Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

EVT

Market cap $1.9B

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund is a diversified, large-cap equity CEF focused on consistent monthly dividends. EVT employs modest leverage (~18%), maintains a conservative sector allocation, and has a high expense ratio (2.27%, 1.11% ex-interest). Dividend payouts have been stable, but recent performance lags tech-heavy benchmarks; NAV discounts are limited (~8%).

The rebound that began in April on stock markets around the world is leading to a positive double-digit year-end close for Wall Street. This increase has been partially reflected in my portfolio, which focuses on high-dividend securities, showing a gain of more than 6% against the cost basis. In addition, there has been a recent flurry of positive news regarding various special year-end distributions announced by several funds in my portfolio.

Eaton Vance's top taxable closed-end funds offer attractive yields, discounts to NAV, and strong long-term returns, making them appealing for income-focused investors. Current market volatility has widened discounts to NAV, creating buying opportunities which I highlight in the article. I prioritize funds trading at an 8%+ yield and significant NAV discounts, with a preference for those using tax-advantaged strategies and diversified asset mixes.

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund remains a strong buy, trading at one of its most attractive discounts to NAV in a decade. EVT offers an 8% dividend yield, monthly payouts, and a diversified portfolio focused on tax-advantaged income from equities and preferreds. While EVT underperforms broad market indexes like SPY in total return, it excels in delivering consistent, tax-efficient income for long-term investors.

For those who adopt a dividend strategy, having a “thermometer” with which to measure the real performance of our stocks is an immense advantage. This thermometer is NAV, a simple line on a graph that anyone can observe and understand without the need for calculations or interpretations. If it grows over the years, it means that the security earned its distributions: if it goes down, it means that it paid them at the expense of NAV.

Closed-end funds (CEFs) are the last bargains left on the board. CEFs are often confused with mutual funds and ETFs, but they are different because they often trade at discounts to their net asset values (NAVs).

Explore three tax-efficient, high-yield funds suitable for investors of all ages seeking income and lower tax implications in taxable accounts. DNP Select Income Fund offers stable, monthly dividends (7.8% yield) with a focus on essential utilities and a long history of capital preservation. Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund provides an 8.1% yield, equity exposure, and capital preservation, with most distributions as long-term capital gains.

The Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund offers a compelling value-oriented alternative to tech-heavy markets, with a strong allocation to financials and some fixed-income exposure for diversification. The fund's -8.29% discount remains attractive for long-term investors, with borrowing costs easing and further cuts expected. The distribution yield is healthy at 8.34%, supported by a balanced payout policy and tax-advantaged income through long-term capital gains and qualified dividends.

Caring about dividends can increase our returns, but caring about NAV can save our portfolio. Return and NAV protection must go hand in hand, because there can be no sustainable return without protecting the value of the underlying assets. As far as I am concerned, the way to protect my portfolio is to favor only securities with a positive NAV over time.

With the month of July closing out, we are once again seeing the broader equity markets pushing to new all-time highs. As we enter into new all-time highs, we appear to be looking quite stretched on valuations, and CEF discounts have been narrowing.