Goldman Sachs Makes Key Financial Calls (BEN, JNS, NYX, NDAQ, MET, FII, NITE, OZM)

Goldman Sachs has issued a call on its asset manager universe, and says it’s time to go on the offensive.  Its rating on the group is now attractive.  The bulge bracket brokerage leader has also made some key calls in the financial sector this morning.

In the call it has raised the following to Buy from Neutral:

• Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), Janus Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNS), NYSE Euronext, Inc. (NYSE: NYX), MetLife Inc. (NYSE: MET)

There were actually some downgrades as well, with the following downgraded to Neutral from Buy:

• Federated Investors, INC. (NYSE: FII), Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NITE), Och-Ziff Capital Management (NYSE: OZM).

It has maintained a Neutral rating on NASDAQ OMX Group (NASDAQ: NDAQ), although it raised estimates by $0.10 for both 2008 and 2009. 

Jon C. Ogg
April 8, 2008