BlackRock considers selling Saudi Aramco gas pipelines stake - report
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jul 03 2025
0mins
Source: SeekingAlpha
BlackRock's Potential Sale: BlackRock is considering selling its stake in the leasing rights to Saudi Aramco's natural gas pipeline network back to Aramco, with ongoing discussions about the transaction.
Investment Background: BlackRock acquired a 49% stake in the pipeline leasing rights for $15.5 billion in 2021, and while no final decisions have been made, the talks may lead to alternative options if an agreement isn't reached.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy BLK?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on BLK
Wall Street analysts forecast BLK stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1011.210
Low
1209
Averages
1354
High
1550
Current: 1011.210
Low
1209
Averages
1354
High
1550
About BLK
BlackRock, Inc. is an investment management company. The Company provides a range of investment management and technology and subscription services to institutional and retail clients. Its diverse platforms of alpha-seeking active, private markets, index and cash management investment strategies across asset classes enable it to tailor investment outcomes and asset allocation solutions for clients. Its product offerings include single- and multi-asset portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. Its products are offered directly and through intermediaries in a range of vehicles, including open-end and closed-end mutual funds, iShares exchange-traded funds, separate accounts, collective investment funds and other pooled investment vehicles. It also offers technology services, including the investment and risk management technology platform, Aladdin, Aladdin Wealth, eFront, and Cachematrix, as well as advisory services and solutions.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- ETF Launch Plan: BlackRock plans to launch the iShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, aimed at providing investors with cost-efficient access to innovative companies across technology, healthcare, consumer discretionary, and communications sectors, expected to begin trading on July 9, thereby enriching its product offerings.
- Expense Ratio Advantage: The ETF has a gross expense ratio of 0.12%, which can be reduced to 0.10% through a waiver until July 31, 2027, making it competitive among similar products and likely to attract more investor interest.
- Initial Asset Value: The initial net asset value of the iShares Nasdaq 100 ETF is set at $24 per share, reflecting BlackRock's positive market demand outlook while providing investors with a clear entry price point.
- Market Reaction: Despite the ETF launch, BlackRock's stock slipped 0.4% in premarket trading, indicating a cautious market response to the new product, potentially linked to overall market conditions and investor sentiment.
See More
- New ETF Launch: BlackRock has announced the launch of the iShares Nasdaq-100 ETF (IQQ), designed to provide investors with cost-effective access to innovative companies across sectors such as technology and healthcare, with an initial NAV of $24 per share and expected trading to begin on July 9, enhancing investor flexibility.
- Expense Ratio Advantage: The ETF features a gross expense ratio of 0.12%, which is reduced to 0.10% through a waiver until July 31, 2027, allowing investors to benefit from lower costs over the long term, thereby enhancing potential investment returns.
- Strong Market Demand: This year has seen record demand for U.S. large-cap and technology stocks, attracting over $270 billion in net inflows year-to-date, indicating strong investor interest in innovation-driven companies and further propelling the expansion of iShares products in the market.
- Global Asset Management Strength: With two decades of experience managing Nasdaq-100 investment products globally and over $6 trillion in iShares assets, BlackRock's new ETF launch will further solidify its market leadership and meet investors' needs for diversified portfolios.
See More
- Strong IPO Performance: Momenta's initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong raised HK$5.89 billion ($751 million), with shares rising 3% at market open, reflecting strong market confidence in its autonomous driving technology.
- Clear Use of Proceeds: The company plans to allocate 60% of net proceeds to enhance core technologies, including proprietary algorithms and automation toolchains, to maintain competitiveness in the autonomous driving sector, while 20% will accelerate the commercialization of robotaxi services.
- Significant Revenue Growth: According to its prospectus, Momenta recorded revenue of 2.41 billion yuan in 2025, an 83% increase from 1.32 billion yuan in 2024, indicating robust business expansion.
- Strategic Partnerships: Momenta has established strategic partnerships with major automakers like Audi, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz, and signed an agreement with Grab to advance autonomous driving technologies in complex urban mobility markets.
See More
- Stock Volatility: Circle Internet Group's shares plummeted 44.6% in June 2026, with a single-day drop of 17.6%, primarily driven by heightened market concerns over its core business, especially with the looming threat of the new competitor, Open USD stablecoin.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: The launch of Open USD stablecoin, backed by financial giants like Visa and BlackRock, is expected to directly capture market share from Circle, which currently holds approximately 26% of the market, second only to Tether.
- Index Removal Impact: Circle's stock was removed from five Russell indexes, leading to reduced demand from passive funds, which exacerbates the downward pressure on its stock amidst fragile cryptocurrency market sentiment.
- Uncertain Future Outlook: Although Circle continues to operate one of the most trusted stablecoins globally, its competitive moat is diminishing, prompting investors to watch how the company responds to the Open USD challenge, with potential strategies including partnerships or service expansion.
See More

- Stock Plunge: Circle Internet Group's stock plummeted 44.6% in June 2026, primarily driven by Bitcoin's decline and the emergence of new competitors, reflecting the high volatility of the crypto market and investor panic.
- Increased Competition: While Circle's USD Coin remains the second-largest stablecoin, it faces direct threats from the Open USD stablecoin, which is backed by financial giants like Visa and BlackRock, potentially eroding Circle's market share.
- Index Removal Impact: The removal of Circle's stock from five Russell indexes has led to a decrease in passive fund demand, exacerbating the downward pressure on the stock, especially amid the current fragile sentiment in the crypto market.
- Uncertain Future Outlook: Although Circle continues to operate one of the most trusted stablecoins globally, its competitive moat is shrinking, prompting investors to watch how the company responds to the Open USD challenge, which may require partnerships or business expansion to maintain its market position.
See More
- Investment Preference: BlackRock Investment Institute maintains a neutral stance on Chinese stocks while staying overweight on U.S. equities, indicating a belief that U.S. companies will dominate the AI race, reflecting confidence in the U.S. market.
- Market Performance Comparison: While the Nasdaq Composite has gained over 12% this year, China's ChiNext index has surged more than 20%, indicating strong short-term performance of Chinese tech stocks; however, the overall MSCI China index has fallen over 10%, reflecting market uncertainty.
- Policy Support and Challenges: Beijing has rolled out policies to support domestic AI development amid U.S. restrictions on high-end technology, yet the unclear profitability of companies in the context of slower economic growth and fierce competition highlights market complexities.
- Investment Opportunities: BlackRock analysts see potential in physical AI, emphasizing the integration of AI technology into hardware, while recommending stocks exposed to scarce industry inputs, showcasing a focus on infrastructure investments.
See More










