Franklin Resources, Inc. vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Franklin Resources, Inc. trades at $33.24 (market cap $17.06B), while Unilever plc trades at $60.35 (market cap $130.28B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 7.6× Franklin Resources, Inc.'s market cap, and Franklin Resources, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.02%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BEN | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.06B | $130.28B |
Sector | Financials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $34.44 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $21.18 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $28.88B | $155.73B |
Dividend Yield | 4.02% | 3.71% |
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.
Unilever (UL) trades at $61.48, down 0.39% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The company reported $60.76B in 2024 revenue but missed Q1 and Q2 2025 EPS estimates. Recent news highlights strategic moves including a potential bid for Thorne and a $270M innovation center investment. The stock shows strong profitability with a 18.75% net margin and 53.32% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 20.84 suggest fair pricing amid mixed analyst sentiment.
Outlook remains cautious with near-term earnings misses offset by long-term growth initiatives. Investment appeal hinges on successful integration of acquisitions and margin improvement. Key risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility. Analysts are divided with 24% buy ratings, reflecting balanced risk-reward at current levels.
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 →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →