Fund Evaluator:
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv (FTDZX)
Follow This Fund
Best Performing in Health Over the Last Year
| 62.8% | Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology Z (FIJYX) |
| 62.6% | Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology I (FBTIX) |
| 56.2% | Eventide Healthcare & Life Sciences N (ETNHX) |
| 53.5% | Fidelity Select Biotechnology (FBIOX) |
| 49.5% | Fidelity Select Pharmaceuticals Port (FPHAX) |
Fund Details
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv Overview
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv (FTDZX) is an actively managed Sector Equity Health fund. Franklin Templeton Investments launched the fund in 2009.
The investment seeks capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms. The fund predominantly invests in equity securities. In addition to its investments in biotechnology companies, the fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in equity or debt securities of any type of issuer. It is non-diversified.
About Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv (FTDZX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 17.70 years: Akiva Felt (2020), Evan McCulloch (1997). 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 S&P 500 (TR) (1970) index with a weighting of 100%. Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv has 111 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 35.8% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity fund group. Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv has 5.8% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 91.3%. There is 5.8% allocated to foreign stock, and 1.4% 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 Biotechnology Discovery Adv has 1.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $159 million in total assets, which is below the $884 million average for the Health 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.
FTDZX 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 Biotechnology Discovery Adv expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Health category. Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv has an expense ratio of 0.77%, which is 36% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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 Biotechnology Discovery Adv has a portfolio turnover rate of 21%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 61% for the Health category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Adv returned -2.0%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Health 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 Biotechnology Discovery Adv has a trailing yield of 1.73%, which is above the 0.39% 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 Biotechnology Discovery Adv Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 17.2%, 10.1 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 71.9% over the past year (grade of A), 28.0% over the past three years (grade of A) and 12.1% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 10.8% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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FTDZX 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 |
|
| FTDZX Return (NAV) | -2.0% | 11.9% | 71.9% | 28.0% | 12.1% | 10.8% |
| FTDZX Grade | F | B | A | A | A | B |
| +/- Category | -1.7% | 1.3% | 38.0% | 17.3% | 7.1% | 1.5% |
| Health Avg | -0.4% | 10.7% | 33.9% | 10.7% | 5.0% | 9.3% |
| FTDZX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% |
FTDZX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| FTDZX Return (NAV) | 17.2% | 52.7% | 4.3% | 18.7% | -12.4% | -17.5% | 30.2% | 35.2% | -15.5% | 19.1% | -17.0% |
| FTDZX Grade | A | A | B | A | D | F | B | A | F | D | F |
| +/- Category | 10.1% | 32.1% | 1.8% | 13.1% | -3.0% | -26.2% | 5.8% | 6.8% | -15.9% | -4.3% | -6.1% |
| Health Avg | 7.1% | 20.6% | 2.5% | 5.6% | -9.4% | 8.7% | 24.5% | 28.4% | 0.4% | 23.4% | -10.9% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 20.8% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.70 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.30 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (94% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.66 |
| R-Squared: | 16% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Mid-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.7% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $1154 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 159 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Adv |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 22% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 28.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 17.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): McCulloch Evan (1997), Felt Akiva (2020) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 111 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 35.8% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 5.8% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 91.3% |
| Foreign Stock: | 5.8% |
| Preferred Stock: | 1.4% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.5% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Franklin Templeton Investments |
| Phone Number: | 800-342-5236 |
| Website: | www.franklintempleton.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | September 1, 2009 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $100,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.77% ( Rating : Above Avg ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.21% |
| Share Class: | Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
