PortfoliosLab logoPortfoliosLab logo
First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF (LDSF...
Performance
Return for Risk
Dividends
Drawdowns
Volatility

ETF Info

ISIN
US33740F8703
CUSIP
33740F870
Inception Date
Jan 3, 2019
Region
North America (U.S.)
Leveraged
1x (No leverage)
Index Tracked
No Index (Active)
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond

Share Price Chart


Loading graphics...

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.


Performance

Performance Chart

The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.


Loading graphics...

S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF (LDSF) has returned -0.07% so far this year and 4.97% over the past 12 months.


First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF

1D
0.64%
1M
-0.94%
YTD
-0.07%
6M
1.25%
1Y
4.97%
3Y*
5.13%
5Y*
2.33%
10Y*

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
2.91%
1M
-5.09%
YTD
-4.63%
6M
-2.39%
1Y
16.33%
3Y*
16.69%
5Y*
10.18%
10Y*
12.16%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Monthly Returns

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jan 7, 2019, LDSF's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.21%. At this rate, your investment would double in approximately 27.5 years.

Historically, 63% of months were positive and 37% were negative. The best month was Nov 2023 with a return of +2.7%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -4.5%. The longest winning streak lasted 14 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.

On a daily basis, LDSF closed higher 50% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +1.2%, while the worst single day was Mar 18, 2020 at -1.7%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.43%0.44%-0.94%-0.07%
20250.65%1.02%0.01%0.49%0.33%1.02%0.09%1.15%0.54%0.38%0.65%0.29%6.82%
20240.44%-0.38%0.55%-0.89%1.11%0.56%1.45%1.12%1.10%-1.27%0.86%-0.49%4.20%
20231.80%-0.84%1.01%0.55%-0.15%-0.42%0.72%0.34%-0.57%-0.58%2.72%1.82%6.53%
2022-0.74%-0.44%-1.36%-0.86%-0.42%-1.89%1.89%-0.76%-2.15%-0.14%1.42%-0.08%-5.47%
2021-0.20%-0.39%-0.07%0.27%0.27%0.27%-0.05%0.00%-0.08%-0.34%-0.28%0.32%-0.28%

Benchmark Metrics

First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF has an annualized alpha of 1.76%, beta of 0.05, and R² of 0.11 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since January 08, 2019.

  • This ETF participated in 14.17% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 12.00% of its upside — more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
  • Beta of 0.05 may look defensive, but with R² of 0.11 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 0.11 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
1.76%
Beta
0.05
0.11
Upside Capture
12.00%
Downside Capture
14.17%

Expense Ratio

LDSF has an expense ratio of 0.87%, placing it in the medium range.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

LDSF ranks 92 for risk / return — in the top 92% of ETFs on our site. This means strong returns relative to risk — exactly what professional investors look for. Well-suited for investors who want to maximize return per unit of risk.


LDSF Risk / Return Rank: 9292
Overall Rank
LDSF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9191
Sharpe Ratio Rank
LDSF Sortino Ratio Rank: 9494
Sortino Ratio Rank
LDSF Omega Ratio Rank: 9494
Omega Ratio Rank
LDSF Calmar Ratio Rank: 8989
Calmar Ratio Rank
LDSF Martin Ratio Rank: 9191
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF (LDSF) and compare them to a chosen benchmark (S&P 500 Index).


LDSFBenchmarkDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

2.09

0.90

+1.19

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

2.93

1.39

+1.55

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.45

1.21

+0.24

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

2.95

1.40

+1.55

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

12.81

6.61

+6.20

Explore LDSF risk-adjusted metrics in detail

Dive deeper into individual metrics with historical trends, benchmark comparisons, and performance across different time periods.

Dividends

Dividend History

First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF provided a 4.61% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.87 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 4 consecutive years.


2.00%2.50%3.00%3.50%4.00%4.50%$0.00$0.20$0.40$0.60$0.802019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM2025202420232022202120202019
Dividend$0.87$0.87$0.85$0.77$0.48$0.39$0.54$0.63

Dividend yield

4.61%4.52%4.53%4.08%2.61%1.97%2.65%3.06%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.22
2025$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.87
2024$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.08$0.08$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.85
2023$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.77
2022$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.05$0.05$0.04$0.05$0.06$0.48
2021$0.03$0.03$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.39

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.


Loading graphics...

Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF. 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 Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF was 8.56%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 94 trading sessions.

The current First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF drawdown is 1.07%.


Depth

Start

To Bottom

Bottom

To Recover

End

Total

-8.56%Mar 4, 202014Mar 23, 202094Aug 5, 2020108
-7.87%Jan 19, 2021444Oct 20, 2022296Dec 26, 2023740
-1.74%Feb 27, 202621Mar 27, 2026
-1.46%Oct 2, 202470Jan 13, 202527Feb 21, 202597
-1.33%Mar 28, 202413Apr 16, 202421May 15, 202434

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


Loading graphics...