SCHEDULE: First Trust Entities Report 13.87% Stake in Lazard Fund

First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P., and The Charger Corporation jointly reported a 13.87% beneficial ownership stake in Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. as of September 30, 2025.

Summary

• First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P., and The Charger Corporation have jointly filed an Amendment No. 15 to Schedule 13G.
• The filing reports beneficial ownership of 1,804,691 common shares in Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.
• This aggregate amount represents 13.87% of the issuer's class of securities.
• The reporting persons hold shared dispositive power over all 1,804,691 shares, but no sole or shared voting power.
• The shares are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing the control of the issuer.
• The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P.
• First Trust Portfolios L.P. sponsors unit investment trusts that hold shares of the issuer, with no single trust holding more than 3% of the issuer's shares.
• First Trust Advisors L.P. acts as portfolio supervisor for these unit investment trusts and as investment advisor/sub-advisor for other investment vehicles holding issuer shares.
• All reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares identified in this filing.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing is a routine regulatory disclosure of beneficial ownership, indicating a neutral sentiment as it does not contain performance metrics, strategic changes, or forward-looking statements that would typically influence sentiment.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This Schedule 13G filing indicates a passive investment stake by First Trust entities in Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. Such filings are standard regulatory disclosures when an entity acquires more than 5% of a company's voting shares with no intent to influence control, providing transparency on significant institutional holdings within the investment fund sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding a significant institutional holder's stake, confirming a passive investment approach.
• Management: Awareness of a large, passive institutional investor holding a substantial portion of the company's shares.

Key Dates

Keywords

Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, First Trust Portfolios, First Trust Advisors, The Charger Corporation, Beneficial Ownership, Schedule 13G, Investment Fund, Common Stock, Institutional Ownership