Written by Nick Ackerman, co-produced by Stanford Chemist.

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE:EVT) is trading at a sufficiently deep discount to its net asset value per share to reach a ‘Buy’ level. The previous update saw it trading at just over a 6% discount, which could have been an opportunistic moment for long-term investors. However, the current discount of around 9% surpasses our target 8% discount level, presenting an even more compelling proposition for prospective investors.

The fund’s performance since our last update indicates a slightly negative price return, but on a total return basis, it has exhibited slightly positive results.

In a market where the S&P 500 is soaring to new all-time highs, the inclusion of leverage in EVT’s strategy may seem incongruous. However, EVT’s benchmark against the Russell 1000 Value Index sets it apart from the S&P 500, which has increasingly evolved into a growth index. This positioning makes EVT a fundamentally distinct fund in terms of its performance drivers and risk characteristics.

With its highest sector exposure in financials, healthcare, industrials, and energy, and a technology sector exposure of just over 7%, EVT offers potential portfolio balancing and diversification, particularly for investors heavily weighted in the tech space. Moreover, the fund also boasts exposure to fixed income and preferred securities, making it more of a hybrid fund rather than a pure-equity fund.

EVT Fund Essentials

• 1-Year Z-score: -1.16
• Discount: -9.09%
• Distribution Yield: 8.05%
• Expense Ratio: 1.13%
• Leverage: 19.7%
• Managed Assets: $2.3 billion
• Structure: Perpetual

EVT focuses on “dividend-paying common and preferred stocks and seeks to distribute a high level of dividend income that qualifies for favorable federal income tax treatment.” Its investment approach aligns with a value investment style by targeting dividend-paying common stocks with the potential for substantial dividend growth. The fund’s objective is to deliver a high level of after-tax total return, predominantly in the form of tax-advantaged dividend income and capital appreciation.

Seizing the Discount Opportunity

Unlike the S&P 500, EVT benchmark against the Russell 1000 Value Index and includes exposure to fixed-income and preferred instruments. By benchmarking itself against a blended index, the fund offers a comprehensive performance comparison. In its last annual report ending October 31, the fund outperformed various listed indexes over five and ten years in terms of total net asset value (NAV) return, a vital metric signifying the underlying portfolio’s performance.

Notably, during a market downturn at the end of the fiscal year, EVT’s actual total NAV performance was down approximately 2%, whereas its market price total returns plummeted by over 14.5% due to a widened discount. Throughout 2021 and 2022, the fund sporadically operated at a premium before transitioning to a substantial discount.

While a broader market recovery benefited most publicly traded companies, EVT’s total NAV performance compared respectably with the Russell 1000 Value Index fund but lagged significantly in market price. Consequently, EVT’s stock is now trading well below its long-term average, approaching a discount level seen prior to 2016/2017.

Given the dominance of the S&P 500 by tech and growth stocks, EVT’s performance might not mirror the index. However, a potential silver lining could emerge if tech stocks pause or if value stocks begin to outperform. With its leverage, EVT stands to strongly outperform in a lower-rate environment.

While EVT’s exposure to fixed income and preferred securities isn’t substantial, a subsidized-rate environment could drive appreciation, making the fund an attractive proposition for conservative income-seeking investors.