Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
CSQFinancial Services · Asset Management · Stock · monthly payer
Forward Yield
8.05%
Annual Dividend
$1.62
Payout Ratio
20%
5-Yr Growth
2.4%
Ex-Date
Oct 14, 2026
Frequency
Monthly
Key facts about CSQ's dividend
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Oct 30, 2026, Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has a forward dividend yield of 8.05%, based on an annual dividend of $1.62 per share and a share price of $20.03.
- As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (87 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
- CSQ last cut its regular dividend in 2010.
- CSQ's most recent ex-dividend date was Oct 14, 2026, for a dividend of $0.14 per share.
- As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ pays out 20% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
- CSQ's dividend has grown at an average rate of 2.4% a year over the past five years.
- As of Oct 30, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for CSQ is $23.83 per share, 19% above the $20.03 share price, so CSQ screens as undervalued.
- Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) pays its dividend monthly, 12 times a year.
- Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has raised its regular dividend 9 times and cut it 3 times across the 269 payments on record since 2004. Its most recent change was a 9.8% increase to $0.135 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 14, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Nov 6, 2009.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "CSQ Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 30, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/CSQ
Summary
As of Oct 30, 2026, Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) yields 8.05% ($1.62 a year per share) and has a dividend safety grade of A (87/100).
Is CSQ a good dividend stock?
YesCalamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) pays a monthly dividend yielding 8.05% ($1.62/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Advantages
- Comfortable payout ratio (20%)
- Top-tier dividend safety score
Risks
- Cut its dividend in 2010
- Very high yield can signal elevated risk
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 8.05%
- Payout Ratio
- 20%
- Annual Dividend
- $1.62
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 2.4%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Oct 14, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 1
- Frequency
- monthly
- Beta
- —
- Market Cap
- $3.2B
- P/E Ratio
- 3.1
- 5-Yr Total Return
- 4%
- 52-Week Range
- $16.41 – $21.17
- Dividend Safety
- A · 87/100
- Ever Cut?
- Yes (2010)
CSQ dividend raises and cuts
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) has raised its regular dividend 9 times and cut it 3 times across the 269 payments on record since 2004. Its most recent change was a 9.8% increase to $0.135 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 14, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Nov 6, 2009.
| Ex-date | Change | Old → new | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2026 | Raise | $0.123 → $0.135 | +9.8% |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Raise | $0.103 → $0.123 | +19.4% |
| Feb 11, 2021 | Raise | $0.0930 → $0.103 | +10.8% |
| Feb 13, 2020 | Raise | $0.0830 → $0.0930 | +12.0% |
| Apr 8, 2014 | Raise | $0.0700 → $0.0830 | +18.6% |
| Feb 8, 2012 | Raise | $0.0530 → $0.0700 | +32.1% |
| Nov 6, 2009 | Cut | $0.0630 → $0.0530 | −15.9% |
| Jul 8, 2009 | Cut | $0.0750 → $0.0630 | −16.0% |
| Nov 10, 2008 | Cut | $0.103 → $0.0750 | −27.2% |
| Dec 4, 2007 | Raise | $0.0980 → $0.103 | +5.1% |
| Dec 28, 2005 | Raise | $0.0880 → $0.0980 | +11.4% |
| Apr 13, 2005 | Raise | $0.0750 → $0.0880 | +17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CSQ a good dividend stock?
Yes. Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) pays a monthly dividend yielding 8.05% ($1.62/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Is CSQ undervalued?
Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, CSQ's fair value is about $23.83 versus a $20.03 share price — so it looks undervalued (+19% vs. fair value).
Is CSQ's dividend safe?
CSQ has a dividend-safety grade of A (87/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 1-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2010, debt and yield-versus-history.
What is CSQ's fair value?
Our blended fair-value estimate for CSQ is about $23.83 per share, roughly 19% above the current $20.03 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.
Is CSQ a buy, hold, or sell?
We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data CSQ screens as "yes" and undervalued. Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) pays a monthly dividend yielding 8.05% ($1.62/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.
Will CSQ cut its dividend?
CSQ earns a dividend-safety grade of A (87/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2010). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.
Does CSQ pay a dividend?
Yes. Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund pays a monthly dividend of about $1.62 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 8.05%.
What is CSQ's dividend yield?
As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ's forward dividend yield is 8.05%, based on a $1.62 annual dividend and a $20.03 share price.
What is CSQ's dividend per share?
As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ pays $1.62 per share per year, distributed on a monthly basis.
What is CSQ's dividend payout ratio?
As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ's payout ratio is 20% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.
How many years has CSQ grown its dividend?
As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.
When is the next CSQ ex-dividend date?
As of Oct 30, 2026, CSQ's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Oct 14, 2026, for $0.14 per share.
CSQ Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
+3%
3 Years
+36%
5 Years
+4%
52-Week Range
$16.41 – $21.17
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is CSQ worth?
Undervaluedlow confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund is $23.83 per share, versus a market price of $20.03. That implies 19% of upside — a margin of safety of about 16%.
Fair Value
$23.83
Current Price
$20.03
Upside
+19%
Margin of Safety
16%
How we get there
Dividend discount
Discounts the future dividend stream back to today.
Assumptions: 9.3% discount rate (CAPM), 2.1% growth for five years fading to 2.5% over the next five, $6.55 EPS, $1.62 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
CSQ Dividend Safety Score
Very Safe
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
Full CSQ dividend history →| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | $0.1350 | regular |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.1350 | regular |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 | $0.1350 | regular |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | $0.1350 | regular |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| May 14, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Feb 23, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Jan 9, 2026 | $0.1230 | regular |
| Dec 12, 2025 | Dec 19, 2025 | $0.1030 | regular |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Nov 21, 2025 | $0.1030 | regular |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Oct 21, 2025 | $0.1030 | regular |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.1030 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $1.62 / yr per share
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