

Closed-end funds can often be quite interesting to income-focused investors as they pay out relatively higher distribution yields. Another key factor is that the funds can trade at discount/premiums to the net asset value per share. While some funds perpetually trade at deep discounts, there are reasons to believe that some don't deserve to.

As credit spreads narrow, fewer and fewer high-yield ETFs are compelling buys. There are exceptions, and I'll be showcasing three of these in this article: CEFS, CLOZ, and JEMB. CLOZ's CLO portfolio provides the highest 7.2% dividend yield and the strongest risk-adjusted returns.

The Saba Opportunistic Hedged Closed-End Funds ETF is one of the best-performing income ETFs of the market. The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of closed-end funds, focusing on equity. It sometimes uses options and derivatives, engaging in trades of all types. CEFS is managed by well-known activist investor Saba, with the fund sometimes benefiting/engaging in these campaigns too.

Saba Opportunistically Hedged Closed-End Fund ETF (CEFS) delivers superior long-term total returns through active management, activist strategies, and interest rate hedging. CEFS consistently outperforms passive and traditional active CEF fund-of-fund peers, with 3- and 5-year annualized returns of 21.34% and 13.91%, respectively. Activist alpha and deep-discount arbitrage allow CEFS to realize market gains faster than peers, while portfolio-level interest rate hedges mitigate leveraged CEF risks.

As credit spreads narrow, fewer and fewer high-yield ETFs are compelling buys. There are exceptions, and I'll be showcasing three of these in this article: CEFS, CLOZ, and JEMB. CLOZ's CLO portfolio provides the highest 7.3% dividend yield and strongest risk-adjusted returns.

Saba Closed-End Funds ETF is attractive for long-term, income-focused investors seeking buy-and-hold opportunities. CEFS delivers monthly distributions with a special year-end distribution, creating a stable price with a strong total return. The portfolio is highly diversified across 77 holdings, including equity, fixed income, and commodity-focused closed-end funds.

Closed-End Funds (CEF) and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) are both investment pools that trade on major US stock exchanges, and focus on very specific financial topics, such as high dividend yields, technology, real estate, energy, international markets, and a large panoply of other sectors.

We review the CEF market valuation and performance through the fourth week of April and highlight recent market action. CEF markets faced renewed risk aversion, with sector discounts widening to historical averages and MLPs and Convertibles led to the upside. Western Asset CEFs' NII remained largely stable; key drivers include short-term rate direction, liability management, and overdistribution.