CSQ vs. TDVI

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF (TDVI).

CSQ is an actively managed fund by Calamos. It was launched on Mar 26, 2004. TDVI is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Aug 9, 2023.

Performance

CSQ vs. TDVI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF (TDVI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

CSQ vs. TDVI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
CSQ Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund	-9.64%	16.25%	28.11%	3.02%
TDVI FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF	-2.31%	24.75%	22.84%	10.79%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CSQ achieves a -9.64% return, which is significantly lower than TDVI's -2.31% 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%

TDVI

• 1D: 2.99%
• 1M: -4.61%
• YTD: -2.31%
• 6M: -3.50%
• 1Y: 28.85%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CSQ vs. TDVI - Expense Ratio Comparison

CSQ has a 2.46% expense ratio, which is higher than TDVI's 0.75% expense ratio.

CSQ

Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund

TDVI

FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF

Return for Risk

CSQ vs. TDVI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CSQ

CSQ Risk / Return Rank: 29
CSQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 27
CSQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 27
CSQ Omega Ratio Rank: 32
CSQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
CSQ Martin Ratio Rank: 31

TDVI

TDVI Risk / Return Rank: 77
TDVI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
TDVI Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
TDVI Omega Ratio Rank: 74
TDVI Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
TDVI Martin Ratio Rank: 79

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CSQ vs. TDVI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF (TDVI). 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	TDVI	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.65	1.27	-0.62
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.01	1.87	-0.86
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.16	1.27	-0.11
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.83	2.27	-1.43
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	3.29	8.29	-4.99
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CSQ vs. TDVI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CSQ Sharpe Ratio is 0.65, which is lower than the TDVI Sharpe Ratio of 1.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CSQ and TDVI, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	CSQ	TDVI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.65	1.27	-0.62
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.38	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.65	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.39	1.09	-0.70

Correlation

The correlation between CSQ and TDVI is 0.72, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

CSQ vs. TDVI - Dividend Comparison

CSQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.54%, less than TDVI's 8.10% 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%
TDVI FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF	8.10%	7.53%	7.90%	3.04%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

CSQ vs. TDVI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CSQ drawdown since its inception was -67.17%, which is greater than TDVI's maximum drawdown of -22.08%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSQ and TDVI.

Drawdown Indicators

	CSQ	TDVI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-67.17%	-22.08%	-45.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.59%	-12.78%	-2.81%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.09%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-48.21%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-12.07%	-6.90%	-5.17%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.40%	-3.10%	-6.30%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.94%	3.50%	+0.44%

Volatility

CSQ vs. TDVI - Volatility Comparison

Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has a higher volatility of 6.85% compared to FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF (TDVI) at 5.95%. This indicates that CSQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TDVI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CSQ	TDVI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.85%	5.95%	+0.90%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.54%	13.08%	-1.54%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	21.12%	22.88%	-1.76%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.00%	19.57%	+0.43%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.93%	19.57%	+3.36%