The Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)

GUT's premium has dropped but remains excessively high, making it a continued sell candidate compared to more reasonably valued peers. The fund's excessive premium and high NAV distribution rate create significant risk, with the potential for sharp losses if a distribution cut occurs. Peer funds like UTG, UTF, DNP, and DPG offer more attractive valuations and what appear to be more sustainable payouts, making them better alternatives for investors.

RYE, N.Y., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the “Fund”) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of $0.05 per share for each of July, August, and September 2025.

The Gabelli Utility Trust offers an 11.26% yield, significantly higher than peers, but its high premium and distribution sustainability are concerns. Utilities provide recession-resistant income, making them attractive amid potential economic downturns, though the Gabelli Utility Trust's high premium suggests caution. Despite recent market volatility, the Gabelli Utility Trust has shown resilience, outperforming the S&P 500 Index and maintaining stable distributions since 2010.

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 Gabelli Utility Trust offers a high 11.19% yield, significantly above utility indices and peers, but struggles to sustain its distribution and destroys its NAV. Despite stable cash flows from utility investments, the fund's net asset value has declined by 21.61% over three years, indicating overdistribution. The fund includes some companies that a few investors might not consider to be utilities, but they do have utility-like financial performance.

RYE, N.Y., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the “Fund”) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of $0.05 per share for each of April, May, and June 2025.

The closed-end fund space saw a significant narrowing of discounts throughout 2024 as equity markets charged higher and now discounts remain tight heading into 2025. In particular, equity CEFs have seen significantly narrowed discounts along with taxable fixed-income, though municipal bond funds look relatively attractive after widening discounts in December. We are screening for funds with the deepest discounts and widest z-scores to find potential buys and funds that may be getting a bit pricey as sell candidates.

GUT's rights offering concluded successfully, issuing 11.6 million shares and raising $58.1 million, though it was undersubscribed with a 76.5% participation rate. The offering was highly accretive, issuing shares at $5 when NAV was $3.09, boosting NAV per share and supporting GUT's high distribution rate. Investors might benefit from the "sell and rebuy" strategy during rights offerings to avoid negative price pressure and potentially acquire shares at lower prices.

RYE, N.Y., Nov. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- November 14, 2024 – The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the “Fund”) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of $0.05 per share for each of January, February, and March 2025.

I can't tell you how many times I've mentioned closed-end funds (CEFs) to investors and been met with blank stares in return.

RYE, New York, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE: GUT) (the “Fund”) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its transferable rights offering (the “Offering” or “Offer”). Preliminary results indicate that the Fund will issue 11,624,109 common shares, for gross proceeds to the Fund of $58,120,545 (including over-subscription requests and notices of guaranteed delivery).

We review the CEF market valuation and performance through the third week of September and highlight recent market action. CEF market activity was mixed with tighter discounts and lower NAVs. Western Asset Investment Grade Defined Opportunity Trust's tender offer saw less than 50% shares tendered.

Fourteen months ago, I wrote on article that described the absurd valuation difference between two utility funds that actually had much in common. But based on the NAV and MKT yields of the funds, I felt that one fund was dramatically more attractive, even though it had just cut its distribution. Because when shareholders only care about how high a fund's market yield is while completely ignoring the fund's ability to cover it, bad things eventually happen.

The Gabelli Utility Trust's 1-for-5 rights offering allows shareholders to buy additional shares at $5 each, expiring October 21, 2024. GUT trades at a 72.52% premium to NAV, making the rights valuable unless the share price drops below $5 before expiry. The rights offering is accretive, boosting GUT's NAV and supporting its high distribution rate, benefiting long-term shareholders.

RYE, N.Y., Aug. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the “Fund”) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of $0.05 per share for each of October, November, and December 2024.

RYE, N.Y., Aug. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE: GUT) (the “Fund”) has approved a transferable rights offering which will allow the Fund's record date common shareholders to acquire additional common shares (the “Offering”). The Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, and this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of the Fund's securities.