FTSL vs. USLN
FTSL (First Trust Senior Loan Fund) and USLN (iShares Broad USD Floating Rate Loan ETF) are both Bank Loan funds. FTSL is actively managed, while USLN is passively managed. Their 0.26 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. FTSL charges 0.70%/yr vs 0.43%/yr for USLN.
Performance
FTSL vs. USLN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
FTSL
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 0.51%
- 6M
- 1.82%
- YTD
- 1.33%
- 1Y
- 3.96%
- 3Y*
- 6.74%
- 5Y*
- 5.15%
- 10Y*
- 4.42%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.00%
USLN
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.58%
- 6M
- —
- YTD
- —
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- —
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.60M | $10.00M | $9.63M | |
| $9.52K | $7.17K | $13.33K |
FTSL vs. USLN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | |
|---|---|
FTSL First Trust Senior Loan Fund | 3.21% |
USLN iShares Broad USD Floating Rate Loan ETF | 2.52% |
Correlation
The correlation between FTSL and USLN is 0.26, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 4, 2026 | 0.26 |
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Return for Risk
FTSL vs. USLN — Risk / Return Rank
FTSL
USLN
Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.
FTSL vs. USLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) and iShares Broad USD Floating Rate Loan ETF (USLN). 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 | USLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | — | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.71 | — | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.32 | — | — |
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Drawdowns
FTSL vs. USLN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTSL drawdown since its inception was -22.67%, which is greater than USLN's maximum drawdown of -0.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTSL and USLN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTSL | USLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.67% | -0.75% | -21.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.33% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.66% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.96% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.67% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.75% | -0.17% | -0.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.63% | — | — |
Volatility
FTSL vs. USLN - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| FTSL | USLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.47% | — | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | — | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.15% | 2.23% | -0.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.35% | 2.23% | +1.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.18% | 2.23% | +2.95% |
FTSL vs. USLN - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTSL has a 0.70% expense ratio, which is higher than USLN's 0.43% expense ratio.
Dividends
FTSL vs. USLN - Dividend Comparison
FTSL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.37%, more than USLN's 2.13% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSL First Trust Senior Loan Fund | 6.37% | 6.59% | 7.56% | 7.59% | 4.77% | 3.17% | 3.48% | 4.44% | 4.29% | 3.64% | 3.70% | 3.95% |
USLN iShares Broad USD Floating Rate Loan ETF | 2.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FTSL and USLN have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, USLN is cheaper at 0.43% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
USLN is cheaper with a 0.43% expense ratio, compared with 0.70% for FTSL.
FTSL has the higher dividend yield at 6.37%, compared with 2.13% for USLN.
They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.70% for FTSL and 0.43% for USLN.
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