Written by Nick Ackerman, co-produced by Stanford Chemist

In the closed-end fund space, there are a number of infrastructure-related funds. Some focus on broader infrastructure-related exposure, and some are more specifically tilted toward energy. Demand in the infrastructure space has been growing thanks to the drive to build out artificial intelligence. While technology names have been seeing some impressive gains, it takes power being produced, stored, and moved to power the AI infrastructure.

Today, we’re going to be giving two of these funds a look. Both appear attractive given their current discounted valuations. That’s a key characteristic when considering CEFs: looking for funds that are trading at relatively wide discounts. They also both pay monthly, which can be beneficial to income-focused investors who may look to these investments to help fund their expenses. Even better, both of these funds have fairly recently lifted the payouts to their investors on the back of strong results.

#1 Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund (UTF)

• 1-Year Z-score: -1.44
• Discount/Premium: -8.78%
• Distribution Yield: 7.80%
• Expense Ratio: 1.36%
• Leverage: 29.71%
• Managed Assets: $4.5 billion
• Structure: Perpetual

UTF’s objective and general strategy is:

“Total return, with an emphasis on income through investment in securities issued by infrastructure companies.” They define infrastructure companies as those that “typically provide the physical framework that society requires to function on a daily basis and are defined as utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, marine ports, telecommunications companies, and other infrastructure companies.”

UTF is one of my favorite infrastructure plays today, though it had some disruptions last year when the fund went through a rights offering. At that time, I sold out of the name and then reentered into a position, as we always do with these corporate events. This was another example of that working out in our favor. We were able

LOS ANGELES — Speculation has intensified about whether LeBron James and Stephen Curry could become teammates for the 2027-28 NBA season, as James enters the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and Curry remains the cornerstone of the Golden State Warriors.

James, who turned 41 in December 2025, is signed through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28. Curry, 38, is under contract with the Warriors through the 2026-27 season.

No official discussions between the two players or their representatives have been confirmed. Both have spoken positively about each other’s legacies in past interviews but have not addressed any potential collaboration in 2027.

James’ Current Situation

LeBron James has spent recent seasons with the Lakers. The team has reached the playoffs multiple times but has not won a championship since 2020. James has emphasized his desire to continue competing at a high level while contributing to the development of younger teammates.

The Lakers hold James’ Bird rights, which would allow them to offer him a new contract beyond his current deal. Salary cap constraints and roster construction will play a major role in any future negotiations.

Curry’s Warriors Tenure

Stephen Curry remains the face of the Golden State Warriors franchise. The team has focused on building competitive rosters around him. Golden State holds Curry’s Bird rights as well.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has publicly emphasized flexibility with future assets. The team made the Kristaps Porzingis trade at the 2026 deadline and continues to explore roster improvements.

Free Agency Timeline

The 2027 NBA free agency period will officially begin in early July 2027 following the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. Both James and Curry could potentially enter the market if they decline player options or if contracts expire.

League sources have indicated that pairing two players of their caliber would require significant salary cap maneuvering and roster adjustments. No specific teams have been directly linked to pursuing both players simultaneously.

Player Histories and Comments

LeBron James and Stephen Curry have faced each other in four NBA Finals, with Curry’s Warriors winning three of those series. James has praised Curry’s impact on the modern game in multiple interviews. Curry has similarly acknowledged James’ greatness and influence.

Neither player has made public statements about the possibility of teaming up in 2027. James has focused on his current season with the Lakers, while Curry has emphasized his commitment to the Warriors organization.

League-Wide Context

The 2026-27 season is expected to feature several high-profile contract decisions and free agency moves. Teams across the league are already modeling salary cap scenarios and roster flexibility for the 2027 offseason.

A potential James-Curry partnership would represent one of the most significant superstar pairings in NBA history, given their individual achievements and past rivalry. Such a move would likely reshape competitive balance in the Western Conference.

Historical Precedent

High-profile player pairings have occurred in the past. James joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat in 2010. Kevin Durant signed with Curry’s Warriors in 2016. Both instances significantly altered the league landscape.

Current Team Outlooks

The Lakers are focused on building a roster capable of contending while managing James’ workload. The Warriors are in a win-now phase centered around Curry and have shown willingness to use draft assets and trades to improve the supporting cast.

Both franchises have young talent and future draft picks that could factor into long-term planning. Any potential movement involving James or Curry would require careful salary management under the current collective bargaining agreement.

SEOUL — BTS’ album “ARIRANG” has surpassed 10.18 million equivalent album sales globally, making it the most successful release of 2026 according to data from industry tracker Chartmasters.

The album, released on March 20, 2026, has accumulated 5.43 million studio album equivalent sales and 4.49 million streaming-driven equivalent album sales. It has generated more than 2.53 billion total global streams, averaging over 25.4 million streams daily nearly two months after launch.

On its first day, “ARIRANG” logged over 100 million streams on Spotify, marking the biggest album debut on the platform for the year. The album also became the first in history to place all of its tracks on the Billboard Global 200 for seven consecutive weeks.

Physical sales contributed significantly, with nearly 4 million copies sold on the first day according to Reuters reporting. The album debuted in the Top 10 in multiple international markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.

Commercial Performance Details

Chartmasters data shows “ARIRANG” maintains strong daily consumption, with its latest single-day tracking at 45,180 equivalent album units while holding a wider daily average above 72,000. The balance between physical and streaming consumption has supported its sustained performance.

The album’s title references the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang.” It has demonstrated market endurance beyond initial fan-driven consumption, a pattern noted by industry analysts tracking global music releases.

World Tour Impact

Billboard Boxscore data projects that BTS’ ongoing “ARIRANG” world tour will exceed $500 million in total revenue by its conclusion. The tour has reinforced the album’s commercial impact through live performances across multiple continents.

The group’s post-hiatus activity has included extensive touring and promotional efforts that have driven both album sales and streaming numbers. “ARIRANG” continues to chart strongly across major platforms.

BTS Background

BTS, formed in 2013, consists of members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook. The group has achieved significant global success with multiple Billboard chart-topping albums and sold-out world tours. “ARIRANG” represents their fifth studio album and first major release following a period of individual activities and mandatory military service for some members.

The album’s commercial achievements build on the group’s previous records. BTS has consistently ranked among the world’s top-selling artists, with strong performance in both physical and digital formats.

Industry Context

The global music industry has seen continued growth in streaming consumption. “ARIRANG” benefits from BTS’ dedicated international fan base, known as ARMY, which drives consistent engagement across platforms.

The album’s success highlights the increasing influence of K-pop on worldwide charts. Industry trackers like Chartmasters measure equivalent album sales by combining physical units, track-equivalent albums and streaming-equivalent albums using standardized formulas.

Streaming Milestones

“ARIRANG” achieved notable Spotify records on release day. Its ability to place every track on the Billboard Global 200 for multiple weeks sets it apart from most contemporary releases. The sustained streaming numbers nearly two months post-release indicate broad appeal beyond initial hype.

Physical sales figures underscore the continued importance of album formats in the K-pop market. The 4 million first-day sales mark ranks among the highest in recent music industry history.

Tour Projections

The “ARIRANG” world tour has sold out multiple stadium dates. Billboard Boxscore tracks revenue from ticket sales, merchandise and related income. Projections indicate the tour will rank among the highest-grossing of 2026.

BTS has previously achieved major tour success, with several outings crossing the $100 million mark. The current tour extends this pattern on a larger scale.

Cultural Significance

The album title draws from “Arirang,” a Korean folk song with deep cultural roots. BTS has incorporated traditional elements into modern releases throughout their career. “ARIRANG” continues this approach while appealing to global audiences.

The group’s members have engaged in various solo projects during the hiatus period, contributing to their overall brand strength upon collective return.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MET.PR.F either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I have written put options on the common shares of MetLife, but currently have no position in the equity.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.