Core Viewpoint - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is positioned as a solid investment opportunity for investors seeking attractive dividend yields in a volatile macroeconomic environment, with a current dividend yield of 5.22% compared to the industry average of 1.90% [1][4]. Group 1: Dividend and Share Repurchase - BEN announced a 3.3% increase in its common stock dividend to 31 cents in December 2023, marking the fifth increase in five years with an annualized growth rate of 3.5% [1]. - The company has a share repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of 27.2 million shares in December 2023, in addition to the 12.8 million shares available for repurchase at the end of November 2023 [2]. - In the first quarter of 2024, BEN repurchased 0.4 million shares for $11.7 million, indicating consistent capital distribution activities that may enhance investor confidence [2]. Group 2: Financial Health - As of March 31, 2024, BEN had a debt of $3.04 billion, which has decreased over recent quarters, and a liquidity position of $5.7 billion, suggesting a lower likelihood of default on debt repayments [3]. - The company's strong earnings and liquidity position support its ability to sustain dividend payments even in adverse economic conditions [3]. Group 3: Growth and Acquisitions - BEN has experienced a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7% in assets under management (AUM) over the last five fiscal years, despite a decline in fiscal 2022 [4]. - The company completed the acquisition of Putnam Investments in January 2024, which is expected to enhance its growth in the retirement space and increase its defined contribution AUM to over $100 billion [3][4]. - BEN's diversification into alternative asset classes is anticipated to further drive AUM growth, aligning with growing client demand [4]. Group 4: Market Performance - Over the past six months, BEN's shares have declined by 2.5%, contrasting with a 22.2% rally in the industry [4].

Going against the crowd isn’t easy. When everyone runs one way, it is hard to charge ahead in the other direction. Yet with the stock market, being a contrarian can be profitable. As Warren Buffett has said, be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.Now it is quite difficult to get analysts to rate a stock as a sell. Whether it is because they don’t want their firms to lose out on potential fees from financings or just because the overall direction of the market is up so most sto ...

Group 1: Realty Income - Realty Income has an investment-grade balance sheet and has increased its dividend annually for 29 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield near a 10-year high at 5.5% [2] - The stock price has declined approximately 30% from its 2020 highs due to rising interest rates, which pressure REIT profits [2] - Realty Income's extensive portfolio across the U.S. and Europe provides multiple growth opportunities despite current market challenges [2][3] Group 2: Franklin Resources - Franklin Resources ended Q1 2024 with approximately $1.6 trillion in assets under management, benefiting from a 16% increase in assets due to rising stock prices [4] - The company has increased its dividend annually for 44 consecutive years, although its stock has declined roughly 35% since late 2021 due to concerns over mutual fund outflows [4][5] - Franklin is diversifying into exchange-traded funds and alternative investments to mitigate the impact of mutual fund challenges [5] Group 3: Hormel Foods - Hormel Foods is a Dividend King with 58 consecutive years of annual dividend increases, and its stock price has declined around 35% from recent highs in 2022, resulting in a yield of 3.2% [6][7] - The company faces challenges such as inflation, avian flu, and a slow recovery in China, but these issues are considered surmountable individually [7] - Recent fiscal first-quarter earnings results indicate that Hormel is starting to regain its footing, making it a potentially attractive investment for long-term dividend yield [7]

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.60 trillion as of Apr 30, 2024. This reflected a decrease of 2.5% from the prior month’s level.The decline in AUM balance was primarily due to the impact of negative markets and long-term net outflows, including $5.9 billion related to the $25 billion AUM received from the Great-West Lifeco acquistion.BEN recorded equity assets of $564.4 billion, which declined 4.8% from the previous month. Further, fixed income AUM ...

Franklin Resources Inc.’s (BEN) second-quarter fiscal 2024 (ended Mar 31, 2023) adjusted earnings of 56 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents. The bottom line declined 8% year over year.BEN’s results have benefited from a rise in revenues and an improvement in the assets under management (AUM) balance. Also, the company’s balance sheet position remained robust in the quarter. However, higher expenses were headwinds.   Adjusted operating income was $419.6 million compared with the p ...

For the quarter ended March 2024, Franklin Resources (BEN) reported revenue of $2.15 billion, up 11.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.56, compared to $0.61 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue represents a surprise of +3.04% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.09 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.57, the EPS surprise was -1.75%.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street ...

Franklin Resources (BEN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.56 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.57 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.61 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -1.75%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this investment manager would post earnings of $0.57 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.65, delivering a surprise of 14.04%.Over the last four quarters, ...

Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q Delaware 13-2670991 (MARK ONE) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 or ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number: 001-09318 FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (St ...

Financial Performance - Net income for Q2 2024 was $124.2 million, a decrease of 51% from the previous quarter and 36% year-over-year[3]. - Adjusted net income was $306.6 million, down 7% from the previous quarter and 3% from the same quarter last year[5]. - Operating income decreased to $129.3 million, down 37% from the previous quarter and 49% year-over-year[5]. - Diluted earnings per share were $0.23, a decline of 54% from the previous quarter and 39% year-over-year[5]. - Net income attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. decreased by 51% to $124.2 million from $251.3 million in the previous quarter[11]. - Basic earnings per share fell by 54% to $0.23 compared to $0.50 in the prior quarter[11]. - Adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.56 from $0.61 year-over-year, a decline of 8.2%[23]. Revenue and AUM Growth - Total operating revenues increased to $2,152.8 million, reflecting an 8% quarter-over-quarter growth and a 12% year-over-year increase[5]. - Total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased by 8% to $2,152.8 million compared to $1,991.1 million in the previous quarter[11]. - Ending Assets Under Management (AUM) reached $1,644.7 billion, a 16% increase from $1,422.1 billion year-over-year[12]. - Assets Under Management (AUM) grew to $1,644.7 billion, a 13% increase during the quarter, driven by the acquisition of Putnam Investments[5]. - The company reported total assets under management (AUM) of over $1.6 trillion as of March 31, 2024[25]. Inflows and Outflows - Long-term net inflows reached $6.9 billion, with significant contributions from fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative assets[3]. - Long-term inflows increased by 37% to $84.9 billion compared to $61.8 billion in the same period last year[12]. - Long-term net flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were positive at $6.9 billion, compared to a negative $5.0 billion for the previous quarter[15]. - Cash management net flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were negative at $(4.8) billion[15]. Acquisition Impact - The acquisition of Putnam Investments added $148.3 billion to AUM and enhanced investment capabilities[4]. - The company reported acquisition-related items contributing $148.3 billion to AUM during the three months ended March 31, 2024[15]. - Acquisition-related retention expenses increased significantly to $104.5 million for the quarter, compared to $23.2 million in the same period last year[23]. Market Presence and Strategy - The company serves clients in over 150 countries, indicating a strong global presence and market expansion strategy[25]. - Franklin Resources, Inc. emphasizes its commitment to investment management expertise and technology solutions to enhance client outcomes[25]. Other Financial Metrics - The institutional pipeline of won-but-unfunded mandates grew to nearly $20 billion[3]. - Investment management fees rose by 4% to $1,713.9 million from $1,652.2 million quarter-over-quarter[11]. - The average AUM for the three-month period increased by 13% to $1,581.1 billion from $1,394.2 billion year-over-year[13]. - Adjusted operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $419.6 million, slightly up from $417.0 million in the previous quarter[22]. - Adjusted operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was 25.2%, compared to 27.3% in the previous quarter[22].

Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Franklin Resources Inc (BEN) may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report.That is because Franklin Resourcesis seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earnings — with the most up-to-date information possible — is a p ...