Welcome to our dedicated page for Franklin Resources news (Ticker: BEN), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Franklin Resources stock.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), whose subsidiaries operate as Franklin Templeton, generates a steady flow of news across public and private markets, making its BEN news feed relevant for investors, advisors, and market observers. As a global investment management organization serving clients in over 150 countries, Franklin Templeton issues updates on assets under management, product launches, private markets insights, and strategic initiatives across its specialist investment managers.
News for BEN commonly includes monthly and quarterly reports on preliminary assets under management, detailing allocations across equity, fixed income, alternatives, multi-asset strategies, and cash management. The company also announces earnings release dates, teleconferences with senior executives, and commentary on financial results, providing context on business performance and flows across its platforms.
Franklin Templeton’s communications highlight developments in areas such as digital assets and tokenized finance, including tokenized money market funds, blockchain-enabled distribution share classes, and partnerships like the State of Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Token ($FRNT) reserves mandate. Updates from affiliates such as Western Asset Management, Benefit Street Partners, and Lexington Partners cover topics like institutional money market fund enhancements, private credit and real estate debt fundraising, and secondary private equity activity.
Investors following BEN news can also track corporate actions and governance items disclosed through press releases and related filings, such as dividend announcements, share repurchase authorizations, and information about the company’s multi-year strategic plan. For those monitoring trends in private markets, digital asset innovation, and global asset management, the BEN news stream offers a consolidated view of Franklin Resources’ latest announcements and perspectives.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.68 trillion at September 30, 2024, unchanged from August 31, 2024. The company experienced long-term net outflows of $22.4 billion, including $27.9 billion from Western Asset Management, partially offset by positive market impact. For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, AUM benefited from positive markets but was affected by long-term net outflows of $31.3 billion, including $37.0 billion from Western Asset Management.
The AUM breakdown by asset class as of September 30, 2024, was: Equity ($632.1 billion), Fixed Income ($556.4 billion), Alternative ($249.9 billion), Multi-Asset ($176.2 billion), and Cash Management ($64.0 billion). Western Asset Management's AUM decreased from $376.8 billion to $353.3 billion, reflecting significant outflows and market impacts.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) has announced it will release its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 operating results on Monday, November 4, 2024 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A written commentary will be available on the company's investor website simultaneously. At 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, a live teleconference will be held featuring Jenny Johnson (President and CEO), Matthew Nicholls (Executive Vice President, CFO and COO), and Adam Spector (Executive Vice President - Global Advisory Services and Head of Global Distribution) to answer questions.
The teleconference can be accessed via the company's investor website or by dialing specific numbers for North America and other locations. A replay will be available until November 10, 2024. Analysts and investors are advised to review recent SEC filings and contact Investor Relations for any clarifications before the teleconference.
Franklin Templeton has expanded its partnership with Envestnet to deliver its Canvas Custom Indexing platform to Envestnet's extensive client base of advisors. Canvas, a web-based platform, enables advisors to create personalized and tax-managed portfolios for their clients. This integration is part of a previously announced strategic partnership between the firms.
The platform will be available to advisors across banks, wealth management firms, brokerages, and RIAs. It offers tax management capabilities and goes beyond traditional Direct Indexing, providing advisors with more investment solutions and tools to scale their businesses.
Franklin Templeton, a leading SMA provider with approximately $140 billion in SMA assets under management as of June 30, 2024, including $9 billion on the Canvas platform, views this partnership as a milestone in bringing high-net-worth capabilities to mass affluent investors.
Franklin Templeton and Clarion Partners are celebrating the five-year anniversary of the Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund Inc. (CPREX), a closed-end tender offer fund providing individual investors access to institutional-quality private real estate. CPREX focuses on stable, cash flow-producing properties in U.S. markets with favorable growth prospects, with 89% of its portfolio in industrial warehouse, rental housing, and healthcare-related properties.
The fund has experienced continued net inflows during a period of slow real estate fundraising, allowing for new property acquisitions. Clarion Partners, CPREX's sub-adviser, manages over $74 billion in real estate assets as of June 30, 2024. The fund's strategy balances income and long-term capital appreciation, investing in both real estate private equity and private debt.
Franklin Templeton's alternatives business, including Clarion, represents approximately 16% of the firm's $1.65 trillion in assets under management. The alternative investment market has seen significant growth, with U.S. registered funds investing in private equity, private credit, and real estate nearly tripling from $110.6 billion in 2016 to $299.3 billion in 2023.
Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund [NYSE: WIW] has announced its distribution sources for September 30, 2024, and the fiscal year 2024 to date. The Fund's September monthly distribution is $0.0605 per share, entirely sourced from net investment income. The cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution is $0.5445 per share, also fully derived from net investment income.
Key performance metrics as of August 31, 2024, include:
- Average Annual Total Return (5-year): 1.61%
- Annualized Distribution Rate: 7.29%
- Cumulative Total Return (fiscal period): 6.03%
- Cumulative Fiscal Year-To-Date Distribution Rate: 5.47%
The Fund operates under a managed distribution policy, aiming to deliver long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions. Distributions may come from various sources, including returning capital. Shareholders are advised that a return of capital reduces their tax basis in Fund shares.
Franklin Templeton (NYSE: BEN) has announced the appointment of Todd Bitzer, Emily Cox, and Andre Cuerington as Senior Vice Presidents and Client Advisors for US Institutional. They will focus on building and managing partnerships with institutional clients. Bitzer is based in Atlanta, Cox in Southern California (serving as an Alternative Specialist), and Cuerington in Northern California. This move aligns with the growing institutional interest in private markets, expected to reach $23.7 trillion by 2028. Franklin Templeton has been expanding its private markets capabilities, becoming one of the top 10 largest alternatives managers with over $250 billion in assets under management. The company aims to provide customized offerings across both public and private investment markets to help clients achieve their objectives.
Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, has announced distributions for certain closed-end funds for September, October, and November 2024. The distributions are part of their managed distribution policy. Key details include:
- Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (WIA) will distribute $0.05000 per share each month
- Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (WIW) will distribute $0.06050 per share each month
- Distribution dates are set for the last day of each month
- Both funds estimate 100% of distributions to come from income for the fiscal year ending November 30
The company notes that distributions may include long-term capital gains or return of capital if sufficient income is not available. Shareholders are advised not to draw conclusions about fund performance from these distributions.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.68 trillion at August 31, 2024, up from $1.66 trillion at July 31, 2024. The increase was attributed to positive market impact, partially offset by long-term net outflows of $6.3 billion. Western Asset Management experienced $7.7 billion in long-term net outflows. By asset class, Equity AUM rose to $618.8 billion, Fixed Income to $574.5 billion, while Alternative AUM decreased to $251.2 billion. Multi-Asset and Cash Management AUM also saw increases. The company's Macro Opportunities strategy, which is closing, had $1.1 billion AUM and $0.9 billion net outflows in August.
Franklin Templeton has announced the liquidation of ClearBridge Focus Value ESG ETF (CFCV), set to occur around November 5, 2024. Key dates include:
- September 5, 2024: Board approval of liquidation
- October 8, 2024: Last day for creation orders
- October 29, 2024: Final trading day on Cboe BZX Exchange
- October 30, 2024: Trading halted, portfolio liquidation begins
- November 5, 2024: Estimated date for distribution of liquidation proceeds
Shareholders can sell their shares until market close on October 29, 2024. Those who don't sell will receive cash equal to the net asset value of their shares, including capital gains and dividends. The liquidation may have tax implications, and shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors.
Franklin Templeton has announced the planned reorganization of the Western Asset Total Return ETF (WBND) into the Western Asset Bond ETF (WABF). This process involves transferring WBND's assets to WABF in exchange for WABF shares, which will be distributed to current WBND shareholders. The reorganization is subject to shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled for December 13, 2024. If approved, the reorganization is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. Shareholders of WBND are anticipated to receive a combined prospectus/proxy statement with reorganization details in the fourth quarter of 2024.