Morgan Stanley Upgrades Franklin Resources (BEN) to Equal Weight

Morgan Stanley upgraded Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) from Underweight to Equal Weight and raised its price target to $31 from $21, according to a report from Insider Monkey on May 24, 2026.

Rating Change

Previously, Morgan Stanley rated BEN as Underweight with a $21 price target. The new rating is Equal Weight with a $31 price target, representing a 47.6% increase from the previous target.

Analyst Rationale

The Morgan Stanley analyst noted that they see early signs of a broader turnaround emerging at Franklin Resources, prompting the upgrade. No further details on the nature of the turnaround were provided in the report.

Context

This upgrade comes as Franklin Resources offers an annual dividend yield of 4.26%, positioning it among high-yield stocks suitable for retirement income. No other analyst rating changes for BEN have been reported recently. The stock's recent performance was not mentioned.

What to Make of It

While the upgrade signals a more positive outlook from Morgan Stanley, the Equal Weight rating suggests the analyst expects the stock to perform in line with the broader market. Investors should conduct their own due diligence before making investment decisions.