Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) Short Interest Update

Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 74,498 shares, a decrease of 30.6% from the January 29th total of 107,414 shares. Approximately 1.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 37,030 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Based on an average trading volume of 37,030 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 1.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kimberly Rzomp sold 1,500 shares of Franklin Financial Services stock in a transaction on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.07, for a total transaction of $81,105.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 5,842 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $315,876.94. The trade was a 20.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 6.93% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FRAF. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey acquired a new stake in Franklin Financial Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in Franklin Financial Services by 69.2% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 863 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in Franklin Financial Services by 84.1% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 950 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in Franklin Financial Services during the third quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new position in Franklin Financial Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $79,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 24.80% of the company’s stock.

Franklin Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of FRAF traded down $0.31 on Friday, reaching $51.48. 30,288 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 32,198. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $50.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.91. Franklin Financial Services has a 12 month low of $32.39 and a 12 month high of $59.95. The firm has a market cap of $230.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.86 and a beta of -0.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Franklin Financial Services (NASDAQ:FRAF) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Franklin Financial Services had a return on equity of 13.40% and a net margin of 15.90%.The company had revenue of $23.31 million during the quarter.

Franklin Financial Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 6th were paid a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. Franklin Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Franklin Financial Services in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Franklin Financial Services presently has a consensus rating of “Buy”.

Franklin Financial Services Company Profile

Franklin Financial Services, Inc (NASDAQ: FRAF) is a U.S.‐listed specialty finance company that makes and acquires secured loans, with a focus on asset-based lending and mortgage warehouse financing. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, FFS Investment Company, a Maryland corporation regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Franklin Financial provides revolving lines of credit, term loans and other credit facilities secured primarily by residential and commercial mortgage loans, receivables and inventory.