FT (Franklin Universal Trust) Moat Score: 2/10 (As of Aug. 30, 2026)

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FT Franklin Universal Trust FT
30 GF Score
Price $7.73
! 7 Warning Signs
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What is Franklin Universal Trust Moat Score?

Franklin Universal Trust FT -0.26% 30 Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 30, 2026. GuruFocus rates FT with a GF Score™ of 30/100. The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,687 Asset Management companies, Franklin Universal Trust ranks better than 79.96% on this metric.

Franklin Universal Trust has the Moat Score of 2, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Franklin Universal Trust has No Moat: Franklin Universal Trust lacks significant competitive advantages. It operates in a highly competitive financial sector with no discernible market leadership, network effects, or proprietary technology that would provide a sustainable edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Franklin Universal Trust might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Franklin Universal Trust  (NYSE:FT) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Franklin Universal Trust Moat Score Related Terms

FT vs ETX, SCM, IDE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Asset Management subindustry, Franklin Universal Trust's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Franklin Universal Trust Moat Score vs Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, Franklin Universal Trust's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Franklin Universal Trust's Moat Score falls into.


FT
30GF Score
Franklin Universal Trust FT
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 2 mean?
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) has a Moat Score of 2 as of Aug. 30, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Franklin Universal Trust ranks #338 out of 1687 companies in the Asset Management industry, placing it in the top 20%.
Is Franklin Universal Trust's Moat Score too high?
Franklin Universal Trust's current Moat Score is 2. Based on the distribution chart, Franklin Universal Trust ranks #338 out of 1687 companies in the Asset Management industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Franklin Universal Trust has a GF Score™ of 30/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Franklin Universal Trust's Moat Score compare to ETX and SCM?
According to the Asset Management industry distribution chart, Franklin Universal Trust ranks #338 out of 1687 companies for Moat Score. This places Franklin Universal Trust in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Asset Management company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Asset Management industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Franklin Universal Trust's current Moat Score is 2. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Franklin Universal Trust stock overvalued right now?
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) has a current Moat Score of 2. The current Moat Score is 2. Franklin Universal Trust's overall GF Score™ is 30/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Franklin Universal Trust (FT), the current Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 30, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Franklin Universal Trust Business Description

Address One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA, USA, 94403-1906
Franklin Universal Trust is a closed-end management investment company focused on providing high current income while preserving capital. Its secondary objective is to achieve income growth through dividend increases and capital appreciation. The fund invests in two asset classes: high-yield bonds and utility stocks. It applies fundamental research to build a diversified high-yield bond portfolio and targets utility companies with attractive dividend yields and a history of increasing dividends.
30GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

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