Central Securities (CET) vs Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund (HIO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
On valuation, Central Securities trades at a lower trailing P/E (7.5x vs 13.6x for Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund). Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund offers the higher dividend yield (13.03% vs 4.94%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CET | HIO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $55.87 | $3.27 |
| 1-day change | +0.74% | +0.93% |
| YTD return | +10.18% | — |
| 1-year return | +8.25% | — |
| 5-year return | +28.17% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.49 | 13.63 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.46 | $0.24 |
| Dividend yield | 4.94% | 13.03% |
| Annual dividend | $2.76 | $0.426 |
| 52-week high | $57.39 | $3.89 |
| 52-week low | $47.82 | $3.24 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -2.65% | -15.94% |
| Average volume | 28.24K | 454.29K |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance/Investors Services | Finance/Investors Services |
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
- Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.6x vs 7.5x trailing P/E).
- Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (13.03% vs 4.94%).
About Central Securities
CET stock →Central Securities Corporation is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of the United States.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services
About Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund
HIO stock →Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. is a closed ended fixed-income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services
CET vs HIO FAQ
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CET or HIO?
CET has the lower trailing P/E at 7.5, versus 13.6 for HIO. 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, Central Securities or Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund?
Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has the higher yield at 13.03%, compared with 4.94% for Central Securities.
Are Central Securities and Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance/Investors Services industry within the Finance sector.