue does not yet reflect the momentum we're seeing across our business. Announced transactions have picked up significantly. We're running ahead of where we were at this point in 2025, and the pace has accelerated this summer, with nearly 40% of our year-to-date announcements occurring since the start of June.

Speaker #3: Our announcements are M&A-weighted, with recent elevated activity in our healthcare, industrials, energy, and TMT businesses. In addition, our restructuring liability management pipeline continues to grow, with new mandates and with 10 transactions announced in the quarter.

Speaker #3: The number of companies facing significant 2028 and 2029 maturities, and increasing rating agency pressure, is larger than ever, and we expect the environment for our financing and capital solutions business to remain robust.

Alexandra Gottschalk: The number of companies facing significant 2028 and 2029 maturities and increasing rating agency pressure is larger than ever. We expect the environment for our financing and capital solutions business to remain robust. We also reached an important milestone this quarter by closing transactions in our private funds advisory business. We're encouraged by the pipeline we're building in that business. We're pleased with how quickly this capability is gaining traction with our teams and with our clients. There are two metrics that are the strongest leading indicators of our business, our announced and pending backlog. This metric is up nearly two and a half times from a year ago. Adding that to booked revenue, our total booked plus announced and pending backlog is up over 30% year over year as of today.

Speaker #3: We also reached an important milestone this quarter by closing transactions in our private funds advisory business. We're encouraged by the pipeline we're building in that business, and we're pleased with how quickly this capability is gaining traction with our teams and with our clients.

Speaker #3: There are two metrics that are the strongest leading indicators of our business. Our announced impending backlog and this metric is up nearly 2 and 1/2 times from a year ago.

Speaker #3: And adding that to booked revenue, our total booked plus announced impending backlog is up over 30% year over year as of today. The A&P backlog includes a number of large fee events, which won't all show up in our 2026 results.

Alexandra Gottschalk: The A&P backlog includes a number of large fee events which won't all show up in our 2026 results, but we feel great about the direction of travel and our setup into the H2 of 2026 and into 2027. As we indicated on the Q1 call, we expected the year to be H2 weighted, that is exactly what we are seeing. We continue to invest in talent to scale our business. We have six partners joining in the coming months from the Gleacher Shacklock acquisition and from continued lateral hiring. We announced a new class of eight partner promotes earlier this week. Today, our internally promoted partners represent roughly 45% of our overall partnership, which is a real testament to the depth of talent we've developed and our ability to grow leaders from within. These are important features of our brand.

Speaker #3: But we feel great about the direction of travel and our setup heading into the back half of '26 and into 2027. As we indicated on the first quarter call, we expected the year to be back-half weighted, and that is exactly what we are seeing.

Speaker #3: And we continue to invest in talent to scale our business. We have six partners joining in the coming months, from the Gleacher Shacklock acquisition and from continued lateral hiring.

Speaker #3: And we announced a new class of eight partner promotes earlier this week. These internally promoted partners represent roughly 45% of our overall partnership, which is a real testament to the depth of talent we've developed and our ability to grow leaders from within.

Speaker #3: These are important features of our brand. Congratulations to our new partners; it's an honor to have them join our partnership, and it's also very well-deserved recognition.

Alexandra Gottschalk: Congratulations to our new partners. It's an honor to have them join our partnership, and it's also very well-deserved recognition. Looking at the partnership as a whole, more than a third are in the ramp-up stage with under three years as a partner, which gives us meaningful runway as that group seasons on our platform. Taken together, the acceleration in announcements, the related growth and revenue backlog, our continued investment in partner-led talent, and the build-out of new capabilities and private funds advisory, along with broader coverage in the UK, our platform continues to strengthen. This gives us great confidence in our business heading into the H2 of the year and well beyond. With that, I'll now turn the call over to Alex to review our financial results and capital management in more detail.

Speaker #3: Looking at the partnership as a whole, more than a third are in the ramp-up stage with under three years as a partner. Which gives us meaningful runway, as that group seasons on our platform.

Speaker #3: Taken together, the acceleration announcements, the related growth and revenue backlog, our continued investment in partner-led talent, and the build-out of new capabilities in private funds advisory, along with broader coverage in the UK, our platform continues to strengthen.

Speaker #3: And this gives us great confidence in our business heading into the back half of the year and well beyond. With that, I'll now turn the call over to Alex to review our financial results and capital management in more detail.

Speaker #4: Thank you, Andrew. Starting with expenses, our adjusted compensation ratio was 71% for the first half of the year. With revenue weighted to the back half, we expect that ratio to come down toward our full-year target of 67% as additional revenue is recognized.

Alexandra Gottschalk: Thank you, Andrew. Starting with expenses, our adjusted compensation ratio was 71% for the H1 of the year. With revenue weighted to the H2, we expect that ratio to come down toward our full-year target of 67% as additional revenue is recognized. Our adjusted non-compensation expense of $31 million for the quarter was down $5 million from the prior year period and $6 million from the prior quarter period, driven in part by an insurance recovery and lower bad debt expense. For the H1, adjusted non-compensation expenses totaled $69 million, down 20% from the same period last year. While we expect higher spend in the H2 of the year, we remain on track for a single-digit percent decrease in full-year adjusted non-comp versus 2025.

Speaker #4: Our adjusted non-compensation expense of $31 million for the quarter was down $5 million from the prior year period and $6 million from the prior quarter period.

Speaker #4: Driven in part by an insurance recovery and lower bad debt expense. For the first half, adjusted non-compensation expenses totaled $69 million, down 20% from the same period last year.

Speaker #4: While we expect higher spend in the back half of the year, we remain on track for a single-digit percent decrease in full-year adjusted non-comp versus 2025.

Speaker #4: As it relates to taxes, we expect our underlying adjusted tax rate, excluding the benefit from RSU vestings, to be in the low to mid-30% range for the remainder of 2026.

Alexandra Gottschalk: As it relates to taxes, we expect our underlying adjusted tax rates, excluding the benefit from our RSU vestings, to be in the low to mid 30% range for the remainder of 2026. Turning to capital management, year to date, we have returned $73 million to equity holders through a combination of dividends, distributions, and RSU settlements. In our five years as a public company, we have returned over $765 million in aggregate, including the retirement of 40 million shares or share equivalents. We remain committed to delivering value to our shareholders through prudent capital management. We ended the quarter with $116 million in cash, no debt, and 74 million Class A shares and 20 million partnership units outstanding. This morning, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share. With that, operator, please open the line for questions.

Speaker #4: Turning to capital management, year to date, we have returned $73 million to equity holders through a combination of dividends, distributions, and RSU settlements. In our five years as a public company, we have returned over $765 million in aggregate, including the retirement of $40 million shares or share equivalents.

Speaker #4: We remain committed to delivering value to our shareholders through prudent capital management. We ended the quarter with $116 million in cash, no debt, and $74 million class A shares and $20 million partnership units outstanding.

Speaker #4: This morning, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share. With that, operator, please open the line for questions.

Speaker #5: Certainly, Ms. Gottschalk, thank you, ma'am. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, if you do have any questions, again, that's star one. And if you would like to remove yourself from the queue, it's star two.

Operator 2: Certainly, Ms. Gottschalk. Thank you, ma'am. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, if you do have any questions, again, that's star one. If you would like to remove yourself from the queue, it's star two. We'll go first this morning to Devin Ryan of Citizens JMP.

Speaker #5: We'll go first this morning to Dev and Ryan of Citizens Bank.

Speaker #6: Hi, thanks. Good morning, Andrew and Alex. How are you?

Devin Ryan: Thanks. Good morning, Andrew and Alex. How are you?

Speaker #3: Very good. Hi, Devin.

Andrew Bednar: Very good. Hi, Devin.

Speaker #7: Hi, Devin.

Speaker #6: Hi. Hi. I want to just maybe start on the backlog commentary and just, Andrew, the momentum that you talked about and heard the comment that, I think, 40% of the year-to-date announced activity has occurred since June.

Alexandra Gottschalk: Hi, Devin.

Alexandra Gottschalk: Hi. I want to just maybe start on the backlog commentary and just, Andrew, the momentum that you talked about and heard the comment that like 40% of the year-to-date announced activity has occurred since June. Obviously things have been picking up quite a bit over the last couple of months here. Can you just talk about maybe what is changing to move conversations to announcement or speed things up? Is it conditions shifting or is it just the way these specific deals are evolving? If you just can give a little bit more color around what you're seeing across both the spectrum of large deals versus smaller deals and anything from a geographic perspective too would be helpful. Thanks.

Speaker #6: So obviously, things have been picking up quite a bit over the last couple of months here. So can you just talk about maybe what is changing to move conversations to announcement or speed things up?

Speaker #6: Is it conditions shifting, or is it just the way that these specific deals are evolving? And then if you just can give a little bit more color around what you're seeing across kind of both the spectrum of kind of large deals versus smaller deals and anything from a geographic perspective too, it would be helpful.

Speaker #6: Thanks.

Speaker #3: Sure. Thanks, Devin. It's more idiosyncratic, I think, just to the nature of our investments and the boots that we have on the ground. So we're not really tethered to the broader market as other firms might be, where their market share leaders were market share takers and growing our market share.

Andrew Bednar: Sure. Thanks, Devin. It's more idiosyncratic, I think, just to the nature of our investments and the boots that we have on the ground. We're not really tethered to the broader market as other firms might be, where they're market share leaders. We're market share takers and growing our market share. For us, it's all about where we've made investments. Those investments, as you know, take time. They're not light switch operations. We've been very dogged in thinking about our client coverage. We've been very disciplined. I think we've made very good investments in our industrials business, in our consumer business, healthcare especially, and around some of our infrastructure and tech franchises. Those bankers have been on the platform now for a while, and these transactions and relationships, then transactions follow. It just takes time.

Speaker #3: So for us, it's all about where we've made investments. Those investments, as you know, take time. They're not light-switch operations. And so we've been very dogged in thinking about our client coverage.

Speaker #3: We've been very disciplined. I think we've made very good investments in our industrials business, in our consumer business, healthcare especially, and around some of our infrastructure and tech franchises.

Speaker #3: And those bankers have been on the platform now for a while, and these transactions and relationships and then transactions follow. It just takes time.

Speaker #3: That curve for us is very evident, and we just feel very good about the people we have on the ground now and the progress they're making.

Andrew Bednar: That curve for us is very evident, and we just feel very good about the people we have on the ground now and the progress they're making. It's less about something that's fundamentally changed. We haven't really changed what we're doing. It's more just the investments we've made, and in those particular client segments, they've been active, and we see, again, really great progress in particular the last 6 weeks or so, and the backlog has built up very nicely. On the question of large versus small, I think that when you look at the broader markets, you don't need me to tell you this, you can look at the data, but the transactions over $10 billion are accounting for a pretty large percentage of overall volume. I think the $1 to $5 billion category on transaction count is down a bit.

Speaker #3: So it's less about something that's fundamentally changed. We haven't really changed what we're doing. It's more just the investments we've made, and those particular client segments—they've been active, and we see, again, really great progress, in particular over the last six weeks or so, and the backlog has built up very nicely.

Speaker #3: On the question of large versus small, I think that when you look at the broader markets, you don't need me to tell you this.

Speaker #3: You can look at the data. But the transactions over $10 billion are accounting for a pretty large percentage of overall volume. I think the 1 to 5 billion category on transaction count is down a bit.

Speaker #3: Again, because we're not tethered to the broader market stats, we continue to feel good about the investments we've made. We've had transactions in the over $20 billion level.

Andrew Bednar: Again, because we're not tethered to the broader market stats, we continue to feel good about the investments we've made. We've had transactions in the over $20 billion level. We've had transactions in the $700 to $2 billion level, and those are all good fee events for us, and again, building our franchise in a market where transactions beget transactions. As you increase your relevance, it does have a compounding effect. We're just in that stage of our investment cycle. In terms of the question about United States or North America versus rest of world, for us, the mix is pretty much the same as it's always been, something around 80/20. We're not seeing much divergence there. We're seeing the same pace of activity in both of our key markets in Europe and the United States.

Speaker #3: We've had transactions in the $700 to $2 billion level. And those are all good fee events for us. And again, building our franchise in a market where transactions that get transactions, as you increase your relevance, it does have a compounding effect.

Speaker #3: So we're just in that stage of our investment cycle. In terms of the question about United States or North America versus rest of the world, for us, the mix is pretty much the same as it's always been—something around 80/20.

Speaker #3: We're not seeing much divergence there, and we're seeing the same pace of activity in both of our key markets in Europe and the United States.

Speaker #3: I would say that a lot of the historic barriers to transactions and the excuses for not doing transactions have largely been removed from the boardroom.

Andrew Bednar: I would say that a lot of the historic barriers to transactions and the excuses for not doing transactions have largely been removed from the boardroom. We're seeing now a very open-minded invest and, in some cases, a very aggressive stance toward thinking about how to drive business forward, create value for stakeholders. A lot of the prior excuses, whether it was tariffs or inflation or Ukraine war or whatever it might have been, we're just not feeling that in the boardrooms anymore. People are in transaction mode, and we like that, particularly for our larger strategic clients.

Speaker #3: We're seeing now a very open-mindedness and, in some cases, a very aggressive stance toward thinking about how to drive business forward and create value for stakeholders.

Speaker #3: So a lot of the prior excuses, whether it was tariffs, inflation, the Iran war, or whatever it might have been, we're just not feeling that in the boardrooms anymore.

Speaker #3: People are in transaction mode, and we like that, particularly for our larger strategic clients.

Speaker #6: Great color. Thank you, Andrew. And then just a follow-up on just kind of the partner composition. Appreciate a fair amount of changes just even this year with the three-year review.

Devin Ryan: Great color. Thank you, Andrew. Just a follow-up on just the partner composition. Appreciate a fair amount of changes just even this year with the three-year review, recent acquisitions, and a big promote class, which is good to see. Can you just talk a little bit about the team on the field today and how you think that compares to the team heading into the year? Appreciate a comment on there's a lot of partners still scaling their productivity. How do you feel about their ability to ramp? I don't know if it's to $15 million of revenue or how you guys think about a more mature partner productivity level. Just intertwined with the question is, if productivity is increasing, what does that mean for margin potential of the company?

Speaker #6: And then, kind of recent acquisitions and a big promote class, which is good to see. Can you just talk a little bit about the team on the field today and how you think that compares to the kind of team heading into the year?

Speaker #6: And appreciate kind of the comment on there's a lot of partners kind of still scaling their productivity. So how do you feel about kind of their ability to ramp?

Speaker #6: I don't know if it's to $15 million of revenue or how you guys think about kind of a more mature partner productivity level. And just intertwined with the question is, if productivity is increasing, what does that mean for margin, potential of the company, and the last part of the question, sorry for multi-parts here, but just how to think about the just the growth now from here?

Devin Ryan: The last part of the question, sorry for multi-part here, just how to think about just the growth now from here. You've reset the base. You've brought some people in. Some people have been moved to advisor or moved out. How do we think about growing from now this level? Thanks.

Speaker #6: You've kind of reset the base you've brought some people in, some people have been moved to advisor or moved out. How do we think about growing from now this level?

Speaker #6: Thanks. Okay. I'll try

Andrew Bednar: Okay. I'll try to get all of that, Devin. If I miss something, just let me know.

Speaker #3: To get all of that, Devin, if I missed something, just let me know. I mean, fundamentally, it's a question about our business, and at its core, we're investors and business builders.

Devin Ryan: That's fair.

Andrew Bednar: I mean, fundamentally, it's a question about our business. At its core, we're investors and business builders, and we invest in people. In effect, the product is our people. When you invest in people, you have to make the investment up front. As you know, I've had debates with the accountants on this, but our investments in people are not capitalized. They're expensed. It's a unique feature of the business where we're investing in people. We have to take that investment up front. As people mature in this business, as they build their network, as they build transactions and build relevance and get more experience, actually, unlike products which depreciate, and then you have to figure out how to reinvent the product and innovate the product. Our products actually get more valuable over time. It's a great feature to our business.

Speaker #3: And we invest in people. So, in effect, the product is our people. And when you invest in people, you have to make the investment upfront.

Speaker #3: As you know, I've had debates with the accountants on this, but our investments in people are not capitalized. They're expensed. And so it's a unique feature of the business where we're investing in people.

Speaker #3: We have to take that investment upfront. But then as people mature in this business, as they build their network, as they build transactions and build relevance and get more experience, actually, unlike products, which depreciate and then you have to figure out how to reinvent the product and innovate the product, our products actually get more valuable over time.

Speaker #3: So it's a great feature to our business. Now, we have to make the right decisions about the people. We bring into develop. But it's just a great feature of the business.

Andrew Bednar: Now we have to make the right decisions about the people we bring into the firm, the people we promote and develop, but it's just a great feature of the business. Now, reality of the business also is at some point you have people that will retire, will age out, will get less productive. I think the changes we made, without me being too derogatory, I think they've been misinterpreted by the marketplace, which is okay. I'm not trying to correct everyone's viewpoint, but these are very natural and necessary changes if you're going to have a high-performing partnership. You're being positioned for future growth, and you're always investing in the next generation. We have a really great class of partners we've announced earlier this week, as you mentioned.

Speaker #3: Now, the reality of the business also is, at some point, you have people that will retire, will age out, will get less productive. So, I think the changes we've made—without me being too derogatory—I think they've been misinterpreted by the marketplace, which is okay.

Speaker #3: I'm not trying to correct everyone's viewpoint, but these are very natural and necessary changes. If you're going to have a high-performing partnership and you're being positioned for future growth, and you're always investing in the next generation, we have a really great class of partners we've announced earlier this week. As you mentioned, these are all highly qualified and highly productive people that we believe will be highly productive partners in the future.

Andrew Bednar: These are all highly qualified and highly productive people that we believe in to be highly productive partners in the future. We're still targeting that $15 million, but when we have promotions, in particular, it takes time to ramp up. There is a differential when we hire talent from the outside versus promote from within. The promotion from within does take longer to ramp. The primary reason we have chosen this class of partners is that we believe in them, and believe that they can ramp. Our profile right now is, if you look at a third, even a little more than a third of the partnership is here less than 3 years. We have experience, particularly in post-COVID, though I don't know that it's a post-COVID thing.

Speaker #3: And we're still targeting that $15 million, but when we have promotions in particular, it takes time to ramp up. And so there is a differential when we hire talent from the outside versus promote from within the promotion from within does take longer to ramp.

Speaker #3: But the primary reason we have chosen this class of partners is that we believe in them and believe that they can ramp. So our profile right now is, if you look at a third, even a little more than a third of the partnership, is here less than three years.

Speaker #3: We have experience, particularly in post-COVID—though I don't know that it's a post-COVID thing, it just means that's when we looked at disinfection—where historically, we'd start to ramp up people in one to two years, and that ramp is really three-plus years.

Andrew Bednar: It just means that's when we looked at this inflection, where historically we'd start to ramp up people one to two years, and that ramp is really 3+ years. We're managing the business as though our promotions are going to be 3+ year ramps. From external hires may be a little faster, but generally that ramp up is taking a bit longer. We feel good about the growth from within here. Again, we're really disciplined on how we're thinking about coverage, and we feel like some of the investments we've made, particularly from the outside are actually paying some real dividends now as we build up scale in those businesses. I hope I got all the questions, Devin, and I started to forget what you asked as I was talking. Sorry.

Speaker #3: And so we're managing the business as though our promotions are going to be three-plus-year ramps. And from external hires, maybe a little faster, but generally, that ramp-up is taking a bit longer.

Speaker #3: So, if you look at the growth from within here, again, we're really disciplined on how we're thinking about coverage. And we feel like some of the investments we've made, particularly from within and from the outside, are actually paying some real dividends now as we build up the scale in those businesses.

Speaker #3: I hope I got all the questions, Devin, I started to forget what you asked as I was talking. Sorry.

Speaker #6: You did. And yeah, the fundamental piece, yeah, we hit and I appreciate the multi-part of it, but I think we covered everything. So thank you.

Devin Ryan: You did. Yeah, the fundamental piece, yeah, I appreciate the multi-part of it, but I think we covered everything. Thank you.

Speaker #3: Great. Okay, Devin. Thanks.

Andrew Bednar: Great. Okay, Devin. Thanks.

Speaker #1: Thank you. We'll go next now to Alex Bond with KBW.

Operator 2: Thank you. We'll go next now to Alex Bond with KBW.

Speaker #7: Hey, good morning, everyone. Thanks for taking the questions. Just wanted to start on hey, good morning. Just wanted to start on the compensation outlook.

Alex Bond: Hey, good morning, everyone. Thanks for taking the questions.

Andrew Bednar: Hey, Alex.

Alex Bond: Hey, good morning. Just wanted to start on the compensation outlook for the year here. The H1, the adjusted compensation ratio was 71%, just wondering how you're thinking about just the full year, just given the visibility into the H2. Obviously, a lot can change between now and the end of the year, but as we sit here, just would be great to kind of get your updated take on full year expectations. I think you've previously cited like that 67% ratio. Just wondering if that is still a reasonable target here for the full year.

Speaker #7: For the year here, so the first half, the adjusted compensation ratio was 71%, but just wondering how you're thinking about the full year just given the visibility and the back half.

Speaker #7: Obviously, a lot can change between now and the end of the year, but as we sit here, just would be great to kind of get your updated take on full year expectations.

Speaker #7: And I think you've previously cited that 67% ratio. Just wondering if that is still a reasonable target here for the full year.

Speaker #3: Yeah, as Alex said the other Alex, our Alex said in the upfront commentary, we're still targeting 67. There'll be some noise and lumpiness as we get there through the year because we've said that revenue will be back half.

Andrew Bednar: Yeah, as Alex said, the other Alex, our Alex said in the upfront commentary, we're still targeting 67%. There'll be some noise and lumpiness as we get there through the year because we've said that revenue will be H2 weighted this year, but our target's still 67%. No change from what we said on the prior call.

Speaker #3: Weighted this year, but our target's still 67. No change from what we said on the prior call.

Speaker #7: Got it. Okay. Great. And then maybe just wanted to try and drill a little bit deeper around expectations for the second half of the year.

Alex Bond: Got it. Okay, great. Maybe just wanted to try and drill a little bit deeper around expectations for H2 of the year. It certainly does seem like from what we have seen in the public data, and you noted the strength of the total pipeline, that it is going to be much stronger than H1. Maybe just trying to get a better sense of how you are thinking about the revenue generation potential there. Given that you did highlight there are some mandates that are going to flow into 2027 that are currently in the pipeline. Just any other color there would be great as well. Thank you.

Speaker #7: I mean, it certainly does seem like from what we can see in the public data and you noted the strength of the total pipeline, that it's going to be a much stronger than the first half.

Speaker #7: But maybe just trying to get a better sense of how you're thinking about the revenue generation potential there, given that you did highlight some of the there are some mandates that are going to flow into 2027 that are currently in the pipeline.

Speaker #7: So just any other color there would be great as well. Thank you.

Speaker #3: Yeah. We don't, as you know, give revenue guidance. And for us, it's a much better metric, as I said. And I realize you guys need to look at what's booked and what's in our financial reporting, but that's looking back, not looking forward.

Andrew Bednar: Yeah. We don't, as you know, give revenue guidance, and for us, it is a much better metric, as I have said, and I realize you guys need to look at what is booked and what is in our financial reporting. That is looking back, not looking forward. The looking forward, when we measure the strength of our business, the momentum is really about the booked plus the A&P. As I said in the upfront commentary, though, that is up 30-plus% from where we were this time last year. Now, because of the nature of the business, where we do work on some very large fee events that are complex and have approval processes that take time, it is very difficult for anyone to predict when those various work streams and approvals are going to be completed.

Speaker #3: The looking forward when we measure the strength of our business and the momentum is really about the booked plus the A&P. And as I said in the upfront commentary, that's up 30-plus percent from where we were this time last year.

Speaker #3: Now, because of the nature of the business where we do work on some very large fee events that are complex and have approval processes that take time, it's very, very difficult for anyone to predict when those various workstreams and approvals are going to be completed.

Speaker #3: So we don't see completion risk in the pipeline that we currently have, but we do have timeline risk that's very hard to influence and to judge exactly when those will become booked revenue.

Andrew Bednar: We don't see completion risk in the pipeline that we currently have, but we do have timeline risk that is very hard to influence and to judge exactly when those will become booked revenue. Again, that will be just something out of our control. We eventually believe that we will get that revenue as those transactions close. I know that may not be that helpful, Alex, but that is the reality of our business.

Speaker #3: But again, that will be just something out of our control, but we do believe that we will eventually get that revenue as those transactions close.

Speaker #3: So I know that may not be that helpful, Alex, but that's the reality of our business.

Speaker #7: No, it makes sense. And thank you for the color, Andrew.

Alex Bond: No, it makes sense. Thank you for the color, Andrew.

Speaker #3: Thanks.

Andrew Bednar: Thanks.

Speaker #1: Thank you. We'll go next now to James Yarrow with Goldman Sachs.

Operator 2: Thank you. We'll go next now to James Yaro with Goldman Sachs.

Speaker #8: Good morning, and thanks for taking the question. Andrew, I was hoping you might be able to speak this morning. Could you just speak to the impact of higher long and short interest rates on M&A, with a particular focus on sponsor M&A?

James Yaro: Good morning, and thanks for taking the question. Andrew. Morning. Could you just speak to the impact of higher long and short interest rates on M&A, with a particular focus on sponsor M&A? Do you see the recovery in this part of the M&A market being once again pushed out at all?

Speaker #8: Do you see the recovery in this part of the M&A market being once again pushed out at all?

Speaker #3: Yeah, thanks, James. As you know from prior discussions and commentary, I’ve been more cautious on this "floodgate opening" from private equity. I think there are moments where we’ve had some surge activity from private equity, both buy-side and sell-side.

Andrew Bednar: Yeah. Thanks, James. As you know from prior discussions and commentary that I've been more cautious on this floodgate opening from private equity. I think there are moments where we've had some surge activity from private equity, both buy side, sell side. We've got today about a little over a third of our business is private equity related. We've had historically a much heavier weighting on corporates, but given hiring we've done, we're, I think, making really good progress in that market. I think overall, rates always affect ability to finance. I think right now there's plenty of credit. Its availability is enormous. I'd say in a lot of situations, there's probably more credit available than the buyer wants, with maybe the exception of software-related transactions where there's been a little bit of a cap on loan to value.

Speaker #3: Today, a little over a third of our business is private equity-related. Historically, we've had a much heavier weighting on corporates, but given the hiring we've done, I think we're making really good progress in that market.

Speaker #3: I think overall, rates always affect ability to finance. I think right now, there's plenty of credit. It's availability is enormous. Let's say in a lot of situations, there's probably more credit available than the buyer wants with maybe the exception of software.

Speaker #3: Related transactions where there's been a little bit of a cap on loan to value. I think that costs are a bit higher than people would like, but I think the main driver of the lack of a floodgate opening for private equity has really been valuation and just still continued disconnect between what buyers are willing to pay and sellers are prepared to part ways with.

Andrew Bednar: I think Costs are a bit higher than people would like, but I think the main driver of the lack of a floodgate opening for private equity has really been valuation and just still continued disconnect between what buyers are willing to pay and sellers are prepared to part ways with. Until that gets resolved, I think you're still going to see activity, for sure, because the nature of private equity is to transact. That's the business they're in. Ultimately, all of those assets will find some transaction, whether it's a outright sell side, an IPO, some sort of continuation vehicle, or recapitalization. Private equity continue to be extremely busy, but it may not be in traditional buy-side, sell-side until you have a better alignment between buyers and sellers.

Speaker #3: And so, until that gets resolved, I think you're still going to see activity for sure, because the nature of private equity is to transact.

Speaker #3: That's the business they're in. And ultimately, all of those assets will find some transaction, whether it's a outright sell-side, an IPO, some sort of continuation vehicle, or recapitalization.

Speaker #3: So private equity continue to be extremely busy. But it may not be in traditional buy-side, sell-side until you have a better alignment between buyers and sellers.

Speaker #8: That's very clear. I hoped you might be able to just comment at least at a high level about the secondary's business that you've built after the investment you've made over the past few years.

James Yaro: That's very clear. I hoped you might be able to just comment, at least at a high level about the secondaries business that you've built after the investments you've made over the past few years.

Speaker #3: Yeah, it's still early days. We've made the acquisition last summer. It closed in October. We've got a few transactions already closed. We've got a number in the pipeline.

Andrew Bednar: Yeah, it's still early days. We made the acquisition last summer. It closed in October. We've got a few transactions already closed. We've got a number in the pipeline. I think the take-up has been very good. Our teams are understanding that product and capability better because we've never had it. I think having our relationship teams now focused on this particular product and capability has been very good in terms of how they've presented it to clients. The client take-up has been very good so far. We feel good about the business, and like the capability, and gives us, again, that greater dialogue with our, in particular, our alternative asset manager clients who are looking for a broader set of capabilities from firms like ours.

Speaker #3: I think the take-up has been very good. Our teams are understanding that product and capability better because we've never had it. So I think having our relationship teams now focused on this particular product and capability has been very, very good in terms of how they've presented it to clients and the client take-up has been very good so far.

Speaker #3: So we feel good about the business. And like the capability and gives us, again, that greater dialogue with our in particular, our alternative asset manager clients who are looking for a broader set of capabilities from firms like ours.

Speaker #8: Thanks for taking the questions.

James Yaro: Thanks for taking the questions.

Speaker #3: Thanks, James.

Andrew Bednar: Thanks, James.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Mr. Bednard, it appears we have no further questions this morning, sir. I'd like to turn the conference back to you for any closing comments.

Operator 2: Thank you. Mr. Bednar, it appears we have no further questions this morning, sir. I'd like to turn the conference back to you for any closing comments.

Speaker #3: Okay. Thank you, operator. Thank you, everyone, for joining today. We really appreciate your support and look forward to speaking again in a few months.

Andrew Bednar: Okay. Thank you, operator. Thank you everyone for joining today. We really appreciate your support and look forward to speaking again in a few months. Take care. Bye-bye.

Speaker #3: Take care. Bye-bye.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Mr. Bednard. Thank you, Ms. Gottschalk. Again, this concludes the Perella Weinberg second quarter 2026 earnings call and webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time and have a wonderful day.

Operator 2: Thank you, Mr. Bednar, and thank you, Ms. Gottschalk. Again, this concludes the Perella Weinberg Q2 2026 earnings call and webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time, and have a wonderful day.

Q2 2026 Perella Weinberg Partners Earnings Call

Request DemoDemo

Perella Weinberg Partners

Earnings