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Try a More Tax-Efficient Small-Cap Strategy

Adapted from an article originally published by VettaFi ETF Trends

Small-cap investors can lock in more potential value by keeping tax alpha in consideration.

Traditionally, small-cap strategies are often used to diversify a portfolio and provide more growth potential. By bolstering small-cap investments with a tax-conscious strategy, investors can lock in potentially higher after-tax returns.

Among the many benefits offered by the Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF – July (CPRJ) is tax alpha. The fund’s core strategy is to provide exposure to returns from small-cap companies within the Russell 2000 up to a defined cap before fees and expenses.

Whether an investor is pursuing small-cap equity exposure or simply seeking to move cash off the sidelines, CPRJ can provide both strategies with higher tax alpha. For CPRJ and other Calamos Structured Protection ETFs, growth is tax deferred. These funds offer additional benefits tied to the ETF package, which can broadly be more tax efficient than other small-cap mutual funds.

Benefits of Capital Gains

High-income earners looking to maximize after-tax returns often go for capital gains tax rates instead of ordinary income tax rates. This is because capital gains returns can face a notably lower tax rate than ordinary income options, especially for high-income earnings.

When investors redeem shares of CPRJ, they face taxes with a capital gains tax rate. Other cash alternatives -- such as money market funds, certificates of deposit, and structured notes -- would instead face taxes at ordinary income rates. Using a Calamos Structured Protection ETF, investors can mitigate tax burdens and access higher potential returns.

Tax benefits are not the only perks that a Calamos Structured Protection ETF offers. Funds like CPRJ provide complete downside protection across a one-year period. This downside security gives investors peace of mind while opening access to tax-deferred small-cap returns.

CPRJ launched in July as part of the ongoing monthly series for the Calamos Structured Protection ETFs, which will continue through June 2025. For more information on upcoming fund launches, check out Calamos’ Weekly Rate Sheet.



Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.

An investment in the Fund(s) is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund(s). There can be no assurance that the Fund(s) will achieve its investment objective. Your investment in the Fund(s) is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund(s) can increase during times of significant market volatility. The Fund(s) also has specific principal risks, which are described below. More detailed information regarding these risks can be found in the Fund's prospectus.

Investing involves risks. Loss of principal is possible. The Funds face numerous market trading risks, including authorized participation concentration risk, cap change risk, capital protection risk, capped upside risk, cash holdings risk, clearing member default risk, correlation risk, derivatives risk, equity securities risk, investment timing risk, large-capitalization investing risk, liquidity risk, market maker risk, market risk, non-diversification risk, options risk, premium-discount risk, secondary market trading risk, sector risk, tax risk, trading issues risk, underlying ETF risk and valuation risk. For a detailed list of fund risks see the prospectus.​

There are no assurances the Fund will be successful in providing the sought-after protection. The outcomes that the Fund seeks to provide may only be realized if you are holding shares on the first day of the Outcome Period and continue to hold them on the last day of the Outcome Period, approximately one year. There is no guarantee that the Outcomes for an Outcome Period will be realized or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. If the Outcome Period has begun and the Underlying ETF has increased in value, any appreciation of the Fund by virtue of increases in the Underlying ETF since the commencement of the Outcome Period will not be protected by the sought-after protection, and an investor could experience losses until the Underlying ETF returns to the original price at the commencement of the Outcome Period. Fund shareholders are subject to an upside return cap (the "Cap") that represents the maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the funds' for the Outcome Period, before fees and expenses. If the Outcome Period has begun and the Fund has increased in value to a level near to the Cap, an investor purchasing at that price has little or no ability to achieve gains but remains vulnerable to downside risks. Additionally, the Cap may rise or fall from one Outcome Period to the next. The Cap, and the Fund's position relative to it, should be considered before investing in the Fund. The Fund's website,www.calamos.com, provides important Fund information as well information relating to the potential outcomes of an investment in a Fund on a daily basis.

These Funds are designed to provide point-to-point exposure to the price return of the Reference Asset via a basket of Flex Options. As a result, the ETFs are not expected to move directly in line with the Reference Asset during the interim period.​

Investors purchasing shares after an outcome period has begun may experience very different results than fund's investment objective. Initial outcome periods are approximately 1-year beginning on the fund's inception date. Following the initial outcome period, each subsequent outcome period will begin on the first day of the month the fund was incepted. After the conclusion of an outcome period, another will begin.​

FLEX Options Risk The Fund will utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Fund could suffer significant losses. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than standard options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. The values of FLEX Options do not increase or decrease at the same rate as the reference asset and may vary due to factors other than the price of reference asset.​

Shares are bought and sold at market price, not net asset value (NAV), and are not individually redeemable from the fund. NAV represents the value of each share's portion of the fund's underlying assets and cash at the end of the trading day. Market price returns reflect the midpoint of the bid/ask spread as of the close of trading on the exchange where fund shares are listed.​

100% capital protection is over a one-year period before fees and expenses. All caps are pre-determined.

Cap Range – Maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the Fund if held over the Outcome Period. Cap range depicted is the high and low cap rate over the past 15 trading days. Actual cap delivered by the Fund may be different.

Protection Level – Amount of protection the Fund is designed to achieve over the Days Remaining.

Outcome Period – Number of days in the Outcome Period.

Nasdaq® and Nasdaq-100 are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by Calamos Advisors LLC. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. The Corporations make no warranties and bear no liability with respect to the Fund(s).

The Calamos Russell2000® Structured Alt Protection ETFs (the “Funds”) have been developed solely by Calamos Advisors LLC. The “Funds” are not in any way connected to or sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the “LSE Group”). FTSE Russell is a trading name of certain of the LSE Group companies. All rights in the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”) vest in the relevant LSE Group company which owns the Index. The Russell 2000® Index is a trademark(s) of the relevant LSE Group company and is used by any other LSE Group company under license.

STRUCTURED ALT PROTECTION ETF and STRUCTURED PROTECTION ETF are trademarks of Calamos Investments LLC.​

Calamos Financial Services LLC, Distributor

NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NO BANK GUARANTEE