Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial 
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Valuation
Upturn AI SWOT - About
Franklin Universal Closed Fund (FT)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
09/17/2025: FT (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 12.05% | Avg. Invested days 70 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/17/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 190.00M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 5.52 | 1Y Target Price - |
Price to earnings Ratio 5.52 | 1Y Target Price - | ||
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 0.69 | 52 Weeks Range 6.71 - 7.80 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 6.71 - 7.80 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 6.75% | Basic EPS (TTM) 1.37 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 235.21% | Operating Margin (TTM) 80.09% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.85% | Return on Equity (TTM) 17.47% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 5.52 | Forward PE - | Enterprise Value 249942320 | Price to Sales(TTM) 13.09 |
Enterprise Value 249942320 | Price to Sales(TTM) 13.09 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 7.13 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 25131900 | Shares Floating - |
Shares Outstanding 25131900 | Shares Floating - | ||
Percent Insiders - | Percent Institutions 18.07 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Franklin Universal Closed Fund
Company Overview
History and Background
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) was established in 1948 as a closed-end investment company. Its primary objective is to provide high current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.
Core Business Areas
- Closed-End Fund Management: Manages a diversified portfolio of primarily debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. government securities, and mortgage-backed securities.
Leadership and Structure
The fund is managed by Franklin Templeton Investment Management. Portfolio management responsibilities are handled by experienced investment professionals within the Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Diversified Debt Portfolio: FT offers investors access to a diversified portfolio of debt securities. Market share data is not directly available for a specific fund, but rather exists within the larger closed-end fund universe. Competition includes other closed-end funds specializing in fixed income, such as PIMCO funds, BlackRock funds, and Eaton Vance funds.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The closed-end fund industry is characterized by a fixed number of shares and active management. It's influenced by interest rate environments, credit spreads, and investor sentiment towards specific asset classes like fixed income.
Positioning
FT is positioned as a provider of high current income through a diversified portfolio of debt securities, appealing to income-seeking investors.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM encompasses the total value of assets managed within the closed-end fund industry, especially those focused on fixed income. The fund is positioned to capture a portion of this TAM by offering diverse debt portfolios and income generation.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Experienced management team (Franklin Templeton)
- Diversified portfolio
- Established track record
- High current income focus
Weaknesses
- Closed-end fund structure can lead to trading at a discount to NAV
- Sensitivity to interest rate changes
- Management fees
- Limited liquidity compared to open-end funds
Opportunities
- Rising interest rate environment can increase income
- Growing demand for income-generating investments
- Expanding into new debt asset classes
- Increased marketing efforts to reduce discount to NAV
Threats
- Interest rate risk (rising rates can decrease value)
- Credit risk (defaults on debt securities)
- Market volatility
- Competition from other fixed income funds
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- PIMCO funds
- BlackRock funds
- Eaton Vance funds
Competitive Landscape
FT competes with other closed-end funds based on investment strategy, performance, fees, and brand recognition. The fund's strengths include its experienced management team and diversified portfolio.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Growth is tied to the fund's investment performance and ability to attract and retain assets. Data is extracted from the official fund.
Future Projections: Future growth depends on market conditions, interest rates, and Franklin Templeton's investment strategy.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives may include portfolio adjustments to adapt to changing market conditions or changes in distribution policy.
Summary
Franklin Universal Trust is a well-established closed-end fund focused on providing high current income. While the closed-end structure introduces potential discounts to NAV, the fund benefits from an experienced management team and diversified debt portfolio. Interest rate risk and competition from other fixed-income funds pose challenges.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Franklin Templeton fund website, SEC filings, Morningstar, Yahoo Finance
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Market share data is approximate and may vary depending on the source.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Franklin Universal Closed Fund
Exchange NYSE | Headquaters San Mateo, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1989-06-30 | CEO - | ||
Sector Financial Services | Industry Asset Management | Full time employees - | |
Full time employees - | |||
Franklin Universal Trust is a closed-ended balanced mutual fund launched by Franklin Resources, Inc. The fund is managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. The fund invests in companies operating in utility sector. It employs fundamental analysis to invest in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds and dividend paying utility stocks. The fund benchmarks the equity component of its balanced portfolio against the S&P 500 Electric Utilities Index and the fixed component against the Credit Suisse High Yield. Franklin Universal Trust was formed on September 23, 1988 and is domiciled in the United States.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.