Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) AI Stock Analysis
ECF AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchEllsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is a closed-ended equity mutual fund managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC that focuses on convertible securities. Over the trailing twelve months, the fund generated revenue of $4.8M and diluted EPS of $3.11. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 3.7x and offers a forward dividend yield of 7.55%.
- Market cap
- $159.1M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $4.8M
- P/E
- 3.7x
- 1Y return
- 3.8% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- —
Bull case
- The fund provides an annual forward dividend yield of 7.55% supported by 40 consecutive years of dividend payments.
- Trailing twelve months return on equity reached 22.7%, while the fund trades at a low trailing P/E ratio of 3.7x.
- The fund maintains a strong balance sheet with $1.0M in total debt against $201.1M in shareholders' equity, reflecting a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.
Bear case
- For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 28.9% year-over-year while quarterly earnings declined 92.3%.
- Between FY2020 and FY2025, revenue contracted at a 5-year CAGR of -16.0%.
- Over the 1-year period, the stock returned 3.8%, significantly trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
What Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund does
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd., managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC and launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc., operates as a closed-ended equity mutual fund specializing in investments within the public equity markets. Established in 1986 and domiciled in the United States, the fund focuses primarily on convertible securities, offering exposure to a diverse range of companies across multiple market capitalizations. Its investment strategy utilizes convertible securities to combine features of stocks and bonds, seeking competitive returns while managing risk. The fund benchmarks its performance against the Bank of America Merrill Lynch All U.S. Convertibles Index, Barclays Balanced U.S. Convertibles Index, and the S&P 500 Index.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2020 and FY2025, revenue contracted at a 5-year CAGR of -16.0%. Top-line performance fluctuated significantly, posting $38.9M in FY2021 before dropping to -$50.2M in FY2022. Revenue rebounded to $6.9M in FY2023 and expanded 281.7% to $26.4M in FY2024, followed by a 43.7% decline to $14.9M in FY2025. Net income in FY2025 was $48.7M, generating an operating margin of 326.8% and EPS of $4.27. In the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2026, revenue stood at $4.8M with an operating margin of 50.1%. For the latest quarter, quarterly revenue fell 28.9% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings dropped 92.3%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of March 31, 2026, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. held total assets of $202.5M and shareholders' equity of $201.1M. Total debt stood at $1.0M, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01 and a current ratio of 2.89. In FY2021, operating cash flow was $38.4M. Cash usage that year included $19.3M in dividends paid alongside $4.0M raised through share issuance, while share count changed by 1.2% over 5 years.
Valuation and performance
At its last closing price of $11.65 on October 16, 2026, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. had a market capitalization of $159.1M and an enterprise value of $206.4M. Its trailing P/E ratio of 3.7x stands below the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers. The fund trades at a price-to-sales ratio of 33.2x versus the peer median of 3.2x, and a price-to-book ratio of 1.0x. Over the past year, the stock returned 3.8% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500. Over 5 years, the stock returned 28.3% versus 83.0% for the S&P 500.
ECF dividend
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $0.88, representing a dividend yield of 7.55% as of October 16, 2026. The fund has paid dividends for 40 consecutive years and maintains a payout ratio of 33.4%. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is -8.4%, and its last ex-dividend date was September 16, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analyst ratings and price targets are not available for Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. Regarding its earnings track record, the fund recorded 4 EPS beats over the last 4 quarters. The stock closed at $11.65 on October 16, 2026, trading 2.7% below its 200-day average and within its 52-week range of $10.71 to $13.85.
Key risks and what to watch
- Annual revenues have shown extreme volatility, shifting from $38.9M in FY2021 to -$50.2M in FY2022.
- The fund's 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is -8.4%, showing a contraction in payouts over the period.
- The price-to-sales ratio of 33.2x trades at a substantial premium to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 3.2x.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this ECF AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: ECF income statement, ECF balance sheet, ECF key metrics, ECF chart. See the ECF stock overview for the latest quote and news.
ECF AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.'s dividend yield?
As of October 16, 2026, the fund pays an annual forward dividend of $0.88, which translates to a dividend yield of 7.55%. It has paid dividends for 40 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 33.4%.
What is the valuation of ECF compared to peers?
ECF trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 3.7x, which is below the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 33.2x, compared to the peer median of 3.2x.
How much debt does ECF have on its balance sheet?
As of March 31, 2026, ECF reported total debt of $1.0M and shareholders' equity of $201.1M, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01 and a current ratio of 2.89.
How has ECF stock performed against the broader market?
Over the past 1 year, ECF returned 3.8% versus 16.8% for the S&P 500. Over 5 years, ECF produced a return of 28.3% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.