Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) Short Interest Up 71.7% in January

Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in 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. Based on an average trading volume of 70,224 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 2.6% of the company’s stock are short sold. Approximately 2.6% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 70,224 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Insider Transactions at Franklin Financial Services

In other news, Director Kimberly Rzomp sold 1,500 shares of the business’s 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 completion of the transaction, the director owned 5,842 shares in the company, valued at $315,876.94. The trade was a 20.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 6.93% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Franklin Financial Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of FRAF. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in shares of Franklin Financial Services by 84.1% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 950 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the period. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Franklin Financial Services by 0.8% in the second quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 64,715 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,241,000 after acquiring an additional 541 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Franklin Financial Services by 18.0% during the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 6,323 shares of the company’s stock worth $291,000 after acquiring an additional 963 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC boosted its position in Franklin Financial Services by 11.4% during the fourth quarter. Nuveen LLC now owns 9,560 shares of the company’s stock worth $480,000 after purchasing an additional 980 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in Franklin Financial Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $46,000. 24.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Franklin Financial Services Price Performance

FRAF stock opened at $49.12 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market cap of $220.06 million, a PE ratio of 10.36 and a beta of -0.08. Franklin Financial Services has a 12 month low of $32.39 and a 12 month high of $59.95. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $51.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $48.07.

Franklin Financial Services (NASDAQ:FRAF) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $23.31 million during the quarter.

Franklin Financial Services Dividend Announcement

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

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.