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FTSL vs. BSJR
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

FTSL vs. BSJR

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

FTSL (First Trust Senior Loan Fund) and BSJR (Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) are both High Yield Bonds funds. FTSL is actively managed, while BSJR is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FTSL returned 5.02%/yr vs 3.40%/yr for BSJR. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FTSL charges 0.86%/yr vs 0.42%/yr for BSJR.

Performance

FTSL vs. BSJR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BSJR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FTSL achieves a 0.65% return, which is significantly lower than BSJR's 1.27% return.

FTSL

1D
0.03%
1M
0.20%
YTD
0.65%
6M
0.98%
1Y
4.56%
3Y*
7.36%
5Y*
5.02%
10Y*
4.44%

BSJR

1D
0.15%
1M
0.25%
YTD
1.27%
6M
1.81%
1Y
4.78%
3Y*
7.93%
5Y*
3.40%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FTSL vs. BSJR - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
FTSL
First Trust Senior Loan Fund		0.65%5.98%8.27%11.58%-2.50%3.94%2.99%2.35%
BSJR
Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF		1.27%7.41%7.15%11.91%-11.35%3.60%5.69%3.00%

Correlation

The correlation between FTSL and BSJR is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.44

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.51

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.50

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 13, 2019

0.49

The correlation between FTSL and BSJR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.44 to 0.51 - a consistent structural relationship.

FTSL vs. BSJR - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
FTSL
BSJR

Basic Materials

100.0%
1.6%

Communication Services

-

6.0%

Consumer Cyclical

-

11.2%

Consumer Defensive

-

1.8%

Energy

-

4.3%

Financial Services

-

13.8%

Healthcare

-

2.7%

Industrials

-

10.3%

Real Estate

-

4.2%

Technology

-

1.6%

Utilities

-

0.8%

Basic Materials

FTSL
100.0%
BSJR
1.6%

Communication Services

FTSL

-

BSJR
6.0%

Consumer Cyclical

FTSL

-

BSJR
11.2%

Consumer Defensive

FTSL

-

BSJR
1.8%

Energy

FTSL

-

BSJR
4.3%

Financial Services

FTSL

-

BSJR
13.8%

Healthcare

FTSL

-

BSJR
2.7%

Industrials

FTSL

-

BSJR
10.3%

Real Estate

FTSL

-

BSJR
4.2%

Technology

FTSL

-

BSJR
1.6%

Utilities

FTSL

-

BSJR
0.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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First Trust Senior Loan Fund

Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

Often compared with FTSL:
FTSL vs. BKLNFTSL vs. AAAFTSL vs. SJNKFTSL vs. HYLBFTSL vs. PFFDFTSL vs. LONZFTSL vs. SLYV
Often compared with BSJR:
BSJR vs. EICBSJR vs. IBHFBSJR vs. JSIBSJR vs. IBHGBSJR vs. BSJSBSJR vs. EIFAXBSJR vs. BSJP

Return for Risk

FTSL vs. BSJR — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
FTSL
FTSL Risk / Return Rank: 6363
Overall Rank
FTSL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6767
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FTSL Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
FTSL Omega Ratio Rank: 8585
Omega Ratio Rank
FTSL Calmar Ratio Rank: 4040
Calmar Ratio Rank
FTSL Martin Ratio Rank: 4545
Martin Ratio Rank
BSJR
BSJR Risk / Return Rank: 7979
Overall Rank
BSJR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7171
Sharpe Ratio Rank
BSJR Sortino Ratio Rank: 7979
Sortino Ratio Rank
BSJR Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
BSJR Calmar Ratio Rank: 8080
Calmar Ratio Rank
BSJR Martin Ratio Rank: 8888
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.

FTSL vs. BSJR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BSJR). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

FTSLBSJRDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.17
2.27

-0.10

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.37
3.51

-0.13

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.51

1.45

+0.06

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.97

4.13

-2.16

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

7.30

19.06

-11.76

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FTSL vs. BSJR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FTSL Sharpe Ratio is 2.17, which is comparable to the BSJR Sharpe Ratio of 2.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FTSL and BSJR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

FTSLBSJRDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.17

2.27

-0.10

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.51

0.51

+1.00

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.86

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.85

0.43

+0.42

Drawdowns

FTSL vs. BSJR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FTSL drawdown since its inception was -22.67%, roughly equal to the maximum BSJR drawdown of -22.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTSL and BSJR.

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Drawdown Indicators

FTSLBSJRDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-22.67%

-22.58%

-0.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-2.33%

-1.16%

-1.17%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-2.66%

-3.15%

+0.49%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-6.96%

-16.37%

+9.41%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-22.67%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-0.11%

+0.11%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-0.76%

-3.25%

+2.49%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.63%

0.25%

+0.38%

Volatility

FTSL vs. BSJR - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) is 0.36%, while Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BSJR) has a volatility of 0.59%. This indicates that FTSL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BSJR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

FTSLBSJRDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

0.36%

0.59%

-0.23%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

1.95%

1.45%

+0.50%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.11%

2.12%

-0.01%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

3.35%

6.73%

-3.38%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

5.18%

9.36%

-4.18%

FTSL vs. BSJR - Expense Ratio Comparison

FTSL has a 0.86% expense ratio, which is higher than BSJR's 0.42% expense ratio.

Dividends

FTSL vs. BSJR - Dividend Comparison

FTSL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.46%, more than BSJR's 5.74% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
BSJR
Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF		5.74%6.19%6.75%6.48%5.37%4.49%4.53%1.20%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
FTSL
First Trust Senior Loan Fund		6.46%6.59%7.56%7.59%4.77%3.17%3.48%4.44%4.29%3.64%3.70%3.95%

Frequently Asked Questions

FTSL and BSJR have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

BSJR has higher volatility (0.59%) compared to FTSL (0.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FTSL dropped -22.67% vs BSJR's -22.58%.

On 5-year performance, FTSL leads with 5.02% vs 3.40% for BSJR. On fees, BSJR is cheaper at 0.42% per year. On volatility, FTSL has been the lower-risk option at 0.36%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, FTSL has performed better with a 5.02% return vs 3.40%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

BSJR is cheaper with a 0.42% expense ratio, compared with 0.86% for FTSL.

FTSL has the higher dividend yield at 6.46%, compared with 5.74% for BSJR.

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.86% for FTSL and 0.42% for BSJR.

BSJR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.27 vs 2.17), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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