Beyond Bulls & Bears

Value and Growth: The Indivisible Dichotomy
Equity

Value and Growth: The Indivisible Dichotomy

Franklin Mutual Series’ Director of Research Grace Hoefig sits down with us to explain how value investing involves more than just computing ratios, and why the answer to the age-old question “growth or value” should be “yes.”

Pent-Up Consumer Demand Fuels US Recovery
Equity

Pent-Up Consumer Demand Fuels US Recovery

What are “epicenter stocks” and what role do they play in an economic recovery? Read more from Franklin Equity Group’s Grant Bowers.

PODCAST: Factoring Inflation and Valuations into Stock-Picking Decisions
Equity

PODCAST: Factoring Inflation and Valuations into Stock-Picking Decisions

Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover speaks with portfolio managers Matt Moberg from Franklin Equity Group and Aram Green from ClearBridge Investments on how they factor inflation and valuations into stock-picking decisions. They also cover the impacts private and special purpose acquisition companies are having on markets. And, why some innovative companies and technology that are changing our lives may not make great investments.

Quick Thoughts: The Opportunities in Innovation
Equity

Quick Thoughts: The Opportunities in Innovation

Our recent investing in innovation roundtable confirmed that investing in innovation requires intuitive and fundamental knowledge. Matt Moberg, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Franklin Equity Group, Aram Green, Portfolio Manager and Managing Director for ClearBridge Investments, and Chief Market Strategist and Head of Franklin Templeton Investment Institute discuss areas to find equity market inefficiencies.

Muni Market View on The American Jobs Plan
Fixed Income

Muni Market View on The American Jobs Plan

US President Joe Biden recently announced an ambitious new $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which touches many areas of the US economy. Jennifer Johnston, director of research, Franklin Templeton Municipal Bonds, outlines some highlights of this sweeping legislation, and how it could impact the muni market.

Quick Thoughts: Blockchain Innovates and Disrupts
Alternatives

Quick Thoughts: Blockchain Innovates and Disrupts

Blockchain has the potential to launch a new global digital renaissance, transforming financial services, supply chains, healthcare, backend offices, and more.

Examining the Environment for Microcap Stocks
Equity

Examining the Environment for Microcap Stocks

The smallest companies in the market may be overlooked by many investors, but can offer big potential. Here, we posed some questions about micro-capitalization (microcap) stocks to Franklin Mutual Series Portfolio Manager Oliver Wong, who explains how they have fared recently and where he’s finding opportunities.

Climate Change Sectors Heat Up
Equity

Climate Change Sectors Heat Up

Templeton Global Equity Group peels back the multiple layers of the investible climate change universe, and considers how companies can contribute to reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.

Reasons We Remain Bullish on Gold
Equity

Reasons We Remain Bullish on Gold

While gold is valued for a variety of reasons, the uncertainty and economic fallout tied to the COVID-19 pandemic saw investment drive the price of the yellow metal to record highs in 2020. Equities related to the sector also saw solid investor interest, but as optimism around an economic recovery has grown, gold has lost some luster thus far in 2021. Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Manager Steve Land discusses why gold demand could rebound from a weak start to the year, and where he sees potential opportunities for equity investors.

Quick Thoughts: How Might the Markets React to Changes in Personal Taxes?
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: How Might the Markets React to Changes in Personal Taxes?

Can President Joe Biden muster the votes to raise personal income and capital gains taxes, and if he can, will stocks tumble? Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover discusses.

High Yield Bonds in View: Energy
Fixed Income

High Yield Bonds in View: Energy

Much has changed since the oil-market collapse in the early pandemic days of 2020, when prices actually turned negative. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Research Analyst/Portfolio Manager Bryant Dieffenbacher looks back at industry developments since then, and outlines opportunities he sees in the high-yield energy bond market today.

Quick Thoughts: Why Our Managers Disagree on Inflation, Rates, and Growth
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Why Our Managers Disagree on Inflation, Rates, and Growth

Multiple leadership and diverse views steer how we invest in our global economy. Our recent macroeconomic investment roundtable with three of our autonomous investment managers found commonalities and disagreements on the path for global economic growth. All agreed that global growth will be significant this year, but there is some disagreement as to how persistent it will be. Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover believes when thinking about fixed income investing, it is important to think beyond rising interest rates and focus on the many ways to obtain total return.