JNK vs. FTSL
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) and First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL).
JNK and FTSL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. JNK is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital High Yield Very Liquid Index. It was launched on Nov 28, 2007. FTSL is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on May 1, 2013.
Performance
JNK vs. FTSL - Performance Comparison
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JNK vs. FTSL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JNK SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF | -0.14% | 8.76% | 7.71% | 12.42% | -12.19% | 4.00% | 4.95% | 14.88% | -3.28% | 6.49% |
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% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, JNK achieves a -0.14% return, which is significantly higher than FTSL's -0.69% return. Over the past 10 years, JNK has outperformed FTSL with an annualized return of 5.25%, while FTSL has yielded a comparatively lower 4.50% annualized return.
JNK
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- -0.71%
- YTD
- -0.14%
- 6M
- 1.02%
- 1Y
- 7.32%
- 3Y*
- 8.05%
- 5Y*
- 3.56%
- 10Y*
- 5.25%
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%
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JNK vs. FTSL - Expense Ratio Comparison
JNK has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than FTSL's 0.86% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
JNK vs. FTSL — Risk / Return Rank
JNK
FTSL
JNK vs. FTSL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) and First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL). 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.
| JNK | FTSL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.29 | 1.56 | -0.27 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.92 | 2.05 | -0.13 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.42 | -0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.82 | 2.06 | -0.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.34 | 7.37 | +1.98 |
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
| JNK | FTSL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29 | 1.56 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 | 1.46 | -0.99 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.63 | 0.87 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.83 | -0.42 |
Correlation
The correlation between JNK and FTSL is 0.41, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
JNK vs. FTSL - Dividend Comparison
JNK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.67%, more than FTSL's 6.58% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JNK SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF | 6.67% | 6.54% | 6.63% | 6.38% | 6.06% | 4.27% | 5.11% | 5.44% | 5.90% | 5.60% | 6.06% | 6.59% |
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% |
Drawdowns
JNK vs. FTSL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum JNK drawdown since its inception was -38.48%, which is greater than FTSL's maximum drawdown of -22.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JNK and FTSL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| JNK | FTSL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.48% | -22.67% | -15.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.17% | -2.33% | -1.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.67% | -6.96% | -9.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.89% | -22.67% | -0.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.13% | -1.13% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.73% | -0.77% | -2.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.81% | 0.65% | +0.16% |
Volatility
JNK vs. FTSL - Volatility Comparison
SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) has a higher volatility of 2.27% compared to First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) at 1.36%. This indicates that JNK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTSL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| JNK | FTSL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.27% | 1.36% | +0.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.95% | 1.91% | +1.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.72% | 3.11% | +2.61% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.53% | 3.36% | +4.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.34% | 5.19% | +3.15% |