We recently published a list of Dividend Champions List: Top 15. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) stands in the dividend champions list.

In this dividend champions list, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth and yields above 4%.

Dividend champions are companies that have raised their dividends for at least 25 years. While they share this trait with dividend aristocrats, the key difference is that dividend champions don’t need to be part of the S&P Index, whereas aristocrats do. Despite this distinction, what truly sets these stocks apart is their long-standing history of consistently increasing dividend payments to shareholders over time.

Dividend growth is one of the most appealing qualities a company can have in today’s market. Achieving 25 consecutive years of dividend increases is especially impressive, as these companies were able to boost their payouts even through challenging periods like the recent pandemic.

Although dividend stocks have lagged behind the market due to the growing prominence of tech stocks, the value of steady income remains irreplaceable. Dividend stocks are unlikely to fall out of favor. Analysts continue to express confidence in their potential. Earlier this year, BofA predicted that dividend stocks are set for growth, noting they should perform well even if consumer spending slows or a full recovery doesn’t materialize. Subramanian from BofA added that if the Federal Reserve cuts rates or halts hikes, companies can maintain their dividends by borrowing at lower interest rates. The analyst also highlighted that income investors have plenty of options for investing in dividend-paying stocks, such as broad mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This provides a variety of avenues to tap into dividend income.

US companies have focused on paying dividends to shareholders due to their growing cash reserves. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, businesses held $3.61 trillion in cash and equivalents on their balance sheets. This marked a 2% decline from the end of 2021 but an 11% increase compared to 2022, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The substantial cash reserves held by US companies had a significant impact on their dividend payments. A report by Janus Henderson highlighted that US businesses paid shareholders $161.5 billion in dividends during the second quarter of 2024, marking an 8.6% increase on an underlying basis. Companies paying dividends for the first time this year made the largest contribution to this growth, raising the US underlying total by 3.6 percentage points. While these companies’ dividends are relatively small compared to their profits, they still contributed a notable $3.8 billion. Excluding this effect, the remaining companies in the index saw a 5.0% growth, which aligns more closely with the nation’s long-term trend. This surge from new dividend payers is expected to continue throughout the year, keeping US payout growth ahead of the global average. The report further mentioned that 96% of the companies either maintained or increased their dividends during the quarter.

When investing in dividend stocks, many investors tend to prioritize dividend yields. However, experts recommend focusing more on stocks with consistent dividend growth rather than simply chasing high yields, which may not always be sustainable. That said, dividend yields aren’t necessarily a bad option. A balanced approach that combines healthy yields with steady dividend growth can provide strong investment opportunities for investors. In this dividend champions list, we will take a look at the highest-yielding stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we looked at a group of over 150 dividend champions, which are known for raising dividends for 25 years or more. From this list, we chose companies with the highest dividend yields as of September 24 and arranged them in order from lowest to highest yield.

We also measured hedge fund sentiment around each stock according to Insider Monkey’s database of 912 funds as of Q2 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN)

Dividend Yield as of September 24: 5.89%

An American multinational asset management company, Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) ranks seventh on our dividend champions list. The company reported mixed results in fiscal Q3 2024. Its revenue of $2.1 billion fell slightly by 1% on a YoY basis. However, the company’s operating income surged by 72% to $222.5 million compared to the same period last year. Its cash position remained strong, with $6.8 billion in total cash and investments by the end of the quarter. The company has greatly benefited from its acquisitions, gaining cost efficiencies and expanding its customer base. The acquisition of Putnam Investments in January notably boosted its investment capabilities, contributing to strong investment performance.

As of August 31, 2024, Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) reported preliminary assets under management totaling $1.68 trillion, a 1.1% rise from $1.66 trillion on July 31, 2024. This growth was mainly driven by positive market conditions, though it was partially offset by long-term net outflows.

What sets Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) apart from its peers is its strong dividend history. The company has consistently demonstrated a commitment to rewarding shareholders through regular dividend payments. In the most recent quarter, it returned $168 million to shareholders through dividends. Moreover, the company has raised its payouts for 48 years in a row. Its trailing twelve-month dividend amount jumped $656 million in the most recent quarter, from $610 million in the same period last year. Its quarterly dividend comes in at $0.31 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.89%, as of September 24.

At the end of June 2024, 27 hedge funds owned stakes in Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), down from 31 in the preceding quarter. These stakes have a total value of $323 million.

Overall, BEN ranks 7th on our list of dividend champions. While we acknowledge the potential for 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 timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BEN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. 

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.