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Evercore Reiterates Sell on Franklin Resources (BEN) Amid Mixed Ratings

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is one of the 12 Dividend Stocks With High Insider Buying.

The company saw mixed analyst sentiment on February 5, 2025. Evercore ISI analyst Glenn Schorr, on February 5, 2026, reiterated a Sell rating on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), with a price target of $28. Conversely, on the same day, TD Cowen analyst William Katz maintained a Buy rating on the stock and set a price target of $36.

Prior to these updates, on February 4, 2026, the company reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.71 trillion as of January 31, 2026 – a $0.03 million increase compared to the company’s preliminary AUM for the month ended December 31, 2025. Based on the company’s report, the increase was contributed by favorable market conditions and $1.5 billion in long-term net inflows, after accounting for a $1.5 billion outflow from Western Asset Management.

On February 3, 2026, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an Underweight rating on the stock but raised the price target from $21 to $22. Though the firm lowered Q4 EPS estimates by 14%, it remains optimistic for calendar 2026 and 2027, citing improvements in fees and non-operating investment income.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management firm that offers diverse products, including mutual funds and institutional accounts. Founded in 1947, the company has its headquarters in California.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of BEN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BEN and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 11 Best Pipeline and MLP Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 13 Cheapest Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in.

Disclosure. None.

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