Moelis (MC) Q2 2026 Earnings Report

The call emphasized strong, broad-based revenue growth, record results in capital markets and PCA, a substantially larger announced pipeline (+80%), improved margins, meaningful talent additions and active capital returns, indicating positive operational momentum. Notable challenges include rising non-compensation costs, competitive senior hiring pressures, pockets of weaker capital structure activity, industry-wide sponsor exit constraints in parts of the mid-market, and macro/AI-related risks. On balance the positive revenue, pipeline, margin improvements and balance sheet strength outweigh the challenges.

Guidance from the call was constructive: Q2 revenues were $409.0M (+12% YoY) and first‑half revenues were $729.0M (+9% YoY), both records, with capital markets and private capital advisory driving growth and an announced pipeline up >80% year‑over‑year as the firm enters the back half with a record total pipeline; first‑half business mix was ~2/3 M&A / 1/3 non‑M&A. Management expects a strong second half, continued progress on the adjusted compensation ratio (65.8% in Q2 and YTD vs. 69% prior year, with improvement dependent on full‑year revenues, senior hiring and the talent market), and steady adjusted non‑comp expense run‑rate (Q2 non‑comp $66.5M, 16.2% ratio; H1 non‑comp $134M, 18.3% ratio; quarterly non‑comp expected in the mid‑to‑high $60M range). Financial highlights and capital returns include adjusted pretax margins of 18.6% (Q2) and 17.0% (YTD) vs. 17.6%/16.0% prior, an effective tax rate of 29.1% for the quarter, a $0.65 regular quarterly dividend, ~337k shares repurchased in Q2 at $64.43 avg (≈2.3M shares repurchased YTD for ~$141M), ~ $246M returned to shareholders in H1 including dividends, and cash of $481M with no debt. The firm also reinforced hiring and strategic investments (12 lateral MD hires YTD and 13 internal promotions, PCA team at 7 dedicated MDs) and ongoing AI deployment with largely fixed‑cost contracts to date.