RYE, N.Y., Aug.  12, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the &#34;Fund&#34;) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The

Gabelli Utility Trust Continues Monthly Distributions, Declares Distributions of $0.05 Per Share

Gabelli Utility Trust Keeps Fixed Distributions; NAV Premium Under Review

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>RYE, N.Y., Aug.  12, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the &amp;#34;Fund&amp;#34;) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>The Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT) will continue fixed monthly distributions of $0.05 per share for October through December 2026, with potential December true-ups to satisfy tax rules. The board notes the fund is trading at a premium to NAV, a sustainability issue that could unwind the premium if earnings or market conditions deteriorate. This sets up near-term income visibility for holders but introduces valuation and premium risk for new buyers.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Gabelli Utility Trust maintains fixed monthly distributions of $0.05 for Oct-Dec 2026.</li><li>Board will review distributions quarterly; December adjustment possible to cover extra income or gains.</li><li>Shares trade at a premium to NAV; long-run sustainability of the premium is questioned.</li><li>2026 distribution mix ~12% net investment income, 44% capital gains, 44% return of capital.</li><li>Total net assets about $323 million; fund managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC (GAMCO subsidiary).</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>The Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)</strong>: Continues fixed monthly distributions; NAV premium risk and tax components highlighted.</li><li><strong>GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GAMI)</strong>: Sponsor/manager via Gabelli Funds; potential implications for distribution policy and governance.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category: Corporate Developments. Fits as a closed-end fund distribution policy update with NAV premium considerations impacting valuation and income investors.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Distribution remains fixed at $0.05 per share for Oct–Dec 2026.</li><li>NAV premium noted as unlikely to be sustainable.</li><li>Tax components and possible December true-up affect after-tax yield.</li><li>Management is Gabelli Funds, LLC, a GAMCO subsidiary, affecting governance expectations.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Distribution per share: $0.05 for October, November, and December 2026.</li><li>Record dates: October 16, 2026; November 13, 2026; December 11, 2026.</li><li>Payable dates: October 23, 2026; November 20, 2026; December 18, 2026.</li><li>Total net assets: approximately $323 million.</li><li>Managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, a subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GAMI).</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Near-term support for GUT from visible income; premium unwind risk may cap upside over the next 1–3 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="justify">RYE, N.Y., Aug.  12, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GUT">GUT</a>) (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 2026.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width:100%; border-collapse:collapse ;"><tr><td style="max-width:1%; width:1%; min-width:1%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="max-width:24%; width:24%; min-width:24%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Distribution Month</td><td style="max-width:25%; width:25%; min-width:25%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Record Date</td><td style="max-width:25%; width:25%; min-width:25%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Payable Date</td><td style="max-width:1%; width:1%; min-width:1%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="max-width:24%; width:24%; min-width:24%;;text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">Distribution Per Share</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; border-left: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">October</td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">October 16, 2026</td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">October 23, 2026</td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; padding-left: 0 ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">$0.05</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; border-left: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">November</td><td style="border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">November 13, 2026</td><td style="border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">November 20, 2026</td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; padding-left: 0 ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">$0.05</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; border-left: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">December</td><td style="border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">December 11, 2026</td><td style="border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">December 18, 2026</td><td style="border-top: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; "> </td><td style="border-right: solid black 1pt ; border-bottom: solid black 1pt ; padding-left: 0 ; text-align: left ;  vertical-align: middle; vertical-align: bottom ; ">$0.05</td></tr></table> <p align="justify"><br></br>Each quarter, the Board of Trustees reviews the amount of any potential distribution from the income, realized capital gain, or capital available. The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund’s net asset value and the financial market environment. If necessary, the Fund will pay an adjusting distribution in December which includes any additional income and net realized capital gains in excess of the monthly distributions for that year to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code for regulated investment companies. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board of Trustees at any time, and there can be no guarantee that the policy will continue. The distribution rate should not be considered the dividend yield or total return on an investment in the Fund. The Gabelli Utility Trust has paid a distribution to shareholders every month since October 1999.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>The Fund’s shares are currently trading at a premium to net asset value. The Board of Trustees believes that the premium at which the Fund shares trade relative to net asset value is not likely to be sustainable. Shareholders participating in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan should note that at the current market price, the reinvestment of distributions occurs at a premium to net asset value.</strong></p>  <p align="justify">All or part of the distribution may be treated as long-term capital gain or qualified dividend income (or a combination of both) for individuals, each subject to the maximum federal income tax rate for long term capital gains, which is currently 20% in taxable accounts for individuals (or less depending on an individual’s tax bracket). In addition, certain U.S. shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare surcharge on their &#34;net investment income&#34;, which includes dividends received from the Fund and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund.</p>  <p align="justify">If the Fund does not generate sufficient earnings (dividends and interest income, less expenses, and realized net capital gain) equal to or in excess of the aggregate distributions paid by the Fund in a given year, then the amount distributed in excess of the Fund’s earnings would be deemed a return of capital. Since this would be considered a return of a portion of a shareholder’s original investment, it is generally not taxable and would be treated as a reduction in the shareholder’s cost basis.</p>  <p align="justify">Long-term capital gains, qualified dividend income, investment company taxable income, and return of capital, if any, will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to all distributions to common shareholders for the year. Based on the accounting records of the Fund currently available, each of the distributions paid to common shareholders in 2026 would include approximately 12% from net investment income, 44% from net capital gains and 44% would be deemed a return of capital on a book basis. This does not represent information for tax reporting purposes. The estimated components of each distribution are updated and provided to shareholders of record in a notice accompanying the distribution and are available on our website (www.gabelli.com). The final determination of the sources of all distributions in 2026 will be made after year end and can vary from the monthly estimates. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the current distribution. All individual shareholders with taxable accounts will receive written notification regarding the components and tax treatment for all 2026 distributions in early 2027 via Form 1099-DIV.</p>  <p align="justify"><em>Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. For more information regarding the Fund’s distribution policy and other information about the Fund, call:</em></p>  <p align="justify"><em>David Schachter</em> <br></br><em>(914) 921-5057</em></p>  <p align="justify"><strong>About The Gabelli Utility Trust</strong> <br></br>The Gabelli Utility Trust is a diversified, closed-end management investment company with $323 million in total net assets whose primary investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital and income by investing primarily in utility companies involved in the generation and distribution of electricity, gas, and water. The Fund is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, a subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GAMI">GAMI</a>).</p>  <p align="justify">NYSE – GUT <br></br>CUSIP – 36240A101</p>  <p>THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST<br></br>Investor Relations Contact:<br></br>David Schachter<br></br>(914) 921-5057<br></br>dschachter@gabelli.com</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTgwODY3NSM3NzcyNjk3IzIyNTkwNzg="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/Mzk2MzFlNjYtNTU3YS00N2ExLWI2YzgtZmI4ODAxZDg5MzI4LTEyNzA2MjgtMjAyNi0wOC0xMi1lbg==/tiny/The-Gabelli-Utility-Trust-Inc.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e806a2f3-d477-4da5-8737-944ffeca40c1"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/e806a2f3-d477-4da5-8737-944ffeca40c1/small/gabelli-funds-hor-positive-cmyk-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="40" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

The Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT) will continue fixed monthly distributions of $0.05 per share for October through December 2026, with potential December true-ups to satisfy tax rules. The board notes the fund is trading at a premium to NAV, a sustainability issue that could unwind the premium if earnings or market conditions deteriorate. This sets up near-term income visibility for holders but introduces valuation and premium risk for new buyers.

News insight

Gabelli Utility Trust Continues Monthly Distributions, Declares Distributions of $0.05 Per Share

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Corporate Developments