As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at custody bank stocks, starting with SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC).

Custody banks safeguard financial assets and provide services like settlement, accounting, and regulatory compliance for institutional investors. Growth opportunities stem from increasing global assets under custody, demand for data analytics, and blockchain technology adoption for settlement efficiency. Challenges include fee pressure from large clients, substantial technology investment requirements, and competition from both traditional players and fintech firms entering the space.

The 16 custody bank stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.5%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4% on average since the latest earnings results.

SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC)

Founded in 1968 as Simulated Environments Inc. to train bank loan officers using computer simulations, SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC) provides technology platforms, investment management, and operational solutions for financial institutions, wealth managers, and investors.

SEI Investments reported revenues of $622.2 million, up 12.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

"We began 2026 with a defining quarter for SEI, validating our strategy, execution, and the scalability of our operating model. We delivered strong earnings growth, meaningful margin expansion, and incredible sales results, driven by broad-based momentum across our core growth engines," said CEO Ryan Hicke.

Interestingly, the stock is up 3.5% since reporting and currently trades at $87.77.

Read why we think that SEI Investments is one of the best custody bank stocks, our full report is free.

Best Q1: Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN)

Operating under the widely recognized Franklin Templeton brand since 1947, Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) is a global investment management organization that offers financial services and solutions to individuals, institutions, and wealth advisors worldwide.

Franklin Resources reported revenues of $2.29 billion, up 8.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 11.8%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 12.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $31.12.

Is now the time to buy Franklin Resources? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q1: Hamilton Lane (NASDAQ: HLNE)

With over $100 billion in assets under management and supervision, Hamilton Lane (NASDAQ: HLNE) is an investment management firm that specializes in private markets, offering advisory services and fund solutions to institutional and private wealth investors.

Hamilton Lane reported revenues of $193.6 million, down 2.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.4%. It was a slower quarter as it posted a miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Hamilton Lane delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $84.86.

Read our full analysis of Hamilton Lane’s results here.

Voya Financial (NYSE: VOYA)

Originally spun off from Dutch financial giant ING in 2013 and rebranded with a name suggesting "voyage," Voya Financial (NYSE: VOYA) provides workplace benefits and savings solutions to U.S. employers, helping their employees achieve better financial outcomes through retirement plans and insurance products.

Voya Financial reported revenues of $1.93 billion, up 2.3% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 15.4%. It was a stunning quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.

Voya Financial pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $82.56.

Read our full, actionable report on Voya Financial here, it’s free.

Ridgepost Capital (NYSE: RPC)

Operating as a bridge between institutional investors and hard-to-access private market opportunities, Ridgepost Capital (NYSE: RPC) is an alternative asset management firm that provides access to private equity, venture capital, impact investing, and private credit opportunities in the middle and lower middle markets.

Ridgepost Capital reported revenues of $75.35 million, up 11.2% year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. It was a slower quarter as it also recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.

Ridgepost Capital had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $8.48.

Read our full, actionable report on Ridgepost Capital here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.