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As of 10/31/2025

NAV 1

$8.63

$-0.04 (-0.46%)
 

Market Price 2

$7.99

$0.04 (0.50%)
 

YTD Total Return At NAV 3

12.10%

 
 

YTD Total Return At Market Price

15.47%

 
 

Premium / Discount 4

-7.42%

 

Distribution Rate at NAV 6

5.91%

 

Distribution Rate at Market Price 6

6.38%

 

Overview

Investment Overview

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.

Strategy Statement

"The fund focuses on high yield bonds and utility stocks with the goal of providing relatively high yield. We use fundamental research to select a diversified portfolio of high yield corporate bonds and stocks with attractive dividend yields."

Glenn Voyles, CFA®

More Information

TRANSFER AGENT: Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (EQ)

GENERAL MAIL INQUIRIES
Franklin Templeton
c/o EQ
P.O. Box 500
Newark, NJ 07101

 

OVERNIGHT MAILING ADDRESS
Franklin Templeton
c/o EQ
55 Challenger Road, 2nd Floor
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660

 

EQ’S CORPORATE ADDRESS FOR LEGAL DOCUMENTS
48 Wall Street, Floor 23
New York, NY 10005

SHAREHOLDERS SERVICES
(800) 937-5449
Hearing Impaired: (866) 703-9077
International: (718) 921-8124
International Hearing Impaired: (718) 921-8386

[email protected]

 

ONLINE
equiniti.com/us/ast-access

Fund Information
Asset Class 
Fixed Income
Total Net Assets  As of 09/30/2025 (Updated Monthly)
$216.63 Million
Fund Inception Date 
09/23/1988
Fiscal Year End 
August 31
Listing Exchange 
NYSE
Benchmark5 
ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index
Additional Benchmark 
S&P 500 Utilities Index
Investment Style 
High Yield
Morningstar Category 
Tactical Allocation
Lipper Classification 
High Yield Funds (Leveraged)
Dividends
Dividend Frequency, if any 
Monthly
Distribution Rate at NAV6  As of 10/31/2025 (Updated Daily)
5.91%
Distribution Rate at Market Price6  As of 10/31/2025 (Updated Daily)
6.38%
Expenses & Fees 9
As of 08/31/2024
Gross Expense Ratio7 
3.32%
Net Expense Ratio78 
3.31%
Identifiers
Ticker 
FT
Fund Number 
002
CUSIP Code 
355145103
Trading Characteristics
Initial Offering (Shares of common stock /beneficial interest) 
23,000,000.00
Shares Outstanding 
25,131,894
Initial Offering Price 
$10.00

Portfolio Managers

Glenn Voyles, CFA®

California, United States

Managed Fund Since 2006

Jonathan G. Belk, CFA®

California, United States

Managed Fund Since 2020

Patricia O'Connor, CFA®

California, United States

Managed Fund Since 2024

Performance

Portfolio

Portfolio Holdings

Holdings

As of 09/30/2025 Updated Monthly
Security Name 
NextEra Energy Inc COM USD.01
Weight (%) 
4.01
Market Value ($) 
8,681,350
Quantity 
115,000
Security Name 
Sempra COM USD NPV
Weight (%) 
3.74
Market Value ($) 
8,098,200
Quantity 
90,000
Security Name 
Franklin Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund OEMF-SWEEP MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
Weight (%) 
3.55
Market Value ($) 
7,700,932
Quantity 
7,700,932
Security Name 
Entergy Corp COM USD0.01
Weight (%) 
2.58
Market Value ($) 
5,591,400
Quantity 
60,000
Security Name 
EVERGY INC COM USD NPV
Weight (%) 
2.53
Market Value ($) 
5,473,440
Quantity 
72,000
Security Name 
Alliant Energy Corp COM USD.01
Weight (%) 
2.49
Market Value ($) 
5,392,800
Quantity 
80,000
Security Name 
Duke Energy Corp COM USD.001
Weight (%) 
2.28
Market Value ($) 
4,950,000
Quantity 
40,000
Security Name 
CenterPoint Energy Inc COM USD1
Weight (%) 
2.20
Market Value ($) 
4,764,640
Quantity 
122,800
Security Name 
Southern Co/The COM USD5
Weight (%) 
2.19
Market Value ($) 
4,738,500
Quantity 
50,000
Security Name 
Xcel Energy Inc COM USD2.5
Weight (%) 
2.05
Market Value ($) 
4,435,750
Quantity 
55,000

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. 

Distributions & Tax

Distributions

Distribution Schedules

Dividend Frequency, if any  This fund is an ex-Dividend fund
Monthly

Rates and Yields

Read important information about results and other investment disclosures
Distribution Rate
As of 10/31/2025
At Net Asset Value (NAV) 
5.91%
At Market Price 
6.38%
30-Day SEC Yield
As of 09/30/2025
w/ Waiver 
3.64%
w/o Waiver 
3.63%

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

Current Year Distributions Per Share
Distribution amounts may be estimates
Record Date  
10/17/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
10/17/2025
Payable Date  
10/31/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
09/18/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
09/18/2025
Payable Date  
09/30/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
08/18/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
08/18/2025
Payable Date  
08/29/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
07/18/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
07/18/2025
Payable Date  
07/31/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
06/16/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
06/16/2025
Payable Date  
06/30/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
05/19/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
05/19/2025
Payable Date  
05/30/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
04/17/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
04/17/2025
Payable Date  
04/30/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
03/17/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
03/17/2025
Payable Date  
03/31/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
02/18/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
02/18/2025
Payable Date  
02/28/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425
Record Date  
01/21/2025
Ex-Dividend Date  
01/21/2025
Payable Date  
01/31/2025
Total Distribution Per Share  
$0.0425

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.

Tax Information

Tax Information

Federal ID Number 94-3077602
For information on tax years prior to 2008, please contact us
These amounts represent distributions paid by the fund, foreign taxes passed through (if any), and other distribution characteristics for the calendar year selected. These amounts are reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV.
Distributions per Share ($)
Record Date  
Jan 19
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Feb 20
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Mar 19
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Apr 17
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
May 17
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Jun 18
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Jul 18
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Aug 19
Ordinary Dividends  
0.015857
Qualified Dividends  
0.007078
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.026643
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Sep 19
Ordinary Dividends  
0.0425
Qualified Dividends  
0.018972
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Oct 17
Ordinary Dividends  
0.0425
Qualified Dividends  
0.018972
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Nov 18
Ordinary Dividends  
0.0425
Qualified Dividends  
0.018972
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Dec 16
Ordinary Dividends  
0.0425
Qualified Dividends  
0.018972
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Record Date  
Ordinary Dividends  
0.296856
Qualified Dividends  
0.132512
Capital Gain Distributions  
Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain  
Non-Taxable Return Of Capital  
0.213144
Section 199a Dividends  
Foreign Tax Paid  
Exempt Interest Dividends  
Interest on Tax Reclaim Refunds  
Supplemental Tax Information
Foreign Source Income 
Foreign Source Qualified Dividends 
Direct U.S. Government Obligations 
Specified Private Activity Bond Interest 
Dividends Received Deduction 
41.73%
Section 163(j) 
58.27%
Indiana Resident Taxable Income 
Utah Resident Taxable Income 

Franklin Templeton and its specialized investment managers and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice to taxpayers. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties or complying with any applicable tax laws or regulations. Tax-related statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Each investor’s tax situation is different, and is based on an individual’s tax bracket, type of account used for investment and other factors. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Pricing

Pricing

Pricing History Chart

As of 10/31/2025 Updated Daily

Daily Fund Prices

As of 10/31/2025

Share Prices

As of 10/31/2025
NAV1 (Net Asset Value)
$8.63
NAV Change1 
$-0.04
NAV Change (%)1 
-0.46%
Market Price2 
$7.99
Market Price Change2 
$0.04
Market Price Change (%)2 
0.50%

52-Week Range

Highest NAV  As on 10/15/2025
$8.79
Highest Market Price  As on 10/15/2025
$8.14
Lowest NAV  As on 04/08/2025
$7.71
Lowest Market Price  As on 04/08/2025
$6.95

Premium / Discount

As of 10/31/2025
Avg. of Market Price vs. NAV since Inception 
-7.68%
Avg. of Market Price vs. NAV at Close 
-7.42%

Premium/Discount

Historical Premium/Discount 4

As of 10/31/2025 Updated Daily

Press Releases

Documents

Fund Literature

PDF Format

Factsheet - Franklin Universal Trust

PDF Format

Closed-End Funds Product Guide

PDF Format

Distribution Summary - Franklin Templeton Closed-End Fund

Regulatory Documents

PDF Format

Annual Report - Franklin Universal Trust

PDF Format

Semi-Annual Report - Franklin Universal Trust

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 01/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 01/31/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 02/28/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 02/29/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 03/28/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 03/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 04/28/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 04/30/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 05/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 05/31/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

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FT Section 19 Notice as of 06/28/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 06/30/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 07/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 07/31/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 08/30/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 08/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 09/29/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 09/30/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 1/31/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 10/31/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 11/29/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 11/30/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 12/29/23

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 12/31/24

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 2/28/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 3/31/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 4/30/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 5/30/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 6/30/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 7/31/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 8/29/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

FT Section 19 Notice as of 9/30/25

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

Fiscal Q1 Holdings - Franklin Universal Trust

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

PDF Format

Fiscal Q3 Holdings - Franklin Universal Trust

Mailed hardcopies unavailable.

Risks

What Are The 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.