BEN
Franklin Resources, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$16.19B
5Y Perf.+65.1%
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Stock Comparison
BEN vs VRTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VRTS
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
Asset Management
Market Cap$960M
5Y Perf.+54.2%
BEN vs VRTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BEN | VRTS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $16.19B | $960M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.77B | $831M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $812M | $138M |
| Gross Margin | 80.3% | 74.9% |
| Operating Margin | 6.9% | 17.4% |
| Forward P/E | 11.4x | 5.6x |
| Total Debt | $13.30B | $2.84B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.57B | $477M |
BEN vs VRTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BEN
VRTS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Resources,… (BEN) | 100 | 165.1 | +65.1% |
| Virtus Investment P… (VRTS) | 100 | 154.2 | +54.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BEN vs VRTS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VRTS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Franklin Resources, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BEN
Franklin Resources, Inc.
The Banking Pick
BEN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 3.5%, EPS growth 7.1%
- 3.5% NII/revenue growth vs VRTS's -8.0%
- +61.7% vs VRTS's -4.2%
Best for: growth exposure
VRTS
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
The Banking Pick
VRTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 1.14, yield 6.5%
- 159.1% 10Y total return vs BEN's 24.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.14, current ratio 3.80x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BEN | 3.5% NII/revenue growth vs VRTS's -8.0% |
| Value | VRTS | Lower P/E (5.6x vs 11.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | VRTS | Efficiency ratio 0.6% vs BEN's 0.7% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | VRTS | Beta 1.14 vs BEN's 1.31 |
| Dividends | VRTS | 6.5% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs BEN's 4.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BEN | +61.7% vs VRTS's -4.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VRTS | Efficiency ratio 0.6% vs BEN's 0.7% |
BEN vs VRTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
BEN vs VRTS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLVRTSLAGGINGBEN
BENFranklin Resources, I…
2leads
VRTSVirtus Investment Par…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BENMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
BEN3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
VRTS5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VRTS6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BEN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
VRTS2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BEN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BEN is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.8B annually — 10.6x VRTS's $831M. VRTS is the more profitable business, keeping 16.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BEN's 6.0%.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.8B | $831M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $205M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $812M | $138M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $938M | -$67M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.3% | +74.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +16.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | -8.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +10.9% |
BEN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
VRTS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.2x trailing earnings, VRTS trades at a 79% valuation discount to BEN's 34.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, VRTS's 16.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BEN's 22.8x.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $16.2B | $960M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.9B | $3.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.24x | 7.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.45x | 5.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.49x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.82x | 16.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.85x | 1.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.13x | 0.96x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.76x | — |
VRTS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VRTS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VRTS delivers a 13.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $6 for BEN. BEN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.94x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VRTS's 2.74x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEN scores 6/9 vs VRTS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.6% | +13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.5% | +3.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.6% | +3.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.0% | +3.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.94x | 2.74x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.7B | $2.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $477M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13.3B | $2.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.19x | 2.15x |
VRTS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BEN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BEN five years ago would be worth $10,965 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,525 for VRTS. Over the past 12 months, BEN leads with a +61.7% total return vs VRTS's -4.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BEN at 11.3% vs VRTS's 0.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.3% | -8.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +61.7% | -4.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.8% | +1.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.7% | -34.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.7% | +159.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.3% | +0.4% |
BEN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BEN and VRTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VRTS is the less volatile stock with a 1.14 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEN's 1.31 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEN currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs VRTS's 66.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.31x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.44 | $215.06 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.79 | $121.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +66.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 75.9 | 55.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.1M | 100K |
Evenly matched — BEN and VRTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
VRTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BEN as "Hold" and VRTS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 13.7% upside for VRTS (target: $163) vs -7.7% for BEN (target: $29). For income investors, VRTS offers the higher dividend yield at 6.50% vs BEN's 4.26%.
| Metric | BENFranklin Resource… | VRTSVirtus Investment… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.75 | $163.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.3% | +6.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 7 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.33 | $9.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +6.2% |
VRTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
VRTS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BEN leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallVirtus Investment Partners,… (VRTS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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BEN vs VRTS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BEN or VRTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Franklin Resources, Inc.
(BEN) is the stronger pick with 3. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the better valuation at 7. 2x trailing P/E (5. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) a "Hold" — based on 27 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — BEN or VRTS?
On trailing P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the cheapest at 7. 2x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BEN or VRTS?
Over the past 5 years, Franklin Resources, Inc.
(BEN) delivered a total return of +9. 7%, compared to -34. 8% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTS returned +159. 1% versus BEN's +24. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — BEN or VRTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus Franklin Resources, Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning BEN is approximately 15% more volatile than VRTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 3% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BEN or VRTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Franklin Resources, Inc.
(BEN) is pulling ahead at 3. 5% versus -8. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. grew EPS 18. 2% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Franklin Resources, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — BEN or VRTS?
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 7% net margin versus 6. 0% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRTS leads at 17. 4% versus 6. 9% for BEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEN leads at 80. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is BEN or VRTS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) trades at 5. 6x forward P/E versus 11. 4x for Franklin Resources, Inc. — 5. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VRTS: 13. 7% to $163. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BEN or VRTS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the highest yield at 6. 5%, versus 4. 3% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN).
09Is BEN or VRTS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 14), 6. 5% yield, +159. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRTS: +159. 1%, BEN: +24. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between BEN and VRTS?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; VRTS is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(BEN: 3.5% · VRTS: -8.0%)Net Margin>
%
(BEN: 6.0% · VRTS: 16.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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