Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF)

FairStock Score: 61/100 — STEADY

Key Financials

Strengths

• High return on equity of 25.3% demonstrating efficient capital deployment
• Altman Z-Score of 86.7 confirms minimal bankruptcy risk and strong solvency
• Attractive 7.3% dividend yield providing steady income returns

Concerns

• Weak Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 suggests deteriorating financial quality across multiple dimensions

AI Analysis

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. is a micro-cap financial services company valued at $171 million. Revenue stands at $6 million. From a quality standpoint, Ellsworth shows weak Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 signaling deteriorating fundamentals and Altman Z-Score of 86.7 confirms fortress-level solvency. On valuation, the stock is deeply undervalued on a P/E basis at 3.6x, with offers a 64% margin of safety vs Graham Number of $35. The 7.3% dividend yield adds an income component for patient holders. Our composite FairStock Score of 61/100 reflects above-average fundamentals overall. Investors should weigh the business quality against the current price and their own margin of safety requirements.

Bull Case

The market underappreciates Ellsworth's consistent 25% ROE at just 4x earnings—a re-rating toward sector peers could unlock 30-50% upside. Operational leverage in the business model means incremental revenue growth could disproportionately boost bottom-line profitability.

Bear Case

Macro headwinds or sector-specific disruption could pressure margins, particularly if competitive intensity increases in the financial services space. Regulatory changes, input cost inflation, or demand normalization represent underappreciated risks that could materially impact forward estimates.

Data from SEC filings. AI analysis is for educational purposes only — not investment advice. Scoring methodology · Disclaimer