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Franklin Templeton Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 November 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income fell from prior quarter: Operating income was $85.4 million, against $154.1 million in the prior quarter and an operating loss of $150.7 million a year earlier. Operating margin was 3.6%. Source
  • Ending AUM rose on market gains: Ending AUM was $1,661.2 billion, up $49.4 billion from the prior quarter. Net market change, distributions and other added $54.1 billion. Source
  • Long-term net outflows widened: Long-term net outflows were $11.9 billion, against $9.3 billion in the prior quarter. Long-term inflows were $84.6 billion and long-term outflows were $96.5 billion. Source
  • Excluding Western, net inflows positive: Excluding Western Asset Management, net inflows were $11.4 billion, the eighth consecutive quarter of positive flows on that basis. Western Asset had $23.3 billion of long-term net outflows. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 26.0%: Adjusted operating income was $472.4 million, up 25% from the prior quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 26.0%, against 23.7%. Source
  • Apera added European private credit: Apera is a pan-European private credit firm with about $5.7 billion of AUM, announced in June. The company said it brings pro forma private credit AUM to nearly $90 billion.

“Franklin Templeton delivered solid fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 results, demonstrating continued growth and diversification across our global platform”

Jenny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Resources, Inc.

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company reported that the Apera Asset Management acquisition closed. The third-quarter release had described an agreement to acquire a majority interest. Source
  • New: Matthew Nicholls is listed as Co-President, CFO and COO. The prior release listed him as Executive Vice President, CFO and COO. Adam Spector is listed as CEO of Fiduciary Trust International. Source

Results and profitability

  • Operating revenues rose on fees: Operating revenues were $2,343.7 million, up 14% from the prior quarter and 6% from a year earlier. Investment management fees were $1,868.1 million. Source
  • Operating income fell from prior quarter: Operating income was $85.4 million, against $154.1 million in the prior quarter and an operating loss of $150.7 million a year earlier. Operating margin was 3.6%. Source
  • Quarterly net income and EPS rose: Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $117.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, against $92.3 million, or $0.15, in the prior quarter. Source
  • Fiscal year net income and EPS: Fiscal 2025 net income was $524.9 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, against $464.8 million, or $0.85, in fiscal 2024. Source

Assets under management and flows

  • Ending AUM rose on market gains: Ending AUM was $1,661.2 billion, up $49.4 billion from the prior quarter. Net market change, distributions and other added $54.1 billion. Source
  • Long-term net outflows widened: Long-term net outflows were $11.9 billion, against $9.3 billion in the prior quarter. Long-term inflows were $84.6 billion and long-term outflows were $96.5 billion. Source
  • Excluding Western, net inflows positive: Excluding Western Asset Management, net inflows were $11.4 billion, the eighth consecutive quarter of positive flows on that basis. Western Asset had $23.3 billion of long-term net outflows. Source
  • Institutional pipeline stood at $20.4 billion: The won-but-unfunded institutional pipeline was $20.4 billion after fundings in the quarter. The prior release reported $24.4 billion. Source

“Momentum continued in the fourth quarter with progress across key growth areas.”

Jenny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Resources, Inc.

Products and regions

  • Fiscal inflows ex-Western reached $44.5 billion: Excluding Western Asset, long-term net inflows for fiscal 2025 were $44.5 billion, including $25.7 billion in multi-asset and alternative strategies. Source
  • Retail SMAs, ETFs and Canvas grew: Retail SMAs, ETFs and Canvas each had positive net flows and double-digit AUM growth rates in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Alternatives reached $270 billion AUM: Alternative AUM reached $270 billion. Fiscal 2025 alternatives fundraising was $26.2 billion, including $22.9 billion in private markets. Source
  • Quarterly flows by asset class: Quarter long-term net flows were equity negative $6.9 billion, fixed income negative $12.6 billion, alternative positive $3.2 billion and multi-asset positive $4.4 billion. Source
  • Regional AUM: US up, international down: United States AUM rose 5% to $1,171.5 billion. Total international AUM was $489.7 billion, down 1%, with Americas excluding the U.S. down 10%. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Sales, distribution and marketing rose 8%: Sales, distribution and marketing expense was $519.8 million, up 8% from the prior quarter. Sales and distribution fees were $382.4 million. Source
  • General and administrative costs rose 21%: General, administrative and other expense was $222.8 million, up 21% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Total operating expenses rose 18%: Total operating expenses were $2,258.3 million, up from $1,909.9 million in the prior quarter. Source

“As we enter fiscal 2026, we are confident that our business strategy positions us well to capture the long-term trends reshaping our industry across public and private markets.”

Jenny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Resources, Inc.

Adjusted margins and earnings

  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 26.0%: Adjusted operating income was $472.4 million, up 25% from the prior quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 26.0%, against 23.7%. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.67: Adjusted net income was $357.5 million and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.67, against $263.4 million and $0.49 in the prior quarter. Fiscal 2025 adjusted diluted EPS was $2.22, against $2.39. Source
  • Adjusted measures exclude unrealized gains: Adjusted net income excludes $57.5 million of unrealized investment gains in the quarter. The reconciliation also excludes intangible impairment and amortization. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and investments of $5.5 billion: Cash and investments were $5.5 billion, or $6.7 billion including direct investments in consolidated investment products. Source
  • Equity and shares outstanding: Total stockholders’ equity was $13.0 billion at September 30, 2025, with 521.0 million common shares outstanding. Source
  • Quarter buybacks of $67.1 million: The company repurchased 2.6 million shares for $67.1 million in the quarter, against 7.3 million shares for $157.4 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Fiscal year returns totaled $930 million: Management said $930 million was returned to shareholders in fiscal 2025 through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Dividend declared at $0.32 per share: Dividends declared were $0.32 per share, unchanged from the prior quarter and up from $0.31 a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 dividends declared were $1.28 per share. Source

Strategy and acquisitions

  • Apera added European private credit: Apera is a pan-European private credit firm with about $5.7 billion of AUM, announced in June. The company said it brings pro forma private credit AUM to nearly $90 billion.
  • Expense discipline while investing: Management said it remains disciplined in managing expenses while investing for the future, as the industry evolves. Source

Leadership and reporting

  • Gamba listed as Co-President: The conference call participants were listed as Jenny Johnson, CEO, and Daniel Gamba, Co-President and Chief Commercial Officer. Source
  • Results released as preliminary figures: The 8-K press release is headed as preliminary fourth quarter and fiscal year results. Source

In management's words

“Our broad investment expertise, global scale and client-first culture allow us to create lasting value for clients and shareholders alike.”

Jenny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Resources, Inc.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Equity AUM Source$686.2 billion
Average AUM Source$1,633.7 billion
Cash management net inflows Source$7.2 billion

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company executed on its long-term corporate priorities during fiscal 2025, with growth across public and private markets. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.