Share-split context: A minor share adjustment was recorded on Apr 21, 2025 with coefficient 1.02. Current price-return figures are already normalized to the current share basis.

ETF Education Report: Cornerstone Total Return Fund (CRF)

What this ETF is trying to do

The Cornerstone Total Return Fund (CRF) is an ETF traded on the AMEX exchange. While the specific investment goals are not listed in the provided data, the fund focuses on providing distributions to its investors.

What the numbers show

It is important to understand that "price return" and "total return" are two different things. Price return only tracks how the share price changes. Total return includes both the share price changes and the cash distributions paid out.

Because this ETF has a history of both forward and reverse splits, we use split-adjusted returns to look at performance. A forward split means one old share became multiple new shares, while a reverse split means multiple old shares were combined into fewer new shares.

Here is how the fund has performed:

• Year-to-Date (YTD): The price return is approximately -22.85%, while the total return is approximately -10.55%.

• One Year: The price return is approximately -24.54%, while the total return is approximately -8.58%.

• Three Years: The price return is approximately -18.98%, while the total return is approximately 38.45%.

Income and distribution explanation

This ETF has a high distribution yield of approximately 22.80%. This means the fund pays out a large amount of cash relative to its share price. These distributions usually happen monthly, with Monday being the most common day for payments.

However, a high yield can sometimes be misleading. Investors should remember that receiving large cash payments does not guarantee that the value of their original investment will stay the same.

NAV erosion explanation

"NAV erosion" is a term used to describe when the value of the underlying assets in a fund decreases. StockValueFinder uses an "erosion-risk score" to measure this risk.

For CRF, the erosion-risk score is 55, which is labeled as "Moderate price erosion." While there is no severe erosion-risk flag present, the data shows a moderate level of price deterioration.

Pros

• The fund offers a high distribution yield of approximately 22.80%.

• Over a three-year period, the total return was positive at approximately 38.45%, even though the share price declined.

Cons

• The fund has experienced share-price declines in the short term (YTD and one-year periods).

• There is a moderate erosion-risk score of 55.

• The fund has a history of mixed splits (both forward and reverse).

Beginner takeaway

When looking at an ETF like CRF, it is vital to look at both the price return and the total return. A fund might have a falling share price, but the total return tells you how much you actually earned after including the cash distributions. High yields can provide income, but they often come alongside price declines and moderate erosion risk.