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- Upturn Summary
- Fund Details
Upturn AI Summary
First Trust Senior Loan Fund(FTSL)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FTSL
10/26/2026: FTSL (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL) provides active exposure to senior secured floating-rate loans, a strategy designed to generate current income while mitigating interest rate risk. Its key strengths include professional active management, which aims to avoid credit defaults, and a defensive position in the corporate capital stack. The fund is best suited as an income-generating component of a diversified portfolio, particularly for investors concerned about interest rate volatility. Primary risks include corporate credit/default risk and lower income potential during declining interest rate environments. It remains a prominent choice for those seeking active credit management over passive index exposure.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
ETF holdings, costs, diversification, valuation, risks, and market conditions provide supporting context about the fund.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Weak fit | This fund is designed for income generation rather than capital appreciation. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | Senior loans are generally stable assets that do not exhibit the high-volatility price trends favored by momentum strategies. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Value investors may appreciate the income yield, though it is not a traditional 'cheap stock' investment. |
| Dividend/Income investor | Strong fit | The fund is specifically designed to provide consistent, high-yield income through floating-rate payments. |
| Low-risk investor | Medium | While senior secured loans are safer than equities, they still carry credit and default risks. |
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
Income-focused investors who want exposure to corporate debt but seek protection against interest rate increases.
Suitability
Suitable for long-term income-oriented portfolios; not appropriate for traders seeking rapid capital gains.
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility | Low | Floating-rate assets generally experience lower price volatility compared to fixed-rate bonds when interest rates change. |
| Market risk | Medium | Changes in general economic conditions can affect the creditworthiness of the companies backing these loans. |
| Concentration | Medium | The fund holds a diverse basket of loans, but remains concentrated in the leveraged corporate loan market. |
| Tracking/expense | Medium | The active management fee is higher than passive index-tracking loan ETFs. |
| Liquidity | Medium | The underlying loan market can occasionally face liquidity crunches during severe market stress. |
| Business/sector quality | Medium | The fund is exposed to the credit quality of non-investment grade corporate borrowers. |
Risk Analysis
Volatility
FTSL exhibits low volatility compared to equities and standard long-duration bond funds.
Market Risk
The fund is primarily exposed to credit risk of corporate borrowers and fluctuations in short-term interest rates.
What the ETF Owns
| Exposure Type | Exposure | Weight (%) | Retail Investor Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-income type | Senior Secured Floating-Rate Loans | 92 | These loans provide variable interest payments that adjust with market rates, helping protect against rising interest rate environments. |
| Fixed-income type | High-Yield Corporate Bonds | 5 | These bonds offer higher potential income in exchange for taking on additional credit risk beyond senior loans. |
| Cash/collateral | Cash and Cash Equivalents | 3 | Liquidity is maintained for operational purposes and to provide flexibility for active management adjustments. |
Price Behavior
Flat / Range-Bound
The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.
Very Smooth
The stock has followed a highly orderly price path with minimal short-term disruption.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit 15.77% | Avg. Invested days 144 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  5.0 | ETF Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/26/2026 |
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