Fund Evaluator:
Franklin Small Cap Value A (FRVLX)
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Fund Details
Franklin Small Cap Value A Overview
Franklin Small Cap Value A (FRVLX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Small Value fund. Franklin Templeton Investments launched the fund in 1996.
The investment seeks long-term total return. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in investments of small-capitalization (small-cap) companies. Small-cap companies are companies with market capitalizations not exceeding either: 1) the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000 Index; or 2) the 12-month average of the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000 Index. It generally invests in equity securities that the fund's investment manager believes are undervalued at the time of purchase and have the potential for capital appreciation. It may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities.
About Franklin Small Cap Value A (FRVLX)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.70 years: Steven Raineri (2012), Christopher Meeker (2015), Nicholas Karzon (2019). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: Russell 3000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Russell 2000 Value TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Franklin Small Cap Value A has 99 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 28.8% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Franklin Small Cap Value A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. Franklin Small Cap Value A has 14.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 82.0%. There is 14.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Franklin Small Cap Value A has 3.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is above the $417 million average for the Small Value category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
FRVLX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Franklin Small Cap Value A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Small Value category. Franklin Small Cap Value A has an expense ratio of 0.97%, which is 17% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Franklin Small Cap Value A has a portfolio turnover rate of 52%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 128% for the Small Value category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Franklin Small Cap Value A returned 1.3%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Small Value category had an average return of -0.4%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Franklin Small Cap Value A has a trailing yield of 0.81%, which is above the 0.77% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Franklin Small Cap Value A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 22.6%, 2.5 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 31.2% over the past year (grade of C), 14.5% over the past three years (grade of B) and 9.4% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 10.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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FRVLX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| FRVLX Return (NAV) | 1.3% | 7.3% | 31.2% | 14.5% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| FRVLX Grade | B | B | C | B | B | B |
| +/- Category | 1.6% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Small Value Avg | -0.4% | 6.4% | 30.6% | 13.4% | 9.1% | 9.9% |
| FRVLX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.9% |
FRVLX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| FRVLX Return (NAV) | 22.6% | 7.3% | 11.3% | 12.9% | -10.2% | 25.5% | 5.4% | 26.0% | -12.7% | 10.6% | 29.6% |
| FRVLX Grade | B | C | B | D | C | F | B | B | B | C | B |
| +/- Category | 2.5% | 0.7% | 1.6% | -2.9% | 0.1% | -4.8% | 1.3% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 0.4% | 4.9% |
| Small Value Avg | 20.1% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 15.8% | -10.3% | 30.3% | 4.1% | 23.0% | -14.7% | 10.2% | 24.7% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 18.6% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.51 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.02 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | D (61% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.02 |
| R-Squared: | 51% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Small-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.8% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $4291 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $1,272 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 53% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 14.1 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Raineri Steven (2012), Meeker Christopher (2015), Karzon Nicholas (2019) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 99 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 28.8% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 14.3% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 82.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 14.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 3.7% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Franklin Templeton Investments |
| Phone Number: | 800-342-5236 |
| Website: | www.franklintempleton.com |
| Status: | Closed |
| Inception Date: | March 11, 1996 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 250 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.50% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.97% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.17% |
| Share Class: | Franklin Small Cap Value A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
