AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm is a related adviser The firm manages separate client focused portfolios for its clients. The firm primarily invests in common and preferred stocks, warrants and convertible securities, government and corporate fxed-income securities, commodities, currencies, real estate-related assets and infation-protected securities. The firm employs quantitative analysis along with long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading, short sales, margin transactions, option strategies including writing covered options, uncovered options and spread strategies to make its investments. The firm obtains external research to complement its in-house research. The firm was formerly known as Alliance Capital Management Holding LP. AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. was founded in 1967 and is based in Nashville,Tennessee.

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.

Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.64 trillion as of Aug. 31, 2025, which increased 1.7% from the prior month.
The increase in the AUM balance was due to the positive impact of markets, which was partially offset by preliminary long-term net outflows of $3 billion, including the funding of a $6 billion fixed income mandate. The figure also reflects $7 billion long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management.
Breakdown of BEN's August AUM Based on Asset Class
Franklin recorded equity assets of $673 billion, which increased 1.6% from the previous month. The fixed income AUM of $442.7 billion at the end of August 2025 increased marginally from the prior month. Alternative AUM also increased slightly from the prior month to $260.9 billion.
Multi-asset AUM was $189.6 billion, up 2.6% from July 2025. Additionally, the cash management balance was $78.7 billion, up 9.3% from the previous month.
Our Viewpoint on Franklin
August showed improvement for BEN, with total AUM growth driven by positive markets despite net outflows. The modest gains across equity, multi-asset, alternative, and cash management segments highlight steady progress. Further, Franklin’s inorganic expansion efforts continue to support its financials.
BEN's Price Performance and Zacks Rank
Over the past six months, BEN shares have gained 24.7% compared with the industry’s growth of 15.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Franklin currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stocks to Consider
Two stocks, ALLIANCE CAP MANAGEMENT L.P. AB and Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. VCTR, will announce their monthly performances in the upcoming days.
AB shares have risen 5.6% in the past six months, while VCTR shares have gained 15.2% during the same period.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
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Franklin's August AUM Rises on Market Gains Despite Outflows

Investors looking for stocks in the Financial - Investment Management sector might want to consider either AllianceBernstein (AB) or BlackRock (BLK). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
AllianceBernstein and BlackRock are sporting Zacks Ranks of #1 (Strong Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that AB has an improving earnings outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
AB currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.96, while BLK has a forward P/E of 23.77. We also note that AB has a PEG ratio of 1.50. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. BLK currently has a PEG ratio of 2.16.
Another notable valuation metric for AB is its P/B ratio of 2.22. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BLK has a P/B of 3.55.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to AB's Value grade of B and BLK's Value grade of F.
AB sticks out from BLK in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that AB is the better option right now.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
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BlackRock (BLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

AB vs. BLK: Which Stock Should Value Investors Buy Now?

Lazard, Inc. LAZ reported a preliminary asset under management (AUM) balance of $253.7 billion as of July 31, 2025, reflecting an increase of 2.1% from June 30, 2025.
The AUM was affected by net inflows of $4.5 billion and market appreciation of $3.9 billion, partly offset by foreign exchange depreciation of $3.2 billion.
LAZ's July AUM Breakdown
In July, Lazard’s equity assets increased 3.4% from the prior month’s level to $198.8 billion. Further, other assets decreased 1.7% from the previous month's level to $8.9 billion.
Fixed-income assets decreased 2.3% sequentially to $45.9 billion.
Our Take on Lazard
The company’s high reliance on financial advisory fees for most of its revenues is likely to affect top-line growth to some extent. Nevertheless, the cost-management efforts are expected to aid the company’s bottom line in the near term.
LAZ’s Price Performance & Zacks Rank
Over the past year, shares of Lazard have risen 6.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 19.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Performance of Other Asset Managers
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. AB has announced AUM for July 2025. The company’s preliminary month-end AUM remained unchanged at $829 billion compared with June 2025-end.
This flat figure of AB was due to market gains being offset by net outflows during the month. These outflows were primarily from institutions, with approximately $4 billion linked to the completion of the EQH-RGA reinsurance transaction.
Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN reported its preliminary AUM of $1.62 trillion as of July 31, 2025, which increased slightly from the prior month.
The increase in BEN’s AUM balance was due to the positive impact of markets and flat preliminary long-term net inflows, inclusive of $3 billion of long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management.
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7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
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Lazard's July AUM Rises 2.1% on Net Inflows & Market Gains

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. AB has announced assets under management (AUM) for July 2025. The company’s preliminary month-end AUM remained unchanged at $829 billion compared with June 2025-end.
The flat figure was due to market gains being offset by net outflows during the month. These outflows were primarily from institutions, with approximately $4 billion linked to the completion of the EQH-RGA reinsurance transaction.
AB’s July Performance Breakdown
At the end of July, AllianceBernstein’s Equity AUM rose nearly 1% to $347 billion on a sequential basis. Alternatives/Multi-Asset Solutions AUM (including certain multi-asset services and solutions) was up 1.1% to $183 billion. Fixed Income AUM of $299 billion was down 1.6% from the end of July 2025.
In terms of channel, the July month-end Institutions' AUM of $337 billion dipped nearly 1% from the previous month. Private Wealth AUM increased 1.4% sequentially to $146 billion. Retail AUM was $346 billion, up slightly from June-end.
AllianceBernstein’s global reach and solid AUM balance are likely to aid top-line growth. However, rising operating costs and a challenging operating backdrop are near-term concerns.
AB's Price Performance and Zacks Rank
In the past six months, shares of AB have gained 10.6% outperforming the industry's growth of 1.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, AB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Performance of AB’s Peers
Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN reported its preliminary AUM of $1.62 trillion as of July 31, 2025, which increased slightly from the prior month.
The increase in BEN’s AUM balance was due to the positive impact of markets and flat preliminary long-term net inflows, inclusive of $3 billion of long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management.
Invesco IVZ also released its preliminary AUM for July 2025. The company’s AUM of $2,024.5 billion as of July 31, 2025, increased 1.2% from the previous month.
IVZ’s AUM was impacted by favorable market returns, resulting in a $22 billion increase in the metric. However, FX decreased the AUM balance by $8.5 billion.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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AllianceBernstein's July AUM Remain Stable on Upbeat Markets

The NASDAQ 100 After Hours Indicator is up 22.21 to 23,378.48. The total After hours volume is currently 204,985,377 shares traded.
The following are the most active stocks for the after hours session:
Snap Inc. (SNAP) is +0.02 at $9.71, with 19,839,008 shares traded. SNAP's current last sale is 97.1% of the target price of $10.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) is unchanged at $20.88, with 7,695,273 shares traded. HPE's current last sale is 87% of the target price of $24.
EQT Corporation (EQT) is unchanged at $51.91, with 5,921,704 shares traded. Over the last four weeks they have had 4 up revisions for the earnings forecast, for the fiscal quarter ending Mar 2026. The consensus EPS forecast is $1.82. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for EQT is in the "buy range".
Infosys Limited (INFY) is unchanged at $17.16, with 1,883,888 shares traded. INFY's current last sale is 89.28% of the target price of $19.22.
Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) is +0.0601 at $24.37, with 1,864,813 shares traded. PFE's current last sale is 87.04% of the target price of $28.
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is -0.15 at $126.20, with 1,728,850 shares traded. Over the last four weeks they have had 7 up revisions for the earnings forecast, for the fiscal quarter ending Dec 2025. The consensus EPS forecast is $1.49. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for ABT is in the "buy range".
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

After Hours Most Active for Jul 28, 2025 : SNAP, HPE, EQT, INFY, PFE, ABT

Key Points
Nvidia has played a pioneering role in the proliferation of AI, but it wouldn't have been possible without this company.
Nvidia, along with many other chip designers and consumer electronics companies, relies on the manufacturing expertise of this Taiwan-based giant.
The wide range of industries that this Nvidia partner caters to makes it one of the best ways to play the global AI boom.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is considered a pioneer in the artificial intelligence (AI) hardware market, and rightly so, as the chip designer's graphics processing units (GPUs) have allowed cloud computing companies and others to train AI models and run inference applications.
The parallel computing power of Nvidia's GPUs makes them ideal for performing a large number of calculations simultaneously, which is precisely what's required for training AI models. Also, these chips are now gaining traction in AI inference as well, thanks to their ability to quickly make predictions and decisions using the trained model.
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Not surprisingly, Nvidia has established a solid foothold in the AI chip market. It towers above its competitors with an estimated market share of 80% in AI data center accelerators. However, Nvidia's dominance wouldn't have been possible without its foundry partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), which is the real kingpin of the AI chip market.
Let's look at the reasons why TSMC is a bigger power player than Nvidia in AI chips.
TSMC's dominant foundry position makes it the go-to manufacturer of AI chips
TSMC operates semiconductor fabrication plants across the globe, which are used to manufacture chips based on designs provided by its customers. It is worth noting that TSMC doesn't design its own chips. It simply makes chips for fabless semiconductor companies that don't have production facilities of their own.
Nvidia is one such company that utilizes TSMC's facilities for manufacturing its AI chips. Equity research and brokerage firm Bernstein estimates that Nvidia could account for over a fifth of TSMC's top line this year, up significantly from around 5% to 10% a couple of years ago. That's not surprising, as Nvidia has been aggressively looking to secure more of TSMC's chipmaking capacity.
Taiwan-based business newspaper Economic Daily News pointed out earlier this year that Nvidia has reportedly secured more than 70% of TSMC's advanced chip packaging capacity for 2025 in a bid to meet the robust demand for its AI GPUs. However, Nvidia is not the only company that's in line to utilize TSMC's fabs.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is another major customer, and its contribution toward TSMC's top line is expected to be identical to that of Nvidia's in 2025. The consumer electronics giant taps TSMC to manufacture the processors that go into popular devices such as iPhones and iPads, and it has reportedly pre-booked the foundry giant's 2-nanometer (nm) capacity to mass produce chips for its next-generation iPhones.
It is worth noting that Apple had reportedly booked all of TSMC's 3nm supply in 2023 to make processors for the iPhone and other devices. And now that Apple is looking to bolster the on-device AI capabilities of its devices, it is expected to move to the 2nm node so that it can pack more computing power and increase energy efficiency.
Apple, however, has company, as another smartphone chip designer -- Qualcomm -- is expected to produce chips based on TSMC's 2nm process node as well. On the other hand, Nvidia's peers in the AI accelerator market are also partnering with TSMC to manufacture advanced chips.
Marvell Technology, for instance, is reportedly going to adopt TSMC's sub-3nm process nodes to manufacture the next generation of its custom AI processors, which are in tremendous demand from cloud computing giants to reduce costs. Meanwhile, AMD is getting its central processing units (CPUs) and GPUs that power both servers and personal computers (PCs) manufactured by TSMC as well.
Clearly, TSMC is the power player in the AI chip market. Its plants manufacture chips that go into a wide variety of applications, ranging from smartphones to PCs to data centers, and all of these markets are on track to record secular growth because of AI. Importantly, TSMC is taking steps to ensure that it can meet the incredible demand from all of these markets.
An aggressive expansion plan should help it satisfy the booming AI chip demand
TSMC's 2025 capital expenditure forecast of $38 billion to $42 billion points toward a significant increase over its 2024 outlay of $30 billion. It is going to invest 70% of its 2025 capex on advanced process technologies that are used for making AI chips, which isn't surprising.
Moreover, the company has aggressive long-term expansion plans as well. It has outlined an investment of $165 billion in the U.S. to build more plants, while it is also building factories in Taiwan and Europe. These expansionary moves should enable TSMC to capitalize on the AI chip market's impressive long-term growth.
According to one estimate, the global AI chipset market could clock an annual growth rate of 31% through 2033, which means that TSMC has the ability to sustain its terrific growth for years to come. Not surprisingly, analysts are expecting a pick-up in TSMC's growth going forward.
That's why it would be a good idea to buy this AI stock hand over fist right now, as it seems undervalued. TSMC's earnings are expected to jump by 34% this year, which is nearly five times the projected increase in the S&P 500 index's average earnings. With the stock trading at 28 times earnings, investors are getting a good deal on TSMC based on the potential upside it could deliver.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Everyone's Watching Nvidia -- but This AI Supplier Is the Real Power Player

MSCI’s MSCI second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.17 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.24% and increased 14.6% year over year.
MSCI's revenues rose 9.1% year over year to $772.68 million, missing the consensus estimate by 0.12%. The year-over-year growth was driven by strong growth in recurring subscription revenues and asset-based fees. Organic operating revenues grew 8.3% year over year.
Recurring subscriptions of $562.8 million increased 7.9% year over year and contributed 72.8% to revenues. Asset-based fees of $184.1 million jumped 12.7% year over year and contributed 23.8% to revenues. Non-recurring revenues of $25.8 million increased 11.4% year over year and contributed 3.3% to revenues.
At the end of the reported quarter, average assets under management were $2.024 trillion in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes. The total retention rate was 94.4% in the reported quarter.
MSCI Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MSCI reported solid growth in the second quarter of 2025, with notable increases in revenues and earnings. However, despite the strong quarterly results, MSCI shares lost 0.39% in the pre-market trading on April 22.
MSCI’s Top-Line Details
In second-quarter 2025, Index revenues of $434.8 million increased 9.5% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and asset-based fees rose 8.6% and 12.7% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Non-recurring revenues declined 10.5% year over year. Organically, Index operating revenue growth was 9.3%.
The uptick in recurring subscription revenues was driven by strong growth from market-cap-weighted Index products and ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes.
Analytics operating revenues of $177.7 million increased 7.1% year over year. Recurring subscription revenues jumped 4.7% and non-recurring revenues increased 104.9% on a year-over-year basis. Organically, Analytics’ operating revenue growth was 6.6%.
The Sustainability and Climate segment’s (previously titled "ESG and Climate") operating revenues were $88.9 million, rising 11.3% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and non-recurring revenues increased 11.6% and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Organically, Sustainability and Climate operating revenue growth was 7.1%.
All Other – Private Assets operating revenues, which primarily comprise the Real Assets operating segment and the Private Capital Solutions (formerly known as Burgiss), were $71.2 million, up 9.7% year over year. Organic operating revenue growth for All Other – Private Assets was 8.2%.
MSCI’s Q2 Operating Details
Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.3% year over year to $474.3 million in the reported quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter of 2025 was 61.4% compared with 60.7% in the second quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses were $298.3 million, up 7.3% year over year, reflecting higher compensation and benefits costs due to higher headcount, as well as elevated severance costs.
Total operating expenses increased 6.8% on a year-over-year basis to $347.4 million due to higher compensation costs from a 2.5% increase in headcount.
Operating income improved 11.1% year over year to $425.2 million. The operating margin expanded 100 bps on a year-over-year basis to 55%.
MSCI’s Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Total cash and cash equivalents, as of June 30, 2025, were $347.3 million compared with $360.7 million as of March 31, 2025.
Total debt was $4.5 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared with $4.5 billion as of March 31, 2025. The total debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio (based on trailing 12-month-adjusted EBITDA) was 2.5 times, lower than management’s target of 3-3.5 times.
As of June 30, 2025, the free cash flow was $301.6 million, down 6.3% year over year from $268.9 million as of March 31, 2025.
MSCI had $1.2 billion outstanding under its share-repurchase authorization as of July 21, 2025.
The company paid out dividends worth $139.3 million in the second quarter of 2025.
MSCI Maintains 2025 Guidance
For 2025, MSCI expects total operating expenses of $1.405-$1.445 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses are anticipated to be between $1.220 billion and $1.250 billion.
Interest expenses are expected to be between $182 million and $186 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities and the free cash flow are expected to be $1.52-$1.57 billion and $1.400-$1.460 billion, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
MSCI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Acadian Asset Management AAMI, AllianceBernstein AB and Artisan Partners Asset Management APAM are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the Finance sector.
Acadian Asset Management, AllianceBernstein and Artisan Partners Asset Management each sport a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Acadian Asset Management shares have gained 11.6% year to date. AAMI is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on July 31.
AllianceBernstein shares have rallied 17.9% year to date. AB is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on July 24.
Artisan Partners Asset Management shares have plunged 27% year to date. APAM is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on July 29.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

MSCI Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y, Shares Fall

The following are the top rated Financial stocks according to Validea's Patient Investor model based on the published strategy of Warren Buffett. This strategy seeks out firms with long-term, predictable profitability and low debt that trade at reasonable valuations.
MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES INC (MMC) is a large-cap growth stock in the Insurance (Miscellaneous) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Warren Buffett is 93% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is a professional services company in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company conducts business through two segments: Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting. Risk and Insurance Services segment includes risk management activities (risk advice, risk transfer and risk control and mitigation solutions) as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services. It conducts business in this segment through Marsh and Guy Carpenter. Marsh is an insurance broker and risk advisor, serving companies, institutions and individuals. Guy Carpenter is a reinsurance intermediary and advisor. Consulting segment includes health, wealth and career advice, solutions and products, and specialized management, strategic, economic and brand consulting services. It conducts business in this segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group. Oliver Wyman Group serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES INC
LPL FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC (LPLA) is a large-cap growth stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Warren Buffett is 92% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. is an independent broker-dealer and an investment advisory firm. The Company offers an integrated platform of brokerage and investment advisory services to independent financial advisors and financial advisors at institutions in the United States. Through its comprehensive platform, it offers integrated technology solutions; brokerage and advisory platforms; clearing, compliance, business and planning and advice services; consultative practice management programs and training, and in-house research. Through its custody and clearing platform, using both proprietary and third-party technology, it offers access to diversified financial products and services, enabling its advisors to offer personalized financial advice and brokerage services to retail investors. Its products include alternative investments, annuities, exchange-traded products, insurance-based products, mutual funds, and retirement plan products. It also offers wealth management solutions.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of LPL FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. (AMP) is a large-cap growth stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Warren Buffett is 86% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a diversified financial services company. The CompanyGs segments include Advice & Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement & Protection Solutions and Corporate & Other. The Advice & Wealth Management segment provides financial planning and advice, as well as full-service brokerage services, primarily to retail clients through the CompanyGs advisors. The Asset Management segment provides investment management, advice and products to retail, high net worth and institutional clients on a global scale through the Columbia Threadneedle Investments brand. It provides institutional products and services through its institutional sales force. The Retirement & Protection Solutions segment includes retirement solutions (variable annuities and payout annuities) and protection solutions (life and disability income insurance). Retirement Solutions provides variable annuity products by RiverSource Life companies to individual clients.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HOLDING LP (AB) is a mid-cap value stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Warren Buffett is 86% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. is a global investment management and research company. It provides diversified investment management, research, and related services to a range of clients. It offers Institutional Services to its institutional clients, which include private and public pension plans, foundations and endowments, insurance companies, central banks, and governments worldwide, and affiliates, such as Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH) and its subsidiaries. It offers retail services to its retail clients, primarily by means of retail mutual funds sponsored by the Company or an affiliated company, sub-advisory relationships with mutual funds sponsored by third parties, separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries worldwide and other investment vehicles. It offers Private Wealth Management services to its private clients, including high-net-worth individuals and families, trusts and estates, charitable foundations, partnerships, and other entities.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HOLDING LP
MASTERCARD INC (MA) is a large-cap growth stock in the Consumer Financial Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Warren Buffett is 86% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Mastercard Incorporated is a technology company in the global payments industry. The Company connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, digital partners, businesses and other organizations worldwide by enabling electronic payments and making those payment transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. It provides a range of payment solutions and services using its brands, including Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus. It operates a payments network that provides choice and flexibility for consumers, merchants and its customers. Through its proprietary global payments network, it switches (authorizes, clears and settles) payment transactions. Its additional payments capabilities include automated clearing house (ACH) transactions (both batch and real-time account-based payments). It offers security solutions, consumer acquisition and engagement, business and market insights, gateway, processing and open banking, among other services and solutions.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of MASTERCARD INC
About Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett is considered by many to be the greatest investor of all time. As the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 for decades, and in the process has become one of the world's richest men. (Forbes puts his net worth at $37 billion.) Despite his fortune, Buffett is known for living a modest lifestyle, by billionaire standards. His primary residence remains the gray stucco Nebraska home he purchased for $31,500 nearly 50 years ago, according to Forbes, and his folksy Midwestern manner and penchant for simple pleasures -- a cherry Coke, a good burger, and a good book are all near the top of the list -- have been well-documented.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea's Top Financial Stocks Based On Warren Buffett - 6/30/2025

Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN reported its preliminary assets under management (AUM) of $1.53 trillion as of April 30, 2025, which decreased marginally from the prior month.
The decline in the AUM balance was due to the impact of preliminary long-term net outflows of $10 billion, inclusive of $10 billion of long-term net outflows at Western Asset Management, partially offset by the positive impact of foreign exchange.
Breakdown of BEN’s AUM Based on Asset Class
Franklin recorded equity assets of $597.3 billion, which fell slightly from the previous month. The fixed income AUM of $439.5 billion at the end of April 2025 declined 1.5% from the prior month. Alternative AUM increased marginally to $253.8 billion from the prior month.
Multi-asset AUM was $174.2 billion, which fell nearly 1% from March 2025. However, the cash management balance was $70 billion, up 1.6% from the previous month.
Our Viewpoint on Franklin
April continued to be challenging for BEN due to long-term net outflows. Nonetheless, improvement in alternative AUM and cash management balance, along with Franklin’s efforts to grow inorganically, will keep supporting its financials.
BEN’s Price Performance and Zacks Rank
Over the past six months, BEN shares have plunged 2.9% compared with the industry’s 14% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Franklin currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Two other stocks, ALLIANCE CAP MANAGEMENT L.P. AB and Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. VCTR, will announce their monthly performances in the upcoming days. AB shares have risen 36.9% in the past year, while VCTR shares have gained 16.6% in the past year.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is among the most innovative financial firms. With a fast-growing customer base (already 50+ million) and a diverse set of cutting edge solutions, this stock is poised for big gains. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (AB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (VCTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Franklin's April AUM Balance Declines Sequentially on Net Outflows

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 5/5/25, Synchrony Financial (Symbol: SYF), AllianceBernstein Holding LP (Symbol: AB), and WestAmerica Bancorporation (Symbol: WABC) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Synchrony Financial will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.30 on 5/15/25, AllianceBernstein Holding LP will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.80 on 5/22/25, and WestAmerica Bancorporation will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.46 on 5/16/25. As a percentage of SYF's recent stock price of $51.95, this dividend works out to approximately 0.58%, so look for shares of Synchrony Financial to trade 0.58% lower — all else being equal — when SYF shares open for trading on 5/5/25. Similarly, investors should look for AB to open 2.03% lower in price and for WABC to open 0.95% lower, all else being equal.
Below are dividend history charts for SYF, AB, and WABC, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.
Synchrony Financial (Symbol: SYF):
AllianceBernstein Holding LP (Symbol: AB):
WestAmerica Bancorporation (Symbol: WABC):
In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 2.31% for Synchrony Financial, 8.12% for AllianceBernstein Holding LP, and 3.80% for WestAmerica Bancorporation.
In Thursday trading, Synchrony Financial shares are currently down about 0.9%, AllianceBernstein Holding LP shares are up about 0.4%, and WestAmerica Bancorporation shares are off about 1% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.