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Closed-End Funds (CEFs)

A curated list of closed-end funds (CEFs) — actively managed, exchange-traded investment funds with a fixed share count that often pay high monthly distributions and can trade at a premium or discount to the value of their holdings (NAV).

Updated July 2026 · 130 funds

Funds130
Dividend payers127
Data as ofJuly 2026

DV Scorecard

Our proprietary snapshot of this list — averages and standouts, computed from the funds below. Not investment advice.

Avg Distribution Safety Score™85/100across 130 funds
Median Yield8.80%dividend yield
Median 1-Yr Return+12.9%price change, 1 year
Payout CadenceMonthlymost common
Avg Expense Ration/a
Highest YieldOXLC27.21%
Highest SafetyDNPscore 100
Best Safety-Adj. YieldGGTsafety 90 · 23.41%

Closed-end funds, or CEFs, are actively managed investment funds that trade on an exchange like a stock. Unlike an ETF or a mutual fund, a CEF raises capital once at its IPO and then issues a fixed number of shares, so its market price is set by supply and demand and can drift above or below the value of the fund's holdings. That single quirk — the discount or premium to net asset value (NAV) — is what makes the structure distinctive, and this page gathers the major income-oriented CEFs in one place.

Because many CEFs use leverage and hand back most of what they earn, the group is one of the highest-yielding corners of the market, and a large share pay monthly. The list spans equity, covered-call, municipal-bond, taxable-credit, and energy-infrastructure strategies from managers like PIMCO, BlackRock, Nuveen, Eaton Vance, and Cohen & Steers. Some trade at a persistent discount to NAV, which can raise the effective yield on the money you put in.

Dividend Vision's angle is durability: how well each distribution is actually covered, how much of it may be return of capital, and how the yields compare across the group through our Distribution Safety Score. Live figures refresh from our data pipeline on every build, and nothing here is investment advice.

Closed-End Funds (CEFs)

Live data joins from our pipeline on every build — click any header to sort, or open a ticker for the full analysis. We never hard-code yields, prices, or returns.

Ticker Company Role Yield Div growth (1y) Safety Fwd P/E Market cap
PHYSSprott Physical Gold TrustPrecious Metals0.0$14.4B
PSLVSprott Physical Silver TrustPrecious Metals0.0$11.5B
PDIPIMCO Dynamic Income FundClosed-End Fund16.28%+4.4%93$7.5B
DNPDNP Select Income FundUtilities7.10%-2.6%100$4.1B
UTGReaves Utility Income TrustUtilities6.34%-7.6%95$3.7B
CSQCalamos Strategic Total Return FundTotal Return7.91%+26.5%96$3.3B
ADXAdams Diversified Equity FundDiversified Equity7.29%+67.5%82$3.2B
UTFCohen & Steers Infrastructure FundInfrastructure7.17%-38.7%100$3.1B
EXGEaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income FundGlobal Covered Call8.18%+3.0%84$3.0B
NADNuveen Quality Municipal Income FundMunicipal Bonds7.26%-2.1%76$2.7B
GDVGabelli Dividend & Income TrustDiversified Equity6.08%+8.4%100$2.6B
PTYPIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity FundCorporate Credit12.09%+4.4%88$2.5B
KYNKayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure FundEnergy Infrastructure7.33%+13.5%990.0$2.5B
ETYEaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income FundCovered Call Equity8.29%+3.0%88$2.3B
GOFGuggenheim Strategic Opportunities FundMulti-Sector20.49%+1.1%83$2.3B
CLMCornerstone Strategic Value FundInternational Equity19.52%+0.2%72$2.2B
RVTRoyce Value TrustSmall Cap Value6.84%-20.3%850.0$2.2B
BSTZBlackRock Science and Technology Trust IIClosed-End Fund6.80%-29.8%570.0$1.9B
PDOPIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities FundMulti-Sector11.70%+4.4%950.0$1.9B
NACNuveen California Quality Municipal Income FundMunicipal Bonds7.06%-3.4%80$1.9B
USALiberty All-Star Equity FundDiversified Equity11.74%-46.0%80579.9$1.8B
ETGEaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income FundClosed-End Fund6.68%+3.0%84$1.8B
GABGabelli Equity TrustClosed-End Fund10.66%-4.4%100$1.8B
ETVEaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities FundClosed-End Fund7.94%+3.0%87$1.7B
BDJBlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend TrustCovered Call Equity7.65%-14.5%94$1.7B
RQICohen & Steers Quality Income Realty FundREIT8.66%-5.6%96$1.7B
BCATBlackRock Capital Allocation Term TrustMulti-Asset19.53%-5.6%920.0$1.6B
BSTBlackRock Science and Technology TrustTechnology6.54%-30.3%98$1.6B
GAMGeneral American Investors Closed Fund9.91%680.0$1.5B
ECATBlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term TrustMulti-Asset20.81%-6.4%900.0$1.5B
QQQXNuveen NASDAQ 100 Dynamic Overwrite FundClosed-End Fund9.81%+40.5%91$1.5B
BTTBlackrock Municipal Target Term Closed Fund2.47%+0.9%830.0$1.4B
JFRNuveen Floating Rate Income Closed Fund12.19%-10.8%99$1.2B
DSLDoubleLine Income Solutions FundCredit12.23%+14.3%100$1.2B
HQHabrdn Healthcare InvestorsHealthcare11.47%+29.2%860.0$1.2B
EOSEaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund IIGrowth Equity8.37%+3.0%86$1.2B
CRFCornerstone Total Return FundInternational Equity19.85%+1.3%72$1.2B
AODabrdn Total Dynamic Dividend FundGlobal Equity12.45%+6.5%100$1.1B
TYGTortoise Energy Infrastructure CorporationEnergy Infrastructure12.91%+54.8%1000.0$1.1B
CHICalamos Convertible Opportunities and Income FundClosed-End Fund8.68%-4.3%96$1.1B
EMOClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity FundEnergy Infrastructure8.23%-2.7%99$1.1B
ETWEaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities FundGlobal Covered Call8.34%+3.0%84$1.0B
FSCOFS Credit Opportunities CorpCredit14.05%-21.0%730.0$993M
RNPCohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Income FundREIT and Preferred7.92%-0.2%99$988M
BMEZBlackRock Health Sciences Trust II8.63%-24.6%530.0$954M
BTZBlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust9.91%+0.3%1000.0$953M
PDXPIMCO Energy & Tactical Credit Opportunities FundEnergy Credit7.55%-52.3%72$946M
BTXBlackRock Technology and Private Equity Term TrustTechnology7.50%-24.7%460.0$935M
HTDJohn Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income FundClosed-End Fund7.36%+4.0%95$913M
STKColumbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth FundTechnology3.68%-42.6%67$896M
AIOVirtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities FundTechnology8.31%-37.3%96$895M
PCNPIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy FundCorporate Bond11.54%+4.4%94$879M
BCXBlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy TrustNatural Resources7.25%+0.1%98$879M
PHKPIMCO High Income FundClosed-End Fund12.36%+4.4%95$870M
OXLCOxford Lane Capital CorpCLO27.21%-88.3%240.0$856M
EOIEaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income FundCovered Call Equity8.13%+3.0%97$810M
FFCFlaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Securities FundPreferred Stock7.54%+2.9%80$786M
THQabrdn Healthcare Opportunities FundHealthcare11.39%-1.8%96$783M
ASGIabrdn Global Infrastructure Income FundGlobal Infrastructure10.89%+9.0%100$767M
PEOAdams Natural Resources FundNatural Resources7.72%+62.2%66453.6$748M
BUIBlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities TrustClosed-End Fund6.67%-32.7%980.0$740M
WDIWestern Asset Diversified Income FundMulti-Sector13.05%-12.4%1000.0$704M
PFNPIMCO Income Strategy Fund IIMulti-Sector12.15%+4.4%91$702M
PAXSPIMCO Access Income FundMulti-Sector12.48%+4.4%960.0$681M
ACPAberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund17.51%-2.0%79$666M
BOEBlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend TrustClosed-End Fund8.30%+0.1%100$665M
HQLabrdn Life Sciences InvestorsLife Sciences11.30%+46.0%840.0$600M
NMLNeuberger Berman Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund IncEnergy Infrastructure8.04%+34.0%100$598M
AVKAdvent Convertible and Income FundConvertible Securities11.09%+1.1%100-422.0$559M
CHWCalamos Global Dynamic Income FundGlobal Multi-Asset8.29%+4.2%808.4$555M
GUGGuggenheim Active Allocation Fund8.91%+1.1%990.0$540M
THWabrdn World Healthcare FundGlobal Healthcare10.47%-1.9%96$537M
VCVInvesco California Value Municipal Income TrustMunicipal Bonds7.32%-1.2%830.0$529M
TWNThe Taiwan Fund, Inc.5.21%79$505M
FTHYFirst Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund10.98%+5.2%900.0$500M
ECCEagle Point Credit CompanyCLO19.41%-63.0%285.0$489M
VVRInvesco Senior Income TrustSenior Loans11.64%-26.2%84$461M
KIOKKR Income Opportunities FundHigh Yield Credit12.99%+9.2%94$460M
EVNEaton Vance Municipal Income Closed Fund5.60%-0.3%880.0$441M
DFPFlaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income FundPreferred Stock7.35%+5.3%79$434M
FINSAngel Oak Financial Strategies Income Term Trust10.94%+2.5%920.0$423M
GBABGuggenheim Taxable Municipal Managed Duration Trust10.87%+1.1%1000.0$390M
NCVVirtus Convertible & Income FundConvertible Securities9.61%+4.9%66$387M
PFLPIMCO Income Strategy FundClosed-End Fund12.56%+4.4%91$386M
FRABlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Closed Fund13.77%+0.3%93$382M
FOFCohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity FundFund of Funds7.63%-0.2%100$380M
AEFabrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc.Closed-End Fund10.35%+75.3%78$361M
JRINuveen Real Asset Income and Growth FundClosed-End Fund12.44%+4.4%95$355M
NXGNXG NextGen Infrastructure Income FundInfrastructure12.10%-57.5%100$342M
SPXXNuveen S&P 500 Dynamic Overwrite FundClosed-End Fund9.04%+27.8%100$335M
ASGLiberty All-Star Growth FundGrowth Equity9.21%-42.8%73$332M
BGTBlackRock Floating Rate Income Closed Fund13.48%+0.3%95$319M
AFBAllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund5.43%+14.0%77$317M
AGDabrdn Global Dynamic Dividend FundClosed-End Fund11.93%+8.8%100$315M
RIVRiverNorth Opportunities FundTactical Allocation13.66%+3.3%81$313M
EFREaton Vance Senior Floating Rate Closed Fund7.79%-26.5%730.0$311M
NCANuveen California Municipal Value FundMunicipal Bonds3.90%+6.3%100$306M
ARDCAres Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund, Inc.Credit10.81%+4.9%94$301M
FUNDSprott Focus Trust5.80%-8.6%960.0$297M
ACVAllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund7.87%+4.9%93$285M
EFTEaton Vance Floating Rate Income Closed Fund7.36%-34.5%740.0$284M
EOTEaton Vance National Municipal Opportunities Closed Fund4.73%+3.0%990.0$272M
RLTYCohen & Steers Real Estate Opportunities and Income FundReal Estate8.26%-0.2%99$268M
XFLTXAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term TrustCLO15.46%-95.6%480.0$260M
CPZCalamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income TrustLong/Short12.83%-4.3%870.0$257M
LGILazard Global Total Return and Income FundGlobal Equity9.97%+9.9%86$238M
EICEagle Point Income CompanyCLO13.29%-18.5%510.0$232M
SRVNXG Cushing Midstream Energy FundMLP & Energy12.30%-27.6%95$229M
ETXEaton Vance Municipal Income Term Closed Fund5.03%+3.0%880.0$202M
FTFranklin Universal Closed Fund6.34%-1.3%960.0$202M
BANXArrowMark Financial CorpCLO9.00%-86.8%3714.6$195M
FLCFlaherty & Crumrine Total Return FundPreferred Stock7.41%+4.0%80$177M
GGTGabelli MultiMedia Mutual Fund23.41%+1.8%900.0$173M
MPVBarings Participation InvestorsCorporate Credit9.50%-68.2%890.0$171M
NAZNuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income FundMunicipal Bonds5.93%-8.5%72$161M
IGAVoya Global Advantage and Premium Opportunity FundGlobal Equity10.18%-6.7%93$154M
MSDMorgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt FundEmerging Markets Debt8.17%-37.7%82$148M
PFDFlaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income FundPreferred Stock7.18%+5.7%80$148M
GRXGabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust7.12%-7.5%920.0$146M
GNTGAMCO Natural Resources Gold and Income Closed Fund8.80%+39.2%1000.0$137M
GGZGabelli Global Small and Mid Cap Value Closed Fund5.24%+25.0%920.0$123M
PFOFlaherty & Crumrine Preferred and Income Opportunity FundPreferred Stock7.27%+3.6%80$120M
MCNXAI Madison Equity Premium Income FundCovered Call Equity12.90%+5.3%97$117M
EVFEaton Vance Senior Income Closed Fund7.73%-25.2%700.0$90M
DTFDTF Tax Free Income Closed Fund3.39%+0.5%880.0$81M
OCCIOFS Credit Company, IncCLO25.00%-68.8%130.0$67M
CCIFCarlyle Credit Income FundCLO26.57%-54.4%325.3$57M
AAIDXAxonic Alternative Income Fund8.86%-55.5%91
GGMNorthern Lights Fund Trust II1.41%50
KWINKraneShares Trust

Why this list matters

CEFs can offer high, often monthly income and the occasional chance to buy a dollar of assets for less than a dollar — but leverage, managed distributions, and discount volatility make them behave differently from ordinary funds.

Who it's for

  • Income investors drawn to high, frequently monthly distributions
  • Value-minded buyers looking to buy assets at a discount to net asset value (NAV)
  • Investors who want active management in niches like municipal bonds, credit, or covered calls
  • Holders comparing a CEF they own against its peers on yield, coverage, and discount

Benefits

  • Among the highest income available in listed funds, and a large share pay monthly
  • The chance to buy a portfolio at a discount to the value of its holdings
  • Active, specialist management in less-liquid areas like municipals and private credit

Risks

  • Leverage magnifies both gains and losses and raises the cost of the fund when rates rise
  • A distribution can include return of capital, which may quietly erode NAV over time
  • Discounts to NAV can widen, hurting price even when the portfolio holds up
  • High headline yields are not always fully covered by what the fund earns

What to watch

  • How well the distribution is covered by income and gains — start with the Distribution Safety Score
  • The discount or premium to NAV, and how it compares with the fund's own history
  • How much of the distribution is return of capital (destructive vs. constructive)
  • Leverage levels and how sensitive the fund is to rising short-term rates

How we rank these investments

This page is a curated universe, not a ranked buy list — the table sorts on any column. These are the dimensions we surface and what each tells you.

Frequently asked questions

What is a closed-end fund (CEF)?

A CEF is an exchange-traded investment fund that raises money once at its IPO and then trades a fixed number of shares. Because the share count is fixed, the market price is set by supply and demand and can differ from the fund's net asset value (NAV). This page tracks 130 income-oriented CEFs with live data.

How is a CEF different from an ETF?

An ETF creates and redeems shares continuously, which keeps its price near NAV; a CEF has a fixed share count, so it can trade at a discount or premium to NAV. CEFs are also more likely to use leverage and to be actively managed in niche areas like municipal bonds or private credit.

Why do CEFs pay such high yields?

Two main reasons: many use leverage to boost the income their portfolios generate, and most distribute nearly all of what they earn (sometimes more). The combination produces yields that are among the highest in listed funds — along with commensurate risk to both the payout and the share price.

What is a discount or premium to NAV?

Net asset value (NAV) is the per-share value of the fund's holdings. When a CEF's market price is below NAV it trades at a discount; above NAV, a premium. Buying at a discount means paying less than a dollar for a dollar of assets, which can raise the effective yield — but discounts can also widen against you.

What is return of capital, and why does it matter?

Return of capital (ROC) is a portion of a distribution that isn't funded by income or realized gains. Some ROC is benign (for example, passed-through unrealized gains), but destructive ROC hands back your own principal and erodes NAV over time. Reading the coverage behind a distribution is central to judging a CEF.

Are CEF distributions safe?

It varies widely. Some CEFs have paid durable, well-covered distributions for decades, while others rely on leverage and return of capital that can't last through a downturn. The Distribution Safety Score on each ticker page is designed to help gauge how durable each payout looks. Nothing here is investment advice.

Do CEFs pay monthly?

Many income CEFs pay monthly, which is one of the main reasons investors use them for cash flow; a meaningful share pay quarterly instead. Each fund's cadence is shown on its ticker page, and you can also browse our Monthly Income ETFs list for fund alternatives.

How does leverage affect a CEF?

Leverage lets a CEF invest more than its shareholders' capital, boosting income and yield when times are good. But it magnifies losses when the portfolio falls and becomes more expensive as short-term rates rise, which is why leveraged CEFs can be more volatile than their unleveraged peers.

How are CEFs taxed?

It depends on the strategy: municipal-bond CEFs can pay largely tax-exempt income, equity CEFs may pass through qualified dividends and capital gains, and part of a distribution can be return of capital that defers tax by lowering your cost basis. Tax treatment depends on your situation — this is general information, not tax advice.

How often is this list updated?

The membership is curated, while yields, prices, and Safety Scores refresh from our data pipeline on every build. The figures reflect the most recent data run.

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