FTSL vs. QCLN
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN).
FTSL and QCLN are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTSL is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on May 1, 2013. QCLN is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy. It was launched on Feb 8, 2007.
Performance
FTSL vs. QCLN - Performance Comparison
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FTSL vs. QCLN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSL First Trust Senior Loan Fund | -0.69% | 5.98% | 8.27% | 11.58% | -2.50% | 3.94% | 2.99% | 10.11% | -1.30% | 2.59% |
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund | 5.17% | 31.81% | -18.86% | -10.02% | -30.37% | -3.21% | 184.00% | 42.65% | -12.38% | 32.34% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTSL achieves a -0.69% return, which is significantly lower than QCLN's 5.17% return. Over the past 10 years, FTSL has underperformed QCLN with an annualized return of 4.50%, while QCLN has yielded a comparatively higher 12.87% annualized return.
FTSL
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 1.04%
- YTD
- -0.69%
- 6M
- 0.98%
- 1Y
- 4.82%
- 3Y*
- 7.14%
- 5Y*
- 4.89%
- 10Y*
- 4.50%
QCLN
- 1D
- 0.90%
- 1M
- -4.61%
- YTD
- 5.17%
- 6M
- 8.63%
- 1Y
- 61.08%
- 3Y*
- -2.97%
- 5Y*
- -7.09%
- 10Y*
- 12.87%
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FTSL vs. QCLN - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTSL has a 0.86% expense ratio, which is higher than QCLN's 0.60% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTSL vs. QCLN — Risk / Return Rank
FTSL
QCLN
FTSL vs. QCLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN). 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.
| FTSL | QCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.56 | 1.63 | -0.07 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.05 | 2.23 | -0.19 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.27 | +0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.06 | 3.97 | -1.91 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.37 | 12.27 | -4.90 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FTSL | QCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.56 | 1.63 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.46 | -0.19 | +1.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.87 | 0.37 | +0.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.83 | 0.15 | +0.69 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTSL and QCLN is 0.31, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
FTSL vs. QCLN - Dividend Comparison
FTSL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.58%, more than QCLN's 0.21% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSL First Trust Senior Loan Fund | 6.58% | 6.59% | 7.56% | 7.59% | 4.77% | 3.17% | 3.48% | 4.44% | 4.29% | 3.64% | 3.70% | 3.95% |
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund | 0.21% | 0.25% | 0.87% | 0.76% | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.30% | 0.85% | 1.03% | 0.45% | 1.24% | 0.72% |
Drawdowns
FTSL vs. QCLN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTSL drawdown since its inception was -22.67%, smaller than the maximum QCLN drawdown of -76.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTSL and QCLN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTSL | QCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.67% | -76.18% | +53.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.33% | -16.18% | +13.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.96% | -69.49% | +62.53% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.67% | -71.73% | +49.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.13% | -45.67% | +44.54% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.77% | -43.54% | +42.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.65% | 5.24% | -4.59% |
Volatility
FTSL vs. QCLN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) is 1.36%, while First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) has a volatility of 13.73%. This indicates that FTSL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QCLN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FTSL | QCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.36% | 13.73% | -12.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.91% | 27.33% | -25.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.11% | 37.76% | -34.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.36% | 37.87% | -34.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.19% | 34.62% | -29.43% |