BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust operates as a closed-end investment fund and investment trust. Its primary investment objective is to seek current income and current gains, with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation. The company was founded on August 31, 2005 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.

BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust

BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust

BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust

BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust

BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust

BlackRock Innovation & Growth Trust

Blackrock Health Sciences Trust

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II

BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust

BlackRock Science & Technology

BlackRock Science and Technology Trust II

BlackRock Utilities Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust

BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund

Blackrock ESG Capital Allocation Trust

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $BBN--Today, BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust (NYSE: BCX), BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust (NYSE: BDJ), BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust (NYSE: BGR), BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust (NYSE: BGY), BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (NYSE: BME), BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE: BMEZ), BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust (NYSE: BOE), BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (NYSE: BUI), Bla.

Certain BlackRock Closed-End Funds Announce Estimated Sources of Distributions

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund (BDJ) completed its second tender offer, and it was another successful one for those who participated, thanks to a significant portion being accepted. As they were just wrapping up the tender offers and cash was yet to be distributed, they also announced distribution increases on a number of funds, with BDJ being one. The fund's discount had narrowed with these positive moves, which makes the next tender offer unlikely, though the discount has been widening back out with recent market volatility.

BDJ: Successful Tender Offer And Distribution Increase

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund offers a high yield, blending dividend-paying stocks and a covered call strategy, making it attractive for income investors. The fund's historical distribution trend is upward but not steep, with a yield on cost of about 7% or higher over the past decade. BDJ's portfolio focuses on established large caps, particularly in financials and health care, ensuring steady income and modest growth.

BDJ: Fairly Priced Near NAV, Making It A Hold

Constellation Energy Corp

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

abrdn Healthcare Investors 

Nuveen Real Asset Income & Growth Fund

NRG Energy

NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund

PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund

Vistra Energy

This month, I've added to 11 different positions, but most of these were related to repurchases after the BlackRock tender offers. While I added to 11 different positions, these were all positions I had already held previously, so there were no new positions this month. In fact, I sold out of a fund to consolidate my holdings and reduce the number of funds held, as I did last month as well.

11 Closed-End Fund Buys In The Month Of November 2024

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund (BDJ) offers a solid 7.8% dividend yield and distributions are paid out on a monthly basis. The fund's strategy involves exposure to dividend paying large-cap stocks and implementing some option writing. BDJ is currently trading at an attractive 8.3% discount to NAV, with potential benefits from recent and anticipated interest rate cuts.

BDJ: Positive Outlook With Reliable Distributions

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund (BDJ) provides exposure to a value-oriented portfolio while employing a covered call strategy. BDJ's portfolio has been performing better as more value-oriented sectors get some attention with rate cuts expected to be coming soon. The fund offers a 7.81% distribution yield, with a monthly distribution that's been stable or growing since 2014.

BDJ: Attractive Monthly Distribution, Remains A 'Buy'

Adams Diversified Equity Fund

Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund

The broader equity market saw declines in early August but ended near all-time highs to finish off the month. I put some capital to work this month at the low, but not as much as I had planned initially, as the market swiftly recovered. Most of the moves this month were corporate action-driven events, primarily the BlackRock tender offers, as we finished up the first measurement period.

9 Closed-End Fund Buys In The Month Of August 2024

The BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund leverages factor investing and options strategies to mitigate price volatility while providing substantial income through dividends and option premiums. BDJ's partial hedging and high-quality stock selection aim to balance capital appreciation with risk management, making it attractive in a low-interest-rate environment. Despite risks like negative skewness and excess kurtosis, BDJ's historical performance and respectable fees support its potential for solid income-based returns.

BDJ CEF: Secure High-Yields Without Chasing Yields

Aberdeen Standard Global Infr Inc Fd

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund Inc

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund

Western Asset Investment Grade Income Fund

Cohen & Steers Real Estate Opportunities and Income Fund

Closed-end funds overall have seen discounts narrow since the start of the year, but opportunities still exist in certain areas of the market. With increased market volatility more recently, that may lead to discounts widening back out, which could create even more opportunities in this structure. I hold 42 positions in my CEF portfolio, with the top 10 positions making up 37.40% of the portfolio—here's a review of those top 10 names.

My Top 10 Closed-End Fund Holdings: August 2024

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $BCAT--The BlackRock closed-end funds (the “Funds”) listed below announced today the expiration and preliminary results of each Fund's tender offer (each, a “Tender Offer”) for up to 2.5% of its outstanding common shares (the “Shares”). Each Tender Offer commenced on July 17, 2024 and expired at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 16, 2024. Based on preliminary information, the number of Shares properly tendered for each Fund and not withdrawn is noted in the table below. Fund.

Certain BlackRock Funds Announce Expiration and Preliminary Results of Tender Offers: CII, BDJ, BGR, BCAT

Special Opportunities Fund Inc

Investing in closed-end funds offers opportunities to exploit discounts and premiums, potentially leading to increased upside. BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund and Special Opportunities Fund are currently trading at large double-digit discounts, and that can make them compelling investment options. Both funds offer monthly distributions to investors as well, which can make it easier to be patient in holding these funds over the long term.

BDJ And SPE: Double Digit Discounts And Monthly Distributions

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust is a closed-end fund that aims to generate cash flows to support current income through dividend-paying stocks and option strategies. BDJ offers a current dividend yield of 8.7% and monthly distributions, making it attractive for investors seeking income in retirement. However, BDJ lacks exposure to the technology sector, which has limited its potential for capital appreciation compared to funds like BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST).

BDJ: Growing NAV And Trades At Discount But Has A Few Caveats

XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust

April turned out to be a little more exciting, with the broader equity market pulling back. This helped to create some added volatility that saw discounts widen in some closed-end funds. Every month I put some money to work in an effort to grow my monthly cash flow over time.

5 Closed-End Fund Buys In The Month Of April 2024

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund (BDJ) is trading at a historically attractive discount level, making it a candidate for a potential investment. BDJ utilizes a covered call strategy and benchmarks the Russell 1000 Value Index and MSCI USA Value Call Overwrite Index. The fund's distribution yield is 8.41%, and its monthly distribution has remained reliable and steady (seeing a couple of increases) for over a decade.

BDJ: Discount Staying Wide, Staying Attractive

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund uses option writing to enhance distributions and seeks dividend growth. BDJ currently sells at a 10% discount. BDJ has shown poor total returns compared to other equity funds and growth-oriented equity funds. Three other funds are used to illustrate that point. While BDJ provided enhanced income compared to many equity funds, its poor total return compared to those same funds and growth-oriented equity funds earn it a Sell rating.

BDJ: Enhanced Income Comes At A Cost

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund offers a high yield of 8.36% and invests primarily in common equities, providing income-focused investors with upside potential. Compared to other covered call and enhanced equity funds, the BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust has a higher yield and less aggressive option strategy. The fund's performance has trailed the S&P 500 Index, but its distribution track record and consistent income make it an attractive choice for investors seeking a high level of current income.

BDJ: Good Covered Call Fund For Those Looking To Own A Portfolio Of Dividend Stocks

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF

Creating a "lazy" dividend portfolio with just a few picks is not recommended, as it lacks diversification and exposes the portfolio to significant risk. Funds that provide stable dividends may not always deliver consistent returns, as the underlying assets and market conditions can change. The top-performing stocks in the market tend to change over time - difficult to predict which stocks will continue to outperform in the future. Diversification is key to managing risk.

Warning: Don't Be Lazy With Your Retirement Portfolio

Ares Capital

Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund

AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund Inc

Central Securities

Calamos Convertible Opportunities And Income Fund

DNP Select Income Fund Inc

Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II

Energy Transfer LP Unit

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Inc

Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund

New American High Income Fund

India Fund Inc

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment

Main Street Capital

Barings Corporate Investors

Annaly Capital

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund

Cohen And Steers Total Return Realty Fund

Cohen & Steers Reit And Preferred Income Fund Inc

2023 year-end review of our 8% Income Portfolio. This high-income portfolio earned over $29,000 in distributions amounting to over 14% yield-on-cost basis and roughly 8.6% on average portfolio value. We will provide updates on trades during the year, dividends collected, and overall performance. As usual, we will compare the performance with a traditional 60:40 stock/bond portfolio.

The 8% Income Portfolio: 2023 Year-End Review

PIMCO Dynamic Income Opportunities Fund

Cohen & Steers Tax-Adv Pref Secs and Inc Fund

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund

Reaves Utility Income Fund

I have a total of 41 positions in my closed-end fund portfolio, with the top ten positions making up 36.52% of the portfolio. We have four new names making their way to my top ten list since the prior update, but three were already positions that have simply grown to be larger allocations. Closed-end funds overall look to be a place of opportunity as discounts remain historically wide across both equity and fixed-income-focused funds.

My Top 10 Closed-End Fund Holdings: December 2023

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund has seen a sharp recovery from the October lows as the fund's discount tightened back up. That said, the fund's discount is still attractive relative to its historical level and could still be considered an attractive opportunity for a long-term investor. BDJ focuses on dividend-paying stocks and utilizes a covered call strategy, providing potential for capital gains to fund its distribution even in a flat or slightly down market.

BDJ: Value-Oriented Portfolio With Attractive Discount And Distribution Yield

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust

Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund Inc

Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc

Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust

First Trust Mortgage Income Fund

Blackrock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund Inc

Templeton Global Income Fund

Western Asset High Income Fund

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc

Western Asset Investment Grade Defined Opportunity Trust

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

Deutsche Municipal Income Trust

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund

RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc.

PIMCO Access Income Fund

Putnam High Income Securities Fund

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II

Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund

Stocks were up slightly as the jobs report shifted the narrative towards 'higher for longer.' The payroll report came in stronger than expected, but the narrative was that it was a hawkish report, meaning higher rates for longer. Discounts for CEFs continue to tread water, with real estate and interest rate-sensitive bond sectors performing well, while emerging market equity and convertibles performed poorly.

CEF Weekly Commentary | December 10, 2023 | High Quality Opportunities

ArrowMark Financial

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Inc

Barings Participation Investors

Neuberger Berman MLP Income Fund, Inc.

LMP Capital and Income Fund

abrdn World Healthcare Fund 

For income investors, closed-end funds remain an attractive investment class that covers a variety of asset classes and promises high distributions and reasonable total returns. Closed-end funds, or CEFs, are generally characterized by higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than the broader market. For these reasons, they are not suited for everyone. In this monthly series, we highlight five CEFs with solid track records that pay high distributions and offer "excess" discounts. We try to separate the wheat from the chaff using our filtering process to select just five CEFs every month from around 500 closed-end funds.

5 Best CEFs This Month For 10% Yield (November 2023)

BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Fund offers a current distribution yield of 8.94%, higher than the S&P 500 Index's 1.44% yield. BDJ's recent performance has been disappointing, with a decline in share price since June 2023. The fund focuses on dividend-paying equities and employs a covered call strategy to enhance distributions, making it appealing to income-focused investors.

BDJ: A Relatively Safe Way To Earn Income And Still Invest In Equities

Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund

Eagle Point Credit

For income investors, closed-end funds remain an attractive investment class that covers a variety of asset classes and promises high distributions and reasonable total returns. Closed-end funds, or CEFs, are generally characterized by higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than the broader market. For these reasons, they are not suited for everyone. In this monthly series, we highlight five CEFs with solid track records, pay high distributions, and offer "excess" discounts. We try to separate the wheat from the chaff using our filtering process to select just five CEFs every month from around 500 closed-end funds.

5 Best CEFs This Month For 10% Yield (October 2023)

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

September was the worst month for equities in 2023, but that's simply creating buying opportunities for the long-term investor. I added to four different positions in my CEF portfolio this month, though they are all familiar names that I've already owned. The theme this month was once again avoiding taking on leveraged funds, and none of the four funds take on any leverage in the form of borrowings.

4 Closed-End Fund Buys In The Month Of September 2023

News for BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust ETF (BDJ)