NTRS vs BEN

For growth investors, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) is the stronger pick with 3. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 9% for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS). Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) offers the better valuation at 18. 7x trailing P/E (15. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) a "Hold" — based on 35 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, Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is the cheapest at 18.

7x versus Franklin Resources, Inc. at 34. 2x. On forward P/E, Franklin Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) delivered a total return of +50.

0%, compared to +9. 7% for Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTRS returned +173. 7% 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), Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

14β versus Franklin Resources, Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning BEN is approximately 15% more volatile than NTRS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 127% for Northern Trust Corporation — 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 -9. 9% for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Franklin Resources, Inc. grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -10. 5% for Northern Trust Corporation. 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.

Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

1% net margin versus 6. 0% for Franklin Resources, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NTRS leads at 16. 3% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Franklin Resources, Inc.

(BEN) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 15. 1x for Northern Trust Corporation — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTRS: -5. 8% to $153. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 1. 9% for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

14), 1. 9% yield, +173. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTRS: +173. 7%, 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.

In terms of investment character: NTRS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BEN is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.