First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation report beneficial ownership of 3,270,682 shares (5.16%) of Common stock of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. The filing states these shares are held with shared dispositive power and that the reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership. The report cites 03/31/2026 as the relevant date and lists CUSIP 09255R202.
Positive
None.
Negative
None.
Insights
Shared dispositive control over 3,270,682 shares equals a 5.16% stake.
The filing shows shared dispositive power for 3,270,682 shares of Common stock, representing 5.16% as of 03/31/2026. Ownership arises principally through unit investment trusts and related vehicles sponsored or supervised by First Trust entities.
Voting authority is exercised by trustees of the unit investment trusts rather than the reporting persons; the filing also disclaims beneficial ownership and cites Rule 13d-1(k)(1).
Trust structures drive the filing; voting and disposition mechanics are delegated.
The disclosure explains that unit investment trust trustees vote shares to align with other holders and that First Trust Portfolios L.P. may enter voting agreements under Rule 12d1-4 subject to trust terms. The filing emphasizes administrative relationship and disclaimers of beneficial ownership.
Cash‑flow treatment and any trading plans are not described in the excerpt; subsequent filings would be needed for changes in holdings or voting arrangements.
Key Figures
Shares beneficially owned:3,270,682 sharesPercent of class:5.16%Reporting date:03/31/2026+1 more
4 metrics
Shares beneficially owned3,270,682 sharesAmount reported in Item 4(a)
Percent of class5.16%Percent of Common stock reported in Item 4(b)
Reporting date03/31/2026Date associated with the holdings
CUSIP09255R202Identifier for the Common shares of the issuer
Key Terms
beneficially owned, unit investment trusts, Rule 13d-1(k)(1)
Beneficially owned describes securities or assets where a person has the economic rights and control—such as the right to receive dividends and to direct voting—even if legal title is held in another name. Think of it like having the keys and using a car that’s registered to someone else: you get the benefits and make decisions. Investors care because beneficial ownership reveals who truly controls value and voting power, affecting corporate decisions and takeover dynamics.
unit investment trustsfinancial
"First Trust Portfolios L.P. acts as sponsor of certain unit investment trusts"
A unit investment trust (UIT) is a pooled investment that sells investors fixed “units” representing a pre-selected, unchanging bundle of stocks, bonds or other securities held for a set period. Think of it like buying a pre-packed grocery basket that won’t be rearranged — you know exactly what you own and roughly when it will end. UITs matter to investors because they offer predictable holdings and income patterns, lower active management, and clear tax and fee implications compared with regularly traded funds.
Rule 13d-1(k)(1)regulatory
"This filing is jointly filed ... pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1)"
What stake does First Trust report in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund (DSU)?
They report beneficial ownership of 3,270,682 shares (5.16%). The filing states this figure is as of 03/31/2026 and lists dispositive power as shared among the reporting persons.
Who filed the Schedule 13G for DSU?
First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P., and The Charger Corporation jointly filed the Schedule 13G. The filing notes The Charger Corporation is the general partner of the First Trust entities.
Does the filing say the reporting persons can vote the shares?
No. The filing states the reporting persons have no sole voting power and that trustees of unit investment trusts vote the shares to track other owners, per the trust agreements.
Are these shares held directly or through other vehicles?
They are held largely through unit investment trusts and pooled vehicles. The filing explains some shares are in registered investment companies, pooled vehicles, or separately managed accounts overseen by First Trust Advisors L.P.
Does the filing claim beneficial ownership by the filers?
Each reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the identified shares. The filing attributes holdings to unit investment trusts and related accounts rather than to the filers personally.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common
(Title of Class of Securities)
09255R202
(CUSIP Number)
03/31/2026
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
Rule 13d-1(b)
Rule 13d-1(c)
Rule 13d-1(d)
schemaVersion:
SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP Number(s):
09255R202
1
Names of Reporting Persons
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
2
Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)
(a)
(b)
3
Sec Use Only
4
Citizenship or Place of Organization
ILLINOIS
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:
5
Sole Voting Power
0.00
6
Shared Voting Power
0.00
7
Sole Dispositive Power
0.00
8
Shared Dispositive Power
3,270,682.00
9
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
3,270,682.00
10
Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)
11
Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)
5.16 %
12
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
BD
SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP Number(s):
09255R202
1
Names of Reporting Persons
First Trust Advisors L.P.
2
Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)
(a)
(b)
3
Sec Use Only
4
Citizenship or Place of Organization
ILLINOIS
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:
5
Sole Voting Power
0.00
6
Shared Voting Power
0.00
7
Sole Dispositive Power
0.00
8
Shared Dispositive Power
3,270,682.00
9
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
3,270,682.00
10
Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)
11
Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)
5.16 %
12
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IA
SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP Number(s):
09255R202
1
Names of Reporting Persons
The Charger Corporation
2
Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)
(a)
(b)
3
Sec Use Only
4
Citizenship or Place of Organization
ILLINOIS
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:
5
Sole Voting Power
0.00
6
Shared Voting Power
0.00
7
Sole Dispositive Power
0.00
8
Shared Dispositive Power
3,270,682.00
9
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
3,270,682.00
10
Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)
11
Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)
5.16 %
12
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
HC
SCHEDULE 13G
Item 1.
(a)
Name of issuer:
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
(b)
Address of issuer's principal executive offices:
Attn: Legal Department, c/o BlackRock - Elizabeth Kogut, BlackRock Advisors LLC, 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
Item 2.
(a)
Name of person filing:
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
First Trust Advisors L.P.
The Charger Corporation
(b)
Address or principal business office or, if none, residence:
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(c)
Citizenship:
Illinois, USA
(d)
Title of class of securities:
Common
(e)
CUSIP Number(s):
09255R202
Item 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)
Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)
Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)
Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)
Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)
An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)
A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)
A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
please specify the type of institution:
(k)
Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.
Ownership
(a)
Amount beneficially owned:
3,270,682
(b)
Percent of class:
5.16 %
(c)
Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
0
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
0
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
0
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
3,270,682
Item 5.
Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
Not Applicable
Item 6.
Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.
This Schedule 13G filing is jointly filed by The Charger Corporation, First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1). The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. First Trust Portfolios L.P. acts as sponsor of certain unit investment trusts which hold shares of the issuer. The total number of shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts is set forth in Row (8) above with respect to First Trust Portfolios L.P. No individual unit investment trust sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. holds more than 3% of any registered investment company issuer's shares. First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of First Trust Portfolios L.P., acts as portfolio supervisor of the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P., certain of which hold shares of the issuer. Neither First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. nor The Charger Corporation have the power to vote the shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. These shares are voted by the trustee of such unit investment trusts so as to insure that the shares are ordinarily voted as closely as possible in the same manner and in the same general proportion as are the shares held by owners other than such unit investment trusts. Subject to the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as further explained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust and related Trust Agreements of the unit investment trusts, First Trust Portfolios L.P., on behalf of the unit investment trusts, may enter into an agreement with a deposited fund which may permit the shares of such fund to be voted in the best interest of unit holders at the discretion of First Trust Portfolios L.P. The difference, if any, between the aggregate amount of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person, as set forth in Row (9) above, and the number of shares of the issuer held by the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. represents shares of the issuer which are either held in other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or separately managed accounts for which First Trust Advisors L.P. serves as investment advisor and/or investment sub-advisor. Each of First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the issuer identified in this filing.
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary.
See Item 6.
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable
Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable
Item 10.
Certifications:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under ?? 240.14a-11.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Signature:
/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:
James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer
Date:
04/27/2026
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Signature:
/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:
James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer
Date:
04/27/2026
The Charger Corporation
Signature:
/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:
James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Date:
04/27/2026
Exhibit Information
Please see Exhibit 99.1 for Joint Filing Agreement
