Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is a global investment management firm with a market cap of $11.9 billion, operating in over 150 countries and offering a variety of investment solutions [1] Earnings Expectations - The company is set to announce its fiscal Q4 2025 earnings on November 7, with analysts predicting adjusted earnings of $0.56 per share, a decrease of 5.1% from $0.59 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, adjusted EPS is expected to be $2.12, down 11.3% from $2.39 in fiscal 2024, but anticipated to grow 18.4% year-over-year to $2.51 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, shares of Franklin Resources have increased by 12.5%, which is lower than the S&P 500 Index's gain of 14.7% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's return of 13.5% [4] - On October 10, shares fell by 4.1% after an analyst reiterated a "Sell" rating with a price target of $23, leading to a cautious consensus view among analysts, with an overall "Hold" rating [5]

Group 1 - Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is recognized among the 11 Low PE High Dividend Stocks to buy according to analysts [1] - BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Franklin Resources with an Outperform rating and a price target of $26, indicating a potential upside of approximately 13% [2][3] - The company's strong core business and growing alternatives platform are highlighted as key strengths by analysts [3] Group 2 - Franklin Resources has demonstrated robust net flows outside of its Western Asset Management (WAM) unit, with $2 billion in long-term net inflows when excluding WAM [5] - The company reported preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.66 trillion as of September 30, 2025, an increase from $1.64 trillion at the end of August [5] - Franklin Resources has a strong dividend performance, having increased its dividend for 49 consecutive years, making it a reliable dividend payer in the sector [4]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] - A specific company is highlighted as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI technologies [3][7] Investment Landscape - Wall Street is investing hundreds of billions into AI, but there is a significant concern regarding the energy supply needed to support this technology [2] - AI data centers, such as those powering large language models, consume energy equivalent to that of small cities, indicating a looming energy crisis [2][3] - The company in focus is positioned to benefit from the surge in demand for electricity driven by AI, making it a unique investment opportunity [3][6] Company Profile - The company is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, collecting fees from energy exports and benefiting from the onshoring trend due to tariffs [5][6] - It possesses critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets, making it integral to America's future power strategy [7] - The company is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewables [7] Financial Position - The company is noted for being completely debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, which is nearly one-third of its market capitalization [8] - It has an equity stake in another AI-related company, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth engines without the associated premium [9] Market Sentiment - There is a growing interest from hedge funds in this company, which is considered undervalued and off-the-radar compared to other AI and energy stocks [9][10] - The company is trading at less than 7 times earnings, indicating a potential for significant upside as it is linked to both AI and energy sectors [10] Future Outlook - The ongoing AI infrastructure supercycle, combined with the onshoring boom and a surge in U.S. LNG exports, positions this company favorably for future growth [14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation, further solidifying the importance of energy infrastructure in supporting this growth [12][13]

Investors might want to bet on Franklin Resources (BEN) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Individual inve ...

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued ...

Core Insights - Franklin Resources Inc. is identified as one of the best value stocks to invest in currently, with BofA raising its price target to $22 from $19 while maintaining an Underperform rating [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Franklin Resources reported Assets Under Management (AUM) of $1.54 trillion, reflecting a modest decrease from the previous quarter [2] - The company experienced long-term net outflows of $26.2 billion during the quarter, which included $3.3 billion of reinvested distributions attributed to its subsidiary, Western Asset Management [2] - Fixed Income net outflows totaled $30.5 billion; however, excluding the impact of Western Asset Management, the overall financial results showed resilience with long-term net inflows of $7.4 billion and fixed income net inflows of $2.8 billion [3] Group 2: Company Overview - Franklin Resources Inc. operates as an asset management holding company, providing services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships through its subsidiaries [4] Group 3: Market Sentiment - BofA's decision to increase price targets for all traditional asset managers under its coverage has positively influenced Q3 2025 and future EPS estimates [1]

Dividend stocks are a favorite among investors, especially Baby Boomers, for good reason. ...

Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) reported preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.66 trillion as of September 30, 2025, reflecting an increase of nearly 1% from the previous month, driven by positive market impacts despite long-term net outflows of $11 billion [1][7] AUM Breakdown - Equity assets reached $685.9 billion, up 1.9% from the previous month [2] - Alternative AUM slightly increased to $262.6 billion [2] - Fixed income AUM decreased by 1.3% to $437.1 billion [2] - Multi-asset AUM grew to $194.1 billion, up 1.9% from August 2025 [2] - Cash management balance rose to $78.3 billion, an increase of 2.2% from the previous month [2] Company Performance and Outlook - The growth in total AUM in September indicates continued improvement for BEN, supported by positive market movements despite ongoing outflows [3] - The gains across various asset classes suggest steady progress, and the company's inorganic expansion, including the Apera acquisition, is expected to enhance long-term growth prospects [3] - Over the past year, BEN shares have increased by 21.5%, outperforming the industry's growth of 3.8% [4] Current Ranking - Franklin currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [5]

Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) has completed the acquisition of Apera Asset Management, enhancing its global alternative platform and direct lending capabilities in Europe's lower middle market [1][8] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition increases Franklin Templeton's alternative credit assets under management (AUM) by over $90 billion, bringing the total alternative asset strategies to nearly $270 billion as of September 30, 2025 [2] - Apera's expertise in European private credit complements Franklin Templeton's existing platforms, including Benefit Street Partners in the U.S. and Alcentra in Europe, broadening the firm's geographic reach [3][4] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships and Growth - Franklin Templeton has formed a strategic partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, DigitalBridge, and Actis to enhance its infrastructure investment offerings, targeting a $15 trillion investment opportunity in private capital by 2040 [5] - In 2024, the company expanded its partnership with Envestnet, Inc. to provide tax-managed, customized strategies through its Canvas Custom Indexing platform, reinforcing its position as a leading Separately Managed Account provider [6] Group 3: Market Performance - Over the past six months, BEN shares have increased by 41.1%, outperforming the industry average rise of 26.9% [7]

Group 1 - Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is recognized as a Dividend Champion, having increased dividends for 49 consecutive years and is one year away from becoming a Dividend King [2] - The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.59% as of October 2 [2] - Franklin Resources has a diverse product offering, including mutual funds, ETFs, and separate accounts, and has pursued growth through acquisitions like Putnam and Apera Asset Management [3][4] Group 2 - The company's asset pool reached approximately $1.61 trillion by the third quarter of fiscal 2025, which is crucial for its revenue generation through management fees [4] - Franklin Resources faces challenges in maintaining asset levels during market downturns and ensuring new products meet investor demand [3][4] - The company operates in a complex regulatory environment, requiring tight cost control and efficient integration of new businesses [4]