CSQ vs PSMO
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund vs Pacer Swan SOS Moderate October ETF
Which is better, CSQ or PSMO?
CSQ has been ahead.
PSMO has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | CSQ | PSMO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.03% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $108M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.93% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 816 | 12 |
| YTD Return | +10.46%Best | +9.51% |
| 1Y Return | +13.57%Best | +12.26% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.82%Best | +12.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.22%Best | +10.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.4% | 6.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.1% | -9.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,267Best | $16,230 |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Equity-oriented Balanced |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2004 | Sep 30, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5 years).
CSQ vs PSMO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 5 years both funds cover.
CSQ vs PSMO Performance
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Pacer Swan SOS Moderate October ETF (PSMO) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year CSQ returned +13.57% while PSMO returned +12.26%. Year to date, CSQ is up 10.46% versus a gain of 9.51% for PSMO.
Over three years, CSQ compounded at +21.82% per year against +12.10% for PSMO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.22% and +10.17% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.4% compared with 6.7% for PSMO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -33.1% for CSQ and -9.8% for PSMO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSQ charges 2.03% per year while PSMO charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $203 vs $49 annually, a gap of $154 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSQ currently yields 1.93% against 0.00% for PSMO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 452 holdings in CSQ and 1 in PSMO, totalling 93.6% and 0.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 227 days apart, CSQ as of Jan 31, 2026 and PSMO as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 1 in PSMO, against full books of 816 and 12.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CSQ and PSMO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CSQ or PSMO?
CSQ has an expense ratio of 2.03% while PSMO charges 0.49%. PSMO is the cheaper option, by $154 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSQ or PSMO?
Over the past year CSQ returned +13.57% vs +12.26% for PSMO, so CSQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSQ or PSMO?
CSQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.4% annualized versus 6.7% for PSMO. Worst drawdown: CSQ -33.1% vs PSMO -9.8%.
Should I hold both CSQ and PSMO?
CSQ and PSMO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSQ or PSMO?
CSQ yields 1.93% while PSMO yields 0.00%, so CSQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PSMO better than CSQ?
PSMO has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.