Fund Evaluator:
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A (EVTMX)
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Best Performing in Large Value Over the Last Year
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Fund Details
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A Overview
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A (EVTMX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Value fund. Eaton Vance launched the fund in 1981.
The investment seeks total return. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend-paying common stocks and dividend-paying or interest-bearing securities that are convertible into common stock. It invests primarily in large-cap stocks but may invest in companies with a broad range of market capitalizations, including smaller companies.
About Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A (EVTMX)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 18.97 years: Charles Gaffney (2007). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P 500 (TR) (1970) index with a weighting of 100% and NASDAQ US Broad Div Achievers TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has 56 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 29.5% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has 1.4% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 96.2%. There is 1.4% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has 2.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $682 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Large Value category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
EVTMX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Large Value category. Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has an expense ratio of 1.00%, which is 8% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has a portfolio turnover rate of 45%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 62% for the Large Value category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A returned 0.4%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Large Value category had an average return of 2.9%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A has a trailing yield of 1.12%, which is below the 1.20% category average. The fund normally distributes its income monthly and its capital gains semi-annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 10.4%, 3.9 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 12.6% over the past year (grade of F), 12.4% over the past three years (grade of F) and 8.2% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 11.1% per year over the past 10 years (grade of C).
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EVTMX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| EVTMX Return (NAV) | 0.4% | 2.7% | 12.6% | 12.4% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| EVTMX Grade | F | F | F | F | F | C |
| +/- Category | -2.5% | -3.5% | -11.3% | -3.3% | -2.7% | -0.1% |
| Large Value Avg | 2.9% | 6.2% | 23.8% | 15.7% | 10.9% | 11.3% |
| EVTMX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 2.1% |
EVTMX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| EVTMX Return (NAV) | 10.4% | 8.5% | 14.5% | 11.2% | -9.8% | 24.4% | 12.3% | 31.1% | -5.4% | 18.9% | 9.2% |
| EVTMX Grade | D | F | C | C | F | D | A | A | B | B | F |
| +/- Category | -3.9% | -6.7% | 0.4% | -0.7% | -3.7% | -1.4% | 8.5% | 5.5% | 3.1% | 2.5% | -5.3% |
| Large Value Avg | 14.3% | 15.2% | 14.1% | 11.8% | -6.0% | 25.8% | 3.8% | 25.6% | -8.5% | 16.4% | 14.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 10.7% |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.87 - Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.89 - Low |
| Category Risk Grade: | A (12% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.71 |
| R-Squared: | 75% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Value |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.1% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Monthly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Semi-Annually |
| Total Assets: | $914 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 682 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 45% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 19.0 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 19.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Gaffney Charles (2007) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 5/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 56 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 29.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 1.4% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 96.2% |
| Foreign Stock: | 1.4% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 2.4% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Eaton Vance |
| Phone Number: | 800-262-1122 |
| Website: | www.eatonvance.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | December 18, 1981 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.25% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.00% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.93% |
| Share Class: | Eaton Vance Dividend Builder A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
