Franklin Universal Trust (FT) Dividend

Franklin Universal Trust · Financial Services · Asset Management · monthly payer

$7.39

As of Nov 8, 2026, Franklin Universal Trust (FT) pays a monthly dividend of $0.0430 per share, or $0.51 a year, a 6.90% yield at its $7.39 share price. The next ex-dividend date is Nov 20, 2026, paid Dec 4, 2026. It has a dividend safety grade of B.

Forward Yield

6.90%

Annual Dividend

$0.51

Payout Ratio

82%

5-Yr Growth

6.1%

Ex-Date

Nov 20, 2026

Frequency

Monthly

Key facts about FT's dividend

Data as of Nov 8, 2026 · Source: SmarterDividends data

As of Nov 8, 2026, Franklin Universal Trust (FT) has a forward dividend yield of 6.90%, based on an annual dividend of $0.51 per share and a share price of $7.39.
As of Nov 8, 2026, FT's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is B (76 out of 100), which rates the dividend as safe.
FT last cut its regular dividend in 2017.
FT's next ex-dividend date is Nov 20, 2026, with payment on Dec 4, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
As of Nov 8, 2026, FT pays out 82% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
FT's dividend has grown at an average rate of 6.1% a year over the past five years.
As of Nov 8, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for FT is $11.72 per share, 59% above the $7.39 share price, so FT screens as undervalued.
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) pays its dividend monthly, 12 times a year.
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) has raised its regular dividend 12 times and cut it 10 times across the 455 payments on record since 1988. Its most recent change was a 34.4% increase to $0.0430 per share, going ex-dividend on May 27, 2021. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jan 30, 2020.

Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "FT Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Nov 8, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/FT

Is FT a good dividend stock?

Yes

Franklin Universal Trust (FT) pays a monthly dividend yielding 6.90% ($0.51/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

Strong 6.1% 5-yr dividend growth

Risks

Cut its dividend in 2017
Share price is down over the past 5 years

Key Data

Dividend Yield: 6.90%
Payout Ratio: 82%
Annual Dividend: $0.51
5-Yr Avg Growth: 6.1%
Ex-Dividend Date: Nov 20, 2026
Years of Growth: 0
Frequency: monthly
Beta: 0.64
Market Cap: $185.7M
P/E Ratio: 11.9
5-Yr Total Return: -10%
52-Week Range: $6.95 – $8.35
Dividend Safety: B · 76/100
Ever Cut?: Yes (2017)

FT dividend raises and cuts

Franklin Universal Trust (FT) has raised its regular dividend 12 times and cut it 10 times across the 455 payments on record since 1988. Its most recent change was a 34.4% increase to $0.0430 per share, going ex-dividend on May 27, 2021. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jan 30, 2020.

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
May 27, 2021	Raise	$0.0320 → $0.0430	+34.4%
Jan 30, 2020	Cut	$0.0330 → $0.0320	−3.0%
Dec 30, 2019	Raise	$0.0320 → $0.0330	+3.1%
Aug 29, 2016	Cut	$0.0400 → $0.0320	−20.0%
Oct 29, 2013	Raise	$0.0380 → $0.0400	+5.3%
Jan 27, 2006	Raise	$0.0350 → $0.0380	+8.6%
Jan 27, 2005	Raise	$0.0300 → $0.0350	+16.7%
Sep 26, 2003	Raise	$0.0230 → $0.0300	+30.4%
May 13, 2003	Cut	$0.0460 → $0.0230	−50.0%
Dec 11, 2002	Cut	$0.0590 → $0.0460	−22.0%
Nov 13, 2002	Raise	$0.0580 → $0.0590	+1.7%
Jul 11, 2002	Cut	$0.0670 → $0.0580	−13.4%

Show all 22 changes since 1991

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Jan 9, 1995	Cut	$0.0730 → $0.0670	−8.2%
Dec 9, 1994	Raise	$0.0670 → $0.0730	+9.0%
Apr 11, 1994	Raise	$0.0660 → $0.0670	+1.5%
Jan 10, 1994	Cut	$0.0670 → $0.0660	−1.5%
Nov 8, 1993	Raise	$0.0660 → $0.0670	+1.5%
Oct 8, 1993	Raise	$0.0620 → $0.0660	+6.5%
Oct 8, 1992	Raise	$0.0610 → $0.0620	+1.6%
Mar 9, 1992	Cut	$0.0700 → $0.0610	−12.9%
Jan 9, 1992	Cut	$0.0790 → $0.0700	−11.4%
Jan 9, 1991	Cut	$0.0930 → $0.0790	−15.1%

Every FT payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)

FT ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Nov 20, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →FT dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →FT dividend calculator100 shares pay $51.00 a year, $4.25 each monthCalculate →FT total return calculatorWhat $10,000 became, with dividends reinvested or taken as cashSee →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FT a good dividend stock?

Yes. Franklin Universal Trust (FT) pays a monthly dividend yielding 6.90% ($0.51/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is FT undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, FT's fair value is about $11.72 versus a $7.39 share price — so it looks undervalued (+59% vs. fair value).

Is FT's dividend safe?

FT has a dividend-safety grade of B (76/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 0-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2017, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is FT's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for FT is about $11.72 per share, roughly 59% above the current $7.39 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is FT a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data FT screens as "yes" and undervalued. Franklin Universal Trust (FT) pays a monthly dividend yielding 6.90% ($0.51/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will FT cut its dividend?

FT earns a dividend-safety grade of B (76/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2017). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does FT pay a dividend?

Yes. Franklin Universal Trust pays a monthly dividend of about $0.51 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 6.90%.

How much dividend does 100 shares of FT pay?

At $0.51 per share a year, 100 shares of FT pay $51.00 a year in dividends before tax, about $4.25 each month. Buying them costs about $739 at the Nov 8, 2026 price.

What is FT's dividend yield?

As of Nov 8, 2026, FT's forward dividend yield is 6.90%, based on a $0.51 annual dividend and a $7.39 share price.

What is FT's dividend per share?

As of Nov 8, 2026, FT pays $0.51 per share per year, distributed on a monthly basis.

What is FT's dividend payout ratio?

As of Nov 8, 2026, FT's payout ratio is 82% of trailing 12-month earnings — a moderate level that's generally sustainable.

How many years has FT grown its dividend?

FT does not currently have a long dividend-growth streak on record.

When is the next FT ex-dividend date?

As of Nov 8, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for FT is Nov 20, 2026.

Dividend Growth

Total dividends per share by year

Dividend History

Full FT dividend history →

Ex-Date	Pay Date	Amount	Type
Oct 23, 2026	Oct 30, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Sep 23, 2026	Sep 30, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Aug 24, 2026	Aug 31, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Jul 24, 2026	Jul 31, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Jun 23, 2026	Jun 30, 2026	$0.0430	regular
May 21, 2026	May 29, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Apr 23, 2026	Apr 30, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Mar 24, 2026	Mar 31, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Feb 20, 2026	Feb 27, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Jan 23, 2026	Jan 30, 2026	$0.0430	regular
Dec 15, 2025	Dec 31, 2025	$0.0430	regular
Nov 17, 2025	Nov 28, 2025	$0.0430	regular
Oct 17, 2025	Oct 31, 2025	$0.0430	regular
Sep 18, 2025	Sep 30, 2025	$0.0430	regular