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. Based on an average daily volume of 11,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Currently, 0.2% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Franklin Financial Services Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of FRAF stock traded up $0.13 on Friday, hitting $35.62. The stock had a trading volume of 24,960 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,077. The business has a 50 day moving average of $34.86 and a 200 day moving average of $32.83. The stock has a market cap of $157.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.31 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Franklin Financial Services has a 12-month low of $25.11 and a 12-month high of $38.41.

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

Franklin Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.59%. Franklin Financial Services’s payout ratio is currently 51.41%.

Insider Activity

In other Franklin Financial Services news, Director Gregory A. Duffey acquired 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $33.90 per share, for a total transaction of $101,700.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 23,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $806,209.80. This represents a 14.44 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Craig W. Best acquired 6,756 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $37.00 per share, for a total transaction of $249,972.00. Following the acquisition, the president now owns 15,606 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $577,422. The trade was a 76.34 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have bought 9,786 shares of company stock valued at $352,784. 6.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Franklin Financial Services

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Barclays PLC bought a new position in Franklin Financial Services during the third quarter worth about $32,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Franklin Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $65,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Franklin Financial Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $205,000. PL Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Franklin Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $385,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of Franklin Financial Services by 5.3% in the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 31,672 shares of the company’s stock valued at $954,000 after acquiring an additional 1,608 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 24.80% of the company’s stock.

Franklin Financial Services Company Profile

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.