- ISIN
- US33738D3098
- CUSIP
- 33738D309
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- May 1, 2013
- Region
- Developed Markets (Broad)
- Category
- High Yield Bonds
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- No Index (Active)
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Bond
- Assets Under Management
- $2B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
FTSL Performance Chart
First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) is up 0.7% since the beginning of the year. FTSL is currently trading at $45 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FTSL shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,277.
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Returns By Period
First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) has returned 0.66% so far this year and 4.21% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, FTSL has returned 4.45% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
First Trust Senior Loan Fund
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 0.21%
- YTD
- 0.66%
- 6M
- 0.71%
- 1Y
- 4.21%
- 3Y*
- 7.15%
- 5Y*
- 5.02%
- 10Y*
- 4.45%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
FTSL Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since May 2, 2013, FTSL's average daily return is +0.02%, while the average monthly return is +0.33%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 17.5 years.
Historically, 68% of months were positive and 32% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +5.6%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -10.7%. The longest winning streak lasted 9 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 3 months.
On a daily basis, FTSL closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 26, 2020 with a return of +4.3%, while the worst single day was Mar 18, 2020 at -7.1%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -0.48% | -1.42% | 1.11% | 1.13% | 0.23% | 0.11% | 0.66% | ||||||
| 2025 | 0.64% | -0.10% | -0.11% | 0.42% | 1.05% | 0.75% | 0.62% | 0.62% | 0.27% | 0.45% | 0.73% | 0.49% | 5.98% |
| 2024 | 0.21% | 1.31% | 0.76% | 0.08% | 0.81% | -0.07% | 1.29% | 0.48% | 0.52% | 0.70% | 1.46% | 0.44% | 8.27% |
| 2023 | 2.84% | 0.28% | 0.26% | 0.25% | 0.12% | 1.66% | 1.02% | 1.33% | 0.59% | -0.01% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 11.58% |
| 2022 | -0.03% | -0.54% | -0.35% | 0.19% | -3.40% | -2.23% | 3.01% | 0.78% | -2.60% | 2.02% | 1.25% | -0.44% | -2.50% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | 0.19% | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.48% | 0.33% | -0.14% | 0.48% | 0.14% | 0.30% | -0.54% | 1.22% | 3.94% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Senior Loan Fund has an annualized alpha of 2.29%, beta of 0.13, and R2 of 0.23 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since May 02, 2013.
- This ETF participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (18.25%) than losses (14.16%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- Beta of 0.13 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.23 this ETF is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this ETF's risk.
- R2 of 0.23 means this ETF moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.
- Alpha
- 2.29%
- Beta
- 0.13
- R²
- 0.23
- Upside Capture
- 18.25%
- Downside Capture
- 14.16%
Expense Ratio
FTSL has an expense ratio of 0.86%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FTSL ranks 59 for risk / return — on par with similar ETFs. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| FTSL | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.46 | 1.37 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.81 | 2.78 | -0.97 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.74 | 12.44 | -5.70 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Senior Loan Fund provided a 6.46% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $2.91 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $2.91 | $3.03 | $3.50 | $3.50 | $2.13 | $1.52 | $1.66 | $2.13 | $1.95 | $1.75 | $1.80 | $1.85 |
Dividend yield | 6.46% | 6.59% | 7.56% | 7.59% | 4.77% | 3.17% | 3.48% | 4.44% | 4.29% | 3.64% | 3.70% | 3.95% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Senior Loan Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.24 | $0.24 | $0.24 | $0.24 | $0.24 | $0.00 | $1.19 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.27 | $0.26 | $0.26 | $0.26 | $0.26 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.24 | $0.24 | $3.03 |
| 2024 | $0.31 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.28 | $0.28 | $3.50 |
| 2023 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.31 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $3.50 |
| 2022 | $0.15 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.15 | $0.16 | $0.17 | $0.21 | $0.23 | $0.23 | $0.27 | $2.13 |
| 2021 | $0.14 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.13 | $0.13 | $0.13 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $1.52 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the First Trust Senior Loan Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the First Trust Senior Loan Fund was 22.67%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 161 trading sessions.
The current First Trust Senior Loan Fund drawdown is 0.02%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -22.67%Mar 2020 | 1mo 23d | 7mo 21d | 9mo 14dJan 2020 - Nov 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -6.96%Jul 2022 | 5mo 11d | 7mo 1d | 1y 7dJan 2022 - Feb 2023 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -4.62%Dec 2018 | 2mo 2d | 1mo 28d | 4moOct 2018 - Feb 2019 |
2016 pullback2016 | -4.29%Feb 2016 | 6mo 29d | 2mo 5d | 9mo 4dJul 2015 - Apr 2016 |
2025 selloff2025 | -2.66%Apr 2025 | 9d | 24d | 1mo 3dMar 2025 - Apr 2025 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FTSL | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.67% | -56.78% | +34.11% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.33% | -9.10% | +6.77% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.66% | -18.90% | +16.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.96% | -25.43% | +18.47% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.67% | -33.92% | +11.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.02% | -1.80% | +1.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.76% | -10.71% | +9.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.63% | 2.03% | -1.40% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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