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Franklin Universal Closed Fund (FT)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
12/18/2025: FT (1-star) is a SELL. SELL since 2 days. Simulated Profits (-2.62%). Updated daily EoD!
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 13.53% | Avg. Invested days 69 | Today’s Advisory SELL |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 12/18/2025 |
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
The Franklin Universal Closed Fund, established in 1987, is a diversified closed-end investment fund managed by Franklin Templeton Investments. Over its history, it has aimed to provide long-term capital appreciation and income through investments in a broad range of U.S. and international equities and fixed-income securities. Its evolution has been marked by adjustments to its investment strategy to adapt to changing market conditions and investor needs.
Core Business Areas
- Investment Management: The primary business of the Franklin Universal Closed Fund is to pool capital from investors and invest it in a diversified portfolio of securities, aiming for capital growth and income generation.
- Diversified Portfolio Holdings: The fund invests across various asset classes including equities (growth, value, large-cap, small-cap) and fixed income (government bonds, corporate bonds), both domestically and internationally.
Leadership and Structure
The fund is managed by a team of portfolio managers at Franklin Templeton Investments. The specific leadership team responsible for the Franklin Universal Closed Fund's day-to-day management is typically detailed in its prospectus and annual reports. As a closed-end fund, it has a fixed number of shares outstanding, and its structure allows it to trade on exchanges, with its market price often differing from its Net Asset Value (NAV).
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Franklin Universal Closed Fund (FUN): A diversified investment portfolio aiming for long-term capital appreciation and income. Its market share is a portion of the overall closed-end fund market, which is a segment of the broader investment fund industry. Specific market share data for individual closed-end funds is not typically reported in isolation but rather as part of broader fund category performance. Competitors include other diversified closed-end funds from major asset managers.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The investment fund industry, particularly the closed-end fund sector, operates within the broader financial services sector. This industry is influenced by macroeconomic trends, interest rate environments, investor sentiment, and regulatory changes. The closed-end fund market faces competition from open-end mutual funds, ETFs, and direct investments.
Positioning
The Franklin Universal Closed Fund aims to position itself as a globally diversified investment vehicle for long-term growth and income. Its competitive advantages may lie in its diversification across asset classes and geographies, and the expertise of its fund managers. However, it competes with a vast array of investment products offering similar objectives.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for investment funds, including closed-end funds, is substantial, encompassing trillions of dollars globally. Franklin Universal Closed Fund's TAM is a subset of this, focused on investors seeking diversified, actively managed portfolios. Its positioning within this TAM depends on its ability to deliver competitive returns and manage investor expectations.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Diversified investment portfolio across asset classes and geographies.
- Managed by an experienced asset management firm (Franklin Templeton Investments).
- Potential for trading at a discount to Net Asset Value (NAV), offering an entry point.
- Focus on both capital appreciation and income generation.
Weaknesses
- Closed-end structure can lead to price volatility detached from NAV.
- Management fees and expenses can impact returns.
- Performance is subject to market fluctuations and investment manager skill.
- Limited ability to directly manage capital inflows/outflows compared to open-end funds.
Opportunities
- Potential for market recovery and growth in global economies.
- Strategic rebalancing of portfolio to capitalize on undervalued assets.
- Increased investor demand for diversified income-generating assets.
- Opportunity to exploit premiums/discounts to NAV for enhanced returns.
Threats
- Rising interest rates can negatively impact bond valuations and increase borrowing costs.
- Geopolitical instability and global economic downturns.
- Increased competition from ETFs and other passive investment vehicles.
- Underperformance relative to benchmarks or peer funds.
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST)
- PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunities Fund (PTS)
- Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (EOI)
Competitive Landscape
Franklin Universal Closed Fund competes in the diversified closed-end fund space. Its advantages include its global diversification and the brand of Franklin Templeton. Disadvantages may arise from its specific allocation strategy, management fees, and the potential for the fund's market price to trade at a significant discount or premium to its NAV, impacting shareholder returns.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historical growth for a closed-end fund is measured by the growth in its Net Asset Value (NAV) and its ability to maintain or grow its market price, alongside consistent distributions. Trends over the past years would indicate its success in navigating different market cycles and achieving its investment objectives.
Future Projections: Future projections for a closed-end fund are often based on analyst expectations of market performance, interest rate movements, and the fund's investment strategy. However, unlike operating companies, specific EPS or revenue projections are not applicable. Instead, projections focus on potential NAV growth and income generation.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives might include adjustments to the fund's asset allocation, changes in leverage utilization, or efforts to address market price discounts to NAV, all aimed at enhancing shareholder value and performance.
Summary
The Franklin Universal Closed Fund is a diversified investment vehicle with a long history. Its strength lies in its broad asset allocation and experienced management. However, it faces challenges from market volatility, fees, and the inherent price fluctuations of closed-end funds. Continued focus on strategic portfolio management and addressing potential discounts to NAV are crucial for its future success.
Similar Stocks
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Franklin Templeton Investments official filings (Prospectus, Annual Reports).
- Financial data providers (e.g., Morningstar, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg).
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Investment decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Market share data for individual closed-end funds is an estimation based on market segment analysis and may not be precise.
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.
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