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Franklin Templeton Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose to $255.5 million: Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $255.5 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, against $117.6 million or $0.21 in the previous quarter. Operating income was $281.0 million, against $85.4 million. Source
  • Long-term net inflows reached $28.0 billion: Long-term net inflows were $28.0 billion, against net outflows of $11.9 billion in the prior quarter. Long-term inflows were $118.6 billion and long-term outflows were $90.6 billion. Source
  • AUM rose $22.8 billion in quarter: Total AUM was $1,684.0 billion at December 31, 2025. Western had $6.6 billion of long-term net outflows within the quarter, and the Apera acquisition added $6.1 billion. Source
  • Alternatives raised $10.8 billion: Alternatives fundraising was $10.8 billion in the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets. Fundraising spanned alternative specialist managers and both institutional and wealth channels. Source
  • ETF AUM reached $58 billion: ETF AUM reached a new high of $58 billion, with $7.5 billion of net flows including $3.5 billion from mutual fund conversions. This was the 17th consecutive positive quarter. Source
  • Total expenses fell 9% sequentially: Total operating expenses were $2,046.1 million, down from $2,258.3 million in the prior quarter. The prior quarter included a $202.2 million impairment of intangible assets, which did not recur. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 25.0%: Adjusted operating margin was 25.0%, compared with 26.0% in the prior quarter and 24.5% a year earlier. Operating margin was 12.1%. Source

“Our first fiscal quarter continued the momentum we built last year with strong client activity across Franklin Templeton’s diversified global platform, with positive net flows in both public and private markets,”

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

What changed from last quarter

  • New: US and European alternative credit businesses are now aligned under an updated Benefit Street Partners brand, with $95 billion in AUM at quarter end. Source
  • New: From fiscal 2026, Cayman-domiciled money market fund assets are counted in United States AUM, which reduced Americas excluding U.S. AUM by 12%. Source
  • New: From fiscal 2026, non-fee generating uncalled capital commitments are reflected in long-term inflows in the period the capital is committed, not in net market change and other. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose to $255.5 million: Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $255.5 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, against $117.6 million or $0.21 in the previous quarter. Operating income was $281.0 million, against $85.4 million. Source
  • Operating revenues eased 1% sequentially: Operating revenues were $2,327.1 million, down 1% from $2,343.7 million in the prior quarter and up 3% from a year earlier. Investment management fees were $1,847.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.70: Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.70, against $0.67 in the prior quarter. Adjusted net income was $378.4 million, against $357.5 million. Adjusted operating income fell 7% to $437.3 million. Source

Flows and assets under management

  • Long-term net inflows reached $28.0 billion: Long-term net inflows were $28.0 billion, against net outflows of $11.9 billion in the prior quarter. Long-term inflows were $118.6 billion and long-term outflows were $90.6 billion. Source
  • Excluding Western, inflows were $34.6 billion: Excluding Western Asset Management, long-term net inflows were $34.6 billion, nearly double the prior year quarter. Management cited a ninth consecutive quarter of positive flows on a comparable basis. Source
  • AUM rose $22.8 billion in quarter: Total AUM was $1,684.0 billion at December 31, 2025. Western had $6.6 billion of long-term net outflows within the quarter, and the Apera acquisition added $6.1 billion. Source
  • Market change cut AUM by $10.1 billion: Net market change, distributions and other reduced AUM by $10.1 billion. Cash management recorded $1.2 billion of net outflows in the quarter. Source

“We remain disciplined in managing expenses while continuing to invest strategically in areas of growth and innovation for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

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

Alternatives and private markets

  • Alternatives raised $10.8 billion: Alternatives fundraising was $10.8 billion in the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets. Fundraising spanned alternative specialist managers and both institutional and wealth channels. Source
  • Lexington VI closed with $4.6 billion: Lexington Co-Investment Partners VI closed in late October with $4.6 billion in committed capital. Lexington AUM stands at $83 billion, a 46% increase since its acquisition in 2022. Source
  • Apera closed, adding European lending: The Apera Asset Management acquisition closed on October 1. Management said it enhances direct lending capabilities in Europe’s lower middle market. Source
  • Clarion real estate AUM $75 billion: Clarion Partners has $75 billion in real estate assets under management, and management said it continues to be well positioned. Source
  • Industry M&A cited for alternatives: Management said recent M&A activity in the industry underscores the importance of alternative assets and reinforces the rationale for its own acquisitions and investments. Source

Products and client channels

  • ETF AUM reached $58 billion: ETF AUM reached a new high of $58 billion, with $7.5 billion of net flows including $3.5 billion from mutual fund conversions. This was the 17th consecutive positive quarter. Source
  • Retail SMA AUM passed $170 billion: Retail SMA AUM rose to over $170 billion, with $2.4 billion of net inflows during the quarter. Source
  • Canvas AUM rose 11% to $18 billion: Canvas AUM increased 11% to $18 billion and generated $1.4 billion of net flows. Management said Canvas has been net flow positive since acquisition. Source
  • Equity led long-term net inflows: Equity had $19.8 billion of long-term net inflows and multi-asset $4.0 billion. Fixed income had $2.4 billion of net outflows, and alternatives had $6.6 billion of net inflows. Source

“We are confident that our diversified business model, global scale and client-first culture 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.

Costs and margins

  • Total expenses fell 9% sequentially: Total operating expenses were $2,046.1 million, down from $2,258.3 million in the prior quarter. The prior quarter included a $202.2 million impairment of intangible assets, which did not recur. Source
  • Compensation rose 2% to $1,030.7 million: Compensation and benefits were $1,030.7 million, up 2% from the prior quarter and 4% from a year earlier. Sales, distribution and marketing expense was $540.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 25.0%: Adjusted operating margin was 25.0%, compared with 26.0% in the prior quarter and 24.5% a year earlier. Operating margin was 12.1%. Source
  • Amortization of intangibles declined: Amortization of intangible assets was $55.1 million, down from $69.2 million in the prior quarter and $112.6 million a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and investments $5.1 billion: Cash and investments were $5.1 billion at December 31, 2025, or $6.2 billion including direct investments in consolidated investment products. Source
  • Equity $13.1 billion, 520.0 million shares: Total stockholders’ equity was $13.1 billion. Common shares outstanding were 520.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Repurchased 1.8 million shares: The company repurchased 1.8 million shares for $41.9 million in the quarter, against 2.6 million shares for $67.1 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Dividend declared $0.33 per share: Dividends declared were $0.33 per share, up from $0.32 in the prior quarter and $0.32 a year earlier. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total AUM Source$1,684.0 billion
Long-term net inflows Source$28.0 billion
ETF AUM Source$58 billion
ETF net flows Source$7.5 billion
Retail SMA AUM Sourceover $170 billion
Canvas AUM Source$18 billion
Alternatives fundraising Source$10.8 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described a challenging capital-raising environment for real estate, in the area of Clarion Partners. 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.