Form 4: Franklin Resources CEO Reports Planned Share Gifts

Franklin Resources CEO Jennifer M. Johnson filed a Form 4 detailing planned future gift transactions of company common stock effective January 5, 2026.

Summary

• Jennifer M. Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN), filed a Form 4.
• The filing reports planned transactions involving the company's common stock, par value $0.10, scheduled for January 5, 2026.
• Johnson plans to dispose of 6,272 shares of common stock via gift from her direct holdings. These shares are noted as reflecting prior gifted shares by the Reporting Person.
• Johnson also plans to acquire 3,920 shares of common stock via gift, which will be held indirectly by her children or as trustee for her children.
• These transactions are made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) contract, instruction, or written plan.
• Following these reported transactions, Johnson will directly own 3,324,184.0046 shares.
• Indirect holdings include 605,929 shares held by children or as trustee for children (beneficial ownership disclaimed), 2,642.5854 shares in the Franklin Templeton 401(k) Retirement Plan (as of October 10, 2025), 2,637,700 shares in a business limited partnership under her control, and 216,900 shares in a venture limited partnership (beneficial ownership disclaimed for the portion held by children's trusts).

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports routine, pre-planned gift transactions by the CEO, which are common for executives managing personal wealth and estate planning. It does not indicate any significant positive or negative operational or financial news for the company.

Positives

• The transactions are pre-planned under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating a structured and compliant approach to managing personal equity holdings.
• The gifting of shares to children represents a strategic approach to family wealth transfer and estate planning.

Negatives

• A net reduction of 2,352 shares from the reporting person's direct holdings (6,272 disposed 3,920 acquired indirectly for children) could be perceived as a minor decrease in direct exposure, although overall family holdings remain substantial.

Future Outlook

The filing indicates planned future transactions on January 5, 2026, suggesting a pre-determined strategy for managing personal equity holdings under a Rule 10b5-1 plan.

Industry Context

This is a routine insider transaction report, common for executives managing their personal equity portfolios, often for estate planning or diversification. It does not directly reflect broader industry trends but is a standard disclosure for a public company CEO.

Related Party Transactions

• The gifting of shares to children constitutes a related party transaction, as detailed in the indirect ownership section.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Minimal direct impact. The transactions are personal and pre-planned, not indicative of company performance. A slight net reduction in direct holdings by the CEO might be noted but is unlikely to be material.
• Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Creditors: No direct impact.

Next Steps

• The reported transactions are scheduled to occur on January 5, 2026.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 details routine, pre-planned gift transactions by the CEO for personal wealth management and estate planning purposes. It does not provide new information regarding the company's operational performance, financial health, or strategic direction that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. The transactions are not indicative of a change in management's confidence in the company.

Keywords

Franklin Resources, BEN, Jennifer M. Johnson, Form 4, SEC filing, beneficial ownership, stock gift, 10b5-1 plan, insider transaction, CEO, director