As the Q2 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the custody bank industry, including Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS) and its peers.

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 Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.2%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 2.7% on average since the latest earnings results.

Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS)

Founded in 1889 during Chicago's post-Great Fire rebuilding boom, Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS) provides wealth management, asset servicing, and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, families, and high-net-worth individuals globally.

Northern Trust reported revenues of $2.25 billion, up 12.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ AUM estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $184.69.

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

Best Q2: 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 $275.3 million, up 56.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 21%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ AUM estimates.

Hamilton Lane scored the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $98.50.

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

Weakest Q2: StepStone Group (NASDAQ: STEP)

Operating as both an advisor and asset manager with over $100 billion in assets under management, StepStone Group (NASDAQ: STEP) is an investment firm that provides clients with access to private market investments across private equity, real estate, private debt, and infrastructure.

StepStone Group reported revenues of $300.6 million, up 26.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.9%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ AUM estimates.

StepStone Group delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $49.97.

Read our full analysis of StepStone Group’s results here.

Cohen & Steers (NYSE: CNS)

Founded in 1986 as a pioneer in real estate investment trusts (REITs), Cohen & Steers (NYSE: CNS) is an investment manager specializing in real estate securities, infrastructure, real assets, and preferred securities for institutional and individual investors.

Cohen & Steers reported revenues of $152.7 million, up 12.2% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it recorded EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

The stock is down 4.8% since reporting and currently trades at $77.16.

Read our full, actionable report on Cohen & Steers here, it’s free.

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 $1.88 billion, flat year on year. This print met analysts’ expectations. However, it was a softer quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Voya Financial had the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is up 1.4% since reporting and currently trades at $102.13.

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

Market Update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.