Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (GOF) Stock

Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund operates as a closed end fund that generates its earnings through a mixed portfolio of fixed income assets and equities. The large 13.8% dividend yield makes GOF appealing for income investors, but I question the sustainability of the distribution due to weak coverage. GOF has outperformed the S&P 500 with a 37% YTD return through a combination of price appreciation and high income.

Who is paying a 27% premium for Guggenheim Strategic Opportunity Fund (GOF)?

Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund trades at a 23.86% premium to NAV, with a distribution rate of 16.2% and total leverage ratio of 22.6%. The fund has a history of trading at a premium and strong performance, outperforming high-yield and aggregate bond ETFs. The fund's portfolio includes various fixed-income instruments, bank loans, high-yield bonds, and preferred securities, but may face downside risk in riskier credit scenarios.

Closed End Funds That Offer A Discount To Reinvest

The Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund has been performing well at market price so far this year, up 17%, but its NAV performance has been extremely underwhelming comparatively. As a result, GOF is now at the top of my list of CEFs that have seen their market price far outperform their NAV, which is a red flag near term. With GOF back to a 20%-plus premium and an NAV only up 1.5% year-to-date, GOF is extremely overpriced and will have a hard time covering its 18.0% NAV yield.

The Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund has been praised for its double-digit dividends, but I am now limiting my stake in GOF and phasing it out of my CEF portfolio. GOF is a mixed bag of assets with a growing allocation to stocks, and it has performed well against its benchmark. Recent performance has been spurred on by a rise in premium, and the trade I recommended in November has come to a close.

The Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund trades at a 10% premium over its net asset value and has a current distribution rate of 16.17%. The fund typically trades at a premium, but its premium has decreased recently, coinciding with a sizeable drawdown in fixed income. The fund's portfolio consists mostly of corporate exposures and has a healthy allocation to bank loans, but it is fading government exposure.

Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund and Gabelli Utility Trust have struggled since our prior coverage. The GOF closed-end fund's valuation has improved but still lacks distribution coverage, making it susceptible to future losses but not enough to warrant a "Sell." A distribution cut for GOF is still an overhanging risk, but after the valuation deflation, the risk should be more muted.

Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund focuses on generating high yields through fixed-income securities, with limited exposure to equities. GOF has a current dividend yield of over 16% and pays on a monthly basis. There are some concerns over the sustainability of the dividend.