GAB vs. ECF

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

GAB (The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc) is Large Cap Value Equities fund managed by Gabelli Funds, while ECF (Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, GAB returned 11.03%/yr vs 13.54%/yr for ECF. At a 0.30 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

GAB vs. ECF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) and Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GAB achieves a -5.51% return, which is significantly lower than ECF's 20.28% return. Over the past 10 years, GAB has underperformed ECF with an annualized return of 11.03%, while ECF has yielded a comparatively higher 13.54% annualized return.

GAB

• 1D: 0.54%
• 1M: -1.06%
• YTD: -5.51%
• 6M: -3.63%
• 1Y: 8.86%
• 3Y*: 11.95%
• 5Y*: 5.43%
• 10Y*: 11.03%

ECF

• 1D: 1.03%
• 1M: 8.35%
• YTD: 20.28%
• 6M: 18.75%
• 1Y: 51.91%
• 3Y*: 27.81%
• 5Y*: 7.28%
• 10Y*: 13.54%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GAB vs. ECF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
GAB The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc	-5.51%	27.03%	18.05%	3.37%	-16.30%	28.26%	14.70%	31.62%	-8.77%	24.66%
ECF Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.	20.28%	30.03%	27.48%	8.01%	-31.63%	-0.79%	31.72%	47.17%	-3.70%	19.51%

Correlation

The correlation between GAB and ECF is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.26
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.40
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.46
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.44
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 23, 1990	0.30

The correlation between GAB and ECF shifts across timeframes, from 0.26 (1 year) to 0.46 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

GAB vs. ECF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GAB

GAB Risk / Return Rank: 7
GAB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7
GAB Sortino Ratio Rank: 7
GAB Omega Ratio Rank: 7
GAB Calmar Ratio Rank: 7
GAB Martin Ratio Rank: 6

ECF

ECF Risk / Return Rank: 91
ECF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
ECF Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
ECF Omega Ratio Rank: 91
ECF Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
ECF Martin Ratio Rank: 91

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GAB vs. ECF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) and Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	GAB	ECF	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.61	2.81	-2.20
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.97	3.47	-2.50
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.12	1.46	-0.34
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.70	4.02	-3.31
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.90	13.41	-11.51
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GAB vs. ECF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GAB Sharpe Ratio is 0.61, which is lower than the ECF Sharpe Ratio of 2.81. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GAB and ECF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GAB	ECF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.61	2.81	-2.20
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.30	0.41	-0.11
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.50	0.62	-0.12
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.33	0.37	-0.04

Drawdowns

GAB vs. ECF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GAB drawdown since its inception was -74.62%, which is greater than ECF's maximum drawdown of -49.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GAB and ECF.

Drawdown Indicators

	GAB	ECF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-74.62%	-49.86%	-24.76%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.90%	-13.16%	+0.26%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.63%	-16.83%	-2.80%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.60%	-42.58%	+15.98%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-46.92%	-47.28%	+0.36%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.33%	0.00%	-8.33%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.65%	-10.15%	-0.50%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.76%	3.94%	+0.82%

Volatility

GAB vs. ECF - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) is 3.60%, while Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) has a volatility of 5.47%. This indicates that GAB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ECF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GAB	ECF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.60%	5.47%	-1.87%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.55%	14.55%	-3.00%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.53%	18.57%	-4.04%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.27%	17.71%	+0.56%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.94%	21.78%	+0.16%

Dividends

GAB vs. ECF - Dividend Comparison

GAB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.60%, more than ECF's 6.69% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ECF Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.	6.69%	7.39%	5.47%	6.44%	6.52%	12.14%	9.59%	6.63%	5.82%	4.68%	5.32%	10.22%
GAB The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc	10.60%	9.72%	11.15%	11.81%	10.95%	8.72%	9.57%	9.85%	12.55%	9.80%	10.87%	12.05%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both GAB and ECF in my portfolio?

GAB and ECF have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, GAB or ECF?

ECF has higher volatility (5.47%) compared to GAB (3.60%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GAB dropped -74.62% vs ECF's -49.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ECF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.81 vs 0.61), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.