Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
CRFFinancial Services · Stock · monthly payer
Forward Yield
22.05%
Annual Dividend
$1.41
Payout Ratio
127%
5-Yr Growth
-8.0%
Ex-Date
Sep 15, 2026
Frequency
Monthly
Summary
As of September 2026, Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (CRF) yields 22.05% ($1.41 per share annually), with a blended fair-value estimate of $11.83 — +84% upside, so it screens as undervalued. Dividend safety grade: C (55/100). 1 years of dividend growth.
Is CRF a good dividend stock?
MixedCornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (CRF) pays a monthly dividend yielding 22.05% ($1.41/yr), with 1 year of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.
Advantages
Risks
- Cut its dividend in 2024
- Elevated payout ratio (127%)
- Dividend has been shrinking, not growing
- Very high yield can signal elevated risk
- Share price is down over the past 5 years
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 22.05%
- Payout Ratio
- 127%
- Annual Dividend
- $1.41
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- -8.0%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Sep 15, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 1
- Frequency
- monthly
- Beta
- —
- Market Cap
- $1.1B
- P/E Ratio
- 5.8
- 5-Yr Total Return
- -47%
- 52-Week Range
- $6.37 – $8.25
- Dividend Safety
- C · 55/100
- Ever Cut?
- Yes (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
CRF Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
-20%
3 Years
-18%
5 Years
-47%
52-Week Range
$6.37 – $8.25
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is CRF worth?
Undervaluedlow confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. is $11.83 per share, versus a market price of $6.44. That implies 84% of upside — a margin of safety of about 46%.
Fair Value
$11.83
Current Price
$6.44
Upside
+84%
Margin of Safety
46%
How we get there
Dividend discount
Discounts the future dividend stream back to today.
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
Assumptions: 10.4% discount rate (CAPM), -5.0% stage-1 growth, 2.5% terminal growth, $1.03 EPS, $1.41 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
CRF Dividend Safety Score
Borderline
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Jul 15, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Jun 15, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| May 15, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Apr 15, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Mar 16, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Feb 17, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Jan 15, 2026 | — | $0.1180 | regular |
| Dec 15, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
| Nov 14, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
| Oct 15, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
| Sep 15, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
| Aug 15, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
| Jul 15, 2025 | — | $0.1170 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $1.41 / yr per share
