# Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ): Closed-End Fund Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: Calamos · Asset class: Equity - Strategy: Actively Managed · Inception: 2004-04-01 The Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund functions as a closed-end balanced mutual fund, originally launched by Calamos Investments LLC and currently managed by Calamos Advisors LLC. This fund primarily allocates capital within the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States, targeting investments in companies operating across a wide range of sectors. Its portfolio predominantly features common and preferred stocks from businesses of all market capitalizations, alongside convertible securities and high-yield corporate bonds, which typically maintain an average S&P credit rati... ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $20.10 | | Expense Ratio | 3.69% | | Market Value | $3.22B | | NAV | Not on file (no daily NAV for closed-end funds) | | Holdings Count | — | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | 7.36% | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | $1.48 /share | | Distribution Frequency | Monthly | | 52-Week Range | $16.41 – $21.17 | | Beta | 1.32 | ## Latest Distribution - Amount: $0.1350 /share - Ex-date: 2026-10-14 - Pay date: 2026-10-21 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does CSQ invest in? The Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund functions as a closed-end balanced mutual fund, originally launched by Calamos Investments LLC and currently managed by Calamos Advisors LLC. This fund primarily allocates capital within the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States, targeting investments in companies operating across a wide range of sectors. Its portfolio predominantly features common and preferred stocks from businesses of all market capitalizations, alongside convertible securities and high-yield corporate bonds, which typically maintain an average S&P credit rating of BB. To construct its investment holdings, the fund utilizes a comprehensive analytical framework, integrating both fundamental and quantitative methods, coupled with a blend of bottom-up and top-down security selection strategies. Established on December 31, 2003, the fund is legally domiciled in the United States. ### What is the expense ratio of CSQ? Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) charges an expense ratio of 3.69%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### How big is CSQ? Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has a market value of $3.22B: its share price times its shares outstanding. A closed-end fund trades above or below its net asset value, so its net assets differ from this figure. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation. ### Is CSQ actively managed or an index fund? CSQ is actively managed: the manager selects holdings rather than tracking an index. Active funds typically charge higher expense ratios than index funds (CSQ's is 3.69%) in exchange for the discretion to over- or under-weight positions. ### When was CSQ launched? Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) launched in April 2004 and is managed by Calamos. ### How has CSQ performed? CSQ's total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon. ### Does CSQ pay a dividend? Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is 7.36%. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab. ### How often does CSQ pay dividends? Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund pays dividends Monthly. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page. ### What is CSQ's dividend yield? CSQ's trailing-twelve-month yield is 7.36%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### When is CSQ's next ex-dividend date? The most recently announced ex-dividend date for CSQ was 2026-10-14. The next ex-date typically follows Monthly; once announced it appears at the top of the dividend history table on this page. ### How much will CSQ's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 3.69% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees. ### How does CSQ charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from CSQ's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price. ### Why does CSQ cost more than a fund like VOO? CSQ is actively managed (current expense ratio 3.69%). Active funds charge more than passive index trackers in exchange for the manager's discretion to over- or under-weight positions. The Cost Verdict card above tells you whether CSQ's fee is competitive for the active-management cohort. ### Are there cheaper alternatives to CSQ? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists closed-end funds following the same investment strategy as CSQ (3.69%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want. ## More on Dividend Data - Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/csq/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.