GDL (GDL Fund) Moat Score : 3/10 (As of Jul. 05, 2025)

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What is GDL Fund Moat Score?

GDL Fund has the Moat Score of 3, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

GDL Fund has No Moat: GDL Fund does not exhibit strong market leadership or customer loyalty. The fund lacks network effects, significant switching costs, and valuable intellectual property. Its cost advantages and distribution network are not durable, and it faces minimal regulatory barriers. Overall, GDL Fund's competitive position is weak and transient.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes GDL Fund might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Competitive Comparison of GDL Fund's Moat Score

For the Asset Management subindustry, GDL Fund's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

GDL Fund's Moat Score Distribution in the Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, GDL Fund's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where GDL Fund's Moat Score falls into.

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GDL Fund (NYSE:GDL) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score	Moat Level
10	Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9	Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7	Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6	Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5	Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4	Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3	No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0	No Moat - No discernible moat

GDL Fund Moat Score Related Terms

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GDL Fund Business Description

Industry

GURUFOCUS.COM » STOCK LIST » Financial Services » Asset Management » GDL Fund (NYSE:GDL) » Definitions » Moat Score

Comparable Companies

Traded in Other Exchanges

N/A

Address

One Corporate Center, Rye, NY, USA, 10580-1422

Website

https://www.gabelli.com

GDL Fund is a diversified closed-end management investment company. Its primary investment objective is to achieve absolute returns in various market conditions without excessive risk of capital. The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in merger arbitrage transactions and, to a lesser extent, in corporate reorganizations involving stubs, spin-offs, and liquidations.

Executives

Mario J Gabelli	other: Trustee	191 MASON STREET, GREENWICH CT 06830
John Chester Ball	officer: Treasurer	800 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NORWALK CT 06854
Peter D. Goldstein	officer: Secretary	249 ROYAL PALM WAY, SUITE 503, PALM BEACH FL 33480
James P Conn	other: Trustee
Anthony S. Colavita	director	C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC., ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Leslie Fahrenkopf Foley	director	C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC., ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Michael J Melarkey	other: Trustee	ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Bruce N Alpert	officer: President	C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC., ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Gpj Retirement Partners, Llc	other: Limited Liability Company	1 CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Gabelli Securities Inc	other: Subsidiary of GAMCO	ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580
Mjg Iv Limited Partnership	other: Partnership
Relative Value Partners, Llc	10 percent owner	1033 SKOKIE BOULEVARD, SUITE 470, NORTHBROOK IL 60062
Clarence A Davis	other: Trustee	ONEIDA LTD., 163-181 KENWOOD AVENUE, ONEIDA NY 13421
Edward T Tokar	other: Trustee
Arthur V Ferrara	other: Trustee	ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE NY 10580