Franklin Resources, Inc. vs iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF — how do they compare? Franklin Resources, Inc. trades at $33.37 (market cap $17.03B), while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF trades at $100.75. The key difference: Franklin Resources, Inc. pays a 3.94% dividend while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF pays none, and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Franklin Resources, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BEN | IEFA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.03B | — |
Sector | Financials | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $35.77 | $101.09 |
52-Week Low | $21.18 | $84.72 |
Enterprise Value | $29.98B | — |
Dividend Yield | 3.94% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Franklin Resources (BEN) trades at $33.77, down 0.68% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $36.50. The company reported record AUM of $1.80 trillion as of July 31, 2026 (Business Wire, 2026-08-05), and has beaten EPS estimates for the last three quarters, with Q3 2026 results showing strong net inflows and margin expansion. Revenue for 2025 was $8.77 billion, with net income of $524.90 million.
The outlook is positive, driven by earnings beats, AUM growth, and diversification into private markets, but risks include inconsistent cash flow trends and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 59% hold ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid execution risks.
IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) trades at $101.09, up 1.1% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The fund provides exposure to developed international markets excluding the US and Canada, with a competitive 0.07% expense ratio and 3.30% dividend yield. Recent news highlights its role in diversification strategies amid S&P 500 concentration concerns.
The outlook remains positive given international diversification benefits and potential Fed rate cut catalysts. Key risks include developed market monetary policy shifts and currency fluctuations. Analyst sentiment favors IEFA for its cost efficiency and income generation, though emerging market alternatives offer different growth profiles.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index, offering broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks in developed markets across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It serves as a low-cost core holding for international diversification, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Read more on IEFA →