CHICAGO, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (the “Trust”) has declared its regular monthly distribution of $0.060 per share on the Trust’s common shares (NYSE: XFLT), payable on March 2, 2026, to common shareholders of record as of February 17, 2026, as noted below. The amount of the distribution represents no change from the previous month’s distribution amount of $0.060 per share. The following dates apply to the declaration: Ex-Dividend DateFebruary 17, ...

Group 1: Syrian Conflict - The Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) have accused the Damascus government of violating agreements and launching tank attacks on its fighters, despite a 48-hour withdrawal period [2] - The Syrian Army has announced significant military advances toward key locations, including the T4 and Tabqa Military Airports, indicating a deepening military engagement [3] Group 2: Private Credit Market - Investors have withdrawn $7 billion from major Wall Street funds in the private credit market, suggesting a potential re-evaluation of investment strategies within this sector [4] Group 3: Automotive Industry - Major automakers are introducing electric vehicles (EVs) priced below $35,000 to attract US buyers, addressing affordability concerns that hinder broader EV adoption [5] - The push for more accessible pricing aims to stimulate demand and compete with lower-priced Chinese EV imports, with some manufacturers delaying initial EV goals to focus on market-ready solutions [5] Group 4: Global Power Dynamics - Observers note that China and Russia are making rapid advancements, suggesting the US is struggling to keep pace in critical geopolitical and economic areas [6][7]

Company Overview - Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) has a market cap of $85.1 billion and specializes in alternative investments including credit, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and hedge fund strategies across private and public markets [1] Financial Performance - Analysts forecast that Apollo Global will report an adjusted EPS of $1.96 for fiscal Q4 2025, reflecting a 3.7% increase from $1.89 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, adjusted EPS is anticipated to be $7.43, a 12.8% increase from $6.59 in fiscal 2024, with projections for adjusted EPS to grow 17.2% year-over-year to $8.71 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, shares of Apollo Global have decreased by 11.4%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's gain of 16.2% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF's return of 15.5% [4] - Following the release of strong Q3 2025 results, shares rose by 5.3%, with adjusted EPS of $2.14 exceeding consensus estimates and increasing from $1.81 a year earlier [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view on APO stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 14 out of 20 analysts, one recommending "Moderate Buy," and five indicating "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for Apollo Global is $164, suggesting a potential upside of 9.5% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Picton Mahoney Asset Management has launched a US dollar-denominated class of units for the PICTON Multi-Strategy Alpha Alternative Fund, expanding the fund's offerings to six classes of units [2][3] Fund Overview - The PICTON Multi-Strategy Alpha Alternative Fund aims to provide consistent long-term capital appreciation and attractive risk-adjusted returns for unitholders [3] - The fund now includes Class A, Class F, Class FT, Class I, Class UF, and ETF Units, with the first five classes currently available to the public [2][3] Company Background - Picton Investments is a Canadian investment firm managing $16 billion in assets as of October 31, 2025, known for its innovative alternative investment strategies [5] - The firm has been active since 2004, focusing on helping advisors and investors transition from traditional portfolio models to more resilient and diversified solutions [5] - The company's investment philosophy emphasizes a "Build from the Bear Up" approach, promoting resiliency, adaptability, and strength in investment strategies [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article expresses the belief that investors do not necessarily need alternative investment strategies like private equity for a diversified portfolio, especially given the increasing availability of ETFs and funds in the market [1]. Group 1 - The author identifies as a macro strategist and investment advisor based in Southern California, and also engages with audiences through platforms like YouTube and Substack [1]. - The weekly newsletter titled "The Macro Obsession" is mentioned as a source of insights and analysis [1]. Group 2 - There is a disclosure regarding the author's beneficial long position in shares of companies such as BN, BX, KKR, and APO, indicating a vested interest in these stocks [2]. - The article emphasizes that the opinions expressed are personal and not influenced by compensation from any company mentioned [2].

Core Points - XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund has changed its fiscal year end to September 30 from December 31 to align with other funds in its complex [1] - The Fund will file a Transition Report on Form N-CSR for the nine-month period from January 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025 [2] Company Overview - XA Investments LLC serves as the investment adviser for the Fund and was founded in 2016 by XMS Capital Partners [3] - XA Investments manages two listed closed-end funds and one interval closed-end fund, all of which are available on the New York Stock Exchange [3] - The firm also provides investment fund structuring and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds [4] - XA Investments aims to provide individual investors access to institutional-caliber alternative investment strategies [5] Additional Company Information - XMS Capital Partners, established in 2006, offers M&A, corporate advisory, and asset management services with offices in Chicago, Boston, and London [6] - Madison Investments, founded in 1974, manages approximately $29.6 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, and is recognized as a top investment firm [7] - Madison Investments offers a variety of investment management strategies, including domestic fixed income and international equity [7]

Company Overview - XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (NYSE: XFLT) is planning to host a Quarterly Webinar on August 26, 2025, at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) [1] - The Trust's investment objective is to seek attractive total return with an emphasis on income generation across multiple stages of the credit cycle [3] - The Trust aims to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in floating rate credit instruments and other structured credit investments under normal market conditions [3] Investment Management - XA Investments LLC (XAI) serves as the investment adviser for the Trust and other funds, focusing on providing investment advisory services and fund structuring [4] - Octagon Credit Investors, LLC acts as the Trust's investment sub-adviser, managing a portfolio of below-investment grade corporate credit with a focus on leveraged loans, high yield bonds, and structured credit [6] - Octagon has over 30 years of experience and manages approximately $32.6 billion in assets, employing fundamental credit analysis and active portfolio management to identify investment opportunities [6] Trading Information - The Trust's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "XFLT," and its 6.50% Series 2026 Term Preferred Shares are traded under the symbol "XFLTPRA" [4]

Group 1 - The XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund plans to host a Quarterly Webinar on August 7, 2025, at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) [1] - The webinar will be moderated by Jared Hagen, with participation from Kimberly Flynn and Ray Di Bernardo [1] - A replay of the webinar will be available in the Knowledge Bank section of xainvestments.com [2] Group 2 - The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation [3] - The Fund invests primarily in high quality, large and mid-capitalization stocks that are considered reasonably priced relative to their long-term earnings growth rates [3] - The Fund employs a strategy of selling covered call options on its portfolio stocks to generate current earnings from option premiums [3] Group 3 - XA Investments LLC, founded in 2016, serves as the investment adviser for multiple closed-end funds and provides investment fund structuring and consulting services [4] - XMS Capital Partners, established in 2006, offers M&A, corporate advisory, and asset management services with offices in Chicago, Boston, and London [5] - Madison Investments, founded in 1974, manages approximately $28 billion in assets and has expertise in covered call strategies [6]

Core Insights - Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC has announced the hiring of Robert Gallant as Executive Director of Institutional Relations and Bryan Kitchner as Vice President, Portfolio Strategist, to enhance its institutional business and portfolio strategy offerings [1][2][3] Group 1: Company Developments - The organization has surpassed $12 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of March 31, 2025, indicating significant growth [2] - Gallant will oversee the firm's institutional business and sales efforts, while Kitchner will focus on educating financial advisors about alternative investment strategies [2][3] - The CEO of Catalyst, Jerry Szilagyi, emphasized the importance of educating clients on diversifying portfolios through non-traditional strategies [3] Group 2: Personnel Background - Robert Gallant previously served as Director of National Accounts at PGIM Investments and has experience with Northern Trust, J.P. Morgan, and BMO Capital Markets [3][4] - Bryan Kitchner was most recently a Senior Investment Strategist at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and has worked at Bank of America and The Segal Group [4][5] Group 3: Product Offerings - Catalyst offers a diverse suite of non-traditional fixed income, equity, and alternative products aimed at providing uncorrelated return streams and improving client experiences [4] - The firm currently manages 34 investment products designed to produce income- and equity-oriented returns while managing risk and volatility [6]