FRIDAY DATA DUMP: Private Equity Buys Everything
Ownership Of Fools
THE SET-UP: Did you know the United States and China are the only nations with GDPs larger than BlackRock’s total assets under management (AUM)?
BlackRock’s AUM is roughly $14 trillion. The US’s GDP is approximately $30 trillion and China’s is just north of $20 trillion. The next on the list is Germany’s $5.45 trillion. It’s an impressive number for a nation of 83 million people, but BlackRock’s $5.72 trillion investment in just the stock market is larger than Germany’s GDP … and it’s doing it with just 29k employees.
It’s current stock portfolio is also a bit less than the $6.3 trillion in total AUM BlackRock controlled when Bloomberg profiled its post-Crash rise in 2018. It’s AUM has more than doubled in size in just eight years. It should come as no surprise … private equity’s roll-up of small business exemplifies the transition of the K-shaped recovery to a K-shaped economy and, now, a K-shaped society of owners and rent-paying serfs.
The Buyback Divide: How Stock Buybacks Distort Markets and Deepen Wealth Inequality
https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/research-publications/the-buyback-divide/
BUYOUTS: Private Equity Reshaping the Economy
https://cepr.net/publications/buyouts-private-equity-reshaping-the-economy-july-2026/
Private Equity Industrial Sector Investment Pacing For New High In 2026
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4919052-private-equity-industrial-sector-investment-pacing-for-new-high-in-2026
How Some Private-Equity Managers Collect Big Fees on Paper Gains
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/how-some-private-equity-managers-collect-big-fees-on-paper-gains-2f449976
Private equity fund investors turn to debt-like deals in downturn
https://www.ft.com/content/4675b8bb-4047-458a-be01-90c2aff29219?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Global Private Equity deals slow down, but assets are more expensive – Bain&Co Midyear Report 2026
https://bebeez.eu/2026/07/03/global-private-equity-deals-slow-down-but-assets-are-more-expensive-bainco-midyear-report-2026/
Private markets are not in retreat — they are resetting
https://www.pwmnet.com/content/efea459f-2c93-4ffd-abb6-3514828f3d17
Private equity is struggling with exits, even as the AI deal boom takes over Wall Street
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/private-equity-is-struggling-with-exits-even-as-the-ai-deal-boom-takes-over-wall-street-133536900.html
Concentration risk rises as private equity pours billions into AI
https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2026/6/concentration-risk-rises-as-private-equity-pours-billions-into-ai-103088317
CPP Investments spends $2.4B with EQT to build AI infrastructure
https://www.wsj.com/pro/private-equity/peak-rock-capital-bets-on-specialty-drug-boom-with-asembia-acquisition-038b353c
Magnify Ventures closes $46.6m Fund II to back AI infrastructure for care economy
https://www.altassets.net/private-equity-news/by-news-type/fund-news/funds-closed/magnify-ventures-closes-46-6m-fund-ii-to-back-ai-infrastructure-for-care-economy.html
Blackstone’s BXPE Posts Record 4.3% Monthly Return on AI Bets
https://www.tradingview.com/news/gurufocus:1acaf6fe0094b:0-blackstone-s-bxpe-posts-record-4-3-monthly-return-on-ai-bets/
Exclusive | Peak Rock Capital Bets on Specialty Drug Boom With Asembia Acquisition
https://www.wsj.com/pro/private-equity/peak-rock-capital-bets-on-specialty-drug-boom-with-asembia-acquisition-038b353c
Private Equity Targets Healthcare and AI Infrastructure as Core Growth Engines
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/private-markets/26/07/60232708/private-equity-targets-healthcare-and-ai-infrastructure-as-core-growth-engines
How private equity is squeezing more profit out of hospital patients
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/hospital-run-private-equity-expect-bigger-bill-rcna350755
Congress looks to drag healthcare private equity into the light
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-private-equity-healthcare-congress-transparency/
Private equity in youth sports draws bipartisan scrutiny in Congress
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/30/private-equity-youth-sports-congress-scrutiny.html
Congress weighs role of private equity in soaring youth sports costs in US
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/07/03/congress-weighs-role-of-private-equity-in-soaring-youth-sports-costs-in-us/
As veterinary costs climb, private equity ownership of clinics draws scrutiny
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-veterinary-costs-climb-private-equity-ownership-of-clinics-draws-scrutiny
Private Equity Firms Taking Over Local Veterinary Practices
https://blogforiowa.com/2026/07/02/private-equity-firms-taking-over-local-veterinary-practices/
Nurseries, vets and shops: the sectors where private equity plays a big role
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/28/nurseries-vets-and-shops-the-sectors-where-private-equity-plays-a-big-role
Private equity firm buys Italian ingredients business
https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2026/06/30/a-private-equity-firm-has-bought-out-an-italian-ingredients-producer/
Sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s files for IPO as Blackstone eyes windfall
https://www.ft.com/content/e6a97eaf-b19f-4016-827b-ae069f0ce08a
How a greeting card company produced a 200x return in just 18 months
https://www.ft.com/video/7b64e684-0032-4d8b-8212-9a3aaff6fabd
Largest golf management companies grow 54% since 2019
https://golfincmagazine.com/largest-golf-management-companies-grow-54-since-2019/
How private equity destroyed an American pastime
https://www.salon.com/2026/07/03/how-private-equity-destroyed-an-american-pastime/