Investment Opportunities in Closed-End Funds
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- High Yield Appeal: The average yield of closed-end funds (CEFs) currently stands at 8.7%, and while many investors believe this level is unsustainable, numerous funds have maintained or even increased their payouts over the years, demonstrating their ability to provide stable income.
- Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Performance: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) offers a recent quarterly yield of 8.2% and has achieved a total return of 201% over the past decade, indicating that this fund is worth a closer look, especially given its portfolio of large-cap tech stocks like NVIDIA and Apple.
- Discount Advantage: ASG's current discount to net asset value (NAV) is 12.2%, near its lowest level in years, suggesting that investors can acquire quality assets at a bargain price, particularly as AI technology continues to expand, enhancing the growth potential of ASG's portfolio.
- Stable Dividend History: ASG has maintained a relatively stable dividend level over the past decade, with some fluctuations; however, the management commits to returning approximately 8% of its NAV annually as dividends, providing flexibility to invest during market downturns, which enhances its long-term attractiveness.
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Analyst Views on ASG
Wall Street analysts forecast ASG stock price to rise
0 Analyst Rating
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Current: 5.470
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Current: 5.470
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About ASG
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective through investing at least 65% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of companies of any market capitalization. The Fund may invest up to 35% of the value of its total assets in United States (U.S.) Government Securities, repurchase agreements with respect to U.S. Government Securities, and, to an extent not greater than 10% of the market value of the Fund's total assets, money market mutual funds that invest primarily in U.S. Government Securities. The Fund's investment advisor is ALPS Advisors, Inc. The Fund's investment managers include Congress Asset Management Company, LLP; Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, and Weatherbie Capital LLC.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investment Opportunities in Closed-End Funds
- High Yield Appeal: The average yield of closed-end funds (CEFs) currently stands at 8.7%, and while many investors believe this level is unsustainable, numerous funds have maintained or even increased their payouts over the years, demonstrating their ability to provide stable income.
- Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Performance: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) offers a recent quarterly yield of 8.2% and has achieved a total return of 201% over the past decade, indicating that this fund is worth a closer look, especially given its portfolio of large-cap tech stocks like NVIDIA and Apple.
- Discount Advantage: ASG's current discount to net asset value (NAV) is 12.2%, near its lowest level in years, suggesting that investors can acquire quality assets at a bargain price, particularly as AI technology continues to expand, enhancing the growth potential of ASG's portfolio.
- Stable Dividend History: ASG has maintained a relatively stable dividend level over the past decade, with some fluctuations; however, the management commits to returning approximately 8% of its NAV annually as dividends, providing flexibility to invest during market downturns, which enhances its long-term attractiveness.
See More
Tech Stock Rally Raises Concerns Amid Economic Indicators
- Tech Stock Surge: Since March 30, the NASDAQ has surged 33%, with the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT) soaring 48%, indicating a robust recovery in the tech sector, despite ongoing concerns about slowing job growth and high inflation.
- Corporate Earnings Growth: In Q1 2023, the S&P 500 saw earnings growth of 27% and revenue growth of 11.4% year-over-year, demonstrating that companies are achieving significant sales growth even amid economic challenges, which bolsters market confidence.
- OXLC Risk Warning: Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (OXLC) has fees as high as 15.7%, and its dividend has been cut by 41% over the past five years, which hampers the fund's long-term performance, making its 24.1% yield a potential red flag for investors.
- ASG Investment Opportunity: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) currently yields 8.3% and has achieved a total return of 34% since May 2023, providing investors with strong growth potential through its diversified portfolio, particularly in the context of strong tech stock performance.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund April 2026 Monthly Update
- Portfolio Overview: As of April 30, 2026, the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund's total net assets stand at $365.7 million, with 99.3% of funds invested in equities, indicating a strong market engagement aimed at achieving stable growth through a diversified investment strategy.
- Monthly Performance Analysis: The fund's net asset value (NAV) increased by 10.53% this month, while the market price rose by 11.58%, although it still trades at a 10.2% discount, suggesting a rebound in market confidence towards the fund, yet future market volatility remains a concern.
- Holdings Changes: New positions include Flowserve Corp. and Snowflake, Inc., indicating the fund's intent to expand in the technology and industrial sectors, while liquidated holdings like Cheniere Energy, Inc. may reflect a reassessment of market outlook aimed at optimizing portfolio performance.
- Sector Distribution: Information Technology comprises 32.0% of the fund's equity portfolio, with Industrials at 25.1%, highlighting a concentrated investment strategy in high-growth sectors to leverage market potential for long-term returns.
See More
Private Credit Panic and Market Opportunities
- Private Credit Status: According to recent data from Fitch Ratings, the default rate in private credit stands at 5.8%, indicating a decline in corporate credit risks and reflecting a trend of stable economic growth despite the newness of this data.
- Media Misrepresentation and Market Reaction: The media's portrayal of panic in private credit is seen as exaggerated, leading to investor fear that creates undervalued investment opportunities, particularly in the CEF Insider portfolio, which yields 9.9%.
- Liberty All-Star Growth Fund: This fund currently trades at an 11.2% discount, significantly lower than its 3.7% average discount over the past five years, and holds large-cap stocks like Microsoft, Amazon, and NVIDIA, positioning it well for future growth.
- Potential of AI Transformation: AI is expected to profoundly impact modern life within the next 18 months, prompting investors to focus on four key drivers that will yield an average dividend of 10% across selected funds.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund March 2026 Monthly Update
- Portfolio Performance: As of the end of March, the net asset value (NAV) of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund stood at $5.34, reflecting a decline of 6.15% from the beginning of the month, indicating negative impacts from market volatility and a cautious investor sentiment regarding future market conditions.
- Asset Allocation Changes: The fund's portfolio allocation shows that Information Technology and Industrials account for 56.4%, highlighting a concentrated investment strategy in high-growth sectors aimed at capitalizing on potential gains from the recovery in technology and industrial markets.
- New and Liquidated Holdings: New holdings include Cheniere Energy and Micron Technology, demonstrating the fund's strategic positioning in the energy and technology sectors, while liquidating positions in AbbVie reflects a responsive approach to market changes.
- Market Discount Situation: The fund's market price is $4.75, representing an 11.0% discount to NAV, which may influence investor purchasing decisions and indicates a lack of confidence in the fund, necessitating close monitoring of future market performance.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Appoints New Investment Manager
- Manager Change: Liberty All-Star Growth Fund has appointed Congress Asset Management Company as the new investment manager for its small-cap growth portfolio effective April 1, 2026, replacing Weatherbie Capital to enhance profitability and growth potential.
- Leadership of Small-Cap Team: The small-cap investment team at Congress, led by CFA Gregg O'Keefe, focuses on identifying growth companies that demonstrate higher profitability levels within their industries, thereby strengthening the fund's competitive position in the market.
- Portfolio Management Structure: Congress will manage the small-cap growth segment, while the mid-cap growth portion remains under Congress's management, and Westfield Capital Management will continue overseeing the large-cap growth segment, ensuring diversification and specialization within the portfolio.
- Fund Trading Mechanism: As a closed-end fund, it does not continuously issue shares, requiring investors to place orders through intermediaries or brokers, with share prices reflecting market value, indicating investor confidence and market dynamics.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Closed-End Funds
- High Yield Appeal: The average yield of closed-end funds (CEFs) currently stands at 8.7%, and while many investors believe this level is unsustainable, numerous funds have maintained or even increased their payouts over the years, demonstrating their ability to provide stable income.
- Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Performance: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) offers a recent quarterly yield of 8.2% and has achieved a total return of 201% over the past decade, indicating that this fund is worth a closer look, especially given its portfolio of large-cap tech stocks like NVIDIA and Apple.
- Discount Advantage: ASG's current discount to net asset value (NAV) is 12.2%, near its lowest level in years, suggesting that investors can acquire quality assets at a bargain price, particularly as AI technology continues to expand, enhancing the growth potential of ASG's portfolio.
- Stable Dividend History: ASG has maintained a relatively stable dividend level over the past decade, with some fluctuations; however, the management commits to returning approximately 8% of its NAV annually as dividends, providing flexibility to invest during market downturns, which enhances its long-term attractiveness.
See More
Tech Stock Rally Raises Concerns Amid Economic Indicators
- Tech Stock Surge: Since March 30, the NASDAQ has surged 33%, with the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT) soaring 48%, indicating a robust recovery in the tech sector, despite ongoing concerns about slowing job growth and high inflation.
- Corporate Earnings Growth: In Q1 2023, the S&P 500 saw earnings growth of 27% and revenue growth of 11.4% year-over-year, demonstrating that companies are achieving significant sales growth even amid economic challenges, which bolsters market confidence.
- OXLC Risk Warning: Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (OXLC) has fees as high as 15.7%, and its dividend has been cut by 41% over the past five years, which hampers the fund's long-term performance, making its 24.1% yield a potential red flag for investors.
- ASG Investment Opportunity: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) currently yields 8.3% and has achieved a total return of 34% since May 2023, providing investors with strong growth potential through its diversified portfolio, particularly in the context of strong tech stock performance.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund April 2026 Monthly Update
- Portfolio Overview: As of April 30, 2026, the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund's total net assets stand at $365.7 million, with 99.3% of funds invested in equities, indicating a strong market engagement aimed at achieving stable growth through a diversified investment strategy.
- Monthly Performance Analysis: The fund's net asset value (NAV) increased by 10.53% this month, while the market price rose by 11.58%, although it still trades at a 10.2% discount, suggesting a rebound in market confidence towards the fund, yet future market volatility remains a concern.
- Holdings Changes: New positions include Flowserve Corp. and Snowflake, Inc., indicating the fund's intent to expand in the technology and industrial sectors, while liquidated holdings like Cheniere Energy, Inc. may reflect a reassessment of market outlook aimed at optimizing portfolio performance.
- Sector Distribution: Information Technology comprises 32.0% of the fund's equity portfolio, with Industrials at 25.1%, highlighting a concentrated investment strategy in high-growth sectors to leverage market potential for long-term returns.
See More
Private Credit Panic and Market Opportunities
- Private Credit Status: According to recent data from Fitch Ratings, the default rate in private credit stands at 5.8%, indicating a decline in corporate credit risks and reflecting a trend of stable economic growth despite the newness of this data.
- Media Misrepresentation and Market Reaction: The media's portrayal of panic in private credit is seen as exaggerated, leading to investor fear that creates undervalued investment opportunities, particularly in the CEF Insider portfolio, which yields 9.9%.
- Liberty All-Star Growth Fund: This fund currently trades at an 11.2% discount, significantly lower than its 3.7% average discount over the past five years, and holds large-cap stocks like Microsoft, Amazon, and NVIDIA, positioning it well for future growth.
- Potential of AI Transformation: AI is expected to profoundly impact modern life within the next 18 months, prompting investors to focus on four key drivers that will yield an average dividend of 10% across selected funds.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund March 2026 Monthly Update
- Portfolio Performance: As of the end of March, the net asset value (NAV) of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund stood at $5.34, reflecting a decline of 6.15% from the beginning of the month, indicating negative impacts from market volatility and a cautious investor sentiment regarding future market conditions.
- Asset Allocation Changes: The fund's portfolio allocation shows that Information Technology and Industrials account for 56.4%, highlighting a concentrated investment strategy in high-growth sectors aimed at capitalizing on potential gains from the recovery in technology and industrial markets.
- New and Liquidated Holdings: New holdings include Cheniere Energy and Micron Technology, demonstrating the fund's strategic positioning in the energy and technology sectors, while liquidating positions in AbbVie reflects a responsive approach to market changes.
- Market Discount Situation: The fund's market price is $4.75, representing an 11.0% discount to NAV, which may influence investor purchasing decisions and indicates a lack of confidence in the fund, necessitating close monitoring of future market performance.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Appoints New Investment Manager
- Manager Change: Liberty All-Star Growth Fund has appointed Congress Asset Management Company as the new investment manager for its small-cap growth portfolio effective April 1, 2026, replacing Weatherbie Capital to enhance profitability and growth potential.
- Leadership of Small-Cap Team: The small-cap investment team at Congress, led by CFA Gregg O'Keefe, focuses on identifying growth companies that demonstrate higher profitability levels within their industries, thereby strengthening the fund's competitive position in the market.
- Portfolio Management Structure: Congress will manage the small-cap growth segment, while the mid-cap growth portion remains under Congress's management, and Westfield Capital Management will continue overseeing the large-cap growth segment, ensuring diversification and specialization within the portfolio.
- Fund Trading Mechanism: As a closed-end fund, it does not continuously issue shares, requiring investors to place orders through intermediaries or brokers, with share prices reflecting market value, indicating investor confidence and market dynamics.
See More
