GROW vs BEN

For growth investors, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is the stronger pick with 3. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the better valuation at 34. 2x trailing P/E (11. 4x 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.

Over the past 5 years, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) delivered a total return of +9. 7%, compared to -57. 4% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GROW returned +64. 9% 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), U.

S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 71β versus Franklin Resources, Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning BEN is approximately 85% more volatile than GROW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 94% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is pulling ahead at 3. 5% versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Franklin Resources, Inc. grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -126. 6% for U. S. Global Investors, 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.

Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 0% net margin versus -4. 0% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BEN leads at 6. 9% versus -35. 3% for GROW. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 3. 5% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, U.

S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 71), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GROW: +64. 9%, 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.

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.

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.