FTSL vs. PTIAX
FTSL (First Trust Senior Loan Fund) and PTIAX (Performance Trust Strategic Bond Fund) are both funds - FTSL is a High Yield Bonds fund actively managed by First Trust, while PTIAX is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund managed by Performance Trust Asset Management. Over the past 10 years, FTSL returned 4.45%/yr vs 2.83%/yr for PTIAX. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FTSL charges 0.86%/yr vs 0.76%/yr for PTIAX.
Performance
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTSL achieves a 0.65% return, which is significantly lower than PTIAX's 1.05% return. Over the past 10 years, FTSL has outperformed PTIAX with an annualized return of 4.45%, while PTIAX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.83% annualized return.
FTSL
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 0.65%
- 6M
- 0.65%
- 1Y
- 4.20%
- 3Y*
- 7.14%
- 5Y*
- 4.99%
- 10Y*
- 4.45%
PTIAX
- 1D
- -0.30%
- 1M
- 1.11%
- YTD
- 1.05%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 5.26%
- 3Y*
- 5.24%
- 5Y*
- 0.95%
- 10Y*
- 2.83%
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSL First Trust Senior Loan Fund | 0.65% | 5.98% | 8.27% | 11.58% | -2.50% | 3.94% | 2.99% | 10.11% | -1.30% | 2.59% |
PTIAX Performance Trust Strategic Bond Fund | 1.05% | 6.92% | 3.52% | 7.48% | -12.84% | 1.15% | 5.73% | 7.36% | 2.01% | 7.08% |
Correlation
The correlation between FTSL and PTIAX is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 2, 2013 | 0.05 |
The correlation between FTSL and PTIAX shifts across timeframes, from 0.05 (all time) to 0.22 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
FTSL vs. PTIAX — Risk / Return Rank
FTSL
PTIAX
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and Performance Trust Strategic Bond Fund (PTIAX). 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.
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 | PTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.56 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.45 | 1.25 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.81 | 1.88 | -0.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.72 | 5.16 | +1.56 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTSL drawdown since its inception was -22.67%, which is greater than PTIAX's maximum drawdown of -16.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTSL and PTIAX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| FTSL | PTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.67% | -16.90% | -5.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.33% | -2.99% | +0.66% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.66% | -4.96% | +2.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.96% | -16.90% | +9.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.67% | -16.90% | -5.77% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.03% | -1.20% | +1.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.76% | -2.43% | +1.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.63% | 1.09% | -0.46% |
Volatility
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) is 0.33%, while Performance Trust Strategic Bond Fund (PTIAX) has a volatility of 1.01%. This indicates that FTSL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PTIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| FTSL | PTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.33% | 1.01% | -0.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | 2.86% | -0.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.12% | 3.95% | -1.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.35% | 4.98% | -1.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.19% | 4.05% | +1.14% |
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTSL has a 0.86% expense ratio, which is higher than PTIAX's 0.76% expense ratio.
Dividends
FTSL vs. PTIAX - Dividend Comparison
FTSL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.46%, more than PTIAX's 4.76% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
PTIAX Performance Trust Strategic Bond Fund | 4.76% | 4.68% | 4.44% | 4.03% | 3.96% | 3.01% | 3.86% | 4.11% | 4.47% | 5.51% | 5.49% | 4.87% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FTSL and PTIAX have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PTIAX has higher volatility (1.01%) compared to FTSL (0.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FTSL dropped -22.67% vs PTIAX's -16.90%.
FTSL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.42), 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.
Find the right allocation for FTSL and PTIAX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer