Zacks Research Has Negative Outlook for BEN FY2025 Earnings

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) – Zacks Research lowered their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Franklin Resources in a research report issued on Wednesday, January 29th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the closed-end fund will post earnings of $2.21 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $2.33. The consensus estimate for Franklin Resources’ current full-year earnings is $2.19 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Franklin Resources’ Q1 2026 earnings at $0.57 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $2.33 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on BEN. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Franklin Resources from $20.00 to $18.50 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Franklin Resources from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Franklin Resources from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their target price for the company from $21.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Franklin Resources from $20.50 to $24.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Franklin Resources from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $20.86.

Franklin Resources Stock Performance

Shares of BEN stock opened at $20.82 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 1.63. Franklin Resources has a fifty-two week low of $18.83 and a fifty-two week high of $28.61. The company has a market capitalization of $10.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.03, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $20.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $20.95.

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The closed-end fund reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.03. Franklin Resources had a net margin of 4.32% and a return on equity of 9.41%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.65 EPS.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Franklin Resources in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Matrix Trust Co bought a new stake in Franklin Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Franklin Resources by 254.4% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,779 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,277 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in Franklin Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 561.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,957 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,661 shares in the last quarter. 47.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Franklin Resources Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.15%. Franklin Resources’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 196.93%.

About Franklin Resources

Franklin Resources, Inc is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships. It launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds through its subsidiaries.