Analysts’ Recent Ratings Changes for Franklin Resources (BEN)

Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) recently received a number of ratings updates from brokerages and research firms:

• 2/3/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $19.00 to $22.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.
• 2/3/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $19.00 to $21.00. They now have an “underperform” rating on the stock.
• 2/3/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $19.00 to $23.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 2/3/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $20.00 to $23.00. They now have a “market perform” rating on the stock.
• 2/3/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $20.50 to $24.00. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 1/17/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $21.00 to $19.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.
• 1/16/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $21.00 to $19.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 1/14/2025 – Franklin Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $22.50 to $20.50. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 1/6/2025 – Franklin Resources was upgraded by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating. They now have a $22.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $21.00.
• 12/20/2024 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $18.00 to $19.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.
• 12/12/2024 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $19.50 to $22.50. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 12/9/2024 – Franklin Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $19.00 to $21.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.

Franklin Resources Stock Performance

BEN traded up $0.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $20.86. 1,571,946 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,760,670. The company’s 50-day moving average is $20.82 and its 200 day moving average is $20.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.93 billion, a PE ratio of 32.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.42. Franklin Resources, Inc. has a 52 week low of $18.83 and a 52 week high of $28.61.

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The closed-end fund reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 last year, the company posted $0.65 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Franklin Resources, Inc. will post 2.19 EPS for the current year.

Franklin Resources Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Monday, December 30th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.14%. This is a positive change from Franklin Resources’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 30th. Franklin Resources’s dividend payout ratio is currently 196.93%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Franklin Resources

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BEN. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Franklin Resources in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Franklin Resources by 254.4% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,779 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,277 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Franklin Resources during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Franklin Resources by 561.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,957 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,661 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 47.56% of the company’s stock.

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.