Carillon Tower Advisers, an investment management company, released its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the “Carillon Eagle Mid Cap Growth Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Mid-cap stocks delivered mixed results in the first quarter, and value notably outperformed growth. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index (down 6.35%) lagged behind the Russell Midcap® Value Index (up 3.69%). The notable contributing sector was energy, returning 45.23%, outperforming other sectors in the growth index and its value peers. The first quarter was volatile for equity markets, but investors were optimistic. However, military strikes on Iran caused energy prices to rise, shifting investor sentiment to uncertainty. Despite this turbulence, with improved valuations and potential positive developments from de-escalation in the Middle East, the firm is optimistic that the current market fluctuations will be short-lived. In addition, please check the Fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Carillon Eagle Mid Cap Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES). Founded in 1997, Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is a leading alternative asset manager. On April 20, 2026, Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) closed at $118.77 per share. One-month return of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) was 12.00%, and its shares lost 16.19% over the past 52 weeks. Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) has a market capitalization of $39.30 billion.
Carillon Eagle Mid Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is an alternative asset manager focused on private credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure investing. The stock was under pressure throughout the quarter as retail investors moved quickly to redeem private credit products, putting Ares’ asset-raising capability and fund performance in question. Ares focuses more toward institutional products, and as this shakeout continues, we believe its business mix, diversification, and track record should help separate the company from peers.”
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 51 hedge fund portfolios held Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) at the end of the fourth quarter, up from 50 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
