2 Deeply Discounted Closed-End Funds That Don't Deserve To Be

Closed-end funds can often be quite interesting to income-focused investors as they pay out relatively higher distribution yields. Another key factor is that the funds can trade at discount/premiums to the net asset value per share. While some funds perpetually trade at deep discounts, there are reasons to believe that some don't deserve to.

Seeking Alpha • 17 hours ago

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. Increases Quarterly Distribution 16% to $0.22 Per Share From $0.19 Per Share

RYE, N.Y., Aug. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American: ECF) (the “Fund”) declared a $0.22 per share cash distribution payable on September 23, 2026 to common shareholders of record on September 16, 2026. The $0.22 quarterly distribution is a 16% increase from $0.19 per share.

GlobeNewsWire • Aug 12, 2026

ECF: Discount Remains Deep With Activists Holding Significant Stakes

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund trades at an -11% discount with a solid long-term track record and recent outperformance versus the S&P 500. Activist investors, notably Saba Capital Management (~12.3% stake), offer a potential catalyst for discount narrowing or structural changes. ECF's 5.8% yield is lower than peers, but a 19% distribution hike and differentiated portfolio exposure enhance its appeal for income and appreciation.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 26, 2026

ECF: Protective Income From Its Preferred Stock

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund offers a balanced mix of convertible securities and common stocks, targeting both capital growth and current income. ECF trades at a 12.4% discount to NAV, with a 5.73% dividend yield, outperforming peers and benchmarks on a NAV basis over 3 and 10 years. The fund's moderate 13% leverage and sector diversification support its defensive profile, while active management enables tactical upside capture.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 24, 2026

2 Closed-End Fund Buys (1 Sell) In The Month Of May 2026

The equity indexes had another solid month in May, hitting new all-time high levels as tech surged. As we hit new highs, I tend to pull back on how aggressive I am with new purchases, so there wasn't much new capital put to work for May. Still, there were a number of moves, including selling a position due to a rights offering announcement and some CLO preferred redemptions.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 16, 2026

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. Declares Distribution of $0.19 Per Share

RYE, N.Y., May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American: ECF) (the “Fund”) declared a $0.19 per share cash distribution payable on June 23, 2026 to common shareholders of record on June 15, 2026.

GlobeNewsWire • May 13, 2026

ECF: Remain Cautious In This Sideways Market

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund remains a hold, trading near the higher end of its historical price-to-NAV range. ECF offers a 6.7% yield and blends convertible securities with equities, providing income and partial upside in market rallies. Energy and utilities exposure positions ECF for AI-driven growth, but earnings and distributions remain sensitive to market momentum.

Seeking Alpha • Mar 26, 2026

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. Declares Distribution of $0.19 per Share Reaffirms Annualized Distribution of $0.76 per Share

RYE, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (NYSE American: ECF) (the “Fund”) declared a $0.19 per share cash distribution payable on March 24, 2026 to common shareholders of record on March 17, 2026. This is a 20% increase from $0.16 per share, bringing the annualized distribution rate to $0.76 from $0.64 per share.

GlobeNewsWire • Feb 11, 2026

Ellsworth Growth And Income Fund And ECF.PR.A: Conservative Income With Regulatory Protection

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.

Seeking Alpha • Jan 11, 2026

10 Best CEFs This Month: Average Yield Of 9.5% (November 2025)

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.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 29, 2025