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Fixed Income

FT Franklin Universal Trust

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NAV 1 $-0.03(-0.35%)
$8.59
As of 09/04/2026
Market Price 2 $0.00(0.00%)
$7.69
As of 09/04/2026
Premium / Discount 3
-10.48%
Distribution Rate at Market Price 4
6.63%

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Overview

Fund Facts

Fund description

The fund seeks to provide high current income consistent with preservation of capital. Its secondary objective is growth of income through dividend increases and capital appreciation.

Fund Inception Date
09/23/1988
Total Net AssetsAs of 07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)
$217.52 Million
Dividend Frequency, if any
Monthly
Morningstar Category5
Tactical Allocation
Asset Class
Fixed Income

Expenses & Fees

As of 08/31/2025
8
Gross Expense Ratio6
3.00%
Net Expense Ratio6,7
2.99%

Identifiers

Ticker
FT
NAV Symbol
N/A
CUSIP Code
355145103

Average Annual Total Returns

View performance section for additional info As of 07/31/2026
  • 7.87%1 Year
  • 11.64%3 Years
  • 5.98%5 Years
  • 7.81%10 Years
  • 8.06%Since Inception
    09/23/1988

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Principal value and investment returns will fluctuate, and investors' shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Returns based on Market Price or NAV, and assume the reinvestment of all distributions at the Dividend Reinvestment Plan Price or NAV, respectively. Returns include the deduction of management fees, operating expenses and all other fund expenses, and do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

Top Sectors

View portfolio section for additional info

As of 07/31/2026 % of Fixed Income (Updated Monthly)

Finance15.91%
Energy12.21%
Technology7.83%
Health Care7.01%
Building5.57%

Additional Fund Info

Listing Exchange
NYSE
Fiscal Year End
August 31
Benchmark9
ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index
Additional Benchmark
S&P 500 Utilities Index
Lipper Classification
High Yield Funds (Leveraged)
Investment Style
High Yield

Trading Characteristics

Shares Outstanding
25,131,894
Initial Offering (Shares of common stock /beneficial interest)
23,000,000.00
Initial Offering Price
$10.00

Manager

About the Team

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income

A global leader in fixed income, the team strives to provide consistent and resilient returns by combining deep fundamental research with rigorous portfolio construction. This solutions-driven approach means maintaining portfolio and risk exposures that align with client expectations.

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income
[Glenn Voyless avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2006

[Jonathan G. Belks avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2020

[Robert L Salvins avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2026

[Bryant Dieffenbachers avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2026

Portfolio Manager Profile
Years of Experience
Manager Location

Latest Insights

August 31, 2026

On My Mind: Rearranging the Debt Chairs

August 17, 2026

Balanced Budgets, Uneven Pressures

August 6, 2026

Bonds are Back: The Real Yield Reset

August 4, 2026

From tactical to core: The evolving role of emerging market debt
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Performance

Calendar Year Returns

As of 07/31/2026

Chart
Bar chart with 4 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from -14.13 to 29.1.
End of interactive chart.
Franklin Universal Trust - Market Price (%)
Franklin Universal Trust - NAV (%)
ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index (%)
S&P 500 Utilities Index (%)

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Principal value and investment returns will fluctuate, and investors' shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Returns based on Market Price or NAV, and assume the reinvestment of all distributions at the Dividend Reinvestment Plan Price or NAV, respectively. Returns include the deduction of management fees, operating expenses and all other fund expenses, and do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

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Portfolio

Assets

As of07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Total Assets
$277.52 Million
Fixed Rate Loans
21.62%
Total Net Assets
$217.52 Million

Positions

As of 07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Number of Holdings
Fund
381

Portfolio Statistics

As of 07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Effective Duration
Fund
2.62 Years
Benchmark
3.08 Years
Average Weighted Maturity
Fund
4.75 Years
Benchmark
4.73 Years
Yield to Maturity 10,11
Fund
7.23%
Benchmark
7.67%
Yield to Worst 11,12
Fund
6.86%
Benchmark
7.42%

Asset Allocation

As of 07/31/2026 % of Total (Updated Monthly)

Holdings Fund
Fixed Income
59.03%
Equity
37.66%
Cash & Cash Equivalents
3.31%
 
Bar chart with 3 bars.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 3.3093 to 59.0335.
End of interactive chart.

Holdings

As of 07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)

NextEra Energy Inc
Sempra
Entergy Corp
EVERGY INC
Alliant Energy Corp
Franklin Institutional U.​S.​ Government Money Market Fund
CenterPoint Energy Inc
Duke Energy Corp
Southern Co/The
American Electric Power Co Inc

Portfolio holdings are based on the total portfolio and are subject to change at any time. Holdings are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security. 

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Distributions & Tax

Distribution Frequency
MonthlyThis fund is an ex-Dividend fund

Rates and Yields Read important information about results and other investment disclosures

Distribution Rate 4

As of 09/04/2026 (Updated Daily)
At Net Asset Value (NAV) 5.94%
At Market Price 6.63%

Current Yield 13,14,15

As of 07/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)
w/ Waiver  3.99%
w/o Waiver 3.98%

Final composition of the current year’s distribution—income, capital gains and/or return of capital—are based on US tax rules and will be determined by February of the following year. For tax characterization of a distribution, such as return of capital and tax-exempt income, click on the “Tax Information” tab above.

Distributions Per Share
Distributions with future dates are estimates and those figures are not final

08/24/2026
07/24/2026
06/23/2026
05/21/2026
04/23/2026
03/24/2026
02/20/2026
01/23/2026

Annually, a fund must distribute all realized capital gains net of realized losses, so the fund will not be subject to an entity level income tax. A fund’s capital gain distribution in a particular year may be a result of the disposition of holdings that appreciated in value during prior years. Thus, while the fund may gain or lose value over the course of a year, a capital gain distribution paid by the fund may not be indicative of current performance of the fund.

The distributable amount of net capital gains are paid on a per-share basis to all investors who hold shares of the fund on the record date of the distribution and are recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes as of the ex-date of the distribution, regardless of when the gains or losses arose in the fund. Net gains on holdings held long term by the fund would be distributed to shareholders as a long-term capital gain distribution no matter how long the shareholder has owned shares in the fund.

Refer to the fund’s annual report for specific information regarding distributions.

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Pricing

Pricing History

As of 09/04/2026 (Updated Daily)

Chart

Line chart with 2 lines.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 1988-09-23 00:00:00 to 2026-09-07 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying [products.performance-value]. Data ranges from 3.04 to 10.6.
End of interactive chart.

Daily Fund Prices

As of 09/04/2026

Share Prices

As of 09/04/2026

NAV  1(Net Asset Value)
$8.59
NAV Change  1
$-0.03
NAV Change (%)  1
-0.35%
Market Price  2
$7.69
Market Price Change  2
$0.00
Market Price Change (%)  2
0.00%

52-Week Range

Highest NAV As of 04/09/2026
$9.07
Lowest NAV As of 09/08/2025
$8.41
Highest Market Price As of 04/17/2026
$8.33
Lowest Market Price As of 09/02/2026
$7.67

Premium / Discount

As of 09/04/2026

Avg. of Market Price vs. NAV since Inception
-7.70%
Avg. of Market Price vs. NAV at Close
-10.48%
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Press Releases

08/31/2026
07/31/2026
07/14/2026
06/30/2026
05/29/2026
04/30/2026
04/17/2026
04/13/2026
03/31/2026
02/27/2026
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Documents

Fund Literature

Factsheet - Franklin Universal Trust
Distribution Summary - Franklin Templeton Closed-End Fund
Brochure - Closed-end funds Product Guide

Regulatory Documents

Annual Report - Franklin Universal Trust
Semi-Annual Report - Franklin Universal Trust
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 01/31/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 01/31/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 02/28/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 02/29/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 03/28/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 03/31/23
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FT Section 19 Notice as of 04/28/23
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FT Section 19 Notice as of 04/30/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 05/31/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 05/31/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 06/28/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 06/30/23
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FT Section 19 Notice as of 07/31/23
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FT Section 19 Notice as of 07/31/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 08/30/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 08/31/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 09/29/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 09/30/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 1/30/26
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FT Section 19 Notice as of 1/31/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 11/28/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 11/29/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 11/30/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 12/29/23
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 12/31/24
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 12/31/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 2/28/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 3/31/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 4/30/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 5/30/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 6/30/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 7/31/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 8/29/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
FT Section 19 Notice as of 9/30/25
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
Fiscal Q1 Holdings - Franklin Universal Trust
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.
Fiscal Q3 Holdings - Franklin Universal Trust
Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

Risks

All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Fixed income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation and reinvestment risks, and possible loss of principal. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities falls. Low-rated, high-yield bonds are subject to greater price volatility, illiquidity and possibility of default. Equity securities are subject to price fluctuation and possible loss of principal. To the extent the portfolio invests in a concentration of certain securities, regions or industries, it is subject to increased volatility. Dividends may fluctuate and are not guaranteed, and a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend at any time. The manager may consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in the research or investment process; however, ESG considerations may not be a determinative factor in security selection. In addition, the manager may not assess every investment for ESG criteria, and not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated.

Important Information

The Closed-End Funds are not sold or distributed by Franklin Distributors, LLC. (FD, LLC) or any Franklin Templeton affiliated companies. Unlike open-end funds, shares are not continually offered. Like other public companies, closed-end funds have a one-time initial public offering, and once their shares are first issued, are generally bought and sold through non-affiliated broker/dealers and trade on nationally recognized stock exchanges. Share prices will fluctuate with market conditions and, at the time of sale, may be worth more or less than your original investment. Shares of exchange-traded closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium to their original offering price, and often trade at a discount to their net asset value. Investment return, market price and net asset value will fluctuate with changes in market conditions. The Funds are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of principal invested. 

Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC. All entities mentioned are Franklin Templeton affiliated companies. Investment Products: NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE.
Reports and other information about the funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov.

You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF documents. Download a free version from Adobe's website.

Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.

Indexes are unmanaged, and one cannot invest directly in an index. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

The S&P 500 Utilities Index comprises those companies included in the S&P 500 that are classified as members of the GICS utilities sector.
Source: © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. All rights reserved.

The ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index measures the performance of USD-denominated, noninvestment grade, fixed rate and taxable corporate bonds.
Source: The index data referenced herein is the property of Intercontinental Exchange ("ICE") and/or its licensors and has been licensed for use by Franklin Templeton. ICE and its licensors accept no liability in connection with this use.

All entities mentioned are Franklin Templeton affiliated companies. Investment Products: NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE.

Footnotes

  1. Net Asset Value (NAV) represents the value of a closed-end fund's underlying holdings per share. NAV is determined by dividing the total net assets of the fund by the number of shares outstanding. The fund calculates the NAV per share each business day normally coinciding with the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

  2. Market Price, determined by supply and demand, is the price an investor purchases or sells the fund. The Market Price shown reflects the last trade on the listing exchange at the time that the fund's NAV is calculated.

  3. Premium / Discount reflects the difference between the NAV and the Market Price of the fund, and represents the amount that the fund is trading above or below its NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. 

  4. Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution amount paid, divided by the closing market price or NAV as of the date indicated. The Distribution Rate calculation includes income, may include capital gains and return of capital, and excludes special distributions. The Distribution Rate is subject to change and is not guaranteed nor a quotation of fund performance.

  5. ©2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

  6. Gross Expense Ratio reflects the total annual operating expenses for the share class shown, prior to the deduction of any waiver or reimbursement. Actual expenses may be higher and may impact portfolio returns. Net Expense Ratio reflects total expenses after any fee waivers, implemented expense caps or reimbursements. If a fund has contractual fee waivers, expense caps and/or reimbursements, the expiration date can be found by clicking on the information button next to the net expense ratio. Additional amounts may be voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed and may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Expense ratios are as of the most recent prospectus or annual report.

  7. Net Expense Ratio represents the expense ratio applicable to investors. 

  8. Based on the Fund’s net assets of the common shares, as of the most recent Annual Report. See the fund’s Annual Report for information on the fund’s expenses.

  9. Effective January 1, 2024, the fund changed its benchmark to the ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index.

  10. Yield to Maturity is calculated without the deduction of fees and expenses.

  11. Yield figures quoted should not be used as an indication of the income that has or will be received. Yield figures are based on the portfolio's underlying holdings and do not represent a payout of the portfolio.

  12. Yield to Worst is calculated without the deduction of fees and expenses. 

  13. With Waiver means the performance quote reflects any applicable expense reductions and fee waivers.

  14. During periods of rising inflation, fund yields can vary significantly from month-to-month and may not be repeated.

  15. 30-Day SEC Yield is calculated using the net income (interest and dividends) per share earned over a trailing 30-day period (annualized), divided by the fund’s share price at the end of that period. It may not equal the fund’s actual income distribution rate, which reflects the fund’s past dividends paid to shareholders.

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