We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Will High Equity Markets Drive Franklin's (BEN) Q4 Earnings?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, before the opening bell on Oct 25. The company’s results are projected to reflect year-over-year fall in earnings and revenues.
In the last reported quarter, Franklin’s results came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Lower revenues and reduced assets under management (AUM) were recorded. Moreover, elevated operating expenses were a headwind. Net outflows were also an undermining factor. However, steady capital deployment was a positive.
Further, Franklin recorded positive earnings surprise in three out of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 6.72%.
Nevertheless, activities of the company in the fiscal fourth quarter were inadequate to win analysts’ confidence. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 74 remained unchanged over the last seven days. Also, the figure reflects year-over-year fall of 2.6%.
Earnings Whispers
According to our proven model, we cannot conclusively predict if Franklin will likely beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this time. That’s because it doesn’t have the right combination of the two key ingredients — positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better — to increase the odds of an earnings beat.
You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.68%. This is a major indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise for the company.
Zacks Rank: Franklin’s Zacks Rank of 5 (Sell) decreases the predictive power of ESP.
It should be noted that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.
Factors to Influence Q4 Results
Strong Market Performance: Performance of equity markets remained decent during the Jul-Sep quarter. The S&P 500 Index gained nearly 15.7% year over year and 7.2% sequentially in the quarter. Moreover, the index measuring international equity performance — the MSCI EAFE — climbed around 2.3% year over year and 1.8% sequentially. This is anticipated to likely benefit the California-based asset manager to a large extent.
Lower AUM: Given Franklin’s AUM disclosure for September 2018 and unfavorable foreign currency fluctuations, its results are predicted to display lower AUM, on a sequential basis. In addition, the company is expected to record outflows mainly tied with U.S. and non-U.S. mutual funds. Nevertheless, decent equity markets performance can be a tailwind.
Per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, total AUM for the to-be-reported quarter is expected to edge down to $721 million sequentially.
Revenues to Disappoint: Investment management fees, which mark a significant portion of the company’s revenues, might reflect a dip in the fourth quarter. The consensus estimate for investment management fees of $1.1 billion indicates nearly 2.7% year-over-year decline. Furthermore, sales and distribution fees are projected to be down 7.1% year over year to $392 million in the quarter to be reported.
Overall, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues of $1.6 billion indicates a year-over-year fall of 4.4%.
Controlled Expenses: Management remains focused on effective cost control. While potential investments on the technology front may escalate expenses in fiscal 2018 (6.5-7.5%), previous cost-cutting initiatives are likely to infuse optimism.
Other Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some stocks you may want to consider, as according to our model these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.07% and carries a Zacks Rank of 3. It is slated to report earnings on Oct 25.
SVB Financial Group has an Earnings ESP of +1.22% and sports a Zacks Rank #1. It is set to report its quarterly numbers on Oct 25.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
Image: Bigstock
Will High Equity Markets Drive Franklin's (BEN) Q4 Earnings?
Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, before the opening bell on Oct 25. The company’s results are projected to reflect year-over-year fall in earnings and revenues.
In the last reported quarter, Franklin’s results came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Lower revenues and reduced assets under management (AUM) were recorded. Moreover, elevated operating expenses were a headwind. Net outflows were also an undermining factor. However, steady capital deployment was a positive.
Further, Franklin recorded positive earnings surprise in three out of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 6.72%.
Nevertheless, activities of the company in the fiscal fourth quarter were inadequate to win analysts’ confidence. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 74 remained unchanged over the last seven days. Also, the figure reflects year-over-year fall of 2.6%.
Earnings Whispers
According to our proven model, we cannot conclusively predict if Franklin will likely beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this time. That’s because it doesn’t have the right combination of the two key ingredients — positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better — to increase the odds of an earnings beat.
You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.68%. This is a major indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise for the company.
Zacks Rank: Franklin’s Zacks Rank of 5 (Sell) decreases the predictive power of ESP.
It should be noted that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.
Factors to Influence Q4 Results
Strong Market Performance: Performance of equity markets remained decent during the Jul-Sep quarter. The S&P 500 Index gained nearly 15.7% year over year and 7.2% sequentially in the quarter. Moreover, the index measuring international equity performance — the MSCI EAFE — climbed around 2.3% year over year and 1.8% sequentially. This is anticipated to likely benefit the California-based asset manager to a large extent.
Lower AUM: Given Franklin’s AUM disclosure for September 2018 and unfavorable foreign currency fluctuations, its results are predicted to display lower AUM, on a sequential basis. In addition, the company is expected to record outflows mainly tied with U.S. and non-U.S. mutual funds. Nevertheless, decent equity markets performance can be a tailwind.
Per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, total AUM for the to-be-reported quarter is expected to edge down to $721 million sequentially.
Revenues to Disappoint: Investment management fees, which mark a significant portion of the company’s revenues, might reflect a dip in the fourth quarter. The consensus estimate for investment management fees of $1.1 billion indicates nearly 2.7% year-over-year decline. Furthermore, sales and distribution fees are projected to be down 7.1% year over year to $392 million in the quarter to be reported.
Overall, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues of $1.6 billion indicates a year-over-year fall of 4.4%.
Controlled Expenses: Management remains focused on effective cost control. While potential investments on the technology front may escalate expenses in fiscal 2018 (6.5-7.5%), previous cost-cutting initiatives are likely to infuse optimism.
Other Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some stocks you may want to consider, as according to our model these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter.
The Earnings ESP for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) is +0.78% and the stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is scheduled to release third-quarter results on Oct 25. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.07% and carries a Zacks Rank of 3. It is slated to report earnings on Oct 25.
SVB Financial Group has an Earnings ESP of +1.22% and sports a Zacks Rank #1. It is set to report its quarterly numbers on Oct 25.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>