Operator Good day, and welcome to the Blackstone fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 investor call. Today's call is being recorded. [Operator instructions] At this time, I'd like to turn the conference over to Weston Tucker,

Blackstone (BX), the private equity giant, delivered stronger-than-expected Q4 earnings on Thursday, as assets under management climbed, bolstered by strong inflows and a 14% Y/Y increase in management and advisory fees.

Blackstone is well-poised for top-line growth, supported by a continued rise in AUM. The company is expected to keep gaining from its fund-raising ability. However, high expenses and a challenging operating backdrop are expected to hurt the bottom line in the near term.