Fourth-quarter earnings at fund managers such as Janus Capital and T. Rowe Price soared as the firms rebounded from the depths of the financial crisis a year earlier.

The solid results for Janus followed a difficult third quarter, as earnings fell 68% amid expenses related to the departure of its chief executive officer, Gary Black. Recently, however, investors have seemed reassured with the appointment of chief operating officer Richard Weil to the job, effective February 1.