Here's a look at the Franklin Rising Dividends Fund. The fund specializes in buying the stocks of companies that have consistently increased their dividends and are likely to continue increasing them, based on the assessment of the fund's managers.

TICKER: FRDPX

STOCK INVESTMENT CATEGORY: Large-Cap Blend

YEAR-TO-DATE RETURN: 4.9 percent

S&P 500 TOTAL RETURN: 10.7 percent

5-YEAR ANNUALIZED RETURN: 1.8 percent

S&P 500: 0.9 percent

10-YEAR ANNUALIZED RETURN: 6 percent

S&P 500: 6.6 percent

FUND ASSETS: $7.8 billion

EXPENSE RATIO: 0.99 percent

MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT: $1,000

MANAGERS: Don Taylor, Bruce Baughman, William Lippman, Margaret McGee

RECENT TOP HOLDINGS

— Chevron (5.1 percent of portfolio)

— IBM (4.8 percent)

— Johnson & Johnson (4.7 percent)

— Abbott Laboratories (4.3 percent)

— Wal-Mart Stores (4.1 percent)

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Note: Data through August 1; portfolio holdings as of June 30

Sources: Morningstar, Franklin Templeton Investments