Investment objective & strategy
As of July 28, 2025 · prospectusObjective. Income and capital appreciation with an emphasis on lower volatility.
Strategy. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics and provide investment exposure similar to equity securities. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, and securities convertible into common stocks, as well as equity-related instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics. The Fund seeks income by investing in equity securities and equity-related instruments, including common stocks with dividend yields that the investment manager believes are attractive, while seeking capital appreciation and a lower level of volatility than the broader equity market as measured by the S&P 500 Index . Volatility is a statistical measurement of the frequency and level of up … Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics and provide investment exposure similar to equity securities. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, and securities convertible into common stocks, as well as equity-related instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics. The Fund seeks income by investing in equity securities and equity-related instruments, including common stocks with dividend yields that the investment manager believes are attractive, while seeking capital appreciation and a lower level of volatility than the broader equity market as measured by the S&P 500 Index . Volatility is a statistical measurement of the frequency and level of up and down fluctuations of a funds returns over time. Therefore, in this context, seeking to provide a lower level of volatility than the broader equity market means that the Fund seeks returns that fluctuate less than the returns of the S&P 500 Index . The Fund may invest up to 50% of its assets in equity-linked notes (ELNs). ELNs are hybrid instruments that are specially designed to combine the characteristics of one or more reference securities ( usually a common stock or broad market equity index) and a related equity derivative, such as a put or call option, in a single note form. The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign securities, either directly or through depositary receipts. The Fund maintains the flexibility to invest in securities of companies from a variety of sectors, but from time to time, based on economic conditions, the Fund may have significant investments in particular sectors. The Fund may, from time to time, use a variety of equity-related derivatives and complex equity securities, which may include purchasing or selling call and put options on equity securities and equity security indices, futures on equity securities and equity indices, and options on equity index futures and equity volatility futures for various purposes including enhancing Fund returns, increasing liquidity, gaining exposure to particular instruments in more efficient or less expensive ways and/or hedging risks relating to changes in certain equity markets. The Fund also may, from time to time, use currency-related derivatives, such as forward foreign currency exchange contracts and currency futures contracts to hedge currency risks. The use of such derivative transactions may allow the Fund to obtain net long or net short exposures to selected markets. The investment manager considers various factors, such as availability and cost, in deciding whether to use a particular derivative instrument or strategy. Moreover, investors should bear in mind that the Fund is not obligated to actively engage in any derivative transactions. The Funds investment manager searches for undervalued or out-of-favor securities it believes offer opportunities for current income and significant growth potential. In analyzing equity securities, the investment manager considers a variety of factors, including: a securitys relative value based on such factors as anticipated cash flow, interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage, and earnings prospects; the experience and strength of the companys management; the companys changing financial condition and market recognition of the change; the companys sensitivity to changes in interest rates and business conditions; and the companys debt maturity schedules and borrowing requirements. When choosing investments for the Fund, the investment manager applies a fundamental, income-oriented approach, focusing on the market price of a companys securities relative to the investment managers evaluation of the companys long-term earnings, asset value and cash flow potential. The investment manager also considers a companys price/earnings ratio, profit margins and liquidation value.
Top holdings
As of March 31, 2026 · N-PORT| Security | Ticker | Value | % of fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXXON MOBIL CORP | — | $4.74M | 4.19% |
| CHEVRON CORP | — | $4.09M | 3.61% |
| PEPSICO INC | — | $3.43M | 3.03% |
| VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC | — | $3.12M | 2.76% |
| Franklin Institutional US Government Money Market Fund | INFXX | $3.12M | 2.75% |
| SOUTHERN CO | — | $3.11M | 2.75% |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | — | $3.02M | 2.67% |
| PROCTER & GAMBLE | — | $2.95M | 2.61% |
| JOHNSON CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL PLC | — | $2.87M | 2.54% |
| RIO TINTO PLC SPON ADR | RIO US | $2.55M | 2.25% |
Portfolio moves
Dec 31, 2025 → Mar 31, 2026How many positions this fund opened, exited, grew, trimmed, or left unchanged between its two most recent N-PORT snapshots — net changes between point-in-time reports, not a trade log.
Similar funds
Funds whose portfolios most overlap this one, by weight| Fund | Overlap | Net exp. |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Income Focus ETF | 34% | 0.38% |
| Franklin Managed Income Fund · FBLAX, FBMCX, FBFQX, FBFZX, FBFRX | 33% | 0.59% |
| Touchstone ETF Trust-Touchstone Dividend Select ETF · DVND | 31% | 0.50% |
Advisers
| Firm | Role |
|---|---|
| Franklin Advisers, Inc. | Adviser |
Footnotes
- Expense ratio as of July 28, 2025, from the fund's prospectus.
- Net assets and holdings count as of March 31, 2026, from the fund's N-PORT filing.
- Total return for calendar year 2025, before tax and after fund expenses. Computed by compounding the twelve monthly total returns the fund reported in its SEC N-PORT filings for 2025 (the latest prospectus does not yet chart this year).
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