Compare Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Franklin Resources, Inc. vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Franklin Resources, Inc. trades at $33.96 (market cap $17.22B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.52 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 17.3× Franklin Resources, Inc.'s market cap, and Franklin Resources, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.98%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BEN | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.22B | $298.31B |
Sector | Financials | Health |
52-Week High | $34.44 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $21.18 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $29.05B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 3.98% | 2.82% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
Merck (MRK) trades at $124.34, showing modest daily gains of 0.25% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company maintains strong profitability with 73.91% gross margins and has beaten earnings expectations in recent quarters. Recent acquisition activity, including the Terns Pharmaceuticals deal announced April 7, 2026, demonstrates strategic pipeline expansion in oncology.
Merck presents a compelling investment case with analyst consensus favoring bullish sentiment (67.57% buy ratings) and a $137.30 price target offering ~10% upside. However, rising debt levels and projected 2026 earnings decline warrant caution. The stock's premium valuation at 34x P/E requires sustained execution to justify current pricing.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Franklin Resources, Inc.
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 →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
