Financials
Asset Management
$10.47B
9K
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. The firm invests in the public equity, fixed income, and alternative markets. Franklin Resources, Inc. was founded in 1947 and is based in San Mateo, California with an additional office in Calgary, Canada; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Fort Lauderdale, United States; Hyderabad, India; London, United Kingdom; Rancho Cordova, United states; Shanghai, China; Singapore; Stamford, United States; and Vienna, Austria.
Key insights and themes extracted from this filing
Total operating revenues reached $2.15B, up from $1.93B in the prior year. This increase is primarily attributed to a $140.6 million increase in investment management fees, reflecting growth in average AUM.
Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $124.2 million, down from $194.2 million in the prior year. This decrease is due to increased operating expenses, including acquisition-related retention expenses.
Operating margin decreased to 6.0% from 13.2% in the prior year. This decline reflects the impact of increased operating expenses, particularly acquisition-related costs.
The acquisition of Putnam Investments on January 1, 2024, added $148.3 billion to AUM. This acquisition is a key strategic move to accelerate growth in the retirement sector.
Long-term net flows were $6.9 billion, indicating continued investor confidence in the company's investment products. This is a key indicator of organic growth and market share gains.
The company will pay up to $375.0 million related to revenue growth targets from the strategic partnership with Great-West and its affiliates, which will be recognized in operating income. This partnership is expected to drive future revenue growth.
Management continuously performs reviews of the business model and remains focused on expense management. This is important for maintaining profitability and shareholder value.
The Putnam acquisition had a significant impact on operating expenses, but it is not practicable to separately quantify the impact of the legacy Putnam business due to the ongoing integration. This indicates that management is actively working to integrate the acquired business.
Special termination benefits increased, indicating that workforce optimization initiatives are being implemented. This is a cost-cutting measure that is expected to improve efficiency.
There were no material changes from the Risk Factors previously disclosed in the last Annual Report on Form 10-K. While this is not necessarily a positive, it indicates that no new significant risks have emerged.
The business and regulatory environments in which the company operates globally remain complex, uncertain and subject to change. This is a general risk factor that is always present, but it is worth noting.
Uncertainties regarding the global economy remain for the foreseeable future. This is a general risk factor that is always present, but it is worth noting.
Total AUM at March 31, 2024, was $1,644.7 billion, 20% higher than at September 30, 2023, and 16% higher than at March 31, 2023. This indicates a strong competitive position in the market.
A key driver of the company's overall success is the long-term investment performance of its investment products. This indicates that the company is focused on delivering strong investment results to its clients.
The company offers a broad product mix of fixed income, equity, alternative, multi-asset and cash management asset classes and solutions that meet a wide variety of specific investment goals and needs for individual and institutional investors. This allows the company to compete effectively in different market segments.
Total operating expenses increased by 21% year-over-year, primarily due to the Putnam acquisition. This indicates that the company needs to focus on improving operational efficiency to offset these increased expenses.
Special termination benefits increased, indicating that workforce optimization initiatives are being implemented. This is a cost-cutting measure that is expected to improve efficiency.
Occupancy expenses increased due to new leased office space located at One Madison Avenue, associated with an initiative to consolidate office space in New York City. This indicates that the company is investing in its infrastructure to improve efficiency.
Information systems and technology expenses increased, primarily due to expenses incurred by Putnam subsequent to the acquisition, and higher outsourced data services and software costs. This indicates that the company is investing in technology to improve its operations.
We expect that our main uses of cash will be to enhance technology infrastructure and business processes. This indicates that the company is focused on investing in technology to improve its operations.
We will also seek to attract, retain and develop personnel and invest strategically in systems and technology that will provide a secure and stable environment. This indicates that the company is focused on investing in technology to improve its operations.
The company repurchased shares of its common stock, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. The Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 27.2 million shares of common stock.
The company declared regular dividends, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. We currently expect to continue paying comparable regular dividends on a quarterly basis to holders of our common stock depending upon earnings and other relevant factors.
We expect that our main uses of cash will be to invest in and grow our business including through acquisitions, pay stockholder dividends, invest in our products, pay income taxes and operating expenses of the business, enhance technology infrastructure and business processes, repurchase shares of our common stock, and repay and service debt.
The 10-Q filing does not contain any specific information about ESG initiatives. This indicates that ESG is not a primary focus of the company's reporting.
The Company is also subject to certain legal requirements and agreements providing for indemnifications of directors, officers and personnel against liabilities and expenses they may incur under certain circumstances in connection with their service. This is a standard practice for public companies.
We will also seek to attract, retain and develop personnel and invest strategically in systems and technology that will provide a secure and stable environment. This indicates that the company is focused on creating a positive work environment for its employees.
During our second fiscal quarter, global equity markets provided positive returns, reflecting strong corporate earnings in certain sectors and continued expectations of interest rate reductions. This indicates a favorable market environment for the company's investment products.
The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index decreased 2.1% during the quarter, reflecting the shift in interest rate expectations. This indicates that the company needs to be prepared for changes in the market environment.
The business and regulatory environments in which we operate globally remain complex, uncertain and subject to change. This indicates that the company needs to be prepared for changes in the market environment.