Franklin Templeton Announces Distributions for Certain Closed-End Funds for the Months of January, February and March 2026

Key Terms

closed-end funds financial

A closed-end fund is an investment pool that raises a fixed amount of money by issuing a set number of shares, which then trade on an exchange like stocks. Unlike bank-style mutual funds that buy or sell shares on demand, its market price can sit above or below the fund’s per-share value of holdings (like a used-car market price versus the sticker price), so investors should watch both the traded price and the underlying asset value for potential bargains or risks.

net investment income financial

Net investment income is the money an investor or fund actually keeps from its investments after subtracting the costs of running those investments (like management fees, interest, and losses). Think of it as your paycheck from owning assets: gross returns minus the bills needed to earn them. Investors watch it because it shows how profitable the investment activities are, influences dividend payouts and cash available for growth, and helps compare true performance across funds or companies.

return of capital financial

Return of capital is when an investor receives money from their investment that is not considered profit or earnings but rather a portion of the original amount they invested. It’s similar to getting back part of your initial savings rather than gains from it. This matters because it can affect how much money an investor still has in the investment and may have tax implications.

net asset value financial

Net asset value is the total value of an investment fund's assets minus any liabilities, divided by the number of shares or units outstanding. It represents the per-share worth of the fund, similar to how the value of a house is determined by its total worth after debts are subtracted. Investors use it to gauge the true value of their holdings and to compare different investment options.

Form 1099-DIV regulatory

Form 1099-DIV is a U.S. tax document brokers, mutual funds and other financial institutions send to investors showing dividends and other distributions paid during the year. Investors use it like an annual receipt to report taxable income — including regular dividends, dividends that may qualify for lower tax rates, and capital gains distributions — so it directly affects tax liability and helps reconcile brokerage records with a tax return.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Franklin Templeton announced today that certain closed-end funds have declared their distributions for the next three months.

Month	Record Date	Ex-Dividend Date	Payable Date
January	1/23/2026	1/23/2026	1/30/2026
February	2/20/2026	2/20/2026	2/27/2026
March	3/24/2026	3/24/2026	3/31/2026

Ticker	Fund Name	Month	Amount	Change from Previous Distribution
FT	Franklin Universal Trust	January	$0.0425	-
		February	$0.0425
		March	$0.0425

This press release is not for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount of each Fund’s distributions that have been declared by the Board of Directors. If it is estimated that the source of a monthly distribution includes anything other than net investment income, each Fund will provide notice to shareholders containing the estimated sources of the distribution. These notices can be found on each Fund’s website. In early 2027, after definitive information is available, each Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV, if applicable, specifying how the distributions paid by each Fund during the prior calendar year should be characterized for purposes of reporting the distributions on a shareholder’s tax return (e.g., ordinary income, long-term capital gain or return of capital).

For more information about the Funds, please call 1-888-777-0102 or consult the Funds’ website at www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/closed-end-funds. Hard copies of the Funds’ complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request.

Data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Franklin Resources and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Funds.

The Funds’ common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Similar to stocks, Fund share price will fluctuate with market conditions and, at the time of sale, may be worth more or less than the original investment. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value, and can increase an investor’s risk of loss. All investments are subject to risk, including the risk of loss.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE

Category: Distribution Related

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113399205/en/

Investor Contact: Fund Investor Services 1-888-777-0102

Source: Franklin Templeton