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Fixed Income

FKSAX Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund

  • Core building block. Provides broad, diversified exposure to high quality US fixed income markets.
  • Differentiated approach. Our portfolio construction approach is designed to reduce performance volatility and provide a consistent range of outcomes and strong risk-adjusted returns across market environments.
  • Experienced Portfolio Management Team. Tenured investment team with expertise across market cycles.
NAV 1 $0.01(0.12%)
$8.43
As of 03/09/2026
YTD Total Returns At NAV 2
1.10%
As of 03/09/2026
Total Net Assets
$2.71B
As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)
Morningstar Overall Rating™ 3
As of 02/28/2026

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Overview

Fund Facts

Fund description

The fund seeks to provide a high level of current income. Its secondary goal is capital appreciation over the long term. The fund is a core plus fund that invests across fixed income sectors, primarily in investment grade rated securities.

Benchmark
Bloomberg US Aggregate Index
Dividend Frequency, if any
Monthly
Fund Inception Date
05/24/1994
Distribution Rate at NAV4As of 03/09/2026 (Updated Daily)
4.46%
30-Day SEC Yield—With Waiver5,6,7As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)
4.40%
30-Day SEC Yield—Without Waiver6,7As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)
4.27%
Effective DurationAs of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)
5.65 Years

Sales Charges, Expenses & Fees

As of 09/01/2025
Gross Expense Ratio8
0.60%
Net Expense Ratio8,9
0.47%
Maximum Initial Charge
CDSC
N/A
12b-1 Fee

Identifiers

Ticker
FKSAX
Fund Number
694
CUSIP Code
354713737

Average Annual Total Returns

View performance section for additional info As of 02/28/2026

Advisor Class

  • 6.70%1 Year
  • 6.57%3 Years
  • 2.49%5 Years
  • 3.68%10 Years
  • 5.91%Since Inception
    05/24/1994

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown.

Top Sectors

View portfolio section for additional info

As of 02/28/2026 - Notional Exposure % of Total (Updated Monthly)

Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities36.76%
Investment Grade Corporates31.73%
U.S. Treasuries15.18%
Interest Rate Derivatives12.29%
High Yield Corporates9.40%

Additional Fund Info

Share Class Inception Date
08/12/1999
Investment Style
Multi-Sector
Lipper Classification
Core Plus Bond Funds
Morningstar Category10
Intermediate Core-Plus Bond

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Manager and Commentary

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.

Commentary Highlights

December 31, 2025
  • Markets:  The fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4) saw monthly shifts in market sentiment as uncertainties increased in the first part of the quarter. The US federal government went into a shutdown on 1 October as the US Senate was unable to pass a spending bill. This, among other things, delayed or cancelled the publication of key economic data, leading to a lack of clarity on the economic condition of the United States. The shutdown was lifted mid-November, and subsequent data showed that economic growth in the United States remained resilient. The US Federal Reserve (Fed) delivered three consecutive 25-basis-point (bp) cuts in Q4, helping market sentiment to improve in December. Fixed income volatility measures fell towards the end of the quarter, reaching their lowest level since 2021. Securitized sectors saw positive absolute and excess returns, as did lower-quality corporate credit, as spreads tightened. Investment-grade corporate bonds had positive absolute returns but failed to keep pace with their duration-matched US Treasuries (USTs). The US yield curve steepened as shorter-maturity yields fell while longer-dated bond yields rose. The benchmark 10-year UST yield increased two bps to end the quarter at 4.17%.
  • Contributors  : Overweight exposure agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Security selection in high-yield (HY) corporate bonds.
  • Detractors:  Security selection in MBS and senior secured floating-rate bank loans.
  • Outlook  : Looking ahead into 2026, we have a favorable view towards the US economy and are looking for strong growth in the first half of the year. . In our view, intermediate- and longer-term UST yields remain too low, but can likely remain here until the Fed finishes their rate-cutting cycle. Fixed income spreads remain tight on an historical basis, but they still provide opportunities when looked at an income and yield prospective.
Franklin Templeton Fixed Income
[Sonal Desais avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2018

[Michael V Salms avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2024

[Patrick A. Kleins avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2022

[Albert W Chans avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2025

[Patricia O'Connors avatar]

Managed Fund Since 2016

Portfolio Manager Profile
Years of Experience
Manager Location

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Performance

Risk Measures

As of 02/28/2026

Advisor Class - Without Sales Charge (NAV)
Measured against: Bloomberg US Aggregate Index
Statistics
Historical Tracking Error
Information Ratio
Standard Deviation (%)
Advisor Class
Bloomberg US Aggregate Index
Sharpe Ratio (%)
Advisor Class

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. Performance would have been lower if fees had not been waived in various periods. Total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions and the deduction of all Fund expenses. Returns with sales charge reflect a deduction of the stated maximum sales charge. Returns without sales charge would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and unmanaged index returns do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. 

See the risks and other important information.

Ratings 3

Morningstar logo
Overall Morningstar Rating
Overall Morningstar Rating: 5 out of 5 stars  
As of 02/28/2026
3 Years
3 Years: 5 out of 5 stars  
498 Funds in category
5 Years
5 Years: 5 out of 5 stars  
456 Funds in category
10 Years
10 Years: 5 out of 5 stars  
341 Funds in category
Rating Category
Intermediate Core-Plus Bond

The fund's overall Morningstar Rating measures risk-adjusted returns and is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its 3-, 5- and 10-year (if applicable) rating metrics. 

Morningstar Style Box
As of 02/28/2026
Current Historical
Large
Medium
Small
Value Blend Growth
Style
Size

Source: Morningstar®. The style box reveals a fund's investment style. For equity funds, the vertical axis shows the market capitalization of the long stocks owned, and the horizontal axis shows the investment style (value, blend, or growth). For fixed income funds, the vertical axis shows the credit quality based on credit ratings and the horizontal axis shows interest-rate sensitivity as measured by effective duration. Placement is determined by fund portfolio holding figures most recently entered into Morningstar's database and corresponding market conditions. Shaded areas show the past 3 years of quarterly data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

©2025 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.

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Portfolio

Assets

As of02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Total Net Assets
$2.71 Billion

Positions

As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Number of Holdings
Fund
916
Benchmark
13,972

Portfolio Statistics

As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Average Weighted Maturity
Fund
12.26 Years
Benchmark
12.13 Years
Effective Duration
Fund
5.65 Years
Benchmark
5.83 Years

Asset Allocation

As of 02/28/2026 - Market Value % of Total (Updated Monthly)

Holdings Fund
Fixed Income
119.02%
Equity
0.05%
Cash & Cash Equivalents
-19.07%

 

Bar chart with 3 bars.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from -19.0697 to 119.02274.
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Holdings

As of 01/31/2026 (Updated Monthly)

Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 5.​5% 02/01/2056 FHLM
Franklin Institutional U.​S.​ Government Money Market Fund OEMF-SWEEP MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
United States Treasury Note/Bond 4.​25% 08/15/2054
Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 2.​5% 02/01/2056 FHLM
GOVT NATL MORTG ASSN 6% 03/01/2056 GNMA
Fannie Mae Pool 2% 04/01/2052 FNMA
United States Treasury Note/Bond 1.​875% 02/28/2027
Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 3% 02/01/2056 FHLM
United States Treasury Note/Bond 3.​875% 11/30/2027
United States Treasury Note/Bond 2.​875% 05/15/2049

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
Capital Gain Distributions
December

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

Distribution Rate 4

As of 03/09/2026 (Updated Daily)
At Net Asset Value (NAV) 4.46%

30-Day SEC Yield 5,6,7

As of 02/28/2026 (Updated Monthly)
w/ Waiver  4.40%
w/o Waiver 4.27%

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

02/23/2026
01/26/2026

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 or statement of additional information for specific information regarding distributions.

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Pricing

Pricing History

As of 03/09/2026 (Updated Daily)

Chart

Line chart with 6931 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 1999-08-12 00:00:00 to 2026-03-09 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying [products.performance-value]. Data ranges from 7.83 to 10.93.
End of interactive chart.

Daily Fund Prices

As of 03/09/2026

Share Prices

As of 03/09/2026

NAV  1(Net Asset Value)
$8.43
NAV Change  1
$0.01
NAV Change (%)  1
0.12%
POP  11(Public Offering Price)
$8.43

52-Week Range

Highest NAV As of 10/27/2025
$8.51
Lowest NAV As of 04/11/2025
$8.12

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Documents

Fund Literature
Name Download Add to Cart
Factsheet - Franklin Core Plus Bond FundDownload Document
Product Commentary - Franklin Core Plus Bond FundDownload Document
Regulatory Documents
Name Download Add to Cart
Annual Report - Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund Advisor ClassDownload Document
Annual Financial Statements and Other Information - Franklin Strategic SeriesDownload Document
Semi-Annual Report - Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund - Advisor ClassDownload Document
Semiannual Financial Statements And Other Information - Franklin Strategic SeriesDownload Document
Prospectus - Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund (fka Franklin Strategic Income Fund)Download Document
Summary Prospectus - Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund (fka Franklin Strategic Income Fund) as amended 11/12/24Download Document
Statement of Additional Information - Franklin Core Plus Bond Fund (fka Franklin Strategic Income Fund)Mailed hardcopies unavailable.Download Document
Fiscal Q1 Holdings - Franklin Strategic SeriesMailed hardcopies unavailable.Download Document
Fiscal Q3 Holdings - Franklin Strategic SeriesMailed hardcopies unavailable.Download Document

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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. Changes in the credit rating of a bond, or in the credit rating or financial strength of a bond’s issuer, insurer or guarantor, may affect the bond’s value. Low-rated, high-yield bonds are subject to greater price volatility, illiquidity and possibility of default. Floating-rate loans and debt securities are typically rated below investment grade and are subject to greater risk of default, which could result in loss of principal. International investments are subject to special risks, including currency fluctuations and social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Derivative instruments can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on performance. 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. These and other risks are discussed in the fund’s prospectus.

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Total Returns include change in share price, assume reinvestment of all distributions, and reflect the deduction of fund expenses and applicable fees. Total returns, distribution rate, and yields reflect any applicable expense reductions and fee waivers; without these reductions, the results would have been lower.

Most funds offer multiple share classes. Share classes are subject to different fees and expenses, which will affect their performance.

Certain share classes are only offered to eligible investors as stated in the prospectus. Different minimums may apply to clients of certain service agents. All classes of shares are not available through all distribution channels. See the Fund's prospectus for additional information.

Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPCAll 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.

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

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

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

Investors should carefully consider a fund's investment goals, risks, sales charges and expenses before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

The Bloomberg US Aggregate Index is comprised of investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated government, corporate, and mortgage- and asset-backed issues having at least one year to maturity.
Source: Bloomberg Indices.

Footnotes

  1. Net Asset Value - the amount per share you would receive if you sold shares that day. NAV Change indicates a change in the Net Asset Value from the previous business day.

  2. Figures are aggregate total return figures, have not been annualized and represent the change in value of an investment over the period indicated.

  3. The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or “star rating”, is calculated for managed products with at least a three-year history, and subject to change monthly. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total return, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total return. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. Ratings do not take into account the effects of sales charges and loads. Morningstar Rating is for the specified share class(es) only; other classes may have different performance characteristics. ©2025 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.

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

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

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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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

  10. ©2025 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.

  11. Public Offering Price – the purchase price for each share of the fund on a given day.  It includes the maximum initial sales charge, if any.

  12. Effective 8/12/99, the fund began offering Advisor Class shares. For periods prior to the fund's Advisor Class inception date, a restated figure is used based on the fund's oldest share class, Class A performance, excluding the effect of Class A's maximum initial sales charge but reflecting the effect of the Class A Rule 12b-1 fees; and for periods after the fund's Advisor Class inception date, actual Advisor Class performance is used, reflecting all charges and fees applicable to that class.

  13. Performance quotations for this class reflect the following methods of calculation: a) For periods prior to the fund's Advisor Class inception date, a restated figure is used based on the fund's oldest share class, Class A performance, excluding the effect of Class A's maximum initial sales charge but reflecting the effect of the Class A Rule 12b-1 fees; and b) for periods after the fund's Advisor Class inception date, actual Advisor Class performance is used, reflecting all charges and fees applicable to that class.

  14. Credit Quality is a measure of a bond issuer's ability to repay interest and principal in a timely manner. The credit ratings shown are based on each portfolio security's rating as provided by S&P Global Ratings, Moody's Investors Service and/or Fitch Ratings, Inc. and typically range from AAA (highest) to D (lowest), or an equivalent and/or similar rating. For this purpose, the manager assigns each security the middle rating from these three agencies. When only two agencies provide ratings, the lower of the two ratings will be assigned. When only one agency assigns a rating, that rating will be used. Foreign government bonds without a specific rating are assigned a country rating, if available. Securities that are unrated by all three agencies are reflected as such. The credit quality of the investments in the portfolio does not apply to the stability or safety of the portfolio. The methodology used for the calculation of credit quality ratings displayed may differ from the methodology for monitoring investment limits, if applicable. Please note, the portfolio itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.