MGRE vs BEN

For growth investors, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MGRE) offers the better valuation at 1. 1x trailing P/E (0. 7x 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.

On trailing P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) is the cheapest at 1. 1x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) delivered a total return of +9. 7%, compared to +7. 6% for Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MGRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEN returned +24. 7% versus MGRE's +7. 6%. 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), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 79β versus Franklin Resources, Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning BEN is approximately 66% more volatile than MGRE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MGRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 94% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus 3. 5% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. grew EPS 50. 3% 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.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus 6. 0% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MGRE leads at 31. 8% versus 6. 9% for BEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MGRE leads at 86. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

(MGRE) trades at 0. 7x forward P/E versus 11. 4x for Franklin Resources, Inc. — 10. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 0. 1% for Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MGRE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BEN: +24. 7%, MGRE: +7. 6%), 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.

In terms of investment character: MGRE is a small-cap high-growth stock; BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. BEN pays a dividend while MGRE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.