SEI: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
Key Points
Year-to-date sales events reached $157 million, setting a company record.
Third-quarter revenue increased 14% year over year.
Alternative asset managers drove nearly 90% of quarterly sales events.
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On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 21, 2026, SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) announced 14% revenue growth and record year-to-date sales activity. The financial services technology and asset management company is proving that its multiyear pivot from a traditional platform provider to an integrated enterprise software partner is creating operating leverage and expanding client contracts.
Three things management said stand out.
1. Year-to-Date Sales Events Surpass Full-Year Historical Highs
Year-to-date net sales events, which represent recurring revenue signed from new client wins and expanded client contracts, reached $157 million through three quarters. Expanding sales across multiple business segments creates a more predictable revenue base and signals growing market traction for software offerings.
Speaking of sales events, third-quarter net events totaled $47 million, bringing our year-to-date total to $157 million. With a full quarter still remaining in the year, we have already exceeded the highest level of full-year sales results in the history of the company.
-- Ryan Hicke, Chief Executive Officer
2. Enterprise Transformation Deals Replace Simple Platform Replacements
In the private banking division, client discussions are expanding beyond stand-alone software platform installations into broader professional services, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and data cloud integration. Broader consulting and technology deals lock clients into multiyear engagements and reduce long-term client churn.
Those client conversations have evolved into discussions around transformation, how to simplify technology environments, modernize operating models, increase client acquisition, improve the use of data, harness AI, and position for future growth.
-- Ryan Hicke, Chief Executive Officer
3. Alternative Asset Managers Propel Investment Manager Services
Demand in Investment Manager Services (IMS), the segment providing operational software and administration to institutional funds, remains concentrated in alternative asset classes. Private equity and private credit managers are turning to external administration platforms to reduce operational complexity and handle multi-asset strategies.
In IMS, demand remains strong, especially among large alternative asset managers. We continue to be the partner of choice for those looking for global scale, asset class breadth, and modern technology.
-- Ryan Hicke, Chief Executive Officer
Looking Ahead
Contract pipelines sit at historical highs across wealth and institutional units, supported by bank technology migrations and expanding exchange-traded fund (ETF) distribution. Management is focusing on onboarding speed, automation, and maintaining pricing discipline as new fund administration platforms scale.
What I would say is the outlook is very strong for the next several quarters or so, no matter what jurisdiction, no matter what products.
-- Phil McCabe, Executive Vice President
As financial institutions consolidate vendor relationships, integrated software platforms gain a persistent competitive moat. Management expects expanding services to drive sustainable top-line growth.
Some people tell us SEI is back. Well, to that, we say thank you, but we believe SEI hasn't even remotely defined who we will be yet.
-- Ryan Hicke, Chief Executive Officer
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