CSQ vs. CSTAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX).
CSQ is an actively managed fund by Calamos. It was launched on Mar 26, 2004. CSTAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Sep 13, 2012.
Performance
CSQ vs. CSTAX - Performance Comparison
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CSQ vs. CSTAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSQ Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund | -9.64% | 16.25% | 28.11% | 20.80% | -24.26% | 30.77% | 26.22% | 38.62% | -4.89% | 27.98% |
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | -0.65% | 9.00% | 5.57% | 6.57% | -9.87% | 6.52% | 7.66% | 13.35% | -2.23% | 11.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CSQ achieves a -9.64% return, which is significantly lower than CSTAX's -0.65% return. Over the past 10 years, CSQ has outperformed CSTAX with an annualized return of 14.80%, while CSTAX has yielded a comparatively lower 4.97% annualized return.
CSQ
- 1D
- 3.76%
- 1M
- -9.32%
- YTD
- -9.64%
- 6M
- -8.01%
- 1Y
- 13.61%
- 3Y*
- 15.37%
- 5Y*
- 7.59%
- 10Y*
- 14.80%
CSTAX
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- -2.48%
- YTD
- -0.65%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 5.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.94%
- 5Y*
- 2.92%
- 10Y*
- 4.97%
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CSQ vs. CSTAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
CSQ has a 2.46% expense ratio, which is higher than CSTAX's 0.41% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
CSQ vs. CSTAX — Risk / Return Rank
CSQ
CSTAX
CSQ vs. CSTAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| CSQ | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.65 | 1.73 | -1.08 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.01 | 2.47 | -1.46 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.35 | -0.20 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.83 | 2.23 | -1.39 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.29 | 9.16 | -5.87 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CSQ | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.65 | 1.73 | -1.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 | 0.57 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.86 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.86 | -0.47 |
Correlation
The correlation between CSQ and CSTAX is 0.63, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
CSQ vs. CSTAX - Dividend Comparison
CSQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.54%, more than CSTAX's 5.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSQ Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund | 7.54% | 6.51% | 6.95% | 8.27% | 9.17% | 6.38% | 7.03% | 7.14% | 9.35% | 8.20% | 9.64% | 10.00% |
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | 5.30% | 5.26% | 3.78% | 3.17% | 3.40% | 7.52% | 5.72% | 4.00% | 4.78% | 3.90% | 4.34% | 4.49% |
Drawdowns
CSQ vs. CSTAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CSQ drawdown since its inception was -67.17%, which is greater than CSTAX's maximum drawdown of -14.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSQ and CSTAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CSQ | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.17% | -14.52% | -52.65% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.59% | -2.72% | -12.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.09% | -14.52% | -18.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.21% | -14.52% | -33.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.07% | -2.48% | -9.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.40% | -2.37% | -7.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.94% | 0.66% | +3.28% |
Volatility
CSQ vs. CSTAX - Volatility Comparison
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has a higher volatility of 6.85% compared to American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) at 1.32%. This indicates that CSQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CSTAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CSQ | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.85% | 1.32% | +5.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.54% | 2.05% | +9.49% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.12% | 3.47% | +17.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.00% | 5.16% | +14.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.93% | 5.82% | +17.11% |