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

Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 107,414 shares, a growth of 71.7% from the January 15th total of 62,541 shares. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 70,224 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 70,224 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Franklin Financial Services in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy”.

Franklin Financial Services Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ FRAF traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $49.12. 22,936 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 53,042. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $51.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.12. The company has a market cap of $220.01 million, a PE ratio of 10.36 and a beta of -0.08. Franklin Financial Services has a 1-year low of $32.39 and a 1-year high of $59.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current 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 for the quarter. Franklin Financial Services had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 13.40%. The company had revenue of $23.31 million for the quarter.

Franklin Financial Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 6th will be paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 6th. Franklin Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.85%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kimberly Rzomp sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.07, for a total value of $81,105.00. Following the sale, the director owned 5,842 shares in the company, valued at approximately $315,876.94. This represents a 20.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 6.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin Financial Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in Franklin Financial Services by 391,773.0% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 16,125,574 shares of the company’s stock valued at $809,504,000 after purchasing an additional 16,121,459 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Franklin Financial Services by 109.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 98,224 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,401,000 after acquiring an additional 51,407 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Franklin Financial Services by 333.6% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 45,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,575,000 after purchasing an additional 34,982 shares during the last quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA increased its stake in Franklin Financial Services by 2,373.8% during the 3rd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 26,742 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,230,000 after purchasing an additional 25,661 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Informed Momentum Co LLC purchased a new position in shares of Franklin Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth $1,231,000. 24.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.