Core Viewpoint - Value investing remains a preferred strategy for identifying strong stocks, focusing on companies believed to be undervalued based on fundamental analysis [2][8] Company Summary: Franklin Resources (BEN) - Franklin Resources (BEN) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and an A for Value, indicating strong potential as a value stock [4] - The stock's P/E ratio is 10.04, significantly lower than the industry average of 15.20, suggesting it may be undervalued [4] - BEN's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 7.36 and 11.57 over the past year, with a median of 8.99 [4] - The P/B ratio for BEN is 0.97, compared to the industry average of 2.71, indicating a favorable valuation relative to its book value [5] - Over the past year, BEN's P/B has ranged from 0.67 to 1.04, with a median of 0.83 [5] - The P/S ratio for BEN stands at 1.37, well below the industry average of 3.26, reinforcing its undervalued status [6] - BEN's P/CF ratio is 13.34, significantly lower than the industry average of 38.32, highlighting its attractive cash flow valuation [7] - The P/CF for BEN has varied from 7.79 to 14.22 over the past year, with a median of 11.30 [7] - Overall, these metrics suggest that Franklin Resources is likely undervalued, making it a compelling investment opportunity at this time [8]

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]

Core Insights - Dividend stocks are particularly favored by investors, especially Baby Boomers, due to their reliable income generation and potential for capital appreciation [1] Group 1 - Dividend stocks provide a steady income stream, making them attractive for long-term investors [1] - The preference for dividend stocks among Baby Boomers highlights a trend towards income-focused investment strategies [1]

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]

Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.66 trillion as of September 30, 2025, an increase from $1.64 trillion at August 31, 2025 [1] - The increase in AUM was attributed to positive market conditions, although this was partially offset by long-term net outflows of $11 billion, which included $13 billion in net outflows from Western Asset Management [1] Financial Performance - Preliminary AUM for September 30, 2025: $1.66 trillion [1] - AUM for August 31, 2025: $1.64 trillion [1] - Long-term net outflows: $11 billion [1] - Long-term net outflows from Western Asset Management: $13 billion [1]

Core Viewpoint - Franklin Resources, Inc. has successfully completed the acquisition of Apera Asset Management, enhancing its investment management capabilities in the private credit sector in Europe [1] Company Summary - Franklin Resources, Inc. operates as Franklin Templeton, a global investment management organization [1] - The acquisition of Apera Asset Management adds over €5 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of September 30, 2025 [1] - Apera Asset Management specializes in providing senior secured private capital solutions to private equity-backed companies in Western Europe [1]

Core Points - Franklin Resources, Inc. will announce its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 results on November 7, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time [1] - A live teleconference will be held by Jenny Johnson, President and CEO, and Matthew Nicholls, Executive Vice President, CFO and COO, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day to address questions [2] - Access to the teleconference will be available via the company's investor relations website or by dialing specific phone numbers for North America and other locations [3] Company Overview - Franklin Resources, Inc. operates as a global investment management organization under the name Franklin Templeton, serving clients in over 150 countries [4] - The company has over 75 years of investment experience and manages approximately $1.64 trillion in assets as of August 31, 2025 [4]

Group 1 - Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) has shown significant revenue and dividend growth, making it one of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime [1] - The company announced a strategic partnership with Binance on September 25, 2025, to create digital asset projects, leveraging Binance's trading infrastructure and Franklin Templeton's compliance expertise [2] - This partnership aims to bridge traditional and decentralized finance, enhancing settlement, collateral management, and portfolio construction efficiency [2][3] Group 2 - Franklin Resources, Inc. previously collaborated with Actis, DigitalBridge, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to improve private wealth solutions, particularly in private infrastructure investments [3] - These initiatives are part of Franklin Resources' strategy to increase access to digital assets and alternative investments, positioning the company at the forefront of financial technology integration [3] - The company provides investment services to various clients, including partnerships, pension plans, individuals, and institutions, reinforcing its status as a leading asset management firm [4]