Mutual fund conversion reflects firm’s continued focus on delivering dividend growth strategies through separately managed accounts and active ETFs
Cincinnati, April 1, 2026: Bahl & Gaynor, an independent investment manager dedicated exclusively to dividend growth investing, today announced the conversion and merger of the Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth Mutual Fund into its active ETF counterpart, the Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF (NYSE: BGIG). The ETF employs an actively managed strategy designed to emphasize current and growing income with a focus on risk management and long-term capital appreciation. Following the merger, the nearly three-year-old ETF manages over $2 billion of client capital.
The successful conversion and merger of the firm’s Income Growth Mutual Fund, the firm’s only mutual fund, represents the completion of Bahl & Gaynor’s ETF platform and commitment to delivering dividend growth strategies in vehicles increasingly utilized by advisors and their clients.
“For over 35 years, Bahl & Gaynor has focused on delivering disciplined dividend growth strategies designed to support investor objectives.” said Bob Groenke, CEO of Bahl & Gaynor. “The completion of our ETF suite reflects Bahl & Gaynor’s continued commitment to delivering time-tested strategies in modern investment vehicles and evolving our offerings to meet the changing needs of advisors and their clients.”
The Income Growth ETF’s disciplined dividend growth investment approach focuses on current and consistent income growth, with an emphasis on risk awareness and long-term total return. BGIG focuses primarily on larger companies that the firm’s Investment Team believes can sustain and grow dividends over time. The ETF wrapper gives BGIG a flexible investment structure, including intraday liquidity and potential tax efficiency, while maintaining the same investment team, philosophy and portfolio management process that have long defined the strategy for mutual fund investors.
“Our approach focuses on identifying companies with the financial strength and durability to sustain and grow their dividends over time,” added Nick Puncer, CFA®, CFP®, Managing Director at Bahl & Gaynor. “Merging the mutual fund into an actively managed ETF allows us to continue applying that disciplined dividend growth approach within an ETF structure.”
For more information about the Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF and the firm’s suite of actively managed dividend ETFs, visit www.bahl-gaynor.com.
About Bahl & Gaynor
Bahl & Gaynor is an independent investment manager based in Cincinnati, Ohio, driven by the belief that Dividends Pay Dividends®. Founded in 1990, the firm seeks to help investors generate growing income and compound capital through a disciplined dividend growth investment philosophy. Bahl & Gaynor manages $54.9 billion in assets under management and advisement as of December 31, 2025, across actively managed ETFs and separately managed accounts (SMAs).
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call (855) 994-1711 or click here. Please read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy, including those designed to provide downside protection or dividend growth, can guarantee positive returns or eliminate risk. Dividend payments are not guaranteed and may be reduced or eliminated at any time.
ETFs are subject to additional risks including the risk that shares may trade at a premium or discount to net asset value (NAV). Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price and are not individually redeemed from the Fund.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The information provided should not be construed as investment advice. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice.
Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking and are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections. Actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including market conditions and economic developments.
Bahl & Gaynor regulatory assets under management were $21.0B and SMA platform assets under advisement were $34.0B as of 12/31/2025. Source: Bahl & Gaynor. Bahl & Gaynor identifies assets under management as assets over which the firm has discretion (including high net worth and institutional accounts and certain platform assets). Assets under advisement include model only platform assets over which the firm does not have discretion.
Bahl & Gaynor is a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Bahl & Gaynor is the investment adviser to ESS Trust. The funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC, not affiliated with Bahl & Gaynor.