Franklin Financial Services Co. (NASDAQ:FRAF) Short Interest Up 48.8% in February

Franklin Financial Services Co. (NASDAQ:FRAF) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 6,100 shares, an increase of 48.8% from the February 13th total of 4,100 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 11,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Franklin Financial Services Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of FRAF stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $35.90. 10,894 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,092. Franklin Financial Services has a 1 year low of $25.11 and a 1 year high of $38.41. The company’s 50 day moving average is $34.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market cap of $158.53 million, a PE ratio of 14.42 and a beta of 0.25.

Franklin Financial Services (NASDAQ:FRAF) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter. Franklin Financial Services had a return on equity of 7.91% and a net margin of 9.64%.

Franklin Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.57%. Franklin Financial Services’s payout ratio is currently 51.41%.

Insider Activity

In other Franklin Financial Services news, President Craig W. Best purchased 6,756 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $37.00 per share, with a total value of $249,972.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 15,606 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $577,422. This trade represents a 76.34 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Gregory A. Duffey purchased 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $33.90 per share, with a total value of $101,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 23,782 shares in the company, valued at $806,209.80. The trade was a 14.44 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 9,786 shares of company stock valued at $352,784. Insiders own 6.93% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Franklin Financial Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Barclays PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Franklin Financial Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Franklin Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at $65,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Franklin Financial Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $205,000. PL Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Franklin Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at $385,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Franklin Financial Services by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 31,672 shares of the company’s stock valued at $954,000 after purchasing an additional 1,608 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.80% of the company’s stock.

About Franklin Financial Services

Franklin Financial Services Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Farmers and Merchants Trust Company of Chambersburg that provides commercial, retail banking, and trust services to businesses, individuals, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations in Pennsylvania. It offers various deposit products, including checking, savings, money management, and time deposit accounts, as well as demand deposits.