Evercore ISI Cuts Franklin Resources (BEN) Target, TD Cowen Also Lowers Estimates Ahead of Q1

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is included among the 15 Cash-Rich Dividend Stocks to Invest in Right Now.

On April 10, Evercore ISI lowered its price recommendation on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) to $27 from $28. It maintained an Underperform rating on the stock.

A day earlier, on April 9, TD Cowen analyst Bill Katz also reduced his target on BEN, bringing it down to $33 from $36, while maintaining a Buy rating. The firm made broader adjustments across asset managers, broker-dealers, and exchanges as part of its Q1 preview.

Earlier in the month, on April 1, Franklin Resources said it had agreed to acquire 250 Digital. The business will be folded into its newly created Franklin Crypto unit. The move points to a deeper push into digital assets. By bringing 250 Digital in-house, the firm is looking to build out actively managed crypto strategies for institutional clients. That goes beyond simple exposure through products like bitcoin ETFs. The company currently manages $1.8B in global assets.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. Part of the payment will be made using BENJI tokens, which represent shares in its blockchain-based mutual fund, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund. This step reflects a broader shift across the industry. Institutions are showing growing interest in yield-focused and active strategies as passive crypto products, including spot bitcoin and ether ETFs, continue to evolve. It also comes as CoinShares began trading on the Nasdaq on April 1.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) operates as a global investment management firm. Through its Franklin Templeton subsidiaries, it serves clients in more than 150 countries, offering strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset portfolios.

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