N-2
N-2 - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||
Jun. 02, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2023 | Sep. 30, 2022 | Sep. 30, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | ||
Cover [Abstract] | |||||||||
Entity Central Index Key | 0000793040 | ||||||||
Amendment Flag | false | ||||||||
Document Type | N-CSRS | ||||||||
Entity Registrant Name | Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. | ||||||||
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | |||||||||
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block] | Investment Objective and Strategy The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide income and the potential for capital appreciation, which objectives the Fund considers to be relatively equal over the long term due to the nature of the securities in which it invests. The Fund invests primarily in convertible and equity securities. | ||||||||
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | |||||||||
Capital Stock [Table Text Block] | 6. Capital. Transactions in shares of common shares of beneficial interest for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 were as follows: Six Months Ended Year Ended Shares Amount Shares Amount Increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions 75,976 $ 635,918 428,456 $ 5,154,319 Decrease in net assets from repurchase of common shares (2,400 ) (19,910 ) (222,248 ) (2,068,339 ) Net increase 73,576 $ 616,008 206,208 $ 3,085,980 The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares, par value $0.01. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Fund’s Statement of Preferences to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Preferred Shares at their respective liquidation values plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders. The liquidation value of the Series A Preferred is $25 per share. The Series A Preferred has an annual dividend rate of 5.25% and is callable at the Fund's option. The Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series A Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. During the six months ended March 31, 2023, and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund repurchased and retired 31,113 and 1,572 Series A Preferred, at investments of $699,557 and $36,725 at average discounts of approximately 10.10% and 6.59%, from its liquidation value. On July 1, 2022, the Fund issued 2,503,000 shares of Series B 4.40% Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series B Preferred) receiving $24,887,500 million after the deduction of estimated offering expenses of $142,500. The Series B Preferred shares have a liquidation value of $10 per share and an annual dividend rate of 4.40%. The Series B Preferred Shares are puttable on June 26, 2023 and June 26, 2024 and are callable after June 26, 2024. Distributions are at an annual rate of 4.40% and are paid semiannually. At March 31, 2023, 2,503,000 shares of Series B Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $290,626. The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Shares information: Series Issue Date Authorized Number of Net Proceeds 2023 Dividend Dividend Accrued A 5.250% September 18, 2017 unlimited 1,167,315 $28,855,381 Fixed Rate 5.250% $21,279 B 4.400% July 1, 2022 unlimited 2,503,000 $24,887,500 Fixed Rate 4.400% $290,626 The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common shares as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Trustees and, under certain circumstances, are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the preferred shares, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred shares and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies. | ||||||||
Outstanding Securities [Table Text Block] | The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Shares information: Series Issue Date Authorized Number of Net Proceeds 2023 Dividend Dividend Accrued A 5.250% September 18, 2017 unlimited 1,167,315 $28,855,381 Fixed Rate 5.250% $21,279 B 4.400% July 1, 2022 unlimited 2,503,000 $24,887,500 Fixed Rate 4.400% $290,626 | ||||||||
Cumulative Preferred Shares [Member] | |||||||||
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | |||||||||
Security Voting Rights [Text Block] | The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common shares as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Trustees and, under certain circumstances, are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the preferred shares, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred shares and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies. | ||||||||
Preferred Stock Restrictions, Other [Text Block] | The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares, par value $0.01. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Fund’s Statement of Preferences to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Preferred Shares at their respective liquidation values plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders. The liquidation value of the Series A Preferred is $25 per share. The Series A Preferred has an annual dividend rate of 5.25% and is callable at the Fund's option. The Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series A Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. During the six months ended March 31, 2023, and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Fund repurchased and retired 31,113 and 1,572 Series A Preferred, at investments of $699,557 and $36,725 at average discounts of approximately 10.10% and 6.59%, from its liquidation value. On July 1, 2022, the Fund issued 2,503,000 shares of Series B 4.40% Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series B Preferred) receiving $24,887,500 million after the deduction of estimated offering expenses of $142,500. The Series B Preferred shares have a liquidation value of $10 per share and an annual dividend rate of 4.40%. The Series B Preferred Shares are puttable on June 26, 2023 and June 26, 2024 and are callable after June 26, 2024. Distributions are at an annual rate of 4.40% and are paid semiannually. At March 31, 2023, 2,503,000 shares of Series B Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $290,626. | ||||||||
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | 3,670,315 | ||||||||
Common Shares [Member] | |||||||||
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | |||||||||
NAV Per Share | $ 9.61 | $ 9.61 | |||||||
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | |||||||||
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | 13,779,242 | ||||||||
Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares [Member] | |||||||||
Financial Highlights [Abstract] | |||||||||
Senior Securities Amount | $ 29,183 | $ 29,183 | $ 29,961 | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | ||
Senior Securities Coverage per Unit | [1] | $ 86.08 | $ 86.08 | $ 82.61 | $ 188.94 | $ 169.66 | $ 148.91 | $ 144.33 | |
Preferred Stock Liquidating Preference | $ 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||
Senior Securities Average Market Value per Unit | [2] | $ 22.87 | $ 24.82 | $ 26.10 | $ 25.59 | $ 24.64 | $ 24.56 | ||
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | |||||||||
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] | A 5.250% | ||||||||
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | 1,167,315 | 1,167,000 | 1,198,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | ||
Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares [Member] | |||||||||
Financial Highlights [Abstract] | |||||||||
Senior Securities Amount | $ 25,030 | $ 25,030 | $ 25,030 | ||||||
Senior Securities Coverage per Unit | [1] | $ 34.43 | $ 34.43 | $ 33.04 | |||||
Preferred Stock Liquidating Preference | $ 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||
Senior Securities Average Market Value per Unit | [2],[3] | $ 10 | $ 10 | ||||||
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | |||||||||
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] | B 4.400% | ||||||||
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | 2,503,000 | 2,503,000 | 2,503,000 | ||||||
[1]Asset coverage per share is calculated by combining all series of Preferred stock.[2]Based on weekly prices.[3]The Series B Preferred is a private placement and is not listed on an exchange, nor does the Fund expect a secondary market to develop. The average market price shown is the $10 liquidation preference of the Series B Preferred. |