- ISIN
- US1281251017
- CUSIP
- 128125101
- Issuer
- Calamos
- Inception Date
- Mar 26, 2004
- Category
- Diversified Portfolio
- Index Tracked
- No Index (Active)
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Multi-Asset
Share Price Chart
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Performance
CSQ Performance Chart
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) is up 9.8% since the beginning of the year. CSQ is currently trading at $20 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of CSQ shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,675.
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Returns By Period
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has returned 9.76% so far this year and 26.45% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, CSQ has achieved an annualized return of 16.51%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% per year.
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
- 1D
- -0.54%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 9.76%
- 6M
- 9.38%
- 1Y
- 26.45%
- 3Y*
- 20.99%
- 5Y*
- 10.87%
- 10Y*
- 16.51%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
CSQ Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Apr 1, 2004, CSQ's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.99%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 5.9 years.
Historically, 64% of months were positive and 36% were negative. The best month was Dec 2008 with a return of +18.9%, while the worst month was Nov 2008 at -21.3%. The longest winning streak lasted 9 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.
On a daily basis, CSQ closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 13, 2008 with a return of +27.4%, while the worst single day was Mar 12, 2020 at -20.0%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.57% | -0.91% | -9.32% | 15.06% | 6.26% | -0.65% | 9.76% | ||||||
| 2025 | 3.11% | -3.46% | -7.12% | -0.11% | 8.32% | 6.17% | 1.12% | 2.09% | 4.16% | 0.59% | -1.01% | 2.23% | 16.25% |
| 2024 | 3.97% | 3.71% | 3.42% | -4.34% | 4.97% | 4.40% | 0.47% | 1.84% | 2.56% | 0.41% | 5.33% | -1.26% | 28.11% |
| 2023 | 7.23% | -2.58% | 1.35% | -0.98% | -0.27% | 9.08% | 4.04% | -1.76% | -4.72% | -8.14% | 13.41% | 4.42% | 20.80% |
| 2022 | -8.76% | -4.00% | 5.01% | -12.01% | -2.21% | -11.28% | 17.88% | -4.39% | -13.61% | 11.00% | 5.46% | -5.37% | -24.26% |
| 2021 | -1.58% | 6.19% | 5.70% | 4.94% | -0.78% | 3.18% | 1.40% | 3.35% | -5.48% | 7.72% | -0.27% | 3.54% | 30.77% |
Benchmark Metrics
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund has an annualized alpha of 2.24%, beta of 1.00, and R2 of 0.63 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since April 01, 2004.
- This fund captured 123.22% of S&P 500 Index gains and 116.23% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- This fund generated an annualized alpha of 2.24% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 1.00 and R2 of 0.63, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 2.24%
- Beta
- 1.00
- R²
- 0.63
- Upside Capture
- 123.22%
- Downside Capture
- 116.23%
Expense Ratio
CSQ has a high expense ratio of 2.46%, indicating above-average management fees.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
CSQ ranks 35 for risk / return — below 35% of mutual funds on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CSQ | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.37 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.74 | 2.78 | -1.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.41 | 12.44 | -5.03 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund provided a 6.61% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $1.35 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 6 consecutive years.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $1.35 | $1.25 | $1.23 | $1.23 | $1.23 | $1.23 | $1.11 | $0.97 | $0.99 | $0.99 | $0.99 | $0.99 |
Dividend yield | 6.61% | 6.51% | 6.95% | 8.27% | 9.17% | 6.38% | 7.03% | 7.14% | 9.35% | 8.20% | 9.64% | 10.00% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.61 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.23 | $1.25 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.21 | $1.23 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.21 | $1.23 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.21 | $1.23 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.21 | $1.23 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund was 67.17%, occurring on Nov 20, 2008. Recovery took 919 trading sessions.
The current Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund drawdown is 0.84%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -67.17%Nov 2008 | 1y 6mo | 3y 8mo | 5y 1moMay 2007 - Jul 2012 |
COVID crash2020 | -48.21%Mar 2020 | 1mo 1d | 4mo 22d | 5mo 23dFeb 2020 - Aug 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -33.09%Oct 2022 | 9mo 17d | 1y 5mo | 2y 2moDec 2021 - Mar 2024 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -29.04%Dec 2018 | 2mo 27d | 4mo 9d | 7mo 6dSep 2018 - Apr 2019 |
2016 bear market2016 | -24.63%Feb 2016 | 8mo 28d | 5mo 5d | 1y 1moMay 2015 - Jul 2016 |
Drawdown Indicators
| CSQ | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.17% | -56.78% | -10.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.25% | -9.10% | -6.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.18% | -18.90% | -5.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.09% | -25.43% | -7.66% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.21% | -33.92% | -14.29% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.84% | -1.80% | +0.96% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.32% | -10.71% | +1.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.58% | 2.03% | +1.55% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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