Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE) Stock Price & How to Invest
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
Franklin Electric (FELE) is a steady, profitable water-and-fluid systems manufacturer that trades like a quality industrial compounder, so investors typically approach it as a durable dividend-growth holding rather than a fast mover, watching the premium valuation on entry.
FELE stock price
As of 2026-07-17, Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE) last closed at $105.66, up 16.3% over the past year. Over the past 52 weeks it has traded between $89.89 and $109.86.
Prices are daily closing prices from Yahoo Finance and may be delayed. For the live quote, check your broker or Franklin Electric Co., Inc.'s investor relations page. Walnut is informational, not investment advice.
What does Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE) do?
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (Nasdaq: FELE) is a global manufacturer and distributor of systems that move and manage water, fuel, and electricity. The business runs through three segments: Water Systems (submersible motors, pumps, and drives, roughly 60% of revenue), Energy Systems (fueling infrastructure and monitoring), and a Distribution arm (the Headwater business serving contractors). Its products sit in essential, often non-discretionary end markets such as groundwater pumping, agriculture, wastewater, and fuel dispensing, which gives revenue a defensive, replacement-driven backbone.
The investment picture is one of a well-run, mid-cap industrial that grows through a mix of volume, pricing, and bolt-on acquisitions rather than dramatic swings. Q1 2026 sales rose about 10% to ~$500 million with all three segments growing, and management held full-year 2026 guidance for roughly $2.17 billion to $2.24 billion in sales and adjusted EPS around $4.40 to $4.60. The company has a long record of dividend increases and recently stood up a Value Acceleration Office to push margins using 80/20 principles. The trade-off for that consistency is a premium valuation, so the return debate centers on whether steady mid-single to low-double-digit growth supports a low-30s earnings multiple.
What's driving Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)?
1. Essential water infrastructure demand
Roughly 60% of revenue comes from Water Systems tied to groundwater, agriculture, and wastewater, markets driven by replacement cycles and long-run water scarcity rather than the economic cycle alone. This gives Franklin Electric a relatively resilient volume base. Global exposure across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific spreads the demand geographically.
2. Pricing power plus margin program
In Q1 2026 price contributed just over 30% and volume just under 30% of sales growth, showing the company can push pricing through its channel. The new Value Acceleration Office is targeting lasting margin improvement using 80/20 and process engineering. Success here would lift operating leverage as volumes grow.
3. Distribution scale and bolt-on M&A
The Headwater distribution business consolidates a fragmented groundwater and water-treatment distribution market, adding scale and pulling through Franklin's own products. Management continues to fund tuck-in acquisitions from strong cash flow. This roll-up gives a repeatable, self-funded growth lever alongside organic demand.
4. Durable dividend growth
Franklin Electric has a multi-decade record of annual dividend increases, raising the rate above 5% to $1.12 for 2026. The payout ratio remains modest, leaving room for continued growth. That makes the stock a candidate for investors prioritizing rising income over headline yield, which sits near 1.1%.
What are the risks to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)?
Tariffs and higher material costs pressured gross margin, which fell about 100 basis points to 35% in Q1 2026, and cost inflation could persist. The premium valuation (a P/E in the low 30s) leaves little cushion if growth slows or a guidance cut appears. End markets like agriculture and construction are cyclical and sensitive to interest rates, commodity prices, and weather. Roughly 40% of revenue is international, so a strong dollar and foreign demand swings weigh on results. Acquisition-led growth also carries integration and overpayment risk.
How is Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE) valued? (approximate, July 2026)
A simple financial snapshot. These are approximations and refresh quarterly; for current figures see Franklin Electric Co., Inc.'s investor relations page or your broker.
- Revenue (TTM): ~$2.1B
- 2026 sales guidance: ~$2.17B-$2.24B
- 2026 adj. EPS guidance: ~$4.40-$4.60
- Market cap: ~$4.5B
- P/E ratio: ~31x
- Dividend (annual): ~$1.12 (yield ~1.1%)
Franklin Electric trades at a P/E in the low 30s, a premium to the broader market that reflects its quality, consistency, and defensive water exposure. Q1 2026 delivered record adjusted EPS of $0.83 and 10% sales growth, beating consensus, yet gross margin slipped on tariff-driven material costs. The valuation prices in continued steady execution, so the debate is quality-at-a-price rather than deep value.
Who competes with Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)?
Water and pump systems peers
Pentair, Xylem, and Grundfos compete directly in pumps, submersible motors, and broad water technology. Pentair and Xylem are larger, publicly traded water players, while Grundfos is a large private Danish pump maker. Goulds (owned by Xylem) is a direct rival in submersible well pumps.
Broad flow and fluid-handling industrials
Flowserve, ITT, Sulzer, and Ebara make pumps, valves, and flow-control equipment across industrial and infrastructure markets. They overlap with Franklin's Water and Energy Systems in industrial and municipal applications, competing on engineering, reliability, and global service networks.
Fueling and energy infrastructure
In Energy Systems, Franklin competes with fueling-equipment and monitoring providers such as Dover (OPW) and Gilbarco Veeder-Root for underground pumps, dispensers, and tank-monitoring systems serving retail fuel stations.
How to invest in Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)
There are three common ways to get FELE exposure. Buy shares (or fractional shares) directly at any major broker. Hold an ETF that includes it, which spreads the position across many companies. Or build it into a focused thematic basket, so FELE sits alongside other stocks that express the same thesis.
Walnut takes the basket route. Describe a thesis where FELE fits (for example “AI infrastructure” or “dividend-growth large-caps”) and the AI proposes 5 to 6 constituents with target weights. You review the plan and fund it through your own broker when you're ready.
The bottom line on Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)
FELE offers consistent execution and reliable dividend growth in an unglamorous but essential niche, with the main tension being whether that quality justifies a well-above-market earnings multiple.
More on Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (FELE)
Whether FELE is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, what would have to go right, and the risks in is FELE a buy?, and where the stock could go from here in the FELE stock forecast.
For income investors, whether FELE pays a dividend and how the payout looks is covered in does FELE pay a dividend?
Build a basket around FELE with Walnut
Use Franklin Electric Co., Inc. as one constituent in a thematic basket Walnut's AI helps you assemble. Describe a thesis you believe in, the AI proposes the holdings and weights, and you approve before any broker order.
FAQ
What does Franklin Electric do?
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It manufactures and distributes systems that move and manage water, fuel, and electricity. Core products include submersible motors, pumps, drives, and fueling and monitoring equipment, sold through Water Systems, Energy Systems, and a Distribution segment.
Is FELE a water stock?
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Largely yes. Water Systems is roughly 60% of revenue, tied to groundwater, agriculture, and wastewater. That gives FELE meaningful exposure to long-run water demand, though it also has Energy (fueling) and Distribution operations.
Does Franklin Electric pay a dividend?
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Yes. FELE has a long record of annual dividend increases and raised its 2026 rate above 5% to about $1.12 per share, a yield near 1.1%. The payout ratio is modest, so it is viewed as a dividend-growth name rather than a high-yield one.
How did FELE perform in Q1 2026?
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Sales rose about 10% to roughly $500 million with all three segments growing, and adjusted EPS hit a record $0.83, beating consensus. Gross margin slipped about 100 basis points to 35% on tariff-related material costs.
What is FELE's 2026 outlook?
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Management held full-year 2026 guidance of roughly $2.17 billion to $2.24 billion in sales and adjusted EPS of about $4.40 to $4.60, supported by volume, pricing, and acquisition contributions across its segments.
Who competes with Franklin Electric?
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Its main pump and water peers are Pentair, Xylem (including Goulds), and Grundfos. Broader flow-control rivals include Flowserve, ITT, Sulzer, and Ebara, while its fueling business competes with Dover (OPW) and Gilbarco Veeder-Root.
Why does FELE trade at a high valuation?
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Its P/E in the low 30s reflects a premium for consistent execution, defensive water exposure, and a strong dividend record. The risk is that a rich multiple leaves little cushion if growth slows or margins stay pressured.
What are the main risks with FELE?
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Key risks include tariff and material-cost pressure on margins, cyclicality in agriculture and construction end markets, foreign-currency and international demand swings on roughly 40% of revenue, and the elevated valuation relative to its growth rate.
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Financial figures on this page are approximations; always verify current numbers with Franklin Electric Co., Inc.'s investor relations page or your broker before making investment decisions.