Franklin's February AUM Balance Declines Sequentially on Net Outflows

Core Viewpoint - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) reported preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.58 trillion as of February 28, 2025, reflecting a marginal decrease from the prior month due to long-term net outflows of$10 billion, including previously disclosed outflows at Western Asset Management [1] AUM Breakdown by Asset Class - Equity assets amounted to $623.4 billion, down 2$455.6 billion, showing a marginal decline from the prior month [2] - Alternative AUM decreased marginally to $249.3 billion [2] - Multi-asset AUM rose to$179.9 billion, an increase of 1.8% from January 2025 [2] - Cash management balance increased to $68.8 billion, up 11.1% from the previous month [2] Company Performance and Market Context - February was challenging for Franklin due to fewer days and long-term net outflows; however, increased cash management and multi-asset AUM, along with efforts for inorganic growth, supported its financials [3] - Over the past six months, BEN shares gained 3.1%, compared to the industry's 9% rise [3] Performance of Other Asset Managers - AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (AB) and Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (VCTR) are set to release their February AUM results soon, both carrying a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [5] - The consensus estimate for VCTR's 2025 earnings has been revised downward by 1.3% over the past week, with shares rising 15.4% in the past six months [5] - The consensus estimate for AB's 2025 earnings has been revised marginally upward, with the stock witnessing a 14.6% rise in the past six months [6]