Ranking of best closed-ended mutual funds based on discount from net asset value (NAV), annual expense ratio, and plans to reduce or eliminate discount.
All open-ended mutual funds are guaranteed to perform worse than the securities that they hold. The same applies to many closed-ended mutual funds. However, there is a small group of closed-ended funds, listed below, whose performance expectation is much better than that of the securities they hold. They are not just the best buys among closed-ended mutual funds but are some of the best buys among all stocks whose expected performance can be analyzed mathematically.
Unlike other rankings that reflect past performance and are not predictors of future performance, our scientific ranking reflects the probability of high future return on the investment made today. Our ranking is based on two main factors that are the best quantifiable predictors of future returns: NAV discount and Expense Ratio. A third criterion taken into account in our ranking is evaluations of the plans the fund has, if any, to reduce its discount in the near future.
All the funds listed below are recommended. Among them, the reader may wish to choose those appearing at the top of the list. Some readers may wish to narrow down the selection further by analyzing other unquantifiable factors: investment policy, sector, dividends, and news about these funds. (We have already factored in the news that some of these funds intend to become open-ended funds or to implement another policy to expedite the reduction or elimination of their discount off NAV. A link to a list of news articles about all the funds we recommend, as well as other information, is given at the bottom of this report.)
We rank funds traded on U.S. markets; however, their portfolios may be composed of stocks traded on U.S. or foreign markets.
Funds with a high discount off NAV are likely to reduce their discount in the future, thus offering the investor a good possibility of appreciation of the fund's stock greater than the appreciation of the fund's portfolio. However, the appreciation is reduced by a high Annual Expense Ratio (particularly, the fund's management fees and other expenses but excepting expenses on interest). Therefore, in our ratings, we balance NAV discount and management fees etc. Additional factors that should be taken into account include the fund's plans to reduce discount via distributions, repurchase, tender offers, liquidation, and other means.
| rank (9= a steal, 5=excellent, 3=very good, 1=good) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % discount off NAV (Market share price is under the Net Asset Value per share by %Discount) | |||||||||
| Annual Expense Ratio % : administrative (management) fee % | |||||||||
| Fund Symbol | |||||||||
| date : Market price on the date/NAV on the date | |||||||||
| links | Fund name | class, site | investment policy | ||||||
| 9 | 47 | 1.45:.978 | HFRO | 02/23:6.12/11.47 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Highland Opportunities and Income Fund | Loan Participation hcmlp.com | to provide a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in floating rate loans and other securities deemed to be floating rate investments. | |
| 9 | 42 | 1.3 :1 | CGI | 02/23:49.69/85.91 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Canadian General Investments Limited | Developed Market mmainvestments.com | to achieve capital appreciation primarily through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of non-Canadian-based corporations and to generate income for its shareholders. | |
| 8 | 34 | 0.73:.73 | UNC | 02/20:14.3/21.75 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | United Corporations Limited | Developed Market ucorp.ca Expense ratio imputed | to provide current income while seeking capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of U.S. companies with dominant market positions in their industries and that have a record of paying regular dividends on common stock or have the potential of capital appreciation. | |
| 6 | 28 | 1.35:.281 | HGLB | 02/23:8.88/12.27 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Highland Global Allocation Fund | Global highlandfunds.com | long-term growth of capital and future income by investing in U.S. and foreign equity, debt and money market securities. The Fund intends to normally invest at least 50% of its net assets in equity securities and at least 40% (plus any borrowings for investment purpose) in securities of non-U.S. issuers. | |
| 5 | 28 | 2.63:1.02 | FXBY | 02/23:23.29/32.31 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Foxby Corp. | Diversified Equity foxbycorp.com | total return from growth of capital and income by investing in any security type and in any industry sector. | |
| 4 | 21 | 3.34:.784 | GDL | 02/23:8.5/10.72 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | GDL Fund | Global gabelli.com | to achieve absolute returns in various market conditions without excessive risk of capital. Absolute returns are defined as positive total returns, regardless of the direction of securities markets. The Fund will seek to achieve its objective by investing primarily in merger arbitrage transactions. | |
| 4 | 21 | 1.42:1.07 | STEW | 02/23:17.85/22.53 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | SRH Total Return Fund, Inc | Diversified Equity boulderfunds.net | to produce both long-term capital appreciation through investment in common stocks and high current income consistent with preservation of capital through investments in income producing securities. | |
| 3 | 19 | 1.32:.923 | TWN | 02/23:60.06/73.93 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Taiwan Fund, Inc. | Emerging Markets thetaiwanfund.com | long-term capital appreciation. The Fund will investment primarily in equity securities listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and in the Republic of China. | |
| 3 | 17 | 2.13:1.09 | MXE | 02/23:13.94/16.78 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Mexico Equity & Income Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets mxefund.com | high total return through capital appreciation and current income. The Fund invests at least 50% of its assets in equity and convertible debt securities issued by Mexican companies and the remainder of its assets in debt securities and in certain high quality short-term debt instruments. | |
| 3 | 16 | 1.61:.8 | SWZ | 02/23:6.13/7.34 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Total Return Securities Fund | Developed Market swz.com | long-term capital appreciation through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. | |
| 3 | 15 | 0.55:.35 | CET | 02/20:52.46/61.69 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Central Securities Corporation | Diversified Equity centralsecurities.com | to invest in good companies at sensible prices where it is believed there is an opportunity for a substantial gain over a three to five-year period. | |
| 2 | 16 | 1.68:1.68 | RCG | 02/23:2.84/3.4 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | RENN Fund, Inc. | Global rencapital.com Expense ratio imputed | to provide shareholders with current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in convertible and equity securities of emerging growth public companies that are generally not available to the public, and which typically require substantial financial commitment. | |
| 2 | 15 | 1.71:1 | RGT | 02/23:14.41/16.86 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Royce Global Trust, Inc | Global roycefunds.com | long-term growth of capital. The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities and at least 65% of its net assets in equity securities of companies located in at least three countries outside of the United States. The Funds assets may be invested in companies located in a single country. | |
| 2 | 15 | 1.35:1.09 | TDF | 02/23:11.52/13.59 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets franklintempleton.com | long-term capital appreciation. Invests at least 45% of assets in the equity securities of companies whose primary business are conducted in, or whose main offices are in China. This may also include companies whose business is expected to improve from development in China. May include other Asian firms. | |
| 2 | 14 | 1.75:.7 | KF | 02/23:51.67/59.82 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Korea Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets thekoreafund.com | long-term capital appreciation through investment in securities, primarily equity securities, of Korean companies. | |
| 2 | 14 | 1.49:.85 | EEA | 02/23:10.97/12.73 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | The European Equity Fund Inc | Developed Market dws-investments.com | long term capital appreciation by investing in equity and equity-linked securities of issuers domiciled in Europe. The Fund invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (plus any assets funded with leverage) will be invested in equity or equity-linked securities of issuers domiciled in Europe. | |
| 2 | 14 | 1.36:1.05 | MXF | 02/23:22.27/25.78 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Mexico Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets themexicofund.com | long-term capital appreciation through investment in securities, primarily equity, listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. It shall be the non-fundamental policy of the Fund normally to invest at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of issuers listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. | |
| 2 | 14 | 1.35:1.25 | NBXG | 02/23:13.26/15.39 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Neuberger Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. | Sector Equity nb.com | to provide capital appreciation and income. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by US and non-US companies, in any market capitalization range, that are relevant to the theme of investing in NextGen Companies that uses NextGen Connectivity. | |
| 2 | 13 | 1.44:1.24 | BMEZ | 02/23:14.98/17.17 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust | Sector Equity | The Trust seeks to provide total return and income primarily through long-term capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in equity securities of companies engaged in the health sciences group of industries and equity derivatives with exposure to the health sciences group of industries. | |
| 2 | 12 | 1.64:.671 | ASA | 02/23:74.58/84.83 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | ASA Gold & Precious Metals Limited | Sector Equity asaltd.com | to invest at least 80% of the total assets in securities of companies engaged in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious mineral and investment in direct forms, interests in and/or securities that seek to replicate the price movement of precious minerals. | |
| 2 | 11 | 1.31:.879 | BCV | 02/23:23.08/25.84 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Bancroft Fund Ltd | Convertible Sec bancroftfund.com | to provide income and the potential for capital appreciation by investing primarily in convertible securities. | |
| 2 | 11 | 1.11:.931 | GAM | 02/23:61.12/68.83 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | General American Investors Company, Inc | Diversified Equity generalamericaninvestors.com | long-term appreciation through investment in companies with above average growth potential. | |
| 2 | 11 | 0.93:.858 | DIAX | 02/23:15.43/17.33 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Nuveen Dow 30 Dynamic Overwrite Fund | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat nuveen.com | to provide stockholders with a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund uses a two-part strategy. First, the Fund will invest in the thirty stocks included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Second, the Fund will write (sell) covered call options. | |
| 2 | 11 | 0.89:.838 | BXMX | 02/23:14.49/16.21 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat nuveen.com | to provide a high level of current income and gains. Under normal market circumstances, the Fund will invest its managed assets in a diversified equity portfolio that seeks to substantially replicate price movements of the S&P's 500 Stock Index and is designed to support the Fund's index option strategy. | |
| 2 | 11 | 0.47:.42 | TY | 02/23:33.04/37.03 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Tri-Continental Corporation | Diversified Equity tricontinental.com | to produce future growth of both capital and income while providing reasonable current income. While common stocks make up the bulk of the Fund's investments, asset may be held in cash or invested in all types of securities. | |
| 2 | 10 | 0.91:.615 | TSI | 02/23:4.6/5.13 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc | Income & Pref Stock tcw.com | to generate investment income. The Fund's investments may include, but are not limited to, dividend paying equity securities, non-convertible debt securities, high yield debt securities, mortgage-related securities and asset-backed securities in addition to convertible securities. | |
| 2 | 10 | 0.61:.378 | PEO | 02/23:26.01/28.83 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. | Natural Resources peteres.com | primarily the preservation of capital, the attainment of reasonable and dependable income from investments and an opportunity for capital appreciation consistent with the foregoing. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in energy stocks sector. | |
| 1 | 9 | 1.32:.75 | GRF | 02/06:11.06/12.22 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Eagle Capital Growth Fund, Inc | Diversified Equity eaglecapitalgrowthfund.com/ | long-term growth. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest primarily in high quality, dividend-paying U.S.-based multinational corporations. | |
| 1 | 9 | 1.12:.989 | BGR | 02/23:15.39/16.95 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | BlackRock Energy & Resources Trust | Natural Resources www1.blackrock.com | The Trust seeks to provide total return and income through combination of current income and long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to invest 80% of its total net assets in equity securities of energy and natural resources companies and equity derivatives with exposure to the energy and natural resources industry. | |
| 1 | 9 | 1.07:1.02 | NIE | 02/23:25.39/27.96 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund | Convertible Sec allianzinvestors.com | total return comprised of capital appreciation, current income and gains. The Fund will pursue its investment objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities and income-producing convertible securities. | |
| 1 | 9 | 0.93:.824 | BOE | 02/23:11.94/13.06 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat www1.blackrock.com | current income and current gains, with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation. The Fund primarily invests in securities of companies with large capitalization and seeks to achieve its objectives by investing primarily in equity securities up to approximately 30% to 45% of its total assets. | |
| 1 | 9 | 0.9 :.83 | USA | 02/23:5.95/6.53 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Liberty All-Star Equity Fund | Diversified Equity all-starfunds.com | total investment return, comprised of long term capital appreciation and current income, through investment primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities. | |
| 1 | 9 | 0.89:.823 | QQQX | 02/23:27.59/30.45 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Nuveen Nasdaq 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat nuveen.com | attractive total return with less volatility than the Nasdaq 100 Index. The Fund will invest at least 80% of assets in a portfolio made up of securities comprising the Index that seeks to substantially replicate price movements of the Nasdaq 100 Index and is designed to support the Funds Option Strategy. | |
| 1 | 8 | 0.97:.816 | SPXX | 02/23:17.76/19.38 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Nuveen S&P 500 Dynamic Overwrite Fund | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat nuveen.com | attractive total return with less volatility than the S&P 500 Index. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets in a diversified equity portfolio made up of securities comprising the Index that seeks to substantially replicate price movements of the Index and also to support the Funds Option Strategy. | |
| 1 | 14 | 5.82:.971 | BRW | 02/23:6.5/7.59 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund | Loan Participation ingfunds.com | The Trust seeks a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. dollar denominated floating rate secured senior loans. | |
| 1 | 13 | 4.08:1.33 | DMA | 02/23:8.55/9.88 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Destra Multi-Alternative Fund | Income & Pref Stock growthandincomefund.com | to provide returns from capital appreciation and income with an emphasis on income generation. The Fund invest in income-producing securities; real estate investment trusts and alternative investment funds as well as common stocks and structured notes, notes, bonds, and asset-backed securities. | |
| 1 | 12 | 1.63:1.32 | CAF | 02/23:18.04/20.61 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets morganstanley.com | capital growth. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in A-shares of Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The Fund may invest, up to 15% of its assets, in warrants, structured investments or other Strategic Transactions. | |
| 1 | 11 | 3.65:.71 | FMN | 02/23:11.28/12.63 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Federated Hermes Premier Municipal Income Fund | Gen & Ins Leveraged federatedinvestors.com | to provide current income by investing primarily in securities that pay interest exempt from federal income tax, including AMT. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 15 to 30 years and a dollar-weighted average duration of 7 to 13 years. | |
| 1 | 11 | 2.61:1.22 | NML | 02/23:9.83/11.09 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Neuberger Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund Inc. | Energy MLP nb.com | total return with an emphasis on cash distributions. The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in master limited partneships or MLPs. The Fund considers investments in MLPs to include investments that offer economic exposure to public and private MLPs in the form of equity securities of MLPs. | |
| 1 | 11 | 2.59:.566 | WIW | 02/23:8.62/9.65 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund | General Bond leggmason.com | to provide current income primarily, and capital appreciation as a secondary objective, by normally investing at least 80% of its assets in U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (”U.S. TIPS”). The fund anticipates issuing preferred shares of approximately 33% of its total managed assets. | |
| 1 | 11 | 1.65:.838 | PCF | 02/20:6.04/6.77 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | High Income Securities Fund | Convertible Sec putnam.com | to provide high current income by investing in high-yielding convertible securities. The Fund will also seek to augment current income by investing in nonconvertible high-yielding, lower -rated or non-rated debt securities. | |
| 1 | 11 | 1.13:1 | FUND | 02/23:9.88/11.09 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Sprott Focus Trust, Inc | Diversified Equity sprottfocustrust.com | long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks by normally investing more than 75% of its assets in common stocks, convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and other equity securities. | |
| 1 | 10 | 2.91:.584 | WIA | 02/23:8.23/9.13 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund | General Bond leggmason.com | attractive current income with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. To achieve its goals, the Fund will invest primarily in treasury inflation protected securities. | |
| 1 | 10 | 1.31:1.13 | IIF | 02/23:24.1/26.89 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc | Emerging Markets morganstanley.com | long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of Indian issuers. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in equity securities of companies organized in, India, denominated in Rupees and issued by companies to finance operations in India or of companies that alone. | |
| 1 | 10 | 1.22:1.04 | RMT | 02/23:12.1/13.52 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc | Diversified Equity roycefunds.com | The Trust seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the securities of micro-cap companies traded in the over-the-counter market. | |
| 1 | 10 | 1.22:.841 | ECF | 02/23:11.84/13.21 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. | Convertible Sec ellsworthfund.com | a high level of total return on its assets through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in convertible securities which includes bonds, debentures, corporate notes or preferred stock that are convertible into common stock. | |
| 1 | 10 | 1.1 :1 | ETW | 02/23:9.41/10.42 | GN Ch Hi Ne Al Go MS CN Ma Mb Bl Ho Se MP | Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund | Opt Arbitrage/Opt Strat eatonvance.com | current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund invests in common stocks of U.S. issuers and non-U.S. issuers, and sells on a continuous basis call options. | |
Charts and news about the above funds: Yahoo MSN MarketWatch
Updated:2026-02-24 07:32
Disclaimer: we do not recommend purchase or sale of any particular funds, merely present a compilation and mathematical manipulation of publicly available data; while we try to compile correct data, we cannot guarantee data correctness and are not responsible for its use.