New York, Feb 4, 2026, 10:58 EST — Session ongoing.
- Blue Owl Capital shares climbed in early trading, bouncing back from a drop of nearly 10% the day before.
- Fears of AI disruption in software are now hitting private-credit lenders tied to software investments.
- Investors are zeroing in on Blue Owl’s results due Feb. 5, seeking insights on credit performance and fundraising during the earnings call.
Shares of Blue Owl Capital Inc edged up 0.9% to $12.22 Wednesday morning, rebounding from an early dip to $11.75 but still shy of the day’s peak around $12.34.
The stock is attempting to steady as investors grow uneasy about loans linked to software firms—a sector now hit by renewed “AI can do your job” fears. This hits Blue Owl hard, since private credit makes up its largest business, and software companies have been major borrowers in that arena.
The timing is sharp—Blue Owl is gearing up to open its books once more. Following the market turmoil, management faces greater pressure to prove that credit remains solid and that clients continue to put fresh money to work.
Software and IT services stocks are dragging down finance companies tied to the sector, Reuters reported Tuesday. Private credit firms like Blue Owl and Ares Management dropped nearly 10%. J.P. Morgan’s Toby Ogg said investors have been “sentenced before trial,” noting that interest in buying dips “remains generally low” amid mounting concerns over AI-native competitors and clients developing their own tools. 1
Executives at bigger competitors are now viewing AI as a portfolio risk, not merely an investment trend. Blackstone president and COO Jon Gray described AI disruption as “top of the page” for the company, urging investors to factor it into “almost everything you’re doing now.” 2
Blue Owl oversees investments in Credit, Real Assets, and GP Strategic Capital, reporting over $295 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2025. 3
The company will release its fourth-quarter 2025 results before the U.S. market opens on Thursday, Feb. 5, with a conference call scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern. 4
Investors are focused on any signs of risk tied to software borrowers, how portfolio firms are managing amid falling valuations, and if fundraising from institutions and private wealth has cooled during the recent market shakeup.
The AI headline shock complicates credit markets. Even if worries turn out to be exaggerated, sour sentiment could still weigh on private-market valuations and deal activity. Actual credit losses, if they materialize, usually take time to surface.
Thursday’s earnings and the management’s tone on the call are the next major triggers. Traders will be looking to see if Blue Owl can stop this week’s slide from deepening.
