Bancroft Fund (BCV) vs Special Opportunities Fund (SPE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Special Opportunities Fund is the larger company by market cap ($138.4 million vs $132.1 million), about 1.0 times the size. On valuation, Bancroft Fund trades at a lower trailing P/E (3.6x vs 13.7x for Special Opportunities Fund). Special Opportunities Fund offers the higher dividend yield (16.01% vs 5.71%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Head-to-head
| Metric | BCV | SPE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $23.47 | $12.56 |
| Market cap | $132.08M | $138.43M |
| 1-day change | -0.38% | -0.79% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 3.56 | 13.65 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.60 | $0.92 |
| Dividend yield | 5.71% | 16.01% |
| Annual dividend | $1.34 | $2.01 |
| 52-week high | $27.33 | $15.63 |
| 52-week low | $21.06 | $12.42 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.12% | -19.64% |
| Average volume | 14.98K | 34.97K |
| Shares outstanding | 5.63M | 11.02M |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Asset Management | Asset Management |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Special Opportunities Fund trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.7x vs 3.6x trailing P/E).
- Special Opportunities Fund offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (16.01% vs 5.71%).
About Bancroft Fund
BCV stock →Bancroft Fund Ltd. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Financial Services · Asset Management
About Special Opportunities Fund
SPE stock →Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. is a close-ended balanced fund of funds launched and managed by Bulldog Investors, LLC.
Financial Services · Asset Management
BCV vs SPE FAQ
Which is bigger, Bancroft Fund or Special Opportunities Fund?
Special Opportunities Fund (SPE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $138.43M compared with $132.08M for Bancroft Fund (BCV).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BCV or SPE?
BCV has the lower trailing P/E at 3.6, versus 13.7 for SPE. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bancroft Fund or Special Opportunities Fund?
Special Opportunities Fund has the higher yield at 16.01%, compared with 5.71% for Bancroft Fund.
Are Bancroft Fund and Special Opportunities Fund in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Asset Management industry within the Financial Services sector.