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Franklin Templeton Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and diluted EPS declined sequentially: Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $171.5 million, or $0.31 diluted EPS, against $268.2 million or $0.49 in the prior quarter and $92.3 million or $0.15 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income fell from prior quarter: Operating income was $215.8 million, down from $323.3 million in the prior quarter and up from $154.1 million a year earlier. Operating margin was 9.2%, against 14.1% in the prior quarter. Source
  • Ending AUM grew to a record: Ending AUM was $1,791.6 billion, up $109.5 billion in the quarter, mainly from $98.0 billion of net market change, distributions and other. Source
  • Alternatives reached record AUM: Alternative AUM was $294.2 billion, a record. Alternatives fundraising was $11.8 billion, including $10.3 billion of private market strategies across secondary private equity, alternative credit, real estate and venture capital. Source
  • Institutional pipeline reached a record: The institutional won-but-unfunded pipeline grew to a record $28.6 billion. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose: Adjusted operating margin was 28.0%, against 27.1% in the prior quarter and 23.7% a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was $508.9 million. Source
  • Regulatory settlement charge excluded: A $100.0 million charge for significant regulatory settlements was excluded from adjusted results. The company describes such charges as non-recurring. Source
  • Shareholder returns of $521.5 million: The company returned $521.5 million to shareholders in the quarter, including $348.1 million of share repurchases. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect the successful execution of our strategy and the strength of Franklin Templeton's diversified global platform,”

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

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company will change its corporate name from Franklin Resources, Inc. to Franklin Templeton, Inc., described by management as a name change only. Source

Earnings and operating results

  • Net income and diluted EPS declined sequentially: Net income attributable to Franklin Resources was $171.5 million, or $0.31 diluted EPS, against $268.2 million or $0.49 in the prior quarter and $92.3 million or $0.15 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income fell from prior quarter: Operating income was $215.8 million, down from $323.3 million in the prior quarter and up from $154.1 million a year earlier. Operating margin was 9.2%, against 14.1% in the prior quarter. Source
  • Revenue rose 3% on the quarter: Operating revenues were $2,358.4 million, up 3% from the prior quarter and 14% from a year earlier. Source
  • Investment income rose sharply: Investment and other income, net was $131.0 million, against $56.0 million in the prior quarter. Interest expense was $23.5 million. Source

Assets under management and flows

  • Ending AUM grew to a record: Ending AUM was $1,791.6 billion, up $109.5 billion in the quarter, mainly from $98.0 billion of net market change, distributions and other. Source
  • Reinvested distributions counted in inflows: Long-term net inflows were $18.4 billion, after $122.0 billion of inflows and $103.6 billion of outflows. Of the inflows, $4.1 billion were reinvested distributions. Source
  • Western and cash management outflows: Western recorded $1.1 billion of long-term net outflows. Cash management had $7.0 billion of net outflows, compared with $11.4 billion of inflows in the prior quarter. Source
  • Average AUM rose 3%: Average AUM for the quarter was $1,750.0 billion, up 3% from the prior quarter and 12% from a year earlier. Source

“We believe this positions Franklin Templeton to deliver sustainable organic growth and create long-term value for our clients, shareholders and employees.”

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

Asset classes and product mix

  • Alternatives reached record AUM: Alternative AUM was $294.2 billion, a record. Alternatives fundraising was $11.8 billion, including $10.3 billion of private market strategies across secondary private equity, alternative credit, real estate and venture capital. Source
  • Equity drew the largest flows: Equity AUM rose 13% to $756.9 billion. Equity long-term net flows were $2.0 billion; fixed income $2.6 billion, alternative $9.1 billion and multi-asset $4.7 billion. Source
  • Cash management AUM fell: Cash management AUM fell 8% to $80.5 billion from $87.8 billion in the prior quarter. Source

Regions and sales channels

  • International AUM reached a record: Management put international AUM at approximately $525 billion, a record. The sales-region table shows $523.8 billion, up 6% from the prior quarter. Source
  • United States AUM rose 7%: U.S. AUM was $1,267.8 billion, up 7% from $1,187.5 billion in the prior quarter. Source
  • Positive flows across every geography: Management said the company had positive net flows across every asset class and geography during the quarter. Source
  • Americas excluding U.S. AUM edged up: AUM in the Americas excluding the U.S. was $100.4 billion, up 3% from $97.1 billion in the prior quarter. Source

“This activity reflects a broader shift in client demand.”

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

Demand and institutional pipeline

  • Institutional pipeline reached a record: The institutional won-but-unfunded pipeline grew to a record $28.6 billion. Source
  • Investors want integrated solutions: Management said investors increasingly seek partners that offer integrated solutions across public and private assets. Source
  • Momentum across asset classes and geographies: Management said momentum is building across asset classes, investment vehicles and geographies. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Compensation fell slightly on quarter: Compensation and benefits were $958.5 million, down 1% from the prior quarter and up 6% from a year earlier. Sales, distribution and marketing rose 2% to $555.4 million. Source
  • General and administrative costs rose: General, administrative and other expense was $312.8 million, up 67% from $187.6 million in the prior quarter and 70% from a year earlier. The release does not explain the increase. Source
  • Amortization flat on prior quarter: Amortization of intangible assets was $50.7 million, flat on the prior quarter and down from $112.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Intangible impairment recorded: An impairment of intangible assets of $33.0 million was recorded in the quarter, with none in the prior quarter. Source
  • Special termination benefits rose: Special termination benefits were $77.2 million, against $30.2 million in the prior quarter. The company excludes them from adjusted results. Source

Adjusted measures and reconciling items

  • Adjusted operating margin rose: Adjusted operating margin was 28.0%, against 27.1% in the prior quarter and 23.7% a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was $508.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.72: Adjusted net income was $386.3 million and adjusted diluted EPS $0.72, against $384.5 million and $0.71 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Regulatory settlement charge excluded: A $100.0 million charge for significant regulatory settlements was excluded from adjusted results. The company describes such charges as non-recurring. Source
  • Acquisition items excluded for comparability: Acquisition-related items and special termination benefits are excluded from adjusted results, which the company says aids comparison with other asset managers. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Shareholder returns of $521.5 million: The company returned $521.5 million to shareholders in the quarter, including $348.1 million of share repurchases. Source
  • Equity and share count: Stockholders' equity was $12.9 billion, with 507.5 million common shares outstanding at June 30, 2026, compared with 519.6 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Cash and investments reported: Cash and investments were $5.4 billion, or $6.5 billion including direct investments in consolidated investment products. Prior-quarter figures were $5.1 billion and $6.2 billion. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.33: Dividends declared were $0.33 per share, the same as the prior quarter and up from $0.32 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and corporate identity

  • Investing in capabilities and clients: Management said it is investing in new capabilities, deepening client relationships and expanding the platform, while keeping a disciplined approach to capital allocation. Source
  • Balance sheet supports growth plans: Management said the balance sheet gives flexibility to invest in growth and to keep returning capital to shareholders. Source
  • Name reflects a unified organization: Management said the rename reflects the company's evolution into a unified global organization and alignment with the Franklin Templeton brand. Source

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Name change becomes effective: The new name takes effect in August 2026, and management said the ticker BEN continues on the New York Stock Exchange. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ending AUM Source$1,791.6 billion
Long-term net inflows, quarter Source$18.4 billion
Long-term net inflows, fiscal year-to-date Source$63.3 billion
Alternative AUM Source$294.2 billion
Private markets fundraising, quarter Source$10.3 billion
Private markets fundraising, fiscal year-to-date Source$33.0 billion
Institutional won-but-unfunded pipeline Source$28.6 billion
International AUM Sourceapproximately $525 billion

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fiscal year-to-date private markets fundraising exceeds the fiscal year target, with one quarter still to run. 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.