Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) has announced a quarterly dividend increase to 33 cents per share, marking a 3.1% rise compared to both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year, with the dividend payable on January 9, 2026 [1] - The company has expanded its stock repurchase program to allow for the repurchase of up to 40 million shares, enhancing shareholder value by reducing outstanding shares [4][8] - BEN maintains a strong liquidity position of $5.6 billion as of September 30, 2025, with no short-term debt, supporting its ability to continue dividend payments and opportunistic share repurchases [5][8] Dividend and Shareholder Returns - The current dividend yield for BEN stands at 5.33%, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.16%, with a payout ratio of 58% [2] - Over the past five years, BEN has increased its dividend six times, providing consistent income for investors [2][8] Market Performance - Over the past year, BEN shares have gained 4.9%, contrasting with a 2% decline in the industry [10]

Core Insights - Franklin Templeton Canada announced estimated cash distributions for December 2025 for its ETFs and ETF series of mutual funds, with payments scheduled for January 8, 2026 [1][2]. Estimated Cash Distributions - Unitholders of record as of December 30, 2025, will receive various per-unit cash distributions, with amounts ranging from $0.000000 to $0.637857 depending on the fund type and frequency [3]. - Notable distributions include: - Franklin Canadian Core Equity Fund – ETF Series: $0.526623 annually [3] - Franklin International Core Equity Fund – ETF Series: $0.637857 annually [3] - Franklin U.S. Core Equity Fund – ETF Series: $0.225879 annually [3] Estimated Annual Reinvested Distributions - The estimated annual reinvested distributions will be reported as taxable distributions and will not be paid in cash but reinvested in additional units, effective January 8, 2026 [4][5]. - Significant reinvested distributions include: - Franklin U.S. Core Equity Fund – ETF Series: $1.659201 per unit [6] - Franklin International Core Equity Fund – ETF Series: $1.140836 per unit [6] - Franklin Global Growth Fund – ETF Series: $0.966817 per unit [6] Company Overview - Franklin Templeton is a global investment management organization with over 75 years of experience and $1.67 trillion in assets under management as of November 30, 2025 [9]. - The company operates in over 150 countries, providing a diverse range of investment solutions including active, smart beta, and passive ETFs across multiple asset classes and geographies [7][8].

Group 1 - Franklin Resources (BEN) was informed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that it is prepared to resolve the investigation without filing criminal charges against its subsidiary, Western Asset [1] - The DOJ acknowledged Western Asset's commitment to full cooperation during the ongoing resolution discussions, which require additional time due to circumstances not attributable to Western Asset [1] - Franklin Resources initiated an internal investigation into past trade allocations involving treasury derivatives in select accounts managed by Western Asset Management Company [1] Group 2 - Following the news, shares of Franklin Resources increased by 1% to $23.77 in morning trading [1]

Company Overview - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is an investment management firm based in San Mateo, California, with a market cap of $12.3 billion, providing a diversified range of investment products across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives, and ETFs [1] - BEN is classified as a "large-cap stock," highlighting its size, influence, and dominance in the asset management industry, with a focus on active management and global distribution [2] Financial Performance - BEN's operating revenue increased by 6% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, and its adjusted EPS rose by 13.6% to $0.67, exceeding consensus estimates by 17.5% [5] - Despite the revenue and EPS growth, the adjusted operating margin fell by 30 basis points, and both ending and average Assets Under Management (AUM) declined compared to the previous year [5] Stock Performance - Shares of BEN have decreased by 9.4% from its 52-week high of $26.08, and have declined 3% over the past three months, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 3% rise [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, BEN has gained 7.5%, lagging behind the S&P 500's 12.7% increase, but on a year-to-date basis, shares are up 16.4%, slightly outperforming the S&P 500's 15.9% return [4] - BEN has been trading above its 200-day moving average since early May and above its 50-day moving average since early December, indicating a bullish trend [4] Competitive Position - BEN has outperformed its rival, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK), which gained 1.3% over the past 52 weeks and 5.2% year-to-date [6] - Analysts remain cautious about BEN's prospects, with a consensus rating of "Hold" from 12 analysts and a mean price target of $24.36, suggesting a 2.8% premium to its current price levels [6]

Company Overview - Franklin Resources, Inc. is a global investment management company headquartered in San Mateo, CA, primarily generating revenues from investment management services for retail mutual funds, institutional, and high-net-worth investors worldwide [11]. Zacks Rank and Style Scores - Franklin Resources has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a solid position in the market [12]. - The company has a Value Style Score of A, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 9.24, making it appealing to value investors [12]. Earnings Estimates - In the last 60 days, four analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for Franklin Resources, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.03 to $2.54 per share for fiscal 2026 [12]. - The company has demonstrated an average earnings surprise of +7.7%, indicating a positive trend in earnings performance [12]. Investment Consideration - With a strong Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, Franklin Resources is recommended for investors looking for potential opportunities in the market [13].

Core Insights - Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) are established global asset managers with diverse investment platforms, but their business strategies and competitive positions differ significantly, which may influence future performance [1] Industry Performance - The asset management industry has seen impressive performance in 2025 due to market rebounds, record inflows, and rising global assets under management (AUM), with heightened demand for active management and tactical strategies [2] - Alternatives have remained in high demand as investors seek returns less affected by interest-rate fluctuations, contributing to one of the industry's strongest post-pandemic years [2] 2026 Outlook - The outlook for 2026 is positive, driven by economic growth, declining interest rates, and ongoing product innovation, prompting investors to consider which firm, TROW or BEN, has better potential [3] Franklin Resources (BEN) Overview - Franklin has expanded its platform through acquisitions and partnerships, including a multi-year partnership with Wand AI and the acquisition of Apera Asset Management, adding over $90 billion to global alternative credit AUM [4][5] - The company has seen solid AUM growth, supported by a regionally-focused distribution model and strong inflows across various asset classes [5][6] - As of September 30, 2025, Franklin held $5.6 billion in liquidity with no short-term debt, allowing for strategic capital deployment [7][6] T. Rowe Price (TROW) Overview - T. Rowe Price has strengthened its platform through strategic alliances, including a partnership with Goldman Sachs and the acquisition of Oak Hill Advisors, enhancing its alternative investment offerings [9][10] - The company benefits from diversified AUM across asset classes and geographies, with strong investment-advisory fees supporting revenue growth [10][11] - As of September 30, 2025, TROW held $4.28 billion in liquid assets against total liabilities of $1.15 billion, indicating a robust liquidity position [12] Financial Estimates - For BEN, the fiscal 2026 revenue estimate suggests a decline of 1.7%, while fiscal 2027 indicates growth of 3.5%, with earnings expected to rise by 14.4% in 2026 and 10.9% in 2027 [13] - TROW's sales estimates for 2025 and 2026 suggest increases of 2.9% and 6.2%, respectively, with earnings expected to rise by 4.5% and 5.7% for the same years [15] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, TROW shares have decreased by 14.3%, while BEN shares have increased by 5.5%, both outperforming the industry average decline of 15.5% [17] - BEN is trading at a forward P/E multiple of 8.98X, while TROW is at 10.08X, both below the industry average of 14.90X, indicating that BEN is currently cheaper than TROW [20] Dividend Performance - Both companies have increased dividends five times in the past five years, with BEN raising its quarterly dividend by 3.2% to 32 cents per share, yielding 5.49%, while TROW increased its dividend by 2.4% to $1.27 per share, yielding 4.91% [22] Comparative Analysis - Both firms are well-managed with diversified investment platforms and solid AUM bases, but BEN has a clearer growth narrative driven by expansion into higher-fee alternatives and strategic acquisitions [25][26] - With a lower valuation and strong growth estimates, BEN appears to offer better upside potential heading into 2026 [27]

Core Insights - Andres Rodriguez has joined Fiduciary Trust International as Wealth Director in the Coral Gables office [1] Company Overview - Fiduciary Trust International is expanding its leadership team by appointing Andres Rodriguez, indicating a strategic move to enhance its wealth management services [1]

Group 1: Assets Under Management (AUM) - Franklin Resources reported preliminary AUM of $1.67 trillion as of November 30, 2025, a slight decrease from $1.68 trillion at the end of October [1] - The AUM reflects mostly flat long-term flows, including $1 billion in long-term net outflows from Western Asset Management, offset by positive market movements [1] Group 2: Long-term Inflows - In Q3 2025, Franklin Resources experienced growth in long-term inflows across all asset classes, reaching $84.6 billion, which is a 12% increase from the previous quarter [2] - The company's institutional pipeline of won-but-unfunded mandates remained strong at $20.4 billion following a record quarter of funding [2] Group 3: Financial Position - Franklin Resources highlighted its solid balance sheet, with $6.7 billion available in cash and investments, providing financial flexibility [3] - The company returned $930 million to investors through dividends and share repurchases [3]

Core Insights - The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) has formed a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton to enhance education and industry standards in alternative investments [1][2] - This collaboration aims to address the evolving landscape of investments, particularly the increasing importance of alternative investments in portfolio construction [2][4] Company Overview - Franklin Templeton has been active in the Middle East for over 20 years, establishing operations in the UAE in 2000 and being one of the first international asset managers in the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2004 [5] - The firm manages over $5 billion in Shariah-compliant assets as of October 2025, reflecting its commitment to Islamic finance and the regional market [5] Partnership Objectives - The partnership will focus on several initiatives, including the CAIA Charter program, sponsorship of CAIA Chapter events, and the development of a new Islamic Finance microcredential set to launch in 2026 [7] - A collaborative research report will be produced to analyze the Gulf's transition from a capital exporter to a global private capital hub [7] Industry Context - The partnership is positioned to respond to the growing client interest in private capital and alternative investments, emphasizing the need for ongoing education and professionalization in the industry [3][4] - The collaboration reflects a broader trend of blurring lines between public and private markets, driven by factors such as artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability [2]

Group 1 - Franklin Templeton announced the liquidation and dissolution of ClearBridge Sustainable Infrastructure ETF (INFR), expected to occur on or about January 29, 2026, following approval from the Fund's board of trustees on December 4, 2025 [1] - After December 31, 2025, the Funds will stop accepting creation orders, and trading on NASDAQ will be halted before market open on January 23, 2026 [2] - The liquidation process will begin prior to January 22, 2026, during which the Fund will hold cash and securities that may not align with its investment goals and strategies [3] Group 2 - Shareholders can sell their shares on NASDAQ until market close on January 22, 2026, after which the shares will be delisted [4] - Upon completion of the liquidation, shareholders who do not sell their shares will receive cash equivalent to the net asset value of their shares, including any capital gains and dividends, around January 29, 2026 [5] - Shareholders in taxable accounts may recognize a taxable gain or loss from the liquidation proceeds and may also receive taxable distributions of income and/or capital gains [6] Group 3 - Franklin Resources, Inc. operates as Franklin Templeton, serving clients in over 150 countries with a mission to enhance client outcomes through investment management expertise [7] - The company has over 1,600 investment professionals and manages $1.67 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of November 30, 2025 [7]