Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund (ECF) 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
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund is the larger company by market cap ($164.6 million vs $138.4 million), about 1.2 times the size. On valuation, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund trades at a lower trailing P/E (3.9x vs 13.7x for Special Opportunities Fund). Special Opportunities Fund offers the higher dividend yield (16.01% vs 7.63%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Head-to-head
| Metric | ECF | SPE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.05 | $12.56 |
| Market cap | $164.58M | $138.43M |
| 1-day change | +1.18% | -0.79% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 3.87 | 13.65 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.11 | $0.92 |
| Dividend yield | 7.63% | 16.01% |
| Annual dividend | $0.92 | $2.01 |
| 52-week high | $13.85 | $15.63 |
| 52-week low | $10.71 | $12.42 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.00% | -19.64% |
| Average volume | 26.15K | 34.97K |
| Shares outstanding | 13.66M | 11.02M |
| 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
- Special Opportunities Fund trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.7x vs 3.9x trailing P/E).
- Special Opportunities Fund offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (16.01% vs 7.63%).
About Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund
ECF stock →Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services
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.
Finance · Finance/Investors Services
ECF vs SPE FAQ
Which is bigger, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund or Special Opportunities Fund?
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund (ECF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $164.58M compared with $138.43M for Special Opportunities Fund (SPE).
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ECF or SPE?
ECF has the lower trailing P/E at 3.9, 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, Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund or Special Opportunities Fund?
Special Opportunities Fund has the higher yield at 16.01%, compared with 7.63% for Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund.
Are Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund and Special Opportunities Fund in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance/Investors Services industry within the Finance sector.