Franklin Resources(BEN)
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Franklin Stock Rises 1.7% as Q1 Earnings Beat, AUM Rises Sequentially
ZACKS· 2026-01-30 19:41
Key Takeaways Franklin Resources posted Q1 adjusted EPS of 70 cents, exceeding estimates and improving year over year.BEN benefited from higher revenues and a 1.4% sequential rise in AUM to $1.68 trillion.Franklin reported $28B in long-term net inflows compared with outflows in the prior quarter.Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Dec. 31, 2025) adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents per share. Also, the bottom li ...
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-01-30 17:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record long-term inflows of $118.6 billion, up 40% from the prior quarter and 22% from the prior year quarter [7] - Assets under management (AUM) ended the quarter at $1.68 trillion, reflecting an increase due to long-term net inflows and the acquisition of Apera [8] - Adjusted Operating Income was $437.3 million, influenced by lower performance fees and higher average AUM [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Long-term net inflows were $28 billion, with record AUM and positive net flows across equity, multi-asset, and alternative strategies [8] - Public markets generated positive net flows totaling $30.4 billion, with equity net inflows of $19.8 billion for the quarter [9] - Private markets saw $10.8 billion raised during the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The institutional pipeline of long, but unfunded mandates remains strong at $20.4 billion, indicating sustained demand for investment capabilities [9] - The ETF platform reached a new high with $58 billion in AUM, generating $7.5 billion in net flows, marking its 17th consecutive positive quarter [15] - Digital assets AUM is $1.8 billion, including approximately $900 million in tokenized funds and approximately $800 million in crypto ETFs [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering integrated solutions and long-term strategic relationships, aligning with client needs for resilience in portfolios [4][6] - M&A activities are aimed at filling product gaps and enhancing distribution capabilities, with a focus on alternatives and high net worth segments [36][37] - The company is leveraging advancements in technology, including AI and blockchain, to enhance operational efficiency and client offerings [17][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted significant market turbulence and economic uncertainty, emphasizing the need for resilience in investment portfolios [4] - The company is confident in its diversified business model and global scale to capture long-term trends reshaping the industry [20] - Management highlighted the importance of AI in driving efficiency and potential consolidation in the asset management industry [76][80] Other Important Information - The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in money management, reflecting its commitment to employee engagement [20] - The firm is actively expanding its private credit platform and has seen strong momentum in fundraising across various asset classes [11][13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Cost Flexibility and Savings - Management indicated that expenses are expected to be in line with 2025, with a focus on achieving $200 million in cost savings [22][23] Question: M&A Activity and Contingent Liabilities - Management confirmed that contingent consideration related to recent transactions is minimal, with no significant liabilities expected [26][27] Question: Long-term Margin Expectations - Management projected operating margins to exceed 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing efforts to streamline operations and integrate acquisitions [46][47] Question: AI's Impact on Consolidation - Management discussed how AI could drive consolidation in the asset management industry, emphasizing the need for scale to compete effectively [76][78] Question: Blockchain and Tokenization Strategy - Management highlighted the efficiency of blockchain technology and its potential to reduce operational costs significantly, while also discussing the hurdles to broader adoption [86][88]
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-01-30 17:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record long-term inflows of $118.6 billion, up 40% from the prior quarter and 22% from the prior year quarter [7] - Long-term net inflows were $28 billion, with assets under management (AUM) ending the quarter at $1.68 trillion, reflecting an increase due to long-term net inflows and the acquisition of Apera [8] - Adjusted Operating Income was $437.3 million, influenced by lower performance fees and higher average AUM [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Public markets generated positive net flows totaling $30.4 billion, with equity net inflows of $19.8 billion for the quarter [9] - Fixed Income delivered its eighth consecutive quarter of positive net flows, with net inflows of $2.6 billion driven by Franklin Templeton Fixed Income [9] - Private markets saw $274 billion in alternative AUM, with $10.8 billion raised during the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The institutional pipeline of long, but unfunded mandates remains strong at $20.4 billion, indicating sustained demand for investment capabilities [9] - The ETF platform reached a new high with $58 billion in AUM, generating $7.5 billion in net flows, marking its 17th consecutive positive quarter [15] - Multi-asset AUM is nearly $200 billion, with net inflows of $4 billion during the quarter, reflecting clients' increasing preference for diversified solutions [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering integrated solutions and long-term strategic relationships, aligning with client needs for resilience in portfolios [6] - Recent M&A activity emphasizes the importance of alternative assets, with strategic acquisitions aimed at enhancing capabilities and geographic reach [12] - The company aims to double the size of fiduciary services in its five-year plan, focusing on both organic and inorganic growth [36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the ongoing transition for investors amid significant market turbulence and economic uncertainty, emphasizing the need for durable returns and risk management [4] - The company is well-positioned to capture long-term trends reshaping the industry across public and private markets, with a focus on innovation and efficiency [20] - Management expressed confidence in achieving a margin of over 30% by fiscal 2027, supported by disciplined expense management and strategic investments [46][66] Other Important Information - The company is advancing its AI initiatives, including the launch of Intelligence Hub, aimed at modernizing distribution and enhancing client experience [17] - Digital assets are becoming increasingly important, with $1.8 billion in digital asset AUM, including tokenized funds and crypto ETFs [17] - The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in money management, reflecting its commitment to employee engagement and client service [20] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Cost Flexibility and Savings - Management indicated that expenses are expected to remain in line with 2025 guidance, with ongoing cost savings initiatives contributing to margin expansion in the latter half of the year [23][24] Question: M&A Activity and Contingent Liabilities - Management confirmed that contingent consideration related to recent transactions is minimal, with no significant liabilities expected from closed deals [27][30] Question: Long-term Margin Expectations - Management projected that operating margins could exceed 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing integration efforts and strategic initiatives contributing to profitability [46][66] Question: AI's Impact on Consolidation - Management noted that AI could drive consolidation in the asset management industry, as smaller managers may struggle to compete without the scale and data resources required for effective model training [76][80] Question: Blockchain and Tokenization Strategy - Management highlighted the efficiency of blockchain technology, noting significant cost savings compared to traditional systems, and expressed optimism about the future adoption of tokenized funds [86][88]
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-01-30 17:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record long-term inflows of $118.6 billion, up 40% from the prior quarter and 22% from the prior year quarter [5] - Assets under management (AUM) ended the quarter at $1.68 trillion, increasing from the prior quarter due to long-term net inflows and the acquisition of Apera [6][7] - Adjusted Operating Income was $437.3 million, reflecting lower performance fees and the impact of higher average AUM [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Long-term net inflows were $28 billion, with record AUM and positive net flows across equity, multi-asset, and alternative strategies [6] - Public markets generated positive net flows totaling $30.4 billion for the quarter, with equity net inflows of $19.8 billion [8] - Private markets saw $274 billion in alternative AUM, with $10.8 billion raised during the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The institutional pipeline of long, but unfunded mandates remains strong at $20.4 billion, indicating sustained demand for investment capabilities [8] - The ETF platform reached a new high with $58 billion in AUM, generating $7.5 billion in net flows, marking its 17th consecutive positive quarter [14] - Multi-asset AUM is nearly $200 billion, with net inflows of $4 billion during the quarter, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of positive net flows [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on deepening client partnerships, broadening investment capabilities, and strengthening its global platform [5] - There is a strategic emphasis on integrated solutions and long-term relationships, reflecting a shift in client expectations [4] - The company aims to grow its fiduciary business and expand its private credit platform, with a focus on geographic and capability enhancements through M&A [10][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted significant market turbulence and economic uncertainty, leading to a need for resilience in portfolios [3] - The company is well-positioned to capture long-term trends reshaping the industry across public and private markets [19] - Management expressed confidence in achieving a margin of over 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing investments in growth and innovation [44][46] Other Important Information - The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in money management, highlighting its commitment to employee satisfaction [19] - The digital asset AUM is $1.8 billion, including approximately $900 million in tokenized funds and $800 million in crypto ETFs [16] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: How much flexibility does the company have to reduce expenses if markets come under pressure? - Management indicated that expenses are expected to be in line with 2025, with key investments offset by expense savings [23] Question: Can you provide an update on potential contingent consideration liabilities from recent M&A activity? - Management confirmed that the contingent consideration around specific transactions is very low at this stage, with no additional liabilities to report [26][28] Question: What are the company's expectations for EFR in the coming quarters? - Management expects EFR to be stable in the next quarter, with potential upside based on fundraising around alternative assets [39] Question: How does the company view long-term profitability and margin targets? - Management aims for margins to exceed 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing efforts to streamline products and integrate acquisitions [44][46] Question: How is AI expected to impact the asset management industry and the company's M&A strategy? - Management believes that AI will drive consolidation in the industry, making it difficult for smaller managers to compete due to the scale required for data acquisition and model training [72][74]
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Presentation
2026-01-30 16:00
First Quarter 2026 Results Franklin Resources, Inc. January 30, 2026 | Investor Presentation Jenny Johnson Chief Executive Officer Daniel Gamba Co-President Chief Commercial Officer Matthew Nicholls Co-President CFO & COO Forward-looking statements and non-GAAP financial information This commentary contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors. This commentary also contains non-GAAP financial measures. For the reconciliations ...
Franklin Resources (BEN) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates
ZACKS· 2026-01-30 15:40
分组1 - Franklin Resources reported quarterly earnings of $0.7 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.55 per share, and showing an increase from $0.59 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +28.21% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $2.33 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.45%, and up from $2.25 billion year-over-year [2] - Franklin Resources has outperformed the S&P 500 with an 8.3% increase in share price since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's gain of 1.8% [3] 分组2 - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.57 on revenues of $2.13 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.46 on revenues of $8.58 billion [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Financial - Investment Management is in the bottom 31% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8]
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Quarterly Report
2026-01-30 13:43
Financial Performance - Operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2025, were $2,327.1 million, reflecting a 3% increase compared to $2,251.6 million in the same period of 2024[69]. - Net income attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. for the same period was $255.5 million, a significant 56% increase from $163.6 million in the prior year[69]. - The company’s diluted earnings per share increased by 59% to $0.46 from $0.29 year-over-year[69]. - The adjusted operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $437.3 million, a 6% increase from $412.8 million in the prior year[69]. - Total operating revenues increased by 3% to $2,327.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025[84]. - Adjusted net income rose to $378.4 million in Q4 2025, compared to $320.5 million in Q4 2024, marking an increase of 18.0%[123]. - Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.46 in Q4 2025 from $0.29 in Q4 2024, a growth of 58.6%[123]. Assets Under Management (AUM) - Total assets under management (AUM) as of December 31, 2025, reached $1,684.0 billion, a 1% increase from September 30, 2025, and a 7% increase from December 31, 2024[66]. - Average AUM for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $1,676.1 billion, a 3% increase from $1,634.5 billion in the same period of 2024[71]. - AUM by asset class showed a 12% increase in equity to $697.2 billion, while fixed income decreased by 7% to $437.7 billion[70]. - AUM in the United States increased by 8% to $1,195.7 billion as of December 31, 2025[77]. - Long-term inflows increased by 22% to $118.6 billion compared to the prior period, driven by higher inflows in equity open-end funds and alternative private funds[75]. - Long-term outflows decreased by 38% to $90.6 billion, primarily due to lower outflows across multiple fixed income vehicles[75]. Expenses and Cost Management - Total operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2025, were $2,046.1 million, a 1% increase from $2,032.6 million in 2024[1]. - Compensation and benefits expenses rose to $1,030.7 million, reflecting a 4% increase from $991.4 million in the prior year, driven by higher incentive compensation and annual salary increases[1][2]. - Sales, distribution, and marketing expenses totaled $540.9 million, a 6% increase from $512.3 million, mainly due to a rise in asset-based expenses[1][4]. - The company remains focused on expense management while investing strategically in systems and technology to support its evolving business[68]. Cash Flow and Investments - Operating cash flows for Q4 2025 were $(255.1) million, compared to $(145.2) million in Q4 2024, indicating a decline in cash flow[124]. - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $2,636.6 million as of December 31, 2025, down from $3,050.1 million at September 30, 2025[127]. - The company has $500.0 million of short-term commercial paper available for issuance under an uncommitted private placement program[135]. - The total aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement increased by $400.0 million to $1.5 billion as of December 31, 2025[133]. - The investment portfolio included $451.9 million in alternative investments, $344.1 million in equity investments, and $211.6 million in fixed income investments[143]. Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives - The acquisition of Apera Asset Management, a pan-European private credit firm, was completed on October 1, 2025[67]. - The acquisition of Apera Asset Management was completed for €65.2 million, with potential additional payments of up to €125.0 million based on revenue targets[140]. Tax and Other Income - The effective income tax rate decreased to 23.2% from 25.9%, primarily due to excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation and a higher proportion of foreign earnings in lower-tax jurisdictions[1][7]. - Other income, net increased to $170.8 million, an 81% rise from $94.2 million, largely due to gains on investments and a strategic investment dividend[1][6]. - Dividend and interest income increased by 27% to $54.6 million, driven by a dividend from a strategic investment[1][9]. Workforce and Employment - The global workforce decreased to approximately 9,900 employees from 10,100 in the prior year, reflecting cost-saving initiatives[1][8].
Franklin Resources(BEN) - 2026 Q1 - Quarterly Results
2026-01-30 13:41
EXHIBIT 99.1 1 Contact: Franklin Resources, Inc. Investor Relations: Selene Oh (650) 312-4091, selene.oh@franklintempleton.com Media Relations: Jeaneen Terrio (212) 632-4005, jeaneen.terrio@franklintempleton.com investors.franklinresources.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Franklin Resources, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results San Mateo, CA, January 30, 2026 – Franklin Resources, Inc. (the "Company") [NYSE: BEN] today announced net income of $255.5 million or $0.46 per diluted share for the quarter ended December ...
Do Wall Street Analysts Like Franklin Resources Stock?
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-30 10:23
Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN), with a market capitalization of $13.4 billion, is a global investment management and financial services holding company that operates principally through its flagship brand Franklin Templeton. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, the firm manages a wide array of investment products and solutions, including equities, fixed income, balanced and multi-asset funds, ETFs, and alternative strategies, for a diverse client base of individual, institutional, and high-net-worth inv ...
Franklin Q1 Earnings Coming Up: Here's What to Expect From the Stock
ZACKS· 2026-01-28 18:40
Core Insights - Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) is expected to report a decline in both earnings and revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with earnings estimated at 56 cents per share, down 5.1% year-over-year, and sales projected at $2.15 billion, reflecting a 4.5% decline from the previous year [1][3][9] Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, Franklin's earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate, driven by higher revenues and improved assets under management (AUM), alongside lower expenses [1][2] - The average earnings surprise for BEN over the last four quarters has been 7.74%, with three quarters beating estimates and one matching [2] Market Conditions - The S&P 500 Index gained approximately 3.1% during the October-December quarter, indicating moderate market performance, which likely benefited Franklin's results through healthy equity returns and steady fixed-income inflows [6] - Despite favorable market conditions, BEN is anticipated to have continued experiencing net outflows, with preliminary AUM as of December 31, 2025, reported at $1.68 trillion, a slight increase from $1.67 trillion in November, but still reflecting long-term net outflows of $1 billion [7] Revenue Estimates - The consensus estimate for investment management fees is $1.7 billion, indicating an 8.7% sequential decline, while sales and distribution fees are estimated at $371 million, reflecting a 2.9% decline [8][10] - Shareholder servicing fees are projected at $62.8 million, suggesting a significant 20.7% decline from the previous quarter [10] Strategic Developments - In November 2025, Franklin partnered with Wand AI to implement agentic AI across its global platform, enhancing investment research and operational efficiency [4] - The acquisition of Apera Asset Management in October 2025 expanded BEN's alternative credit assets under management by over $90 billion, strengthening its capabilities in the European lower middle market [5]