This month's top 10 closed-end funds (CEFs) offer an average yield of 9.5% and strong long-term performance across diverse asset classes. For income investors, closed-end funds remain an attractive investment class that covers various asset classes and promises high distributions and reasonable total returns. Closed-end funds, or CEFs, are generally characterized by higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than the broader market. For these reasons, they are not suited for everyone.
There's a 7.3%-paying AI fund out there that looks like the perfect buy—7.3% yield, growing payout and special dividends. Yet, if you hold this one, I urge you to sell yesterday.
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund pays a monthly dividend, with a current dividend yield of about 7.5%. AIO's has a balanced and diverse portfolio of stocks and bonds with an emphasis on companies building out, or benefitting from, artificial intelligence (AI). AIO's balanced, AI focused approach has outperformed the S&P 500 over the 1, 3 and 5-year periods.
Can we still call ourselves contrarians if we buy into “mainstream” trends like the stunning growth of AI? Of course we can.
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund offers a balanced portfolio with a 7.4% dividend yield, focusing on tech and income-oriented investments. AIO's reliance on net realized gains and leverage increases its risk profile, especially during market downturns and high-interest rate environments. The fund trades at a premium to NAV, making it potentially overvalued; Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund offers a better value proposition.
If you're like most income investors, you're on the hunt for stocks and funds that can stand up to a storm these days.
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (AIO) has seen strong performance, driven by a narrowing discount and also AI-related investments. AIO's hybrid approach includes equities, convertibles, and high-yield bonds, making it more diversified but potentially limiting the relative returns. The fund comes with an attractive distribution yield that is paid monthly, which can be appealing to income-oriented investors.
The AI technology trend has driven significant outperformance for AI-related growth stocks like Nvidia and Microsoft, with closed-end funds like BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust and Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund offering high-yield income opportunities. The AIO CEF has delivered nearly 70% total return since August 2022, but I'm downgrading it to a Hold due to lack of NAV discount and potential tech stock volatility. AIO's stable monthly distribution and diversified holdings in tech, healthcare, and financials make it a solid long-term investment, despite potential market corrections.
24/7 Wall Street Insights Closed-End Mutual Funds (CEF) trade like stocks but provide comparable performance to their Open-End Mutual Fund cousins and may have additional advantages.
Earnings estimates for AI-related companies are declining, leading to a shift towards value and cyclical stocks. The Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (AIO) has been downgraded from buy to hold due to bearish seasonal trends and stretched valuation. AIO's portfolio heavily focuses on growth stocks, with limited exposure to value positions, leading to uncertainty in liquidity metrics.
You probably remember the first time you heard about ChatGPT. The AI tool's lifelike responses seemed like magic—so much so that people were debating whether generative AI tools like it were actually conscious.