Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund

BGB

Market cap $529M

August saw continued gains across major indexes, with RSP and Dow outperforming the tech-heavy benchmarks toward the second half of the month. As the markets continue to hit and trade near all-time highs, now including the Dow Jones hitting all-time highs, I've been continuing to build up my cash position. At the same time, every month I do some buying to keep the income compounding on itself over the long term.

BGB offers an 8.58% yield via a diversified portfolio of senior secured, mostly floating-rate loans, amplified by significant leverage. The fund's floating-rate focus benefits from stable or rising rates, but faces cash flow risk if rates decline, especially with potential 2025 rate cuts. BGB underperforms peers like DSU on long-term returns and charges higher fees, while employing higher leverage, increasing risk during economic stress.

BGB offers a unique opportunity due to its term structure, enabling predictable discount-to-NAV convergence by September 2027 for potential extra capital appreciation. The fund delivers an 8%+ yield from a diversified portfolio of senior secured loans and high-yield bonds, with low duration limiting interest rate risk. Compared to peers, BGB's wider discount and defined maturity make it attractive for investors prioritizing discount capture and income.

The Triple-Factor screen identifies closed-end funds with >8% yield, >90% coverage, and trading at a discount to NAV, balancing yield, sustainability, and value. Key metrics: premium/discount, z-score, leverage, baseline expense, and coverage. Focus on funds with wide discounts, negative z-scores, and high yields. Explore top lists for further research; these shortlists are not final buy/sell recommendations. Always verify coverage ratios with official fund documents.

I focus on CEFs with 100%+ distribution coverage, as this suggests lower risk of distribution cuts and more sustainable income for investors. My top screens highlight funds with the deepest discounts, highest yields, and most attractive z-scores, offering both income and potential price appreciation. Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund (BGB) stands out for its 8.9% yield, 104% coverage, and discount-driven alpha as it nears expiration.

Diversification across bonds, senior loans, and CLOs is key to managing interest rate and credit risks in fixed-income portfolios. Market timing is extremely difficult; a balanced mix of fixed and floating-rate assets provides resilience regardless of rate direction. Distribution cuts in floating-rate CEFs are expected as rates fall but should be weighed against opportunity cost and risk-adjusted returns.

The market saw a strong continuing recovery in May from April's market drop. The rebound was enough to see the drop recover entirely that was seen in April, but the markets still remain off all-time highs seen in February. While there wasn't as much in terms of opportunity for buying as there was in April, I add to my CEF positions every month regardless.

Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund is a term-structured closed-end fund, which can make its discount even more important as we near the final couple of years. Term funds can extend their liquidation date or even attempt to go perpetual, though it is usually only in a manner that would benefit shareholders. Due to the term structure for BGB, there is an opportunity to generate alpha while collecting a monthly distribution until its anticipated termination.

The volatile market environment due to the trade war can create opportunities for long-term investors, especially in closed-end funds (CEFs). First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund (FTHY) and Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund (BGB) offer high-yield exposure with potential benefits from floating-rate investments. Both FTHY and BGB have seen distribution cuts due to interest rate changes, but their discounts have widened, presenting potential buying opportunities.

We review the CEF market valuation and performance through the third week of March and highlight recent market action. Nearly all CEF sectors were up, with MLPs rebounding and loan funds lagging; month-to-date, most sectors remain down due to lower equity prices and wider credit spreads. Invesco credit CEFs VLT and VVR cancelled their fixed managed distribution policies with VVR price falling hard on the news.