Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETJ)

Eaton Vance's top taxable closed-end funds offer attractive yields, discounts to NAV, and strong long-term returns, making them appealing for income-focused investors. Current market volatility has widened discounts to NAV, creating buying opportunities which I highlight in the article. I prioritize funds trading at an 8%+ yield and significant NAV discounts, with a preference for those using tax-advantaged strategies and diversified asset mixes.

ETJ combines protective S&P 500 puts with call writing to reduce volatility and limit drawdowns. Hedging costs, however, reduce net returns, and upside capture is constrained, making the fund's performance. Real-world performance diverges from theory. April 2025 drawdown (~12.5%) exceeded the ~5% put-implied limit, while upside capture was higher than expected. Implementation nuances and stock-level risks dilute the hedge's effectiveness. Active bets offer modest alpha, but high correlation with the S&P 500 means ETJ cannot fully outperform or avoid broader market swings.

I'm upgrading ETJ to a buy due to its attractive 8.2% NAV discount and positive NAV growth over the past year. ETJ's 9% dividend yield is well-supported by earnings, with tax-efficient distributions ideal for income-focused, retired investors. The fund's option strategy limits upside but provides steady income, making it less suitable for younger, growth-oriented investors.

10 out of 22 CEF sectors were positive on price and 5 out of 22 sectors were positive on NAV last week. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund is jumping on the CLO bandwagon. CLM/CRF announces a rights offering.

The Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund, $8.03 closing market price, was built for this kind of a market. With its long-put options on the S&P 500 covering 96% of the closed-end fund's notional value, those Puts are kicking in now as they move into the money. Not only that, ETJ sells (writes) Call options on the S&P 500, which has been bringing in income to help support ETJ's 9.0% market yield, paid monthly.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Eaton Vance closed-end funds listed below released today the estimated sources of their February distributions (each a “Fund”). This press release is issued as required by the Funds' managed distribution plan (Plan) and an exemptive order received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of Trustees has approved the implementation of the Plan to make monthly, as noted below, cash distributions to common shareholders, stated in terms of a fixed amo.

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund employs an options collar strategy, combining covered calls and index puts for a defensive approach. ETJ's historical performance has been mixed, underperforming in bull markets but then catching up during downturns like Covid, though it struggled in the 2022 tech-driven bear market. The fund offers a regular monthly distribution with an 8.46% yield, appealing for those seeking income and a hedge, but the mixed results can give pause.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following Eaton Vance closed-end funds (the “Funds”) announced distributions today as detailed below. Declaration – 2/3/2025 Ex-Date – 2/13/2025 Record – 2/13/2025 Payable – 2/24/2025 Municipal Bond Funds:   Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution Closing Market Price – 1/31/25 Distribution Rate at Market Price Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust CEV $0.0500 - $10.14 5.92% Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust EVN $0.0513 - $10.31 5.97% Taxabl.

Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund aims to generate attractive total returns via equities and a strategic option overlay. ETJ prioritizes dividends with its high dividend yield of 8.4%, but the fund is mostly reliant on net realized gains to fund the distributions. The fund's price trades at a 6.3% discount to NAV, presenting a potential entry opportunity, though its NAV has declined over recent years.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following Eaton Vance closed-end funds (the “Funds”) announced distributions today as detailed below. Declaration – 1/2/2025 Ex-Date – 1/13/2025 Record – 1/13/2025 Payable – 1/22/2025 Municipal Bond Funds: Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution Closing Market Price – 12/31/24 Distribution Rate at Market Price Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust CEV $0.0500 - $10.04 5.98% Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust EVN $0.0513 - $10.11 6.09% Taxable.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following Eaton Vance closed-end funds (the “Funds”) announced distributions today as detailed below. Declaration – 12/2/2024    Ex-Date – 12/12/2024    Record – 12/12/2024    Payable – 12/19/2024 Municipal Bond Funds: Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution Closing Market Price – 11/29/24 Distribution Rate at Market Price Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust CEV $0.0500 - $10.65 5.63% Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust EVN $0.0513 - $10.79.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Eaton Vance closed-end funds listed below released today the estimated sources of their November distributions (each a “Fund”). This press release is issued as required by the Funds' managed distribution plan (Plan) and an exemptive order received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of Trustees has approved the implementation of the Plan to make monthly, as noted below, cash distributions to common shareholders, stated in terms of a fixed amo.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following Eaton Vance closed-end funds (the “Funds”) announced distributions today as detailed below. Declaration – 10/1/2024 Ex-Date – 10/11/2024 Record – 10/11/2024 Payable – 10/18/2024   Municipal Bond Funds:           Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution Closing Market Price – 9/30/24 Distribution Rate at Market Price Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust CEV $0.0500 - $10.87 5.52% Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust EVN $0.0513 - $10.9.

The Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund offers an 8.57% yield, providing high income while maintaining equity exposure and some downside protection. The fund's strategy includes a protective collar, which reduces volatility and downside risk but limits upside potential compared to the S&P 500 Index. Despite underperforming the S&P 500 Index in price, the fund's distributions resulted in superior total returns and lower volatility year-to-date, appealing to income-focused investors.

What if I told you I've found a way to get $1,000 in dividends every single month—and you only need to invest $146,364 to get it?