Ellsworth Growth & Income Fund

ECF

Market cap $169M

The Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund and its preferred stock offer stability amid market uncertainty with diversified sector exposure and qualified dividends. ECF.PR.A carries an A1 Moody's credit rating, a current yield above 6%, and benefits from robust regulatory coverage under the 1940 Act. ECF trades at a near 9% discount to NAV, with a 9.10% TTM dividend yield and positive 1- and 3-year z-scores, supporting its income appeal.

This month's top 10 closed-end funds (CEFs) offer an average yield of 9.5% and strong long-term performance across diverse asset classes. For income investors, closed-end funds remain an attractive investment class that covers various asset classes and promises high distributions and reasonable total returns. Closed-end funds, or CEFs, are generally characterized by higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than the broader market. For these reasons, they are not suited for everyone.

RYE, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American:ECF) (the “Fund”) declared a $0.41 per share cash distribution payable on December 30, 2025, to common shareholders of record on November 24, 2025.

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund has recently been outperforming peers and the S&P 500, yet continues to trade at an attractive double-digit discount. ECF's portfolio shifted a bit to higher allocations of strong performers such as AVGO, MP, and BE, helping to drive strong returns. Despite a modest distribution yield, realized capital gains suggest a decent chance for a sizeable year-end special payout.

RYE, N.Y., Aug. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American: ECF) (the “Fund”) declared a $0.16 per share cash distribution payable on September 23, 2025 to common shareholders of record on September 16, 2025.

RYE, N.Y., Aug. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American: ECF) (the “Fund”) increased the quarterly distribution to $0.19 per share. The increased quarterly distributions will commence with the distribution payable in December 2025. This is a 20% increase from $0.16 per share, bringing the annualized distribution rate to $0.76 from $0.64 per share. The increase reflects the strength of the Fund's NAV total return of 18% year to date.

The Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund offers a balanced risk-return profile, with a diversified portfolio of 92 holdings and top investments in tech names. The fund trades at an 11.65% discount to NAV, presenting an attractive entry point for value-focused investors seeking discounted assets. Leverage is moderate at 16%, sourced solely from preferred shares, which helps manage risk while enhancing return potential.

June saw strong tech-led gains, which helped to drive the broader equity indexes to new all-time highs. This was a continuation of what we saw last month, further bouncing off those lows we saw in April. With that said, I still do some buying every month to help compound and generate a growing stream of cash flow going forward.

ECF offers a unique blend of equities and convertible securities, delivering both capital appreciation and a high 6.6% yield for income-focused investors. The fund's price remains sensitive to high-interest rates, which suppresses growth potential; future rate cuts could be a catalyst, but aren't expected soon. ECF consistently trades at a discount to NAV, reflecting reliance on realized gains over net investment income, and underperforms its top holdings on total return.

We review the CEF market valuation and performance through the third week of May and highlight recent market action. CEF sector valuations have tightened, making current entry points less attractive. CLO Equity NAVs have dipped for the second month; however, valuations remain expensive.