Cornerstone Funds Announce Continuing Monthly Distributions for 2025 and Distribution Percentage for 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund (NYSE American: CLM) and Cornerstone Total Return Fund (NYSE American: CRF) have announced their continuing monthly distributions for the remainder of 2025 and distribution policy for 2026. CLM will maintain its monthly distribution of $0.1224 per share through December 2025, while CRF will continue with $0.1168 per share.
Both Funds' Boards approved maintaining the 21% distribution percentage for 2026. Based on July 31, 2025 values, this would result in estimated monthly distributions of $0.1189 for CLM and $0.1144 for CRF in 2026, though final amounts will be determined by October 2025 net asset values.
The distributions are not tied to investment income or capital gains and may include return-of-capital. Stockholders can choose to receive distributions in cash or reinvest through the dividend reinvestment plan.
Positive
- Fixed 21% distribution percentage maintained for 2026, providing income visibility for investors
- Monthly distribution schedule offers regular income to shareholders
- Flexible distribution reinvestment option available to stockholders
Negative
- Distributions may include significant return-of-capital, potentially depleting Fund assets
- Distribution amounts expected to decrease in 2026 based on current NAV
- Fund assets may decline if distributions exceed investment returns
Insights
Cornerstone Funds maintain high 21% distribution rate for 2026, largely funded by returning investor capital rather than investment returns.
Cornerstone has announced the continuation of its monthly distribution policy for its two closed-end funds (CLM and CRF) through the end of 2025, while maintaining the 21% annual distribution rate for 2026. This distribution percentage will be applied to the funds' NAVs as of October 31, 2025 to determine next year's monthly payouts.
What's critically important for investors to understand is that these distributions are not tied to the funds' investment income or capital gains. The press release explicitly states that a significant portion of these distributions will likely constitute a return of capital to shareholders. This means investors are essentially receiving their own money back, not actual investment returns or income.
Looking at the current distributions, CLM will pay
Return of capital distributions reduce an investor's cost basis and can create a tax-advantaged income stream in the short term. However, they can gradually erode the fund's asset base if not offset by equivalent investment returns. The press release acknowledges this risk, stating: "If total cash distributions exceeded Net Earnings, the Excess would decrease each Fund's total assets" and potentially increase expense ratios.
While the high distribution rate may appeal to income-focused investors, it's essential to recognize that these payments represent a structured liquidation of capital rather than sustainable investment yields. The 21% distribution rate far exceeds realistic long-term investment returns in almost any market environment.
NEW YORK, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CLM) (CUSIP: 21924B302) and Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CRF) (CUSIP: 21924U300), (individually the “Fund” or, collectively, the “Funds”), each a closed-end management investment company, announced that in keeping with each Fund’s previously adopted monthly distribution policy, each Fund is declaring the following distributions:
| Record Date | Payable Date | Per Share | |||||
| CLM | October 15, 2025 | October 31, 2025 | $ | 0.1224 | |||
| CLM | November 14, 2025 | November 28, 2025 | $ | 0.1224 | |||
| CLM | December 15, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | $ | 0.1224 | |||
| CRF | October 15, 2025 | October 31, 2025 | $ | 0.1168 | |||
| CRF | November 14, 2025 | November 28, 2025 | $ | 0.1168 | |||
| CRF | December 15, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | $ | 0.1168 | |||
Each Fund’s distribution policy provides for the resetting of the monthly distribution amount per share (“Distribution Amount”) annually, based on each Fund’s net asset value on the last business day of October and the annualized distribution percentage approved by the respective Board of Directors (individually the “Board”, or collectively, the “Boards”).
Distribution Percentage for 2026
Each Board today announced the distribution percentage for the calendar year 2026 will remain at
The actual data which will determine the monthly Distribution Amount for 2026 will not be known until the end of October 2025. However, as an example, if the value of the net assets and the number of shares outstanding were the same as those on July 31, 2025, the monthly Distribution Amount for 2026 would be reset from
Each Board believes each Fund’s distribution policy maintains a stable, high rate of distribution. These distributions are not tied to each Fund’s investment income or capital gains and do not represent yield or investment return on each Fund’s portfolio. The Distribution Amount from one calendar year to the next will increase or decrease based on the change in each Fund’s net asset value. The terms of each distribution policy are reviewed and approved at least annually by each Fund’s Board and may be modified at their discretion for the benefit of each Fund and its stockholders.
Each Fund’s Board remains convinced its stockholders are well served by a policy of regular distributions which increase liquidity and provide flexibility to individual stockholders in managing their investment in each Fund. Stockholders have the option of reinvesting these distributions in additional shares of their Fund or receiving them in cash. Stockholders may consider reinvesting their regular distributions through their Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan which may at times provide additional benefit to stockholders who participate in their Fund’s plan. Stockholders should carefully read the description of the dividend reinvestment plan contained in each Fund's report to stockholders.
Under each Fund’s distribution policy, each Fund may distribute to stockholders each month a minimum fixed percentage per year of the net asset value or market price per share of its common stock or at least a minimum fixed dollar amount per year. In determining to adopt this policy, the Board of each Fund sought to make regular monthly distributions throughout the year. Under each policy, each Fund’s distributions will consist either of (1) earnings, (2) capital gains, or (3) return-of-capital, or some combination of one or more of these categories. A return-of-capital is the return of a portion of the stockholder’s original investment.
Given the current economic environment and the composition of each Fund’s portfolio, a portion of each Fund’s distributions made during the current calendar year is expected to consist of a return of the stockholder’s capital. Accordingly, these distributions should not be confused with yield or investment return on each Fund’s portfolio. The final composition of the distributions for 2025 cannot be determined until after the end of the year and is subject to change depending on market conditions during the year and the magnitude of income and realized gains for the year.
In any given year, there can be no guarantee each Fund’s investment returns will exceed the amount of the net distributions. To the extent the amount of distributions paid to stockholders in cash exceeds the total net investment returns of the Fund, the assets of a Fund will decline. If the total net investment returns exceed the amount of cash distributions, the assets of a Fund will increase. Distributions designated as return-of-capital are not taxed as ordinary income dividends and are referred to as tax-free dividends or nontaxable distributions. A return-of-capital distribution reduces the cost basis of a stockholder’s shares in the Fund. Stockholders can expect to receive tax-reporting information for 2025 distributions by the middle of February 2026 indicating the exact composition per share of the distributions received during the calendar year. Stockholders should consult their tax advisor for proper tax treatment of each Fund’s distributions.
Volatility in the world economy helps to create what Cornerstone Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) views as significant opportunities through investments in closed-end funds. In addition to holding closed-end funds which invest substantially all of their assets in equity securities, the Adviser may also choose to take advantage of situations in funds which invest in fixed income or other investment categories. Closed-end funds, with their broadly diversified holdings, enhance diversification within each Fund’s portfolio.
Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but the total return on such investments at the investment company level is reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other investment companies, including advisory fees. To the extent each Fund invests its assets in investment company securities, those assets will be subject to the risks of the purchased investment company's portfolio securities, and a stockholder in the Fund will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of a Fund, but also, indirectly the expenses of the purchased investment company. There can be no assurance the investment objective of any investment company in which a Fund invests will be achieved.
Under the managed distribution policy, each Fund makes monthly distributions to stockholders at a rate which may include periodic distributions of its net income and net capital gains (“Net Earnings”), or from return-of-capital. If, for any fiscal year where total cash distributions exceeded Net Earnings (the "Excess"), the Excess would decrease each Fund's total assets and, as a result, would have the likely effect of increasing each Fund's expense ratio. There is a risk the total Net Earnings from each Fund’s portfolio would not be great enough to offset the amount of cash distributions paid to Fund stockholders. If this were to occur, a Fund’s assets would be depleted, and there is no guarantee a Fund would be able to replace the assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, a Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Furthermore, such assets used to make distributions will not be available for investment pursuant to the Fund’s investment objective.
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. and Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. are traded on the NYSE American LLC under the trading symbols “CLM” and “CRF”, respectively. For more information regarding each Fund please visit www.cornerstonestrategicinvestmentfund.com and www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in a Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. A stockholder should carefully consider a Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read a Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.
In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements, which may concern, among other things, domestic and foreign markets, industry and economic trends and developments and government regulation and their potential impact on a Fund’s investment portfolio. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in each Fund’s disclosure documents, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual trends, developments and regulations in the future, and their impact on the Fund could be materially different from those projected, anticipated or implied. Each Fund has no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
Contact: (866) 668-6558
FAQ
What is CLM's monthly distribution amount for the remainder of 2025?
What is the distribution percentage set for Cornerstone Funds in 2026?
How will CLM and CRF distributions change in 2026 based on current estimates?
Are the Cornerstone Funds' distributions tied to investment income?
What options do CLM and CRF shareholders have for receiving distributions?
