Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Franklin Resources (BEN) 2014 Review

Franklin Resources is a financial services holding company which provides investment management, trust and stock transfer services, distributes hundreds of mutual funds worldwide and sells insurance products, tax shelter investments and closed end funds to a wide variety of commercial, industrial, institutional and governmental organizations.  The company has grown its dividend and profits at a 15-17% pace over the last 10 years while earning a 15%+ return on equity.  BEN experienced profit difficulties in 2009 but earnings rebounded and should continue to increase as a result of;

(1)  an ongoing aggressive cost cutting program,

(2) its breadth and innovative product offerings provide a competitive advantage,

(3) strong distribution platform,

(4) a stock buyback program,

(5) expand its strategic product offerings via acquisition [recent acquisitions---Pelagos Capital Management and K2Advisors].

Negatives:

(1) its business is subject to numerous overlapping and changing rules, regulations and legal interpretations,

(2) exchange rate risk,

(3) impact of market fluctuations on fees,

(4) rising operating expenses.

BEN is rated A++ by Value Line, has a 10% debt to equity ratio and its stock yields 1.0%.

  Statistical Summary

                 Stock     Dividend         Payout      # Increases  
                Yield      Growth Rate     Ratio       Since 2004

BEN           1.0%          14%              13%              10
Ind Ave      2.1              9                   29                NA 

                Debt/                        EPS Down       Net        Value Line
                Equity         ROE      Since 2004     Margin       Rating

BEN          10%           22%             2                46%           A++
Ind Ave      33             19              NA               18             NA

     Chart

            Note: BEN stock made good progress off its March 2009 low, surpassing the downtrend off its October 2007 high (red line) and the November 2008 trading high (green line).  Long term, the stock is in an uptrend (straight blue lines).  Intermediate term, BEN it is in an uptrend (purple lines).  The wiggly blue line is on balance volume.  The Aggressive Growth Portfolio owns a 50% position in BEN, having Sold 25% of its position in late 2013.  The upper boundary of its Buy Value Range is $19.  The lower boundary of its Sell Half Range is $62.




7/14

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