How Is Franklin Resources' Stock Performance Compared to Other Financial Stocks?

Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is a global investment management firm with a market cap of $12.6 billion, managing over $1.6 trillion in assets across various investment strategies [1][2] Company Overview - BEN operates in over 150 countries and is classified as a large-cap stock due to its market capitalization exceeding $10 billion [2] - The company has a diverse asset management portfolio, including equity, fixed income, and alternative investments, with 30% of its assets managed internationally, providing resilience against regional market fluctuations [2] Stock Performance - BEN's stock has experienced a decline of 7.9% from its 52-week high of $26.08, reached on August 13, while gaining 5% over the past three months, underperforming the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) which gained 5.8% [3] - Year-to-date, BEN shares rose 18.4%, outperforming XLF's 11.2% gains, but over the past 52 weeks, BEN's stock climbed 15.8%, underperforming XLF's 18.3% returns [4] Financial Performance - In Q3, BEN's performance exceeded expectations despite a 2.8% year-over-year decline in operating revenue, primarily due to lower investment management fees; however, revenue surpassed consensus estimates by 3% [5] - The adjusted EPS for the quarter was $0.49, reflecting an 18.3% decline from the previous year, although it beat analyst expectations [5] - A significant decline in operating margin impacted profitability, which may have contributed to a muted investor response [5]