Investment Team Voices Home Page

Calamos Investment Team Outlooks, April 2026

Introduction by John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer

Markets hate uncertainty, and there was no shortage of it during the first quarter. Geopolitics took center stage as Operation Epic Fury led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, spiking commodity prices and renewed inflation fears. Anxiety about AI’s impact on the labor market and corporate earnings also roiled stocks. After three years of strong performance, large-cap tech companies bore the brunt of negative sentiment and gave back some gains. An extended US government shutdown, falling consumer confidence, and fading expectations for Fed cuts added to the turmoil.

Global asset class performance, 1Q 2026

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Source: Morningstar. Unmanaged index returns, unlike fund returns, do not reflect fees, expenses or sales charges. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

5 Takeaways: Lessons from the 1970s to Today

I founded Calamos Investments in the 1970s, a period also characterized by stock market volatility, inflation concerns, and Middle East turmoil. Both stocks and bonds were struggling, but I saw opportunities in convertible securities, which were essentially alternative investments at the time. The results I achieved with convertibles shaped my investment philosophy and the growth trajectory of Calamos Investments, seen today in our emphasis on risk management and a well-diversified set of investment strategies, including a range of alternative funds. Here are five takeaways that I believe can help investors navigate this environment:

  1. The global economy is resilient. It’s true we’ve never faced the exact set of challenges we are facing today, but as I noted, it’s also true that the global economy has weathered many periods of geopolitical turmoil (e.g., the 1990–1991 Gulf War), inflation and commodity spikes, and the impact of disruptive technologies on labor markets. History has shown that adaptability and innovation have won the day.

    Also, as the saying goes, bad news sells papers. It’s easy to lose sight of the many positives that can support economic growth and investment opportunities. Corporate earnings growth, the direction of many US economic indicators—including the most recent jobs report—and global growth themes support an outlook that is more balanced. We’re seeing many favorable trends in global capital markets, from a ramp-up in merger and acquisition activity to $53 billion in global new convertible issuance during the first quarter alone.

  2. Don’t try to time the market. We’re in a very volatile period, which I expect will continue, especially as midterm elections heighten fiscal policy uncertainty. When markets are swinging dramatically from day to day, or sometimes within a day, making quick emotion-driven moves is a dangerous strategy. You’re more likely to catch the downside and miss the upside. Consider that the S&P 500 gained back nearly 3% on the last day of the quarter alone. A better strategy is to adjust your asset allocation strategically to match your risk-reward tolerance.

  3. Risk cannot be avoided, but it can be managed. This was a lesson I first learned during my service in the US Air Force, which included a tour during the Vietnam War as a Forward Air Controller. For investors, managing risk means staying disciplined and cool-headed in the face of volatility.

    It also means diversifying your asset allocation, which could include adding strategies designed to provide lower-volatility equity exposure—for example, actively managed convertible funds or alternatives, from hedged equity to structured protection. You can also layer in strategies that pursue income with less interest rate risk; our Market Neutral Income Fund and our autocallable income ETFs are designed to do just that.

  4. There are opportunities in every market environment. Decades of experience have taught me that there’s never a “perfect” time to invest. There are always unknowns and volatility. But more importantly, I believe there are always opportunities for long-term investors.

    I see many people tunnel in on what the S&P 500 Index or another benchmark is doing—but that’s not the whole picture. Although the retreat in tech stocks has dominated headlines, more sectors are positive year-to-date—and this breadth points to a leadership rotation, not economic recession. Market rotation is opening the door to opportunities across sectors, asset classes, market caps and geographies—from small-cap stocks to international equities to convertible securities. Our teams are investing alongside many exciting growth themes—from AI infrastructure buildout (including niches in robotics and optical networking) to health care innovation.

  5. Context matters. There have been a lot of scary numbers in the headlines lately—inflation, market declines, oil prices. We’re monitoring these closely but starting points matter. It’s true that the S&P 500 Index ended down more than 4% for the first quarter, but we remember that it was up 86% from 2023 through 2025—that quarterly decline is a relatively minor dip (or “tame” as Co-CIO Eli Pars notes).*

When the markets swing dramatically day to day and the headlines are loud, it’s understandable that many investors are worried and unsure of what to do next. Below, senior investment team members speak to the value of staying invested and maintaining long-term perspective. Their commentaries explain how they are approaching the crosscurrents with a steady hand, the opportunities they are finding and how they are managing risks. They bring a depth of experience to the Calamos funds, and I’m confident you’ll come away with valuable insights and conviction that volatility creates long-term opportunities for investors.

Both Hands on the Wheel
Calamos Phineus Long/Short Fund (CPLIX)
Michael Grant

A Steady Hand in Volatile Markets
Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX)
Jason Hill

Turning Volatility into Longer-Term Opportunity
Calamos Hedged Equity Fund (CIHEX)
Jason Hill

The Case for Convertibles … When Many Things Could Happen
Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX)
Jon Vacko, CFA and Joe Wysocki, CFA

Positioned for Curveballs
Calamos Global Convertible Fund (CXGCX)
Eli Pars, CFA

The Cycle Persists Through Geopolitical Disruption
Calamos Growth and Income Fund (CGIIX)
John Hillenbrand, CPA

Equity Markets in the Eye of the Storm
Calamos Growth Fund (CGRIX), Calamos Select Fund (CVAIX)
Matt Freund, CFA and Michael Kassab, CFA

Riding the Winds of Change
Calamos Timpani Small Cap Growth Fund (CTSIX), Calamos Timpani SMID Growth Fund (CTIGX)
Brandon Nelson, CFA

Adjusting the Sails: Second Quarter 2026 Outlook
Calamos Global and International Suite
Nick Niziolek, CFA, Dennis Cogan, CFA, Paul Ryndak, CFA and Kyle Ruge, CFA

Fault Lines and Flashpoints: Navigating Credit Markets Through a Geopolitical Shock
Fixed Income Suite (CIHYX, CTRIX, CSTIX)
Matt Freund, CFA, Christian Brobst and Chuck Carmody, CFA

The Leadership Change Has Arrived
Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund (SROIX)
Jim Madden, CFA, Tony Tursich, CFA and Beth Williamson



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.

* Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Source: Morningstar, total return data.

Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. Alternative strategies entail added risks and may not be appropriate for all investors. Indexes are unmanaged, are not available for direct investment, and do not include fees and expenses.

Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends that are based on current market conditions constitute our judgment and are subject to change without notice. The views and strategies described may not be appropriate for all investors. References to specific securities, asset classes, and financial markets are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as recommendations.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not include fees or expenses and are not available for direct investment. The S&P 500 Index is considered generally representative of the US equity market and is market cap weighted. The MSCI All Country World ex USA Index represents the performance of global equities, excluding the US. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a measure of the performance of emerging market equities. The ICE BofA US High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of US high yield debt securities. The ICE BofA All US Convertible Index (VXA0) is a measure of the US convertible market. The FTSE Global Convertible Bond Index measures the performance of the global convertible. The Bloomberg US Aggregate Index is a broad-based benchmark of the US investment grade and global investment grade bond market, respectively. They include Treasury, government related, corporate and securitized fixed-rate bonds. The Russell 2000 Index is a measure of US small cap performance. The Russell 3000 Index measures the performance of 3,000 publicly held US companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable US equity market.

Important Risk Information. 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.

The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Hedged Equity Fund include covered call writing risk, options risk (see definition below), equity securities risk, correlation risk, mid-sized company risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, portfolio turnover risk, portfolio selection risk, foreign securities risk, American depository receipts, and REITs risks.

The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund include: equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, convertible securities risk consisting of the potential for a decline in value during periods of rising interest rates and the risk of the borrower to miss payments, synthetic convertible instruments risk, convertible hedging risk, covered call writing risk, options risk, short sale risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, high yield risk, liquidity risk, portfolio selection risk, and portfolio turnover risk.

Foreign security risk. As a result of political or economic instability in foreign countries, there can be special risks associated with investing in foreign securities, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increased price volatility and difficulty obtaining information. In addition, emerging markets may present additional risk due to the potential for greater economic and political instability in less developed countries.

Alternative investments may not be suitable for all investors. The fund takes long positions in companies that are expected to outperform the equity markets, while taking short positions in companies that are expected to underperform the equity markets and for hedging purposes. The fund may lose money should the securities the fund is long decline in value or if the securities the fund has shorted increase in value, but the ultimate goal is to realize returns in both rising and falling equity markets while providing a degree of insulation from increased market volatility.

Calamos Structured Protection ETFs. There is no guarantee 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 Buffer, 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.

The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Autocallable Income ETF include: autocallable structure risk, contingent income risk, early redemption risk, barrier risk, authorized participant concentration risk, calculation methodology risk, cash holdings risk, correlation risk, costs of buying and selling fund shares, counterparty risk, credit risk, derivatives risk, equity securities risk, index risk, interest rate risk, investment in a subsidiary, laddered portfolio risk, liquidity risk, market maker risk, market risk, new fund risk, non-diversification risk, premium-discount risk, secondary market trading risk, swap agreement risk, tax risk, trading issues risk, valuation risk, and volatility target index risk.

Autocallable Structure Risk–The Fund’s returns are correlated to the performance of a synthetic portfolio of autocallable notes tracked by the Laddered Autocall Index. Autocallable notes have specific structural features that may be unfamiliar to many investors:

–Contingent Income Risk: Coupon payments from the Autocalls are not guaranteed and will not be made if the Underlying Index falls below the Coupon Barrier on observation dates. This means the Fund may generate significantly less income than anticipated during market downturns.

–Early Redemption Risk: Autocalls in the Portfolio may be called before their scheduled maturity if the Underlying Reference Index reaches or exceeds the Autocall Barrier on observation dates. This automatic early redemption could force reinvestment of that portion of the portfolio at lower rates if market yields have declined.

General Economic Conditions and Recent Events The value of the Funds’ or Alternative Funds’ investments may increase or decrease in response to expected, real or perceived economic, political or financial events in the US or global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Fund or Alternative Funds may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other potentially adverse effects in response to changing market conditions, inflation/deflation, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond or equity markets, volatility in the equity markets. US or global markets may be adversely affected by uncertainties and events in the US and around the world, such as major cybersecurity events, geopolitical events (including wars, terror attacks, natural disasters, spread of infectious disease (including epidemics or pandemics) or other public health emergencies), social unrest, political developments, and changes in government policies, taxation, restrictions on foreign investment and currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and developments in the laws and regulations in the US and other countries, or other political, regulatory, economic and social developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market.

026024l 0426