SmarterDividends
ECF

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.

ECF

Financial Services · Asset Management · Stock · quarterly payer

$11.65

Undervalued · +19% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

7.55%

Annual Dividend

$0.88

Payout Ratio

30%

5-Yr Growth

2.9%

Ex-Date

Sep 16, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about ECF's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 18, 2026, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) has a forward dividend yield of 7.55%, based on an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and a share price of $11.65.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (85 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years as of Oct 18, 2026.
  • ECF last cut its regular dividend in 2013.
  • ECF's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 16, 2026, for a dividend of $0.22 per share.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF pays out 30% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • ECF's dividend has grown at an average rate of 2.9% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for ECF is $13.83 per share, 19% above the $11.65 share price, so ECF screens as undervalued.
  • Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) has raised its regular dividend 23 times and cut it 21 times across the 159 payments on record since 1987. Its most recent change was a 15.8% increase to $0.220 per share, going ex-dividend on Sep 16, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Mar 17, 2025.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "ECF Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/ECF

Summary

As of Oct 18, 2026, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) yields 7.55% ($0.88 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (85/100) and has 2 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is ECF a good dividend stock?

Yes

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 7.55% ($0.88/yr), with 2 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • Comfortable payout ratio (30%)
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2013
  • Share price is down over the past 5 years

Key Data

Dividend Yield
7.55%
Payout Ratio
30%
Annual Dividend
$0.88
5-Yr Avg Growth
2.9%
Ex-Dividend Date
Sep 16, 2026
Years of Growth
2
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
1.08
Market Cap
$159.1M
P/E Ratio
3.7
5-Yr Total Return
-7%
52-Week Range
$10.71 – $13.85
Dividend Safety
A · 85/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2013)

ECF dividend raises and cuts

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) has raised its regular dividend 23 times and cut it 21 times across the 159 payments on record since 1987. Its most recent change was a 15.8% increase to $0.220 per share, going ex-dividend on Sep 16, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Mar 17, 2025.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Sep 16, 2026Raise$0.190 → $0.220+15.8%
Mar 17, 2026Raise$0.160 → $0.190+18.8%
Jun 13, 2025Raise$0.130 → $0.160+23.1%
Mar 17, 2025Cut$0.140 → $0.130−7.1%
Nov 22, 2024Raise$0.130 → $0.140+7.7%
Mar 16, 2020Raise$0.120 → $0.130+8.3%
Mar 14, 2019Raise$0.110 → $0.120+9.1%
Feb 9, 2016Raise$0.109 → $0.110+0.9%
May 12, 2015Raise$0.107 → $0.109+1.9%
Feb 10, 2015Raise$0.0600 → $0.107+78.3%
May 14, 2013Cut$0.0630 → $0.0600−4.8%
Feb 6, 2012Raise$0.0610 → $0.0630+3.3%
Show all 44 changes since 1990
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Feb 8, 2011Cut$0.0710 → $0.0610−14.1%
Oct 19, 2010Raise$0.0680 → $0.0710+4.4%
Feb 9, 2010Cut$0.0990 → $0.0680−31.3%
Oct 20, 2009Raise$0.0750 → $0.0990+32.0%
Feb 10, 2009Cut$0.103 → $0.0750−27.2%
Oct 21, 2008Raise$0.0900 → $0.103+14.4%
Feb 12, 2008Cut$0.100 → $0.0900−10.0%
Aug 14, 2007Raise$0.0800 → $0.100+25.0%
Feb 9, 2007Raise$0.0700 → $0.0800+14.3%
May 13, 2003Cut$0.0750 → $0.0700−6.7%
Feb 11, 2003Cut$0.0860 → $0.0750−12.8%
Oct 23, 2002Raise$0.0800 → $0.0860+7.5%
May 14, 2002Cut$0.0900 → $0.0800−11.1%
Feb 11, 2002Cut$0.100 → $0.0900−10.0%
May 12, 2000Raise$0.0900 → $0.100+11.1%
Aug 12, 1999Raise$0.0820 → $0.0900+9.8%
May 11, 1999Cut$0.0900 → $0.0820−8.9%
Feb 4, 1999Cut$0.100 → $0.0900−10.0%
Aug 11, 1998Cut$0.110 → $0.100−9.1%
Feb 6, 1997Cut$0.120 → $0.110−8.3%
Feb 8, 1996Cut$0.125 → $0.120−4.0%
Aug 10, 1995Raise$0.0420 → $0.125+197.6%
Feb 7, 1995Cut$0.0430 → $0.0420−2.3%
Oct 26, 1994Cut$0.125 → $0.0430−65.6%
Feb 1, 1994Raise$0.120 → $0.125+4.2%
May 4, 1993Cut$0.135 → $0.120−11.1%
Aug 4, 1992Raise$0.134 → $0.135+0.7%
May 5, 1992Raise$0.0450 → $0.134+197.8%
Feb 4, 1992Raise$0.0330 → $0.0450+36.4%
Nov 8, 1991Cut$0.0460 → $0.0330−28.3%
May 7, 1991Cut$0.0500 → $0.0460−8.0%
May 7, 1990Cut$0.150 → $0.0500−66.7%
Every ECF payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
ECF ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 16, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →ECF dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ECF a good dividend stock?

Yes. Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 7.55% ($0.88/yr), with 2 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is ECF undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, ECF's fair value is about $13.83 versus a $11.65 share price — so it looks undervalued (+19% vs. fair value).

Is ECF's dividend safe?

ECF has a dividend-safety grade of A (85/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 2-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2013, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is ECF's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for ECF is about $13.83 per share, roughly 19% above the current $11.65 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is ECF a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data ECF screens as "yes" and undervalued. Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 7.55% ($0.88/yr), with 2 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will ECF cut its dividend?

ECF earns a dividend-safety grade of A (85/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2013). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does ECF pay a dividend?

Yes. Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. pays a quarterly dividend of about $0.88 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 7.55%.

What is ECF's dividend yield?

As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF's forward dividend yield is 7.55%, based on a $0.88 annual dividend and a $11.65 share price.

What is ECF's dividend per share?

As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF pays $0.88 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is ECF's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF's payout ratio is 30% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has ECF grown its dividend?

As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years.

When is the next ECF ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 18, 2026, ECF's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 16, 2026, for $0.22 per share.

Income Calculator

At $0.88 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$22.00
Annual$88.00
Monthly avg$7.33

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