Franklin Resources, commonly known as Franklin Templeton, said its second-quarter profit climbed as substantial client inflows bolstered fee income. The inflows translated into higher assets under management, which in turn supported stronger investment management revenues for the quarter.
Quarterly figures
The firm reported assets under management of $1.68 trillion at the end of the second quarter, representing a 9% increase from the same point last year. Long-term net inflows were positive at $16.9 billion, reversing a net outflow of $26.2 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Investment management fees - the largest component of the company’s operating revenue - rose 9% in the quarter to $1.82 billion. That expansion in fee revenue reflects the higher base of assets under management driven by net inflows.
Earnings and per-share results
On an adjusted basis that excludes one-time costs, Franklin Resources reported earnings of $384.5 million, or $0.71 per share, for the quarter. That compares with adjusted earnings of $254.4 million, or $0.47 per share, in the same quarter a year earlier.
Why inflows matter
Net new money increases the asset base that managers oversee and thus supports recurring fee income even in periods of market weakness or volatility. The company’s reported results illustrate how positive flows into long-term products can lift a manager’s recurring revenue streams and underlying profitability.
Context and scope
The quarterly update highlights the direct link between net inflows, assets under management and investment management fees. The figures reported are limited to the specific metrics disclosed - AUM, long-term net inflows, investment management fees and adjusted earnings - and do not include other details beyond those items.
Takeaway
Franklin Templeton’s second-quarter performance was driven by a return to positive long-term net inflows, a higher overall asset base and a corresponding increase in fee revenue, which helped lift adjusted quarterly profit compared with the prior-year period.