Private Credit Worries Weigh on Hamilton Lane (HLNE)

Wasatch Global Investors, an asset management company, released its "Select Strategy" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Global small- and mid-cap equities delivered strong returns in the second quarter, primarily driven by enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran were volatile in the quarter; however, a ceasefire towards the end helped alleviate concerns and positively impacted investor sentiment. The MSCI All Country World Index gained 14.93%, while the Wasatch strategy also experienced gains, although it lagged behind the index due to weaker stock selection in U.S. information technology and financial sectors. The firm focused on investing in high-quality, long-duration growth opportunities that benefit from AI, while also recognizing the potential of non-AI beneficiaries. They believe that fundamentals will eventually recapture investor attention, positioning these holdings for long-term outperformance. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.

In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Wasatch Global Select Strategy highlighted Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE). Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE), a private equity and venture capital firm, detracted from the performance during the quarter. On July 28, 2026, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) closed at $89.52 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.97 billion. Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) posted a one-month return of 13.81%, while its shares lost 42.43% over the past 52 weeks.

Wasatch Global Select Strategy stated the following regarding Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) in its Q2 2026 investor update:

"Additionally, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) detracted from performance. Hamilton Lane is a global investment management firm that specializes in private-market investing. The stock slid on worries about its exposure to private credit. We maintained the remaining position on the view that Hamilton Lane's business is unlikely to be disrupted to the extent investors are expecting."

Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 30 hedge fund portfolios held Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) 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.