Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Franklin Resources

Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of July 2024, Franklin had $1.663 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (36%), fixed-income (34%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%) and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted equally between retail investors (52% of AUM) and institutional accounts (46%), with high-net-worth clients accounting for the remainder. Franklin is one of the more global of the us-based asset managers we cover, with 30% of its assets under management invested in global/international strategies and just as much sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.

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Tech

TROW

AI can help financial advisors with lead generation, market segmentation, and communication, but it&#39;s not a complete solution. Use wisely.

Top 3 AI Uses For Financial Advisors Flagged In Report: Financial Planner Says Beware, Technology Is No Cure-All

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&#39;Mass Slaughter&#39;: Wealth Manager Warns Of Market Correction, Digital Disruption As ETF, Passive Investing Goes Up And To The Right

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T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TROW) announced its preliminary assets under management of $1.61 trillion for August 2024. The figure reflected a sequential increase of 1.6%.

TROW experienced net outflows of $5.3 billion in August 2024.

T. Rowe Price&#39;s August AUM Balance Improves 1.6% Sequentially

Franklin Resources Inc

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Artificial intelligence may be a useful tool <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40942266/amazon-launches-ai-assistant-codenamed-project-amelia">for financial advisors</a>, but it will not solve their every problem.
There are three ways that financial advisors can use AI to their utmost benefit, AssetMark and Wealthmanagement.com say in a report: optimizing lead generation, segmenting the market and improving client communication.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lead Generation</h2>
AI tools have proven to increase lead generation by as much as 50% and lower costs by as much as 60%, the report said.
&#8220;AI tools can build profiles based on names, publicly available data, and data from third-party vendors,&#8221; the report stated.
&#8220;These profiles can be compared to metrics for successful conversions, helping advisors focus attention on prospects who are more likely to become high-value clients.&#8221; 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Improved Market Segmentation</h2>
AI also helps to further segment prospects based on their unique needs, the report said.
AI and predictive analytics can also help financial advisors to quickly and accurately segment their clients based on their attributes, such as assets under management, demographics and profession.
&#8220;AI tools also help identify patterns and trends advisors can use to better understand their clients' needs and preferences,&#8221; the report said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40937593/oracle-cloudworld-highlights-ai-driven-tech-services-but-revenue-growth-requires-patience-analyst">Oracle CloudWorld Highlights &#8216;AI-Driven Tech Services,&#8217; But Revenue Growth Requires Patience: Analyst</a>
The ability to predict client behavior and preferences enables financial advisors to further use AI to create targeted marketing campaigns and messaging that resonate with their audience,&#8221; the report said.
&#8220;Segmentation can help advisors identify potential high-value clients, allowing them to pursue leads strategically and allocate their marketing resources more efficiently by aligning them with key growth drivers.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Better Communication</h2>
AI tools can also help advisors to prioritize and target their communications with their clients, the report said.
&#8220;Predictive tools help advisors reach out to clients proactively to provide solutions at the right time — sometimes even before clients realize they need them,&#8221; it said.
&#8220;Getting the right information to the right clients at the right time is often the key to ensuring clients take action.&#8221;
AI can also give advisors a hand at creating engaging content for clients and also help them to write emails, social media content and website copy for clients more efficiently.
&#8220;Advisors can gather questions from clients, for instance, and use AI to generate custom content based on their inquiries that are specific to niche client needs,&#8221; the report said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Tools &#8216;May Be Useful To Some Extent&#8217;</h2>
But AI is not the end-all, be-all solution for financial advisors, Canadian financial planner Jason Pereira <a href="https://www.kitces.com/blog/generative-ai-artificial-intelligence-advisor-technology-chat-gpt-software-innovation/">wrote</a> for Kitces.
&#8220;It may be helpful for advisors to take a realistic approach to the value that AI tools will provide, especially in an environment where technology providers often make bold claims about their solutions&#8217; ability to save time and reduce costs,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;Some of the capabilities of today&#8217;s AI tools (e.g., automating workflows or retrieving client information using a chatbot) may be useful to some extent, but if the processes that they replace don&#8217;t take that much time to begin with, then the tools&#8217; benefits may not justify the additional cost to implement them.&#8221;
It will most likely take 10 years for AI tools to develop to the point where they can help financial advisors in a meaningful way, such as reducing headcount by 50%, he said.
Price Action: Financial Advisory firms trended upward into Thursday&#8217;s mid-afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) went up 2.1% to $20.82.</li>
<li>Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INV#NYSE">INV</a>) gained 3.1% to $17.27</li>
<li>T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TROW#NASDAQ">TROW</a>) picked up 2.45% to $110.78</li>
<li>AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AB#NYSE">AB</a>) gained 1.68% to $35.18</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40942923/short-seller-targets-verint-systems-stock-as-ai-threat-emerges-the-future-is-certainly-not-verint">Short Seller Targets Verint Systems Stock As AI Threat Emerges: &#8216;The Future Is Certainly Not Verint&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Midjourney

A renowned financial advisor, lawyer, and CEO of Creative Planning, Peter Mallouk, has expressed concerns about the future of the Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) industry despite projections that it will exceed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors">$2.92 trillion by 2029.</a>
Mallouk discussed industry news with The Daily Upside at Future Proof, the world&#8217;s largest wealth festival, in Huntington Beach, CA.
&#8220;The market has been on a 15-year bull run and just gone straight up. When the markets normalize, there will be a mass slaughter. I mean, it's going to be really bad, and it's going to happen in a very short, multiyear period," he said, adding that many RIA's have grown complacent, owing to the success of the broad industry.
However, the market might struggle to hear him over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40938732/wall-street-ramps-up-interest-rate-cut-bets-after-fed-meeting-the-hard-landing-crow">sounds of its fireworks</a>. The FED has just cut interest rates by 50 basis points, equities are at fresh all-time highs, and the RIA industry seems to thrive.
Franklin Templeton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>), an industry leader, manages as many as 455 open-ended mutual funds, while Invesco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVZ#NYSE">IVZ</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39910961/invesco-q2-earnings-beat-despite-yy-revenue-decline">recently reported</a> a 12% year-over-year increase in assets under management, surpassing $1.7 trillion. Despite these figures demonstrating the industry&#8217;s momentum, Mallouk believes many firms could be vulnerable if market conditions change.
Mallouk also points to larger economic risks, particularly related to deficit spending – which is set to reach $1.9 trillion in 2024, up from $1.7 trillion in 2023.
&#8220;It's really hard to get your brain around just how much money is sloshing around the system and what deficit spending does to the economy," he said.
Technology is another area where Mallouk sees both promise and peril. While advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance efficiency and scalability, they also introduce risks, including cybersecurity threats and misinformation.
Canadian veteran financial planner Jason Pereira recently echoed a similar sentiment, particularly addressing the hype surrounding generative AI.
&#8220;Generative AI is the most meaningful technological change since mobile computing,&#8221; he wrote <a href="https://www.kitces.com/blog/generative-ai-artificial-intelligence-advisor-technology-chat-gpt-software-innovation/">for</a> Kitces. While recognizing it as the biggest transformative advancement in years, he cautions that its full impact won&#8217;t be felt immediately.
&#8220;Can they expect to find an AI tool that changes everything today? Quite simply, no. Can it happen in 10 years? That's a much more probable outcome,&#8221; he noted.
Pereira stresses that while AI can speed up certain processes, its effectiveness depends on how well advisors understand and use the technology. 
&#8220;It doesn't make things better; it makes things faster—if you know what you're doing,&#8221; he explained, suggesting that firms should focus on mastering technology rather than relying on it to solve all their problems.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40937291/bank-stocks-hit-inflection-point-after-feds-50-basis-point-cut-analyst-reveal-top-p">Bank Stocks Hit Inflection Point After Fed&#8217;s 50 Basis Point Cut, Analyst Reveals Top Picks</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

'Mass Slaughter': Wealth Manager Warns Of Market Correction, Digital Disruption As ETF, Passive Investing Goes Up And To The Right

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/trow#NASDAQ">TROW</a>) announced its preliminary assets under management of $1.61 trillion for August 2024. The figure reflected a sequential increase of 1.6%.
TROW experienced net outflows of $5.3 billion in August 2024.
<h2>Breakdown of TROW&#39;s AUM Performance</h2>
At the end of August, TROW&#39;s equity products aggregated $825 billion, which increased 1.4% from the previous month&#39;s level. Fixed income (including money market) rose marginally to $183 billion. Further, multi-asset products were $553 billion, which increased 2.2% from the previous month.
Alternative products of $51 billion increased 2% from the prior month&#39;s level.
T. Rowe Price registered $474 billion in target date retirement portfolios in August 2024, which increased 2.2% from the prior month.
<h2>Our Take on TROW</h2>
The company&#39;s solid AUM balance, broadening distribution reach and efforts to diversify business through acquisitions are likely to support its top-line growth in the long term. However, the company&#39;s overdependence on investment advisory fees is concerning. Also, T. Rowe Price&#39;s bottom-line growth continues to be under pressure due to high costs.
Over the past three months, shares of T. Rowe Price have lost 8.7% against the industry&#39;s&nbsp; 6.9% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/ae/77702.jpg?v=923798132" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, TROW carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<h2>Performance of Other Asset Managers</h2>
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ben#NYSE">BEN</a>) reported its preliminary AUM of $1.68 trillion as of Aug. 31, 2024. This reflected an increase of 1.1% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The improvement in BEN&#39;s AUM balance was due to the impact of positive markets, partially offset by long-term net outflows.&nbsp;
Cohen &amp; Steers, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cns#NYSE">CNS</a>) reported a preliminary AUM of $88.1 billion as of Aug. 31, 2024. This reflected a rise of 4.1% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The increase in CNS&#39; AUM balance was driven by the market appreciation of $3.7 billion and net inflows of $8 billion, partially offset by distributions of $152 million.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2336051/t-rowe-price-s-august-aum-balance-improves-1-6-sequentially?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2336051">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

T. Rowe Price's August AUM Balance Improves 1.6% Sequentially

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ben#NYSE">BEN</a>) reported its preliminary assets under management of $1.68 trillion as of Aug. 31, 2024. This reflected an increase of 1.1% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The improvement in AUM balance was due to the impact of positive markets, partially offset by long-term net outflows. Outflows included $7.7 billion of long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management. As previously revealed, the Macro Opportunities strategy, included in Alternative AUM, is closing and had $1.1 billion of AUM as of Aug. 31, 2024, and $0.9 billion of net outflows in the month.
<h2>Break Down of BEN&#39;s AUM Based on Asset Class</h2>
BEN recorded equity assets of $603.7 billion, which rose 2.5% from the previous month. Further, fixed income AUM of $574.5 billion at the end of August 2024 increased marginally from the prior month. Likewise, Multi-asset AUM was $172.9 billion, growing modestly from July 2024.
On the other hand, Alternative AUM decreased 1.5% to $251.2 billion from the prior month&#39;s level. Alternative AUM in the reported month includes a $2 billion reduction related to the reclassification of assets under administration.
The cash management balance was $64.35 billion, up 4.6% from the previous month.
<h2>Our Viewpoint on BEN</h2>
Franklin&#39;s efforts to diversify business through buyouts, solid AUM balance and a strong distribution platform will aid its top line. However, elevated expenses and volatility in investment management fees, which bring in the majority of its revenues, are near-term concerns.
Over the past three months, shares of BEN have plunged 11.5% against the industry&#39;s 3.8% rise.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/4d/77484.jpg?v=1359146759" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, BEN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<h2>Performance of Other Asset Managers</h2>
Cohen &amp; Steers, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cns#NYSE">CNS</a>) reported a preliminary AUM of $88.1 billion as of Aug. 31, 2024. This reflected a rise of 4.1% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The increase in CNS&#39; AUM balance was driven by the market appreciation of $3.7 billion and net inflows of $8 billion, partially offset by distributions of $152 million.
Invesco (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ivz#NYSE">IVZ</a>) reported a preliminary month-end AUM of $1.75 trillion in August 2024. This represented a 1.1% increase from the previous month.
IVZ reported net long-term inflows of $2.4 billion in August. Non-management fee-earning net inflows were $0.9 billion, while money market net outflows totaled $6.4 billion. Further, Invesco&#39;s AUM was favorably impacted by solid market returns, which boosted its AUM by $16 billion. Further, FX increased the AUM balance by $7.3 billion.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2335231/franklin-s-august-aum-balance-improves-on-favorable-markets?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2335231">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Equities

Mid Cap

Franklin's August AUM Balance Improves on Favorable Markets

10 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $22.6, a high estimate of $26.00, and a low estimate of $20.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 7.98% lower than the prior average price target of $24.56. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726149925_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Franklin Resources. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Motemaden</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benjamin Budish</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aidan Hall</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Bedell</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aidan Hall</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Etienne Ricard</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brennan Hawken</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$25.50</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Franklin Resources. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Unveiling insights, analysts deliver qualitative insights into stock performance, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Franklin Resources compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Franklin Resources's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Franklin Resources's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BEN/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Franklin Resources analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Franklin Resources Better</h2>
Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of July 2024, Franklin had $1.663 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (36%), fixed-income (34%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%) and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted equally between retail investors (52% of AUM) and institutional accounts (46%), with high-net-worth clients accounting for the remainder. Franklin is one of the more global of the us-based asset managers we cover, with 30% of its assets under management invested in global/international strategies and just as much sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of Franklin Resources</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Positioned below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization faces constraints in size. This could be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Franklin Resources showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 7.82% as of 30 June, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Franklin Resources's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 7.84%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Franklin Resources's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 1.29%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.5%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Franklin Resources's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 1.06, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Outlook: Franklin Resources Through The Eyes Of 10 Analysts

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown initiates coverage on Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) with a Equal-Weight rating and announces Price Target of $20.

Price Target

Initiation

Wells Fargo Initiates Coverage On Franklin Resources with Equal-Weight Rating, Announces Price Target of $20

Evercore ISI Group analyst David Motemaden maintains Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) with a Underperform and lowers the price target from $24 to $20.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Underperform on Franklin Resources, Lowers Price Target to $20

Although U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, there were a few notable insider trades.
When insiders purchase shares, it indicates their confidence in the company&#8217;s prospects or that they view the stock as a bargain. Either way, this signals an opportunity to go long on the stock. Insider purchases should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a buying decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider purchases. For more, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">Benzinga&#8217;s insider transactions</a> platform.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">American Public Education</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: American Public Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APEI#NASDAQ">APEI</a>) 325 Capital GP, LLC acquired a total of 20,000 shares at an average price of $16.63. To acquire these shares, it cost around $332,600.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Aug. 6, American Public Education reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>What American Public Education Does: American Public Education Inc provides online and on-campus postsecondary education including various undergraduate and graduate degree programs.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inhibrx Biosciences</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Inhibrx Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INBX#NASDAQ">INBX</a>) Director Kimberly Manhard acquired a total of 10,000 shares at an average price of $13.98. To acquire these shares, it cost around $139,800.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Aug. 13, Inhibrx Biosciences posted second-quarter EPS of $125.48.</li>
<li>What Inhibrx Biosciences Does: Inhibrx Biosciences Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of novel biologic therapeutic candidates, developed using its proprietary modular protein engineering platforms.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Franklin Resources</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Franklin Resources, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) 10% owner Charles B Johnson <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">bought a total of 100,000 shares</a> at an average price of $19.84. To acquire these shares, it cost around $1.98 million. The company's President and CEO also bought 12,700 shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Aug. 27, Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish initiated coverage on Franklin Resources with an Underweight rating and announced a price target of $20.</li>
<li>What Franklin Resources Does: Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Universal Display</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OLED#NASDAQ">OLED</a>) Lawrence Lacerte<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> bought a total of 1,000 shares</a> at an average price of $187.99. The insider spent around $187,990 to buy those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Aug. 1, Universal Display posted worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results..</li>
<li>What Universal Display Does: Universal Display Corp researches, develops, and manufactures organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, technologies for use in displays for mobile phones, tablets, televisions, wearables, personal computers, automotive interiors, and the solid-state lighting market.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out:
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/08/40666406/top-2-real-estate-stocks-that-could-blast-off-this-quarter">Top 2 Real Estate Stocks That Could Blast Off This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>

Long Ideas

Insider Trades

Pre-Market Outlook

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Around $2M Bet On Franklin Resources? Check Out These 4 Stocks Executives Are Buying

On August 30, a substantial insider purchase was made by JENNIFER JOHNSON, President and CEO at Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>), as per the latest SEC filing.
What Happened: JOHNSON made a significant move by purchasing 12,700 shares of Franklin Resources as reported in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000038777/000112760224023192//Archives/edgar/data/38777/000112760224023192/0001127602-24-023192-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a>. The transaction's total worth stands at $249,737.
In the Friday's morning session, Franklin Resources's shares are currently trading at $20.13, experiencing a up of 0.8%.
<h3>Delving into Franklin Resources's Background</h3>
Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of July 2024, Franklin had $1.663 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (36%), fixed-income (34%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%) and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted equally between retail investors (52% of AUM) and institutional accounts (46%), with high-net-worth clients accounting for the remainder. Franklin is one of the more global of the us-based asset managers we cover, with 30% of its assets under management invested in global/international strategies and just as much sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.
<h3>Franklin Resources: Delving into Financials</h3>
Revenue Growth: Franklin Resources's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 7.82%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Profitability Metrics: Unlocking Value
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company maintains a high gross margin of 79.98%, indicating strong cost management and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): With an EPS below industry norms, Franklin Resources exhibits below-average bottom-line performance with a current EPS of 0.32.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: Franklin Resources's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.06.
Financial Valuation:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price to Earnings ratio of 12.4 is lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The Price to Sales ratio is 1.22, which is lower than the industry average. This suggests a possible undervaluation based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): The company's EV/EBITDA ratio of 10.46 trails industry averages, indicating a potential disparity in market valuation that could be advantageous for investors.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Positioned below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization faces constraints in size. This could be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
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<h3>Delving Into the Significance of Insider Transactions</h3>
Insider transactions serve as a piece of the puzzle in investment decisions, rather than the entire picture.
When discussing legal matters, the term "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated in Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.
A new purchase by a company insider is a indication that they anticipate the stock will rise.
On the other hand, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Exploring Key Transaction Codes</h3>
Taking a closer look at transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000038777">Check Out The Full List Of Franklin Resources's Insider Trades.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

President and CEO At Franklin Resources Buys $249K of Stock

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Shares of companies within the broader financial sector are trading lower amid overall market sentiment as investors evaluate NVIDIA ahead of its earnings report and SMCI Form 10-K delay.

A notable insider purchase on August 26, was reported by JENNIFER JOHNSON, President and CEO at Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>), based on the most recent SEC filing.
What Happened: JOHNSON made a significant move by purchasing 18,900 shares of Franklin Resources as reported in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000038777/000112760224022906//Archives/edgar/data/38777/000112760224022906/0001127602-24-022906-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a>. The transaction's total worth stands at $396,021.
At Tuesday morning, Franklin Resources shares are down by 0.87%, trading at $20.56.
<h3>All You Need to Know About Franklin Resources</h3>
Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of July 2024, Franklin had $1.663 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (36%), fixed-income (34%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%) and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted equally between retail investors (52% of AUM) and institutional accounts (46%), with high-net-worth clients accounting for the remainder. Franklin is one of the more global of the US-based asset managers we cover, with 30% of its assets under management invested in global/international strategies and just as much sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.
<h3>Franklin Resources's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Franklin Resources's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 7.82% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Financials sector.
Evaluating Earnings Performance:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company maintains a high gross margin of 79.98%, indicating strong cost management and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): Franklin Resources's EPS lags behind the industry average, indicating concerns and potential challenges with a current EPS of 0.32.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: Franklin Resources's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 1.06, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
Assessing Valuation Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The current P/E ratio of 12.88 is below industry norms, indicating potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a lower-than-average P/S ratio of 1.27, the stock presents an attractive valuation, potentially signaling a buying opportunity for investors interested in sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): With an EV/EBITDA ratio lower than industry averages at 10.67, Franklin Resources could be considered undervalued.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is below the industry average, suggesting that it is relatively smaller compared to peers. This could be due to various factors, including perceived growth potential or operational scale.
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<h3>Uncovering the Importance of Insider Activity</h3>
Insightful as they may be, insider transactions should be considered alongside a thorough examination of other investment criteria.
Considering the legal perspective, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, according to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are mandated to disclose their transactions through a Form 4 filing, to be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
Pointing towards optimism, a company insider's new purchase signals their positive anticipation for the stock to rise.
Nevertheless, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be influenced by various factors.
<h3>Transaction Codes To Focus On</h3>
When it comes to transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> tend to focus on those in the open market, detailed in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S indicates a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000038777">Check Out The Full List Of Franklin Resources's Insider Trades.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Confidence On Display: JENNIFER JOHNSON Acquires $396K In Franklin Resources Stock

Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish initiates coverage on Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) with a Underweight rating and announces Price Target of $20.

Barclays Initiates Coverage On Franklin Resources with Underweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $20

These eight large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
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<li>Tamboran Resources Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TBN#NYSE">TBN</a>) stock fell 13.84% last week.</li>
<li>Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFI#NYSE">GFI</a>) stock was down 12.37%. Recently, the gold mining sector <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40424535" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saw M&amp;A activity</a>.</li>
<li>Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) shares tumbled 10.82% after the company reported second-quarter results, and several analysts lowered their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40511947" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price targets on the stock</a>.</li>
<li>NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTES#NASDAQ">NTES</a>) stock dived 9.30% after the company reported worse-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40502799" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter sales results</a>.</li>
<li>Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) shares declined 8.12% after the company announced that Michael Buchanan had been appointed as its new Chief Investment Officer due <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40497028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to CIO Ken Leech&#8217;s leave of absence</a>.</li>
<li>JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) shares were down 7.74% after Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) revealed plans to divest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40531142" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its stake in the company</a>.</li>
<li>Temu parent PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) stock declined 7.18% last week after China&#8217;s central bank left its one-year and five-year loan prime rates unchanged at 3.35% and 3.85%, respectively. The stock also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40532929" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">faced selling pressure</a> ahead of second-quarter earnings.</li>
<li>Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40528702" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shares plummeted 5.77%</a>.</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/08/40543876/zoom-video-microstrategy-and-target-were-among-top-11-large-cap-gainers-last-week-aug-18-aug-24-ar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoom Video, MicroStrategy And Target Were Among Top 11 Large Cap Gainers Last Week (Aug 18-Aug 24): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
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Snowflake, JD.com And Temu Parent PDD Are Among Top 8 Large Cap Losers Last Week (Aug 18-Aug 24): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ben#NYSE">BEN</a>) shares plunged 12.6% and hit a 52-week low of $19.78 in the last trading session. The decline came as Western Asset Management, a unit of Franklin Resources, announced the replacement of its top investment executive amid federal investigations into his conduct.
The company replaced Ken Leech, who was serving as the co-chief investment officer&nbsp;of its Western Asset Management unit. The move came as the CIO had taken a leave of absence after getting a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In a SEC filing, Western Asset Management stated that Leech had left the firm. Therefore, the company has decided to close its Macro Opportunities fund to &quot;best serve clients&quot; which managed around $2 billion in assets as of Jul 31. Also, the company mentioned, with immediate effect, Michael Buchanan, who also shared the role with Ken Leech has been named the CIO.
In a July 2024 regulatory filing, Franklin Resources announced the initiation of an internal investigation into &quot;certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management&quot; managed accounts.
It explained that Western Asset Management was cooperating with parallel government investigations by the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). On Aug 21, BEN stated that it would &quot;take action as warranted&quot; based on the findings of the investigations by the SEC and DOJ.
Over the past six months, shares of BEN have plunged 27.1% against the industry&#39;s 5.2% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/4d/75085.jpg?v=104678435" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, BEN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
According to a Bloomberg report from Aug 21, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are also investigating allegations of &quot;cherry-picking&quot; where winning trades were allegedly allocated to favored accounts.
The tumble in the share price and the sudden replacement of a top executive, along with the closing of a $2 billion macro-opportunities fund, came as a shocker for BEN. This reflects concerns that the recent probe could expand and prompt investors to pull out their assets from the company&#39;s funds.
<h2>Other Finance Stocks Facing SEC Investigation</h2>
On Aug 2, Wells Fargo &amp; Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wfc#NYSE">WFC</a>) announced that it was under government authorities&#39; investigations on issues related to anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions programs.
WFC disclosed this AML and Sanctions program inquiry in its second-quarter SEC filing. In the same filing, the bank mentioned that it is in &quot;resolution discussions&quot; with the U.S. SEC about an investigation related to the cash sweep options it provides to new investment advisory clients. The bank further added in its SEC filing that &quot;There can be no assurance as to the outcome of these discussions.&quot;
In May, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hood#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) received a notice from the SEC that its crypto business &mdash; Robinhood Crypto &mdash; could face an enforcement action. The notice comes as a result of the violation of registrations as a securities broker and transfer agent.
HOOD stated that a potential action from the SEC could be a civil complaint and a public court proceeding that may end up with a fine, a cease-and-desist order, and other restrictions on crypto operations.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2325923/franklin-ben-stock-plunges-12-6-amid-sec-probe-disclosure?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2325923">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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Franklin Stock Plunges 12.6% Amid SEC Probe Disclosure

In the preceding three months, 7 analysts have released ratings for Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>), presenting a wide array of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have set 12-month price targets for Franklin Resources, revealing an average target of $23.71, a high estimate of $26.00, and a low estimate of $23.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 3.77% lower than the prior average price target of $24.64. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724328073_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Franklin Resources. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Aidan Hall</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Bedell</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aidan Hall</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Etienne Ricard</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brennan Hawken</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$25.50</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Franklin Resources. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Franklin Resources compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Franklin Resources's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Franklin Resources's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BEN/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Franklin Resources analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Franklin Resources</h2>
Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of April 2024, Franklin had $1.602 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (35%), fixed-income (35%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%) and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted equally between retail investors (52% of AUM) and institutional accounts (46%), with high-net-worth clients accounting for the remainder. Franklin is one of the more global of the US-based asset managers we cover, with more than a third of its assets under management invested in global/international strategies and 30% of managed assets sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.
<h3>Breaking Down Franklin Resources's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Franklin Resources's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 7.82%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 7.84%, the company may need to address challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Franklin Resources's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 1.29%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Franklin Resources's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.5%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.06.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Franklin Resources Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (7 Ratings)

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Aidan Hall maintains Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>) with a Underperform and maintains $23 price target.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Underperform on Franklin Resources, Maintains $23 Price Target

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Franklin Resources shares are trading lower after the company announced the appointment of Michael Buchanan as its new Chief Investment Officer due to CIO Ken Leech's leave of absence. Ken Leech is on a leave of absence after he recently received a Wells Notice from the SEC.

Western Asset Management Company Announces Leadership Transition
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Michael Buchanan named Chief Investment Officer
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Ken Leech on leave of absence
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PASADENA, CA / [BUSINESS WIRE] / [August 21, 2024] / Western Asset Management Company ("Western Asset" or the "Company"), a global manager of active fixed-income solutions, announced today that it has appointed Michael Buchanan to Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Buchanan had served as co-Chief Investment Officer with Ken Leech, who is on a leave of absence, effective immediately.
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In line with the Company's succession plan, Mr. Buchanan has been elevated to Chief Investment Officer. Along with his responsibilities as Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Buchanan has assumed leadership of all global investment management responsibilities.
 &nbsp;
With nearly two decades at the Company and over three decades of industry expertise, Mr. Buchanan has helped lead the Company's Global and US Strategy Committees and has had direct oversight of the Company's global investment teams, including global macro and all sector teams. Prior to Western Asset, Mr. Buchanan served as Managing Director and Head of US Credit Products at Credit Suisse Asset Management and as Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Janus Capital Management.

Franklin Resources' Western Asset Management Co Announced Michael Buchanan As Its New Chief Investment Officer, Succeeding Co-CIO Ken Leech Who Is On A Leave Of Absence; Buchanan Will Now Lead All Global Investment Management Responsibilities

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ben#NYSE">BEN</a>) reported its preliminary assets under management of $1.66 trillion as of Jul 31, 2024. This reflected an increase of 1% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The improvement in AUM balance was primarily due to the impact of positive markets, partially offset by long-term net outflows.
BEN recorded equity assets of $603.7 billion, which increased 1.5% from the previous month. Further, fixed income AUM of $571.3 billion at the end of July 2024 increased 1.2% from the previous month. Multi-asset AUM was $171.7 billion, which rose 2.1% from June 2024. Also, alternative assets increased marginally to $254.9 billion from the prior month&#39;s level.
However, the cash management balance was $61.5 billion, down 4.7% from the previous month&#39;s level.
Franklin&#39;s efforts to diversify business through buyouts, solid AUM balance and a strong distribution platform will aid its top line. We project AUM and revenues to witness a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% and 4.6%, respectively, by fiscal 2026. However, elevated expenses and volatility in investment management fees, which bring in the majority of its revenues, are near-term concerns.
Over the past six months, shares of BEN have plunged 19.6% against the industry&#39;s 2% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/4d/74175.jpg?v=1629195372" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, BEN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<h3>Performance of Other Asset Managers</h3>
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. announced its preliminary AUM of $1.59 trillion as of Jul 31, 2024. The figure reflected a sequential increase of 1.1%. TROW experienced net inflows of $2 billion in July 2024.
Cohen &amp; Steers, Inc. reported its preliminary AUM of $84.6 billion as of Jul 31, 2024. This reflected a rise of 4.8% from the prior month&#39;s level.
The increase in CNS&#39; AUM balance was driven by the market appreciation of $41 billion, partially offset by net outflows of $45 million and distributions of $153 million.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2321443/franklin-s-ben-july-aum-benefits-from-favorable-markets?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2321443">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Franklin's July AUM Benefits From Favorable Markets

In a report released today, William Katz from TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating on Franklin Resources (BEN – Research Report), with a price target ...

TD Cowen Remains a Hold on Franklin Resources (BEN)

Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Financial sector with new ratings on Franklin Resources (BEN – Research Report), American Express (AXP ...

Analysts Offer Insights on Financial Companies: Franklin Resources (BEN), American Express (AXP) and US Bancorp (USB)

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Going Ex-Dividend

With a well-respected brand and a strong market share, TROW is well-positioned as an asset manager. It consistently produces net client inflows based on the relative performance of its funds.

T. Rowe Price Group Inc. (TROW) Dividend Stock Analysis

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Press Releases

Franklin Resources (BEN) Stumbles Again After Shuttering $2 Billion Fund, Placing Co-CIO On Leave - Hagens Berman

BEN FRAUD ALERT: A Securities Fraud Investigation has been Initiated against Franklin Resources, Inc. – Investors are Notified to Contact BFA Law (NYSE:BEN)

SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Franklin Resources, Inc. - BEN

BEN Investors Have Opportunity to Join Franklin Resources, Inc. Securities Fraud Investigation with the Schall Law Firm

BEN INVESTOR UPDATE: Suffer Losses on Your Franklin Resources, Inc. Investment? Contact BFA Law about its Securities Fraud Investigation (NYSE:BEN)

INVESTIGATION ALERT: Berger Montague is Investigating Potential Claims on Behalf of Shareholders of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN)

Franklin Resources, Inc. Investigated for Securities Law Violations - Contact the DJS Law Group to Discuss Your Rights - BEN

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is Investigating Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) for Potential Securities Law Violations

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Is Investigating Dyne, Napco, and Franklin and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

BEN INVESTOR UPDATE: Franklin Resources, Inc. Investors are Notified to Contact BFA Law about Ongoing Investigation into the Company for Securities Fraud (NYSE:BEN)

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