Victory Capital and Franklin Resources both grow through acquisitions, but one is still scaling while the other is working to reposition its mature platform. Victory has maintained strong margins above 50% and is expanding via ETFs and the Pioneer acquisition, but organic flows remain a concern. Franklin's AUM is 5x larger, but it faces continued outflows from legacy funds. Its future growth depends on scaling alternatives and converting its $20B pipeline.
BEN's AUM rose to $1.61T in June, up 2.1% from May, as positive markets offset $1B in net long-term outflows.
BEN is set to expand its alternatives platform with a majority stake in Apera, boosting global credit AUM to $87 billion.
BEN's AUM rose to $1.57 trillion in May, driven by positive markets and net inflows despite outflows at Western Asset.
BEN gains 6.2% in three months on AUM growth and acquisitions, but rising costs and fee volatility keep the stock in hold territory.
Many investors are de-risking their portfolios and moving their gains into dividend stocks.
Franklin Resources offers a significant risk premium over Treasuries, with a potential 39%-82% higher cash return if dividends grow modestly. Despite a "meh" financial performance, Franklin Resources' balance sheet is strong, securing the dividend for the intermediate term. Compared to a 4.4% 10-Year Treasury Note, Franklin Resources shares are attractively priced, making it a rare find in the current market.
BEN's total AUM declined to $1.53 trillion, impacted by net outflows, though alternative assets reflected modest growth.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN ) Q2 2025 Earnings Conference Call May 2, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Selene Oh - Chief Communications Officer & Head of Investor Relations Jenny Johnson - President & Chief Executive Officer Matt Nicholls - Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer Adam Spector - Head, Global Distribution Conference Call Participants Benjamin Budish - Barclays Capital Craig Siegenthaler - Bank of America Alexander Blostein - Goldman Sachs Dan Fannon - Jefferies Michael Cyprys - Morgan Stanley Bill Katz - TD Cowen Glenn Schorr - Evercore ISI Brian Bedell - Deutsche Bank Patrick Davitt - Autonomous Research Operator Welcome to the Franklin Resources Earnings Conference Call for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2025. Hello, my name is Rob, and I will be your call operator today.
BEN's fiscal second-quarter earnings meet estimates on lower expenses, offset by lower revenues and AUM balances.
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Franklin Resources (BEN) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended March 2025, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
Franklin Resources (BEN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to earnings of $0.56 per share a year ago.