Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) and its related closed‑end funds report results for the year ended October 31, 2025, emphasizing steady monthly income from multi‑asset portfolios of convertibles, equities and high‑yield bonds. CSQ delivered a 1‑year NAV total return of 27.10% and a 10‑year NAV return of 15.00%, while peers such as CHI, CHY, CCD, CHW and CGO also posted strong double‑digit NAV returns.
All funds follow managed or level distribution policies, with current monthly distributions per share as of October 31, 2025 of $0.0950 for CHI, $0.1000 for CHY, $0.1025 for CSQ, $0.1950 for CCD, $0.0500 for CHW, $0.0800 for CGO and $0.1400 for CPZ. Recent distributions were largely sourced from short‑term or long‑term capital gains rather than return of capital.
The funds use leverage through a State Street Bank credit facility and mandatory redeemable preferred shares. For example, CSQ’s borrowings and MRP Shares together represented 29.1% of managed assets, with interest charged at Overnight Bank Financing Rate plus 0.52% (4.38% as of October 31, 2025). Hypothetical tables show how this leverage can amplify both gains and losses for common shareholders.
John S. Koudounis filed an amended Form 3 reporting his beneficial ownership in Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ). The amendment updates his relationship to the issuer: he is listed as an officer (Vice President) and as a trustee effective 09/01/2025. The statement shows 15,830 shares of common stock owned directly. The amendment references an original filing dated 07/11/2016 and is signed on 09/09/2025.
John S. Koudounis filed an amended Form 3 reporting initial beneficial ownership in Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ). The filing shows 15,830 shares of common stock held directly. The amendment updates his relationship with the issuer to reflect that he is an officer (Vice President) and became a trustee effective 09/01/2025. The form is signed and dated 09/09/2025 and contains no derivative holdings or other transactions.
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund insider Hugh Armstrong filed an initial ownership report showing no holdings. The Form 3 indicates that Armstrong is related to the fund in an "Other" capacity as a trustee, but the accompanying ownership tables list no non-derivative or derivative securities. The explanatory note explicitly states that no securities are beneficially owned, meaning Armstrong reports no direct or indirect ownership of Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund shares as of the event date.
The filing is an amendment to a Schedule 13G reporting that a group of related Apollo entities and Athene Annuity and Life Company collectively hold 1,920,000 Series F Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares of Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund. That holding represents 48.0% of the 4,000,000 MRPS outstanding (per the issuer's certified shareholder report dated April 30, 2025). No reporting person claims sole voting or dispositive power; each reports zero sole power and shared voting and dispositive power over 1,920,000 shares. The filing states the securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not to change or influence control of the issuer.