Franklin Resources, Inc. vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Franklin Resources, Inc. trades at $33.68 (market cap $17.22B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $219.7 (market cap $23.70B). The key difference: First Solar, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Franklin Resources, Inc. pays a 3.98% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BEN | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.22B | $23.70B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $34.44 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $21.18 | $166.82 |
Enterprise Value | $29.05B | $21.86B |
Dividend Yield | 3.98% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Franklin Resources (BEN) trades at $32.83, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages despite bearish oscillators. The company shows steady revenue growth to $8.77B in 2025 and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights dividend sustainability and AUM growth to $1.79 trillion in June 2026, while analyst consensus leans neutral with a $34.67 price target.
BEN presents a mixed outlook with strong dividend appeal and earnings momentum offset by modest profitability metrics (ROE 2.08%) and negative cash flow trends. Near-term catalysts include Q3 earnings on July 31, 2026, but investors face risks from competitive pressures and market-sensitive AUM fluctuations. The stock trades at a reasonable P/E of 25.06 with upside to consensus target.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $221.03, down 2.98% on the day, amid bearish technical signals and multiple class-action lawsuit announcements. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.28, net income margin of 30.73%, and robust cash flow growth, but recent earnings misses and legal overhangs weigh on sentiment. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $275.17 price target, highlighting a disconnect between near-term headwinds and long-term growth prospects in the solar energy sector.
The outlook for FSLR balances solid financial health and analyst optimism against significant litigation risks and technical weakness. Investment opportunity lies in its profitability and sector tailwinds, but investors face volatility from legal proceedings and market sentiment pressures. Careful monitoring of lawsuit developments and quarterly earnings is essential for navigating the stock's near-term trajectory.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Franklin Resources provides investment services for individual and institutional investors. At the end of August 2022, Franklin had $1.388 trillion in managed assets, composed primarily of equity (32%), fixed-income (38%), multi-asset/balanced (10%) funds, alternatives (16%), and money market funds (4%). Distribution tends to be weighted more toward retail investors (49% of AUM) investors, as opposed to institutional (49%) and high-net-worth (2%) clients. Franklin is also one of the more global firms of the U.S.-based asset managers with more than 35% of its AUM invested in global/international strategies and 25% of managed assets sourced from clients domiciled outside the United States.
Read more on BEN →First Solar designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic panels, modules, and systems for use in utility-scale development projects. The company's solar modules use cadmium telluride to convert sunlight into electricity. This is commonly called thin-film technology. First Solar is the world's largest thin-film solar module manufacturer. It has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and a new factory under construction in India.
Read more on FSLR →