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Matthew Nicholls, Co-President, CFO & COO of Franklin Templeton Inc. (BEN +3.52%), disposed of 61,533 shares of common stock on Aug. 31, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$2.1 millionShares sold61,533Post-transaction shares (directly held)717,264Post-transaction value~$24.49 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($34.15); post-transaction value based on Aug. 31, 2026 market close ($34.15).

Key questionsHow does this disposition affect the executive's total equity exposure?
The transaction was a non-discretionary event for tax purposes, leaving Matthew Nicholls with ~717,000 shares held directly.What additional equity instruments does the executive hold?
Footnotes indicate that a portion of the shares held directly represents unvested restricted stock units, thereby ensuring the executive maintains long-term exposure to the company's performance.What is the current market valuation relative to the transaction price?
The shares were valued at $34.15 during the transaction on Aug. 31, 2026, and the stock price was $33.10 as of the Sept. 1, 2026, market close.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-09-01)$33.10Market Capitalization$17.2 billionRevenue (TTM)$9.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$891.2 millionCompany SnapshotFranklin Templeton Inc. operates as a diversified asset management firm providing investment solutions across equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships.The company generates revenue through asset management fees and investment advisory services, earning commissions and management fees based on assets under management and investment performance across public equity, fixed income, and alternative investment markets.The firm serves a broad institutional and retail client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, pension funds, and corporate entities seeking diversified investment management and wealth preservation strategies.Franklin Templeton Inc. is a leading global asset manager with a market capitalization of $17.2 billion and approximately 10,100 employees, headquartered in San Mateo. The company leverages its 75+ year heritage and multi-asset investment expertise to deliver comprehensive portfolio solutions across public and alternative markets. Franklin Templeton's diversified product suite and institutional relationships position it competitively in the asset management sector, as evidenced by TTM revenue of $9.3 billion and net income of $891.2 million.

What this transaction means for investorsInvestors should never treat insider transactions as the final word on a stock. Indeed, it is always best to conduct fundamental analysis to assess how a company is truly performing and decide whether it is a suitable investment. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Franklin Templeton (BEN).

To begin, Franklin Templeton's stock has slightly underperformed the stock market over the last five years. Since 2021, BEN stock has generated a total return of 39%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The S&P 500, meanwhile, has delivered an 82% total return, with a 12.7% CAGR. However, much of this underperformance occurred in the first few years of this stretch. Over the last 12 months, BEN stock has soared by 46%, while the S&P 500 has gained only 20%.

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As for its underlying metrics, most look quite strong. Revenue has risen from below $8.0 billion in 2023 to nearly $9.4 billion now, as the company has pivoted toward more lucrative private-market platforms. In addition, the company's actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have driven robust organic growth, with overall year-over-year revenue growth currently at 19%.

On the other hand, the stock now trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of nearly 24x. That's well above its 10-year average P/E ratio of 17x, which indicates that the stock is priced for perfection. For example, if revenue growth were to moderate toward its 10-year average of 5%, the stock would likely dip.

In summary, Franklin Templeton's fundamentals paint a mixed picture. The company is clearly executing very well and delivering strong metrics. However, the stock's lofty valuation makes it vulnerable to any operational hiccups. Nonetheless, investors would be wise to keep an eye on the stock.

LightSolver Founder and CEO brings deep scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to CollPlant's Board as the Company advances the commercialization of its newly acquired photonic computing technology

, /PRNewswire/ -- CollPlant Biotechnologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CLGN) today announced the appointment of Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of LightSolver Ltd. ("LightSolver"), to CollPlant's Board of Directors, effective immediately following the completion of CollPlant's acquisition of LightSolver, as announced on September 3, 2026.

COLLPLANT APPOINTS DR. RUTI BEN SHLOMI TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOLLOWING CLOSING OF LIGHTSOLVER ACQUISITION LightSolver is pioneering a new generation of high performance computing based on the physics of light. Its proprietary Laser Processing Unit (LPU), an energy-efficient, pure photonic computing platform that uses coupled lasers to perform computation, is designed to accelerate computationally intensive workloads across scientific simulation, engineering, optimization and Physical AI.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi to CollPlant's Board of Directors," said Yehiel Tal, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of CollPlant. "Ruti is an accomplished physicist and entrepreneur whose pioneering work in photonic computing has established LightSolver at the forefront of deep-tech innovation. Her deep scientific expertise and entrepreneurial vision will be invaluable to our Board as CollPlant advances LightSolver's commercialization and builds its position in high-performance and photonic computing."

Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi commented, "I am honored to join CollPlant's Board of Directors as we begin this next chapter. The completion of this transaction creates an important opportunity to accelerate LightSolver's transition from technology validation to commercialization and help establish photonic computing as a new computing layer for some of the world's most demanding computational workloads. I look forward to working closely with the Board and executive team to as we advance this next phase of LightSolver's development and create long-term value for our shareholders."

Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi is the CEO and Co-Founder of LightSolver. She is an expert physicist with over 15 years of experience spanning quantum, atomic, and molecular physics, photonic computing and technology leadership. Prior to co-founding LightSolver in 2020, Dr. Ben Shlomi conducted groundbreaking research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where she built ultra-cold atom and cold ion systems to study complex quantum signatures. Earlier in her career, she served as a process engineer at Intel Corporation.

Dr. Ben Shlomi holds a Ph.D. in Quantum and Atomic/Molecular Physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science, an M.Sc. in Physics from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a B.Sc. in Biophysics from Bar-Ilan University.

About CollPlant

CollPlant is a pioneering technology company operating at the forefront of both regenerative medicine and advanced high-performance computing. Following the strategic acquisition of LightSolver, CollPlant has expanded its footprint into the deep-tech sector, integrating a proprietary all-optical computing architecture known as the Laser Processing Unit (LPU). This bold diversification positions the Company to address some of the world's most computationally intensive workloads across aerospace, defense, and Physical AI, while continuing to drive its core biotech innovations. 

In the healthcare sector, CollPlant is ushering in a new era of medical solutions with a focus on 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs, tissue repair, and medical aesthetics. The Company's products are based on its recombinant human collagen produced with CollPlant's proprietary plant-based genetic engineering technology, addressing indications for the diverse fields of tissue repair, aesthetics, and organ manufacturing.

For more information about CollPlant, visit www.CollPlant.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the acquisition of LightSolver by CollPlant; the anticipated benefits, strategic rationale and growth opportunities arising from the transaction; LightSolver becoming a subsidiary of CollPlant; the future development, commercialization and market adoption of LightSolver's Laser Processing Unit (LPU) technology; and the future prospects, business plans and growth strategies of CollPlant, LightSolver and the combined business. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should," "could," "might," "seek," "target," "will," "project," "continue" and similar expressions or the negative of such terms. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions to closing the transaction and consummate the transaction on the anticipated timeline or at all; the risk that the anticipated benefits of the transaction are not realized, or are not realized within the expected timeframe; risks associated with integrating LightSolver's business, operations and personnel; LightSolver's ability to achieve anticipated technological and commercial milestones; uncertainties regarding market acceptance and adoption of LightSolver's technology; the ability to develop and commercialize LightSolver's products and technology successfully; the ability to establish and expand strategic collaborations and commercial relationships; competition and technological developments; intellectual property risks; the availability of capital; CollPlant's ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements; general market, industry, economic and geopolitical conditions; and other risks and uncertainties described in CollPlant's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and subsequent Reports on Form 6-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. CollPlant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Contact Information:

CollPlant  
Eran Rotem
Deputy CEO & CFO
[email protected]
+972.73.232.5600

LightSolver Ltd.  
Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi
Founder & CEO 
[email protected]

SOURCE CollPlant

Key Takeaways Franklin deepens its digital-asset push with Franklin Crypto and the 250 Digital acquisition.Benji's institutional reach is expanding through MoonPay and Binance partnerships.Digital assets and alternatives could help Franklin diversify revenues amid fee compression. Franklin Templeton, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) is deepening its digital-asset push as institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities and blockchain-based financial infrastructure expands. In June 2026,  BEN completed the acquisition of 250 Digital and formally established Franklin Crypto, its dedicated active digital-asset management division. The move expanded Franklin’s capabilities across institutional crypto strategies, separately managed accounts and digital-asset investment solutions.

The acquisition builds on Franklin’s existing presence in the space. The company has been active in digital assets since 2018 and now offers products spanning Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and diversified crypto exposure. Tokenization is another key focus through its Benji Technology Platform, which supports blockchain-based investment products. In April 2026, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund had more than $650 million represented on the Stellar blockchain, while BENJI investor participation had risen more than 140% over the preceding two years.

Franklin is also broadening Benji’s institutional use cases through partnerships. In June, it partnered with MoonPay to connect Benji with MoonPay Trade’s infrastructure, facilitating access to tokenized money market funds. Earlier, Franklin collaborated with Binance on an off-exchange collateral program that allows eligible institutions to use tokenized money market fund shares as collateral while trading digital assets, potentially improving capital efficiency and reducing counterparty exposure.

These initiatives complement Franklin’s broader diversification strategy, which includes growing its alternatives business and reducing the reliance on traditional mutual funds. The company’s alternatives AUM reached $295.4 billion as of July 31, 2026, up from $258.9 billion a year earlier, while total AUM stood at $1.80 trillion. Expanding digital assets alongside alternatives could help Franklin build higher-growth and potentially higher-fee revenue streams amid persistent fee compression and competition from low-cost passive products.

From a financial standpoint, Franklin’s expanding digital asset platform has the potential to become a meaningful long-term growth catalyst. The company continues to contend with industry headwinds, such as fee compression in traditional asset management, ongoing net outflows in certain segments and intensifying competition from low-cost passive investment products. By increasing its exposure to digital assets and alternative investments, areas that typically generate higher fee margins than traditional index strategies, Franklin could strengthen revenue growth, enhance profitability and diversify its earnings base over time.

Other Finance Firms’ Push Into Digital AssetsMajor finance firms, including BlackRock, Inc. (BLK - Free Report) and Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR - Free Report) , continue to expand their presence in digital assets.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), launched following the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, has emerged as one of the largest crypto investment products globally. As of June 30, 2026, BlackRock managed $60.7 billion in digital-asset AUM. More recently, IBIT alone had $48.4 billion in net assets as of Aug. 18, 2026, underscoring the growing role of digital assets within BlackRock’s product lineup.

Interactive Brokers has also continued to broaden its crypto capabilities. In July 2026, the company added nine crypto tokens through zerohash and three through Paxos, while introducing stablecoin-based withdrawals that allow eligible clients to convert U.S. dollars into USDC, PYUSD or RLUSD for transfers to external wallets. The expansion builds on IBKR’s unified platform, which allows eligible clients to trade cryptocurrencies alongside stocks, options, futures, bonds and other traditional assets.

BEN’s Price Performance & Zacks RankThe company’s shares have gained 26.2% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 8.3% rise.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Franklin carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Franklin Templeton (BEN - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Franklin Templeton currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for BEN that show why this investment manager shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For BEN, shares are up 1.33% over the past week while the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry is flat over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 5.6% compares favorably with the industry's 6.78% performance as well.

While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of Franklin Templeton have increased 10.61% over the past quarter, and have gained 35.13% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 3.37% and 21.73%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of BEN's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now BEN is averaging 4,537,104 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with BEN.

Over the past two months, 7 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost BEN's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.77 to $2.88 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 7 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that BEN is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Franklin Templeton on your short list.

A quirky data point is bouncing around ETF Twitter this week: a little-known Chicago investment firm reported roughly 2,984 times as many shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF as Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS | MS Price Prediction) did in the latest 13F filings. The catch, and it is the whole story, is that Morgan Stanley’s position is tiny.

According to Q2 13F filings covering positions as of June 30, 2026, Wolverine Asset Management reported 199,912 shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF, worth roughly $2.33 million. Morgan Stanley reported 67 shares. That is the entire arithmetic behind the headline.

What the 13Fs Actually Show A 13F is a quarterly snapshot institutions above a size threshold file with the SEC, listing U.S. equity and ETF positions from the end of the prior quarter. It does not say whether a position is proprietary capital, client assets, advisory holdings, trading inventory, hedges, or arbitrage. So calling either firm bullish or bearish on XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) from these numbers would be a stretch.

Across the three XRP ETFs Morgan Stanley reported owning, the firm disclosed 7,037 shares total: 6,715 shares of the Franklin XRP ETF, 255 of the REX-Osprey XRP ETF, and 67 of the Bitwise XRP ETF. Our comparison of the two filings puts Wolverine’s Bitwise position at roughly 28.4 times Morgan Stanley’s combined reported XRP ETF share count across those three funds. Again, the multiple is loud because the denominator is small.

For context on scale, Morgan Stanley reported Q2 2026 revenue of $21.35 billion and total client assets across Wealth and Investment Management reaching $10 trillion. A 67-share ETF position, at a value in the hundreds of dollars, is a rounding error on a rounding error. At that size, the position could easily reflect a client account, advisory holding, trading inventory, or another non-directional purpose. The filing gives us no way to know.

Who Is Wolverine, and Why Does This Read Big? Wolverine Asset Management is a multi-strategy affiliate within the broader Wolverine organization, which also includes Wolverine Trading, a well-known options market maker. Its full disclosed 13F portfolio was approximately $11.38 billion, so it is a substantial manager even if the name does not ring a bell for most retail investors.

Wolverine’s broader organization has deep roots in market making and ETF trading, which is important context. But the 13F does not disclose why Wolverine Asset Management held the Bitwise fund, so the position should not automatically be read as a directional XRP bet.

The more interesting takeaway is what the comparison reveals about institutional XRP ETF ownership right now. The household-name bank in the headline is barely there, while a lesser-known institutional manager reported a much larger position in the same fund. That does not tell us who is more bullish on XRP, but it does show how misleading headline multiples can become when one side of the comparison is essentially negligible.

Franklin’s Quiet Cameo Morgan Stanley’s largest reported XRP ETF holding was actually the Franklin XRP ETF, at 6,715 shares. The fund is a product of Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN), which changed its corporate name to Franklin Templeton, Inc. effective August 17, 2026.

Franklin reported record AUM of roughly $1.8 trillion in its most recent quarter and $18.4 billion in long-term net inflows, with ETF demand among the areas contributing to growth. Morgan Stanley itself has also flagged crypto and tokenization as a Wealth Management growth area. The distinction is important: being engaged with digital assets strategically is very different from making a large directional allocation to a specific XRP ETF.

What Investors Should Actually Watch The open question is whether the Q3 13Fs, due in November, show any of the big wealth platforms building materially larger XRP ETF positions on behalf of clients. Spot crypto ETFs often take time to appear more meaningfully in institutional filings as advisors get comfortable and platforms expand access.

Until then, the clearest read of the June 30 filings is this: 199,912 versus 67 is a great headline, and a modest data point. The comparison is real, but it says far more about how tiny Morgan Stanley’s Bitwise position was than it does about Wolverine Asset Management making some enormous bet on XRP.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 13th, 2026

Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN – Free Report) by 37.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,964,424 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock after acquiring an additional 533,192 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE owned 0.38% of Franklin Resources worth $46,400,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $6,254,000. Forty three Eighteen Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Resources in the first quarter worth about $1,580,000. Artemis Investment Management LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Franklin Resources during the fourth quarter worth about $1,336,000. Quantum Portfolio Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Franklin Resources during the 1st quarter valued at about $941,000. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 23.8% in the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 335,261 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $7,919,000 after purchasing an additional 64,483 shares during the period. 47.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Franklin Resources Stock Performance Shares of BEN stock opened at $33.56 on Thursday. Franklin Resources, Inc. has a 12 month low of $21.10 and a 12 month high of $36.28. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $33.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.34. The firm has a market cap of $17.05 billion, a PE ratio of 22.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The closed-end fund reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.06. Franklin Resources had a net margin of 8.72% and a return on equity of 11.55%. The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Franklin Resources, Inc. will post 2.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Franklin Resources Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 29th were issued a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 29th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.9%. Franklin Resources’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 89.80%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BEN has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Evercore restated an “underperform” rating and set a $35.00 target price on shares of Franklin Resources in a report on Friday, July 10th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Franklin Resources from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Franklin Resources from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Zacks Research raised shares of Franklin Resources from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Franklin Resources from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $32.44.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on BEN

About Franklin Resources (Free Report)

Franklin Resources, Inc, doing business as Franklin Templeton, is a global investment management organization that offers a wide range of asset management solutions to institutional and individual investors. The firm’s core focus is on delivering active portfolio management across equities, fixed income, multi-asset strategies and alternative investments. Franklin Templeton’s product lineup includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, separately managed accounts and sub-advisory services designed to meet varying risk-return objectives and income needs.

Founded in 1947 by Rupert H.

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I rated Franklin Resources, Inc. a Hold at $25 last July and got it wrong: the diversification effort produced margin expansion, not just slower outflows. Private markets money comes in at 65 basis points against 37.9 firm-wide, which is why the blended fee rate hasn't fallen even though mutual fund fees have for years. Franklin sells mostly through advisors and platforms. ETFs, retail SMAs and Canvas serve to keep assets in-house when an advisor changes wrappers. Equity flows turned positive at $2B this quarter.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader, today announced the continued expansion of its Global Client Group leadership team with the appointments of Elizabeth “Liz” Hogbin as Head of Global Product and Rene Buehlmann as Head of Asia Pacific, as well as the transition of Patrick O'Connor from Head of Global ETFs to Vice Chairman of the Global Client Group. These leadership changes are intended to build on Franklin Templeton's improving business performa.

Fiduciary Trust International, a global wealth manager and wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, announces that Suhaib Bingaradi has joined the firm as

Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Franklin Resources basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Franklin Resources, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for Franklin ResourcesThis investment manager is expected to earn $2.84 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Franklin Resources. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 4.9%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Franklin Resources to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

Investors interested in stocks from the Financial - Investment Management sector have probably already heard of Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) and Apollo Global Management Inc. (APO - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Franklin Resources has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Apollo Global Management Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. Investors should feel comfortable knowing that BEN likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than APO has recently. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.

BEN currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.42, while APO has a forward P/E of 14.57. We also note that BEN has a PEG ratio of 0.77. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. APO currently has a PEG ratio of 1.04.

Another notable valuation metric for BEN is its P/B ratio of 1.39. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, APO has a P/B of 1.96.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to BEN's Value grade of B and APO's Value grade of C.

BEN sticks out from APO in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that BEN is the better option right now.

Key Takeaways Franklin Resources expects its fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin to approach 30%.BEN raised fiscal 2026 private markets fundraising expectations to about $40 billion.Franklin Resources' AI hub lifted client contacts 25% and sales more than 11% in deployed territories. Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) used its third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call to emphasize faster margin expansion and private markets fundraising. Management said it is ahead of its five-year plan after positive flows across every asset class and geography.

Adjusted earnings of $0.72 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.66, while revenues of $2.36 billion exceeded the consensus mark of $2.27 billion. The call emphasized higher fundraising expectations and a faster path to a 30% adjusted operating margin.

BEN Raises the Private Markets Fundraising BarResponding to a TD Cowen analyst, CEO Jennifer Johnson said that fiscal 2026 private markets fundraising should reach about $40 billion, above the original $25-$30 billion target. Fiscal year-to-date fundraising was $33 billion.

Johnson said Lexington generated about 40% of the quarter’s $10.3 billion private markets raise. More than 30 strategies contributed, and real estate regained traction.

A Jefferies analyst pressed on economics. Johnson said about 80% of the private markets platform is fee-generating. Co-president, CFO and COO Matthew Nicholls put the blended fee near 65 basis points, plus performance fees.

Franklin Templeton Recasts Credit as One PlatformA Goldman Sachs analyst asked how public and private fixed income would work together. Johnson said that Franklin Templeton wants clients to view the business as one $620 billion platform, including more than $100 billion in private credit.

Johnson added that Brandywine and Putnam are integrated, while Western Asset is moving closer. Investment teams will retain independence while sharing resources and origination capabilities.

Co-president and chief commercial officer Daniel Gamba cited a new multi-asset credit mandate from a public pension. New offerings include a target-date strategy with 2-8% private market exposure.

BEN Pulls Forward the Margin TimelineAn Autonomous Research analyst sought fourth-quarter cost details. Nicholls guided to $850 million of compensation, $165 million for technology, $70 million of occupancy expense and $200 million of general and administrative expense.

Nicholls expects the fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin to approach 30%, with the full-year margin at least in the mid-27% range. The outlook assumes flat markets.

For fiscal 2027, Nicholls projected a 29-30% margin and at least 30% later in the year. Johnson called 30% a waypoint, while Nicholls put the industry range at 30-35%.

Franklin Shows AI in Commercial UseA Morgan Stanley analyst asked where AI was producing measurable returns. Johnson said that the Microsoft-linked Intelligence Hub increased client visits or contacts by 25% in deployed territories and lifted sales by more than 11%.

Johnson said that investment teams use more than 1,000 agents and are testing three strategies focused on research, portfolio construction and AI-driven investing. She stressed balancing adoption with operating costs.

Nicholls said that management tracks AI spending against productivity targets across front-office, risk and finance functions. Johnson added that operations teams apply AI to coding, RFP processing and due diligence.

BEN Keeps Capital Allocation OpportunisticA Goldman Sachs analyst asked about increased repurchases. Nicholls said that the company returned $521.5 million to shareholders, including $348.1 million in buybacks, while preserving capital for organic growth.

Nicholls stated that BEN has $3 billion of balance-sheet capital invested in funds, including $1.75 billion in private markets, and expects that amount to grow in fiscal 2027. Dividend growth and opportunistic repurchases remain priorities.

An Autonomous Research analyst raised platform fee pressure. Johnson called revenue-sharing negotiations normal industry practice and said the economics of newer wrappers such as ETFs and SMAs limit how high those fees can move.

Franklin’s Priorities Stay ConsistentJohnson closed with an emphasis on diversified organic growth. Long-term net inflows were $18.4 billion, assets under management reached $1.8 trillion, and the won-but-unfunded institutional pipeline rose to $28.6 billion.

Management is focused on scaling private markets, integrated credit, personalized portfolios and technology while maintaining expense discipline. The Aug. 17 corporate name change to Franklin Templeton, Inc. reinforces that unified model, with the BEN ticker unchanged.

Zacks Signals for BENBEN sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, indicating favorable earnings estimate revisions and stronger near-term performance potential under the Zacks methodology. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Value Score of C, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of D offer less support across the main trading styles, where A and B are preferred. The Zacks Rank can change as analyst estimates are revised after the results.

Long-Term Net Inflows: $18.4 billion in the quarter, bringing fiscal year-to-date long-term net inflows to $63.3 billion.Assets Under Management (AUM): Reached

Key Takeaways BEN's fiscal Q3 EPS rose 46.9% y/y to 72 cents, beating estimates as revenues increased 14.3% y/y.BEN's AUM reached a record $1.79 trillion, up 11.2% y/y, with $18.4 billion in long-term net inflows.Franklin repurchased 10.4 million shares for $348.1 million and returned $521.5 million to shareholders. Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026) adjusted earnings of 72 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents per share. The bottom line also improved from 49 cents reported in the year-ago quarter.

Results benefited from higher operating revenues and record assets under management (AUM). However, elevated operating expenses acted as a headwind.

Results include certain items. After considering those, net income (GAAP basis) was $171.5 million, up 85.8% year over year.

Franklin’s Revenues & Expenses Increase Y/YTotal operating revenues increased 14.3% year over year to $2.36 billion in the fiscal third quarter. Further, the reported figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27 billion.

The increase was driven by growth across all revenue categories. Investment management fees rose 13.7% year over year to $1.87 billion. Sales and distribution fees increased 14.9% to $404.5 million from the prior-year quarter. Shareholder servicing fees climbed 24% to $74.3 million, while other revenues grew 17.5% to $13.4 million from the year-ago quarter.

Total operating expenses increased 12.2% year over year to $2.14 billion, primarily due to higher compensation and benefits, sales, distribution and marketing expenses, general and administrative costs, and impairment charges.

Franklin reported an operating margin of 9.2% compared with 7.5% in the year-ago quarter.

Franklin Resources’ AUM ImprovesAs of June 30, 2026, total AUM was a record $1.79 trillion, increasing 11.2% from the prior-year quarter.

The company generated $18.4 billion of long-term net inflows during the quarter compared with long-term net outflows of $9.3 billion in the year-ago period.

The average AUM increased 11.8% year over year to $1.75 trillion.

Franklin’s Capital PositionAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents and investments totaled $5.4 billion, while total stockholders’ equity was $12.9 billion.

Franklin’s Capital DistributionDuring the quarter, Franklin Resources repurchased 10.4 million shares of common stock for $348.1 million. Overall, the company returned $521.5 million to shareholders during the quarter through share repurchases and dividends.

Major Developments for FranklinIn June 2026, the company's asset management arm, Franklin Templeton completed its previously announced acquisition of 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm. The transaction included 250 Digital’s investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously managed by CoinFund.

Following the completion, the company formally launched Franklin Crypto, a dedicated active digital asset management division focused on institutional clients. The move strengthens BEN’s cryptocurrency investment capabilities by combining crypto-native expertise with Franklin Templeton’s global distribution, research, portfolio construction and risk-management platform.

Our View on FranklinFranklin Resources delivered a strong quarter, supported by broad-based revenue growth, record AUM and robust long-term net inflows. The company also continued returning capital to shareholders through sizable share repurchases. However, rising operating expenses and impairment-related charges remain areas to monitor.

Currently, Franklin sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performance of Franklin’s PeersInvesco’s (IVZ - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 71 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. The bottom line increased 97.2% from the prior-year quarter.

IVZ’s results primarily benefited from an increase in adjusted revenues and substantial growth in AUM balance. Record net long-term inflows also supported the quarter. However, an increase in adjusted expenses was a headwind.

Ameriprise Financial’s (AMP - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 adjusted operating earnings were $11.07 per share, which handily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.72. The bottom line reflected a rise of 22% from the year-ago quarter.

Results benefited from higher revenues and an improvement in AUM and assets under administration balances to record levels. However, an increase in expenses was a headwind for AMP.

For the quarter ended June 2026, Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.36 billion, up 14.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.72, compared to $0.49 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27 billion, representing a surprise of +4.11%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +9.09%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.66.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Franklin Resources performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

EOP Net Flows - Equity: $2.00 billion versus $0.30 billion estimated by two analysts on average.EOP Net Flows - Fixed Income: $2.60 billion versus $2.06 billion estimated by two analysts on average.EOP Net Flows - Multi-Asset: $4.70 billion compared to the $5.75 billion average estimate based on two analysts.EOP Net Flows - Cash Management (Hybrid): $-7.00 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $-8.05 billion.Assets Under Management - Alternative: $294.20 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $290.69 billion.Assets Under Management - Cash Management: $80.50 billion versus $80.60 billion estimated by two analysts on average.EOP Net Flows - Alternatives: $9.10 billion compared to the $9.49 billion average estimate based on two analysts.Assets Under Management - Total: $1,791.60 billion versus $1,787.89 billion estimated by two analysts on average.Operating Revenues- Other: $13.4 million compared to the $11.05 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +17.5% year over year.Operating Revenues- Sales and distribution fees: $404.5 million compared to the $411.68 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +15% year over year.Operating Revenues- Shareholder servicing fees: $74.3 million versus $67.35 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +24% change.Operating Revenues- Investment management fees: $1.87 billion versus $1.78 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13.7% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Franklin Resources here>>>

Shares of Franklin Resources have returned -2.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) [NYSE: BEN] today announced net income1 of $171.5 million or $0.31 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, as compared to $268.2 million or $0.49 per diluted share for the previous quarter, and $92.3 million or $0.15 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Operating income was $215.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, as compared to $323.3 million for the previous quarter and $15.

Key Takeaways BEN's fiscal Q3 EPS is estimated to be 66 cents, suggesting a 34.7% year-over-year increase.Revenues are projected to rise 9.7% y/y, supported by higher AUM and favorable markets.Franklin's AUM is expected to reach $1.8 trillion, aided by long-term net inflows. Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results (ended June 30) on July 31, 2026, before market open. BEN’s quarterly earnings and revenues are anticipated to have increased from the year-ago reported levels.

In the last reported quarter, Franklin's earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company's results benefited from higher revenues. However, lower assets under management (AUM) and higher expenses acted as headwinds.

BEN’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 19%.

Franklin’s Q3 Earnings & Sales EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for BEN’s earnings of 66 cents per share has remained unchanged over the past seven days. The figure indicates a rise of 34.7% from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

The consensus estimate for sales is pegged at $2.27 billion, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 9.7%.

Key Factors & Estimates for BEN in Q3In the April-June quarter, the S&P 500 Index advanced 14.5%, reflecting a strong recovery in market performance. The equity markets benefited from improved investor sentiment despite geopolitical uncertainty and elevated inflation rates. The fixed-income market performance remained relatively resilient. As a result, Franklin's performance for the quarter ended in June is likely to have benefited from strong equity market gains, while the resilience in fixed-income markets probably provided additional support.

Amid the favorable market conditions, BEN is likely to have continued to record net inflows in the fiscal third quarter. Per the monthly metrics data published by Franklin, its preliminary total AUM as of June 30, 2026, was $1.79 trillion compared with $1.78 trillion as of May 31, 2026. The June-end AUM increase reflected long-term net inflows of $9 billion, partially offset by the net impact of markets, distributions and other.

Additionally, while the private markets continued to face headwinds from a muted exit environment and cautious institutional capital deployment, improving deal activity and favorable market performance are likely to have supported AUM growth in the fiscal third quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal third-quarter AUM is pegged at $1.8 trillion, indicating a 6.2% rise from the prior quarter’s actual.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for investment management fees is pegged at $1.8 billion, indicating a sequential decline of 2.4%.

The consensus estimate for sales and distribution fees of $411.7 million indicates a 3.8% rise from the prior-quarter reported figure.

The consensus estimate for shareholder servicing fees of $67.4 million suggests a 2.4% decline from the prior-quarter actual.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for other revenues is pegged at $11.1 million, implying a 10.5% sequential growth.

What Our Model Predicts for BENOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for BEN this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is exactly the case here.

You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: Franklin has an Earnings ESP of +1.14%.

Zacks Rank: BEN currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Earnings Dates & Expectations of BEN’s PeersT. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 numbers on July 31.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for TROW’s quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $2.52. The figure implies a rise of 12.5% from the prior-year quarter’s actual.

Apollo Global Management (APO - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4.

Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for APO’s quarterly earnings has been revised downward to $2.18. The figure implies a rise of 13.5% from the prior-year quarter’s reported number.

All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Headquartered in San Mateo, Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 36% so far this year. Currently paying a dividend of $0.33 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 4.06%. In comparison, the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield is 2.8%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.34%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.32 is up 3.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Franklin Resources has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 3.38%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Franklin Resources's current payout ratio is 51%, meaning it paid out 51% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

Looking at this fiscal year, BEN expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.81 per share, with earnings expected to increase 26.58% from the year ago period.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, BEN presents a compelling investment opportunity; it's not only an attractive dividend play, but the stock also boasts a strong Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.

While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

Headquartered in San Mateo, Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 40.23% so far this year. The investment manager is paying out a dividend of $0.33 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.94% compared to the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield of 2.8% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.38%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.32 is up 3.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Franklin Resources has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 3.38%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Franklin Resources's current payout ratio is 51%, meaning it paid out 51% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

BEN is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.79 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 25.68%.

Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that BEN is not only an attractive dividend play, but also represents a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry.

This investment manager has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 28.18%.

For the most recent quarter, Franklin Resources was expected to post earnings of $0.55 per share, but it reported $0.71 per share instead, representing a surprise of 29.09%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.55 per share, while it actually produced $0.7 per share, a surprise of 27.27%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For Franklin Resources, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Franklin Resources has an Earnings ESP of +4.39% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 31, 2026.

Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Franklin Resources (BEN - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Franklin Resources currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for BEN that show why this investment manager shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For BEN, shares are up 2.71% over the past week while the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry is up 0.42% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 9.72% compares favorably with the industry's 1.1% performance as well.

While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of Franklin Resources have increased 34.16% over the past quarter, and have gained 40.28% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 14.34% and 21.46%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of BEN's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now BEN is averaging 4,122,141 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with BEN.

Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost BEN's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.71 to $2.79 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that BEN is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Franklin Resources on your short list.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin Templeton) (NYSE: BEN) today reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.79 trillion at June 30, 2026, compared to $1.78 trillion at May 31, 2026. This month's increase in preliminary AUM reflected long-term net inflows of $9 billion, partially offset by the net impact of market, distributions, and other. Long-term flows at Western Asset Management1 were flat. For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, preli.

Key Takeaways BEN's arm acquired 250 Digital, adding a crypto investment team and CoinFund's liquid digital strategies.Franklin Templeton launched Franklin Crypto to offer active crypto strategies for institutional clients.The buyout aids BEN's broader push into blockchain finance alongside partnerships with MoonPay and Binance. Franklin Resources, Inc.'s (BEN - Free Report) asset management arm, Franklin Templeton, has completed its previously announced acquisition of 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm led by industry veterans Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns. The transaction, announced in April 2026, includes the 250 Digital investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously managed by CoinFund.

The acquisition marks another step in Franklin Templeton's efforts to strengthen its presence in digital assets and expand its active cryptocurrency investment capabilities. Following the closing of the transaction, the company formally launched Franklin Crypto, a dedicated active digital asset management division.

The move underscores Franklin Templeton’s long-term focus on building infrastructure across the digital asset ecosystem and expanding its institutional cryptocurrency investment offerings. As part of the agreement, the company will also invest in the acquired cryptocurrency strategies.

What Does BEN’s Franklin Crypto Offer?Franklin Crypto is Franklin Templeton’s newly established active digital asset division focused on delivering actively managed cryptocurrency strategies to institutional clients. The platform integrates the investment capabilities of the former 250 Digital team with Franklin Templeton’s established research, portfolio construction and risk management framework.

The division also builds on Franklin Templeton’s existing digital asset capabilities, including dedicated resources for digital asset research, active portfolio construction and institutional risk oversight. By combining crypto-native expertise with traditional asset management infrastructure, Franklin Crypto is designed to enhance the company’s ability to deliver regulated digital asset investment solutions.

How the 250 Digital Acquisition Benefits BENThe acquisition is expected to strengthen Franklin Templeton’s active digital asset management capabilities at a time when institutional demand for regulated crypto exposure continues to increase, positioning the company to scale its digital asset offerings more effectively.

The initiative also aligns with Franklin Templeton’s broader strategy of expanding beyond traditional asset management and increasing its presence in blockchain-enabled finance. Earlier this month, Franklin Templeton partnered with MoonPay to integrate its Benji Technology Platform with institutional trading infrastructure, enhancing access to its tokenized money market funds.

In February 2026, the company also collaborated with Binance to launch an off-exchange institutional collateral program designed to improve capital efficiency and reduce counterparty risk in digital asset trading. These initiatives strengthen Franklin Templeton’s digital asset ecosystem, spanning research, portfolio management and blockchain-based investment solutions.

With $1.78 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2026, and operations across more than 35 countries, Franklin Templeton is well-positioned to scale its digital asset offerings globally. Overall, the acquisition of 250 Digital is expected to expand its cryptocurrency investment capabilities and reinforce its position among traditional asset managers, building out blockchain-enabled financial market infrastructure.

BEN’s Price Performance & Zacks RankThe company’s shares have gained 39.7% in the past six months against the industry’s 12.1% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Franklin sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

How Other Financial Firms Are Scaling Up in Crypto?Similar to BEN, the other financial firms, such as Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR - Free Report) and Charles Schwab (SCHW - Free Report)  are also actively expanding and enhancing their crypto offerings.

In April 2026, Interactive Brokers launched a unified crypto trading platform for European Economic Area clients through its Ireland-based unit, integrating digital assets into its brokerage ecosystem. Developed with Zerohash, it enables secure trading alongside traditional assets. Earlier, in March 2026, Interactive Brokers also introduced crypto transfer functionality, allowing clients to move assets into brokerage-linked accounts without liquidation, improving portfolio efficiency.

In April 2026, Charles Schwab also moved toward direct crypto exposure with the planned launch of Schwab Crypto, a spot trading service for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The rollout will follow a phased approach, starting with limited access before broader availability, supported by its research, education and advisory ecosystem. Until now, Charles Schwab has mainly relied on indirect exposure through ETFs and related products, but this marks a shift toward integrating crypto into its core brokerage platform.

Key Takeaways BEN reached a 52-week high of $33.29 and outperformed IVZ and TROW over six months.BEN's AUM grew at a 3.1% CAGR over five years, with continued momentum in the first half of fiscal 2026.BEN is expanding through acquisitions and partnerships across alternatives and digital assets. Shares of Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) touched a new 52-week high of $33.29 during yesterday’s trading session before closing slightly lower at $33.18.

Over the past six months, BEN shares have rallied 38.9% against the industry’s decline of 9.7%. The stock has also fared better than its close peers, Invesco Ltd. (IVZ - Free Report) and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) , which gained 10.3% and 5.5%, respectively, over the same period.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Does Franklin have more upside left after touching a new 52-week high? Let us find out.

Other Factors Supporting Franklin’s GrowthAUM Growth Driven by Diversification Efforts: Franklin has continued to deliver healthy growth in its assets under management (AUM) over the years, registering a 3.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five fiscal years through fiscal 2025, despite declines in fiscal 2022 and 2025. The upward momentum continued in the first half of fiscal 2026.

AUM Growth Trend
Image Source: Franklin Resources, Inc.

The company’s strategic push into higher-demand asset classes, especially alternatives, is expected to remain a key driver of AUM expansion going forward. In addition, its regionally diversified distribution network has helped strengthen its non-U.S. franchise and supported steady net inflows.

Solid Organic Growth: Organic growth has been a key strength for Franklin over the years. Although revenues declined in fiscal 2023, the company recorded a CAGR of 1.9% over fiscal 2022-2025. The growth momentum continued in the first six months of fiscal 2026, with revenues increasing year over year.

Going forward, revenues are likely to benefit from BEN's relatively strong distribution platform, which has supported diversification inflows across funds, vehicles and asset classes. The company also enjoys a first-mover advantage in several international markets and continues to diversify its business to build broader sources of revenues, primarily driven by a solid fixed-income pipeline. These initiatives, along with expanding investment capabilities, are expected to support long-term revenue growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BEN's fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 revenues is pegged at $9.1 billion and $9.2 billion, indicating year-over-year growth rates of 3.6% and 0.9%, respectively.

Revenue Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships to Expand Capabilities: As part of its ongoing strategy to diversify investment offerings and strengthen its presence in high-growth asset classes, Franklin has continued to expand through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. In April 2026, the company agreed to acquire 250 Digital, a crypto investment firm spun out of CoinFund, and launch the Franklin Crypto unit to enhance its digital asset capabilities and broaden its institutional reach. Earlier, in February 2026, BEN partnered with Binance to introduce an off-exchange institutional collateral program aimed at improving the safety and capital efficiency of digital asset trading.

Franklin has also been strengthening its alternatives and technology capabilities. In November 2025, the company partnered with Wand AI to bolster AI-driven research and operations. Earlier, in October 2025, BEN acquired Apera Asset Management, expanding its alternative credit AUM to more than $90 billion and increasing its overall alternatives platform to approximately $270 billion. In September 2025, partnerships with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, DigitalBridge and Actis broadened its private infrastructure offerings, while the alliance with SBI Holdings in 2024 strengthened its exchange-traded fund and digital asset capabilities.

Together, these acquisitions and partnerships are expected to enhance Franklin's alternative investment capabilities, diversify revenue streams and support long-term AUM growth across its global asset management platform.

Strong Liquidity to Aid Shareholder Returns: Franklin maintains a healthy liquidity profile, providing financial flexibility and supporting its ability to pursue growth opportunities while returning capital to shareholders. As of March 31, 2026, the company had no short-term debt, while its liquidity position, comprising cash and cash equivalents, receivables and investments, stood at $6.6 billion.

As such, Franklin's strong liquidity position continues to support its shareholder-friendly capital distribution activities. In December 2025, the board authorized the repurchase of an additional 20.8 million shares, taking the total authorization to 40 million shares. As of March 31, 2026, shares worth $35.9 million remained available under the authorization. Further, the company raised its quarterly cash dividend by 3.1% to 33 cents per share in December 2025 and has increased dividends five times over the past five years. BEN currently offers a dividend yield of 3.9%, above the industry average of 2.5%. Meanwhile, Invesco and T. Rowe Price offer dividend yields of 2.9% and 4.8%, respectively.

Dividend Yield
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Concerns Prevailing for BENInvestment Management Fees Remain a Key Concentration Risk: The company's total revenues are heavily dependent on investment management fees, which represent its largest revenue source. These fees accounted for 79.3% of total revenues as of March 31, 2026, and have witnessed a volatile trend over the years. While the metric has generally trended upward in recent years, it largely depends on the level and mix of AUM, which are influenced by market conditions, client flows and investor preferences.

Further, Franklin's AUM is exposed to foreign exchange movements, regulatory changes and broader economic conditions. Thus, any sustained decline in AUM levels may pressure investment management fees and adversely impact the company's financial performance.

Higher Expenses Could Pressure Profitability: Franklin has been witnessing elevated operating expenses over the years. Though expenses declined in fiscal 2022, the metric recorded a CAGR of 7.9% over fiscal 2022-2025, with the upward trend continuing in the first six months of fiscal 2026.

Moreover, the acquisition of Apera Asset Management is expected to add roughly $30 million in expenses in fiscal 2026. While management expects efficiency savings to offset these costs, ongoing investments in technology, higher fundraising expenses and integration costs related to specialist investment managers may continue to pressure margins and limit bottom-line growth.

Analyzing BEN's Earnings Estimates and ValuationAnalysts are optimistic regarding Franklin’s earnings growth potential. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings has been revised upward. The estimated figures reflect respective year-over-year growth rates of 23.4% and 8.4%.

Earnings Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of valuation, BEN stock appears inexpensive relative to the industry. The company is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 11.4X, which is below the industry’s P/E of 13.8X.

Price-to-Earnings F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Meanwhile, Invesco holds a P/E ratio of 10.62X, while T. Rowe Price’s P/E ratio stands at 11.3X.

How to Approach BEN Stock Now?Franklin’s expanding alternatives platform, along with its strategic acquisitions and growing digital asset capabilities, is expected to support long-term AUM and revenue growth. Strong liquidity and consistent capital return initiatives further highlight the company’s financial strength and shareholder-friendly approach.

Improving earnings performance, a diversified product suite and a strengthening global distribution network continue to support Franklin’s long-term growth outlook. Additionally, BEN stock appears attractively valued relative to the industry.

However, volatility in investment management fees, along with a rising expense base driven by acquisitions and integration costs, is likely to pressure margins and earnings in the near term.

Hence, despite the recent rally, investors may prefer to wait for a more attractive entry point. Existing shareholders, however, may continue to hold the stock, given Franklin’s solid fundamentals and long-term growth initiatives.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. (“BSP”), Franklin Templeton’s private credit specialist investment manager with $93 billion in assets under management, (1) today announced that BSP CLO 50, a $500 million new-issue collateralized loan obligation (CLO), closed on May 26, 2026. The transaction was arranged in partnership with Scotiabank.

The closing of BSP CLO 50 marks a significant milestone for BSP’s U.S. CLO platform, which has raised approximately $25.5 billion in CLO capital since the firm’s first issuance in 2012. The platform has attracted support from more than 300 distinct investors since inception, reflecting the breadth of the firm’s investor relationships and the consistency of its CLO execution across market cycles.

“Closing CLO 50 is an important achievement for BSP and a testament to the strength, scale, and durability of our platform,” said Dan Ryan, Co-Head of the U.S. CLO platform at BSP. “We are grateful for the continued confidence of our investors and financing partners, and we remain focused on delivering disciplined credit selection, active portfolio management, and consistent execution.”

BSP has established itself as a leading CLO manager globally. The firm is currently ranked as the 9th largest U.S. CLO manager and the 8th largest CLO manager globally, according to Intex, and was the 5th most active new U.S. CLO issuer as of June 8, 2026, according to JPMorgan. The firm’s CLO platform is supported by BSP’s broader credit investment capabilities, deep underwriting resources, and long-standing relationships across the leveraged finance market.

“BSP CLO 50 underscores the continued momentum of our CLO franchise and the confidence investors have placed in our team,” said Vince Pompliano, Co-Head of the U.S. CLO platform. “Our track record has been built through disciplined investment selection, active portfolio management, and a long-term commitment to the CLO market. We believe those attributes will continue to differentiate BSP as we grow the platform.”

In addition to its U.S. business, BSP has continued to expand its European CLO capabilities, further broadening the firm’s global liquid and structured credit platform since 2002. BSP’s presence across both U.S. and European CLO markets enhances its ability to serve a diverse international investor base and pursue attractive opportunities across the global leveraged loan market.

BSP has also continued to deepen its CLO capital formation capabilities. In 2025, the firm closed its third captive fund, raising $500 million, further supporting the growth and stability of its CLO issuance program.

(1) As of March 31, 2026

About Benefit Street Partners

Benefit Street Partners (“BSP”) is an alternative credit pioneer with $93 billion in assets under management (including Apera Asset Management) as of 31 March 2026. It seeks to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns through its deep specialism, long-term relationships and global reach. A wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, BSP is focused on credit. Through its disciplined, solutions-oriented approach, BSP unlocks opportunities across market cycles and geographies. The firm manages strategies spanning private debt, real estate debt, structured credit, and liquid loans. For more information visit bspcredit.com.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Templeton is a trusted investment partner, delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ strategic goals. With deep portfolio management expertise across public and private markets, we combine investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. Since our founding in 1947, we have empowered clients through strategic partnership, forward-looking insights, and continuous innovation – providing the tools and resources to navigate change and capture opportunity.

With more than $1.78 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries.

To learn more, visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN]

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