Key Takeaways Franklin agreed to acquire a majority interest in Apera, a pan-European private credit firm. The deal lifts BEN's global alternative credit AUM to $87B and total alternatives AUM to $260B. Apera enhances BEN's European private credit reach and supports its global alternatives strategy.Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) announced its latest move in expanding its alternative asset management capabilities with an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Apera Asset Management (Apera), a pan-Euro ...

Key Takeaways Franklin reported May AUM of $1.57T, up 2.6% from April, aided by positive markets and net inflows. May net inflows hit $1B, despite $3B in long-term outflows at Western Asset Management. Equity AUM rose 5.7% to $630.7B, while multi-asset and cash balances also saw modest monthly gains.Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.57 trillion as of May 31, 2025, which increased 2.6% from the prior month.The increase in the AUM balance was due to ...

Core Viewpoint - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) has shown resilience in its stock performance, gaining 6.2% over the past three months, contrasting with the industry's decline of 8.1% and the S&P 500 Index's dip of 2.7% [1] Group 1: Factors Driving Growth - Strategic acquisitions have expanded Franklin's investment capabilities, notably the acquisition of Putnam Investments in January 2024, which increased its defined contribution AUM to over $100 billion [5] - The acquisition of Lexington Partners in 2022 has enhanced Franklin's exposure to private equity and alternative investments, diversifying revenue streams and reducing reliance on traditional investment management fees [6] - Franklin has recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% in AUM over the past five fiscal years, with growth continuing in the first half of fiscal 2025 [7] - Increasing client demand for alternative asset classes is expected to drive AUM expansion, supported by a regionally focused distribution model that has strengthened non-U.S. business [8] Group 2: Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, Franklin has $5 billion in liquidity, including cash and cash equivalents, ensuring financial flexibility and no short-term debt, which reduces immediate financial strain [9] - The company announced a repurchase authorization of 27.2 million shares in December 2023, with 29.2 million shares remaining available for repurchase as of March 31, 2025, and a 3.2% increase in its common stock dividend [10][11] Group 3: Near-Term Challenges - Investment management fees, constituting 79.3% of total revenue, have shown volatility, with fluctuations influenced by AUM levels and market conditions [12] - Franklin's cost base has increased at a CAGR of 7.2% over the last three fiscal years, driven by investments in technology and talent, which may pressure bottom-line growth [14] Group 4: Valuation and Estimates - Franklin is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 10.14X, below the industry average of 16.42X, but at a premium compared to peers Invesco and Grupo Aval [15][18] - Sales estimates for the current year (2025) are projected at $8.29 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 2.27% [21] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised downward, indicating a cautious outlook from analysts [22]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's commitment to Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) despite a recent loss of approximately 3.7% in stock value, indicating a belief in the company's potential for recovery and growth [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The author employs a quantitative investment approach that combines fundamental analysis with momentum research, aiming to identify stocks with a significant disconnect between market perception and actual potential [1] - A proprietary software tool has been developed to track levels of optimism and pessimism in stock prices, which aids in making informed investment decisions [1] Group 2: Market Outlook - The focus is on investing in companies that are likely to surprise the market positively in the coming months, suggesting a strategy centered on identifying undervalued opportunities [1]

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.53 trillion as of April 30, 2025, which decreased marginally from the prior month.The decline in the AUM balance was due to the impact of preliminary long-term net outflows of $10 billion, inclusive of $10 billion of long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management, partially offset by the positive impact of foreign exchange.Breakdown of BEN’s AUM Based on Asset ClassFranklin recorded equity assets of $597.3 billio ...

Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 (ended March 31) adjusted earnings of 47 cents per share, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the bottom line compared unfavorably with 56 cents reported in the year-ago quarter.BEN’s results were affected by lower revenues and assets under management (AUM) balance. Yet, lower expenses supported the results to some extent. In light of this, Franklin’s shares rose 1.1% in Friday’s pre-market trading session.Net income (GAAP ba ...

Franklin Resources (BEN) Q2 2025 Earnings Call May 02, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Selene Oh - IRJennifer Johnson - President and CEOBenjamin Budish - DirectorMatthew Nicholls - Executive VP, CFO & COOAdam Spector - Executive VP & Head of Global DistributionBrian Bedell - DirectorPatrick Davitt - Partner Conference Call Participants Craig Siegenthaler - AnalystAlexander Blostein - AnalystDan Fannon - Managing Director - Research AnalystMichael Cyprys - AnalystWilliam Katz - Senior Equity AnalystGl ...

Franklin Resources (BEN) reported $2.11 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 1.9%. EPS of $0.47 for the same period compares to $0.56 a year ago.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98 billion, representing a surprise of +6.66%. The company has not delivered EPS surprise, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.47.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assets under management (AUM) decreased to $1,540 billion, primarily due to long-term net outflows at Western Asset and negative market impacts [18][19] - Adjusted operating income was $377.2 million, a decrease of 8.6% from the prior quarter, mainly due to compensation expenses and the impact of Western [27][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Long-term inflows increased by 9% quarter over quarter, with gross sales rising across all asset classes [19] - Multi-asset and alternatives generated a combined $9.7 billion in positive net flows, while equity long-term inflows were $38.9 billion, despite net outflows of $5.4 billion in growth strategies [20][21] - Fixed income net outflows were $30.5 billion, but excluding Western, there were net inflows of $2.8 billion [20][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The institutional unfunded pipeline increased by $2.3 billion to $20.4 billion, the highest level since 2022 [5] - International markets accounted for approximately $470 billion, or about 30% of AUM, with positive net flows in the EMEA and Americas regions [7][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage market volatility to enhance client asset growth through diversified investment solutions [4][17] - Focus on expanding alternative assets and wealth management channels, projecting $800 billion to be allocated to democratize alternatives industry-wide over the next five years [22][64] - Continued integration of Western Asset to create efficiencies while maintaining investment team autonomy [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains cautiously constructive on global equity markets, citing concerns over US growth and tariff impacts [10][11] - The company anticipates that a recession in the US is not a foregone conclusion, with the economy being better insulated compared to export-dependent countries [11][12] - Positive sentiment around the potential for growth in private markets and alternatives, with a strong focus on educating financial advisers [63][64] Other Important Information - The company launched its first perpetual secondary private equity fund, raising an initial $2 billion [23] - The ETF business saw its fourteenth consecutive quarter of positive net flows, attracting $4.1 billion during the quarter [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on fiscal year expenses given market movements - Management expects effective fee rates to remain around 38 basis points, with expenses projected to be flat compared to 2024 [36][39] Question: Estimate for base fee organic growth rate including Western - Management noted that long-term net flows excluding Western were about $7.4 billion, with positive flows in fixed income and alternatives [45][46] Question: Update on fixed income strategies and Western's health - Western experienced $10 billion in outflows but also had $5 billion in gross sales, indicating ongoing institutional interest [78][79] Question: Contribution of international business to revenues and flows - The company reported positive momentum in gross sales across all regions, with AUM outside the US at approximately $470 billion [92]

Franklin Resources (BEN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to earnings of $0.56 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.A quarter ago, it was expected that this investment manager would post earnings of $0.53 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.59, delivering a surprise of 11.32%.Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.Franklin Resources ...