Morgan Stanley Raises Franklin Resources (BEN) Target to $22, Keeps Underweight Rating

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is included among the Dividend Champions, Contenders, and Challengers List: 15 Highest Yielding Stocks.

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On February 3, Morgan Stanley raised its terms proposal connected Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) to $22 from $21. It kept an Underweight standing connected the banal and trimmed its calendar Q4 adjusted EPS estimation by 14%, pointing to higher operating costs. At the aforesaid time, the steadfast took a much optimistic presumption further out, lifting its 2026 adjusted EPS forecast by 6.3% and nudging its 2027 estimation up 0.7%, supported by expectations for stronger interest income and amended non-operating concern returns.

On February 4, Franklin reported preliminary month-end assets nether absorption of $1.71 trillion arsenic of January 31, 2026, up from $1.68 trillion astatine the extremity of December. The summation reflected favorable marketplace conditions on with astir $1.5 cardinal successful semipermanent nett inflows. That full included astir $1.5 cardinal of semipermanent nett outflows astatine Western Asset Management. Excluding Western Asset, semipermanent nett inflows were person to $3 billion.

Western Asset’s preliminary AUM came successful astatine $216 cardinal astatine the extremity of January, somewhat down from $217 cardinal a period earlier. Market gains helped, but those were partially offset by the semipermanent outflows recorded during the month.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) operates globally nether the Franklin Templeton name, offering concern strategies crossed equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions to clients successful much than 150 countries.

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