Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT) Stock

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.

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.

Gabelli Utility Trust is a closed-end fund offering high income with equity exposure, focusing on the utility sector for inflation protection. The GUT closed-end fund yields 9.95%, outperforming peer funds, but distribution history shows flat payouts for over a decade, disappointing as an inflation hedge. The fund appears to have purchased some utility common stocks during the first quarter that should have appreciated in price.

Gabelli Utility Trust trades at an 87% premium to net asset value, despite lagging behind the Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares. The GUT closed-end fund's high premium is attributed to its attractive distribution yield of 11.47% and the option for shareholders to exit through rights offerings. Shorting GUT and going long on VPU is risky due to high borrowing fees, but the premium to net asset value is declining.

The utilities sector faced a tough year in 2023, contrary to its usual defensive nature during economic downturns. GUT displays an extremely high premium to its net asset value (NAV), currently at 109.3%. This high premium remains despite changes in the utilities sector and interest rate landscape. Rising treasury yields offer returns above 5%, making investments in utilities or high-premium CEFs like GUT less appealing compared to alternative options.

GUT has suffered losses of over 25% these past few days. Losses were due to general market weakness and an excessively elevated premium. Premiums remain excessive, however. A look at the fund's premium, and its negatives, follows.