WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
UNIVERSAL TRUST AUGUST 31, 2000 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 309,073,237
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 286,134,339
<RECEIVABLES> 9,837,927
<ASSETS-OTHER> 119,412
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 296,091,678
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 75,000,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 349,935
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 75,349,935
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 247,973,253
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 26,897,361
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 26,897,361
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 5,017,339
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (9,309,807)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (22,939,042)
<NET-ASSETS> 220,741,743
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4,775,878
<INTEREST-INCOME> 24,046,276
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (6,947,662)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 21,874,492
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,573,528)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (11,929,553)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,371,411
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (21,625,478)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,541,218)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (18,795,285)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,766,868
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (193,603)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (2,220,927)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> (4,455,000)
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (6,947,662)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 220,532,135
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.910
<PER-SHARE-NII> .810<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.650)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.800)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.060)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.210
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 3.150
<FN>
</FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING EFFECTIVE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1999.
</TABLE>
