Fidelity Investments is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US, offering financial products and services to over 40 million individuals. The company is privately owned and has been approached by investment bankers about an initial public offering (IPO). However, CEO and chairman Abigail Johnson has played down the possibility of the company going public, citing the flexibility that comes with being privately held and the fact that they do not need the capital that an IPO would bring. Despite this, some analysts believe that Fidelity will eventually go public.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Publicly traded | No |
Type of company | Private company |
Ownership | Privately held FMR LLC, controlled by the Johnson family |
Employees own the remaining 51% of the company | |
Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
Date founded | 1946 |
Current CEO | Abigail Johnson |
Date became CEO | 2014 |
What You'll Learn
Abigail Johnson is the current CEO of Fidelity Investments
Abigail Pierrepont Johnson is the current CEO of Fidelity Investments. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 19, 1961, and is the granddaughter of the founder of Fidelity Investments, Edward C. Johnson II. Johnson attended the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and graduated from William Smith College with a bachelor's degree in art history in 1984. She went on to complete an MBA at Harvard Business School.
Johnson joined Fidelity Investments in 1988 as an analyst and portfolio manager. She worked her way up through the company, becoming president of Fidelity Asset Management in 2001. In 2005, she became Head of Retail, Workplace, and Institutional Business, and in 2012, she was named president. Johnson was appointed CEO in 2014, and in 2016, she became chairman as well, giving her full control of the company.
As CEO, Johnson has embraced cryptocurrencies and introduced investment in Bitcoin and Ether in 2018. She has also focused on expanding the company's digital assets and U.S. footprint. Johnson is the first and only woman to serve on the board of the Financial Services Forum, and Forbes has consistently ranked her among the most powerful women in the world. As of June 2024, her wealth is estimated to be approximately $35.6 billion, making her one of the world's wealthiest women.
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Fidelity Investments is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US
Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1946, the company is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US.
As of September 2024, Fidelity Investments had $5.8 trillion in assets under management and $15 trillion in assets under administration. The company operates a brokerage firm and manages a large family of mutual funds, in addition to providing fund distribution and investment advice, retirement services, index funds, wealth management, securities execution and clearance, asset custody, and life insurance.
Fidelity Investments is known for its innovation, being the first company to offer mutual funds with check-writing services, hourly updates on the net value of a mutual fund, and same-day trading of fund shares. The company has over 45 million brokerage accounts and serves more than 40 million individuals.
The company is still managed by the Johnson family, who own 49% of the company, with the remaining 51% owned by employees and ex-employees. Abigail Johnson, who became CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2016, is the current leader of the company.
Despite its size and success, Fidelity Investments is a privately held company and has no plans to go public. The Johnson family has stated that they do not need the capital that going public would bring, and they value the flexibility that comes with being a private company.
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The company is privately owned and based in Boston, Massachusetts
Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation. It is a private company, owned mostly by the Johnson family, who also control it. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1946 by Edward Johnson II.
The Johnson family, individually and through various trusts, owns stock representing a 49% voting interest in FMR. The remaining 51% of the company is held by various Fidelity employees and ex-employees, including fund managers and ex-managers.
Fidelity Investments is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US, with over 40 million individual customers. It is also one of the largest asset managers in the country, with $5.8 trillion in assets under management, and $15 trillion in assets under administration, as of September 2024.
The company's headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts, with the largest US operations located in Merrimack, New Hampshire; Smithfield, Rhode Island; Westlake, Texas; and several other locations across the US.
Being a privately-owned company gives Fidelity Investments the flexibility that a publicly-traded company might not have. Abigail Johnson, the current CEO and a member of the Johnson family, has stated that the company does not need the capital that going public would bring. She also pointed out the benefits of not having to report quarterly earnings publicly and explain them to a broad audience.
However, the current ownership structure affects the company's Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity, as it does not have the benefit of a public currency to be acquisitive. This has generally limited Fidelity's acquisitions of other companies.
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Fidelity's first mutual fund was created in 1930
Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1946 by Edward Johnson II, and it is still managed by the Johnson family today.
The origins of the company, however, date back to 1930, when the "Fidelity Fund" was created. Incorporated in Massachusetts on May 1, 1930, the "Fidelity Fund" was the only fund approved by John C. Hull, the Securities Director for Massachusetts, during the Great Depression due to widespread bank failures. The fund was later renamed Fidelity Investments under Edward C. Johnson II in 1946, and it has since grown to become one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US.
Fidelity Investments has a rich history in the mutual fund business, and its first mutual fund, created in 1930, laid the foundation for its success. With a long-standing presence in the industry, Fidelity has established itself as a trusted name in financial services, offering a wide range of investment options and serving millions of individuals.
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The company has over 45 million brokerage accounts
Fidelity Investments is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the US, with over 45 million brokerage accounts. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm offers financial products and services to more than 40 million individuals.
Fidelity was founded in 1946 by Edward Johnson II and is still managed by the family, who own 49% of the company. The company is one of the largest asset managers in the US, with $5.8 trillion in assets under management and $15 trillion in assets under administration as of September 2024.
Fidelity has a wide range of customers, including individual and corporate investors, and is known for its innovation in the investment industry. The company was the first to offer mutual funds with check-writing services, hourly updates on the net value of a mutual fund, and same-day trading of fund shares.
The company has a large number of mutual funds, with over 45 million brokerage accounts and a presence in over 140 locations across the US. It also has a strong international presence, with offices in several countries, including Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, India, and Europe.
Fidelity's growth and success can be attributed to its focus on innovation, customer-centric approach, and diverse range of financial products and services. The company's large customer base and diverse range of services have contributed to its position as one of the leading financial services providers in the US.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Fidelity Investments is not publicly traded. It is a private company, owned by the Johnson family and its employees.
The Johnson family, who own 49% of the company, have stated that they do not need the capital that going public would bring. They also value the flexibility that comes with being a privately held firm.
Yes, Fidelity has been approached by investment bankers about the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO). However, the current CEO, Abigail Johnson, has played down the possibility, stating that the company is unlikely to go public.
Being privately held allows Fidelity to maintain control within the founding family and avoid the need to report quarterly earnings publicly. It also enables the company to focus on long-term success and make decisions without the pressure of short-term market expectations.
One downside is that the company's M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activity is limited due to the lack of public currency to facilitate acquisitions. This has resulted in Fidelity generally avoiding acquisitions of other companies.