On Tuesday, TD Cowen adjusted its outlook on Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN), reducing the stock's price target to $25.50 from the previous $29.00, while maintaining a Hold rating on the shares. The adjustment follows a 6.5% decline in the company's stock price on Monday, which was attributed to the firm's second-quarter fiscal year 2024 results.
The analyst from TD Cowen noted that the drop in Franklin Resources' stock price was likely due to a combination of factors. These included the performance of another Traditional asset manager failing to provide an upside surprise, despite favorable market conditions in the first quarter, and financial guidance that hints at a potential further downward adjustment of optimistic consensus expectations.
The firm's revised financial outlook includes trimmed forecasts for adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal years 2024-2025 and calendar years 2024-2025. The lower 12-month sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) derived target price of $25.50 reflects these adjustments while the Hold rating remains unchanged.
The analyst's commentary highlighted concerns over the company's ability to deliver positive surprises in a market that has seen a robust first quarter. Despite the broader market's performance, Franklin Resources' recent guidance suggests a cautious stance on future earnings potential.
The stock price target reduction by TD Cowen is based on a detailed analysis of the company's fiscal and calendar year earnings expectations, considering the latest financial results and guidance provided by Franklin Resources. The new target is derived from a valuation method that takes into account the individual components of the company's business.
InvestingPro Insights
Following TD Cowen's adjustment of Franklin Resources' price target, a deeper dive into the company's current metrics via InvestingPro provides additional context to investors. With a market capitalization of $12.12 billion and a P/E ratio standing at 13.29, Franklin Resources appears to be trading at a valuation that mirrors its recent earnings.
Notably, the company has experienced a 1-week price total return of -7.7%, reflecting the immediate market reaction to its fiscal updates. Despite the recent decline, Franklin Resources has maintained a commendable track record of dividend payments for 44 consecutive years, which could be a point of interest for income-focused investors, especially with a high dividend yield of 5.3% as of the last payment.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that the stock is currently in oversold territory according to the RSI, which could indicate a potential rebound opportunity for investors. Additionally, while analysts have revised their earnings expectations downwards for the upcoming period, it's worth noting that the company is predicted to remain profitable this year.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive set of analytics and insights, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/BEN. Using the coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can receive an extra 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, gaining access to an extended list of tips that can further inform investment decisions.
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