Franklin Resources, Inc. vs 22nd Century Group Inc — how do they compare? Franklin Resources, Inc. trades at $33.72 (market cap $17.22B), while 22nd Century Group Inc trades at $4.27 (market cap $1.45M). The key difference: Franklin Resources, Inc. is far larger — about 11875.9× 22nd Century Group Inc's market cap, and Franklin Resources, Inc. pays a 3.98% dividend while 22nd Century Group Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BEN | XXII | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.22B | $1.45M |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $34.44 | $1.47K |
52-Week Low | $21.18 | $3.90 |
Enterprise Value | $29.05B | -$6.78M |
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.
XXII trades at $4.10, down 3.07% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows severe financial distress with a negative gross profit margin of -52.19% and net income margin of -65.76% for 2025. Recent news highlights expansion of VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes in California and New York, aiming to capture market share. A 20:1 reverse stock split occurred on June 12, 2026, to adjust share structure.
The outlook remains high-risk due to persistent losses and cash burn, though analyst consensus is 75% buy-rated. Investment opportunity hinges on successful commercialization of VLN products and FDA regulatory renewals. Key risks include execution challenges, intense competition, and reliance on financing to sustain operations amid negative cash flow from operations.
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 →22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company that uses genetic engineering and gene editing to control the levels of nicotine in tobacco plants. Its flagship product line, VLN®, is the first and only combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes to help adult smokers smoke less.
Read more on XXII →