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BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Asset Management
Asset Management
Asset Management
BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management | Asset Management | Asset Management |
| Market Cap | $15.86B | $949M | $11.92B | $22.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.77B | $831M | $6.38B | $7.31B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $812M | $138M | $-243M | $2.09B |
| Gross Margin | 80.3% | 74.9% | 43.2% | 62.7% |
| Operating Margin | 6.9% | 17.4% | -10.9% | 29.9% |
| Forward P/E | 11.2x | 5.5x | 10.4x | 11.2x |
| Total Debt | $13.30B | $2.84B | $10.12B | $860M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.57B | $477M | $1.98B | $3.38B |
BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Resources,… (BEN) | 100 | 161.8 | +61.8% |
| Virtus Investment P… (VRTS) | 100 | 152.5 | +52.5% |
| Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) | 100 | 336.6 | +236.6% |
| T. Rowe Price Group… (TROW) | 100 | 85.7 | -14.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BEN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 3.5%, EPS growth 7.1%
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 6.6%
- 142.6% 10Y total return vs TROW's 93.6%
- Beta 1.14, yield 6.6%, current ratio 3.80x
- Lower P/E (5.5x vs 11.2x)
IVZ is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth and momentum is your priority.
- 5.1% NII/revenue growth vs VRTS's -8.0%
- +93.1% vs VRTS's -5.5%
TROW is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and bank quality.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.18, Low D/E 7.1%, current ratio 73.08x
- NIM 3.4% vs VRTS's 0.9%
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BEN's 0.7% (lower = leaner)
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BEN's 0.7%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5.1% NII/revenue growth vs VRTS's -8.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (5.5x vs 11.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BEN's 0.7% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.14 vs IVZ's 1.67 | |
| Dividends | 6.6% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs BEN's 4.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +93.1% vs VRTS's -5.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BEN's 0.7% |
BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
IVZ leads in 2 of 6 categories
TROW leads 1 • VRTS leads 1 • BEN leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — BEN and TROW each lead in 2 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. TROW is the more profitable business, keeping 28.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IVZ's -4.4%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.8B | $831M | $6.4B | $7.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $205M | $1.2B | $2.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $812M | $138M | -$243M | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $938M | -$67M | $1.9B | $2.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.3% | +74.9% | +43.2% | +62.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +17.4% | -10.9% | +29.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +16.7% | -4.4% | +28.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | -8.9% | +22.6% | +20.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +10.9% | +34.2% | +3.7% |
Valuation Metrics
IVZ leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.1x trailing earnings, VRTS trades at a 79% valuation discount to BEN's 33.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TROW's 7.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BEN's 22.5x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.9B | $949M | $11.9B | $22.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.6B | $3.3B | $20.1B | $20.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.54x | 7.10x | -16.77x | 11.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.21x | 5.55x | 10.44x | 11.22x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.48x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.53x | 16.20x | 16.34x | 7.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.81x | 1.14x | 1.87x | 3.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.11x | 0.95x | 0.94x | 1.92x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.40x | — | 8.27x | 15.24x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TROW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TROW delivers a 17.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $-2 for IVZ. TROW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x 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 TROW's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.6% | +13.5% | -1.7% | +17.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.5% | +3.6% | -0.9% | +14.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.6% | +3.0% | -2.3% | +13.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.0% | +3.7% | -2.6% | +15.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.94x | 2.74x | 0.78x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.7B | $2.4B | $8.1B | -$2.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $477M | $2.0B | $3.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13.3B | $2.8B | $10.1B | $860M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.19x | 2.15x | -6.19x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IVZ leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IVZ five years ago would be worth $10,825 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,496 for VRTS. Over the past 12 months, IVZ leads with a +93.1% total return vs VRTS's -5.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IVZ at 21.6% vs VRTS's 0.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +29.6% | -9.8% | +0.4% | +0.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.5% | -5.5% | +93.1% | +18.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +35.3% | +0.1% | +79.8% | +11.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.4% | -35.0% | +8.2% | -30.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.5% | +142.6% | +22.1% | +93.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.6% | +0.0% | +21.6% | +3.7% |
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 IVZ's 1.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEN currently trades 97.1% from its 52-week high vs VRTS's 65.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.31x | 1.14x | 1.67x | 1.18x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.44 | $215.06 | $29.61 | $118.22 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.08 | $121.61 | $14.10 | $85.51 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.1% | +65.9% | +90.6% | +87.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 78.4 | 55.4 | 69.4 | 78.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.1M | 101K | 5.1M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
VRTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: BEN as "Hold", VRTS as "Hold", IVZ as "Hold", TROW as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 15.0% upside for VRTS (target: $163) vs -5.8% for BEN (target: $29). For income investors, VRTS offers the higher dividend yield at 6.58% vs IVZ's 3.10%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.75 | $163.00 | $29.72 | $101.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 11 | 28 | 38 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.3% | +6.6% | +3.1% | +4.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.33 | $9.32 | $0.83 | $5.11 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +6.3% | +15.6% | +2.8% |
IVZ leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). TROW leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
BEN vs VRTS vs IVZ vs TROW: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BEN or VRTS or IVZ or TROW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Invesco Ltd.
(IVZ) is the stronger pick with 5. 1% 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. 1x trailing P/E (5. 5x 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 or IVZ or TROW?
On trailing P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the cheapest at 7. 1x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BEN or VRTS or IVZ or TROW?
Over the past 5 years, Invesco Ltd.
(IVZ) delivered a total return of +8. 2%, compared to -35. 0% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTS returned +142. 6% versus IVZ's +22. 1%. 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 or IVZ or TROW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus Invesco Ltd. 's 1. 67β — meaning IVZ is approximately 47% more volatile than VRTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 3% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BEN or VRTS or IVZ or TROW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Invesco Ltd.
(IVZ) is pulling ahead at 5. 1% 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 -235. 6% for Invesco Ltd.. 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 or IVZ or TROW?
T.
Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 5% net margin versus -4. 4% for Invesco Ltd. — meaning it keeps 28. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TROW leads at 29. 9% versus -10. 9% for IVZ. 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 or IVZ or TROW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
(VRTS) trades at 5. 5x forward P/E versus 11. 2x for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VRTS: 15. 0% to $163. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BEN or VRTS or IVZ or TROW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the highest yield at 6. 6%, versus 3. 1% for Invesco Ltd. (IVZ).
09Is BEN or VRTS or IVZ or TROW 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. 6% yield, +142. 6% 10Y return). Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRTS: +142. 6%, IVZ: +22. 1%), 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 and IVZ and TROW?
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; IVZ is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; TROW is a mid-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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