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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
09/25/2026: FTSL (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
FTSL provides investors with exposure to a actively managed portfolio of senior secured floating-rate loans, aiming to generate consistent income with reduced duration risk. Its key strengths include professional active management that prioritizes security selection and a natural hedge against rising interest rates. The fund is ideal for income-oriented investors looking to complement their traditional bond holdings. However, investors should monitor corporate default rates and interest rate policy shifts, as these are primary risk factors. FTSL remains a significant and liquid option for those seeking efficient access to the senior loan market.
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 rather than capital appreciation. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Strong fit while signal remains positive for the senior loan asset class. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | It offers value for those seeking yield but does not involve equity value investing. |
| Dividend/Income investor | Strong fit | The fund is an excellent tool for generating current income from floating-rate debt. |
| Low-risk investor | Medium fit | While it has lower interest rate risk, it carries credit and liquidity risks associated with corporate loans. |
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
Income-focused investors seeking to preserve capital while gaining exposure to floating-rate corporate debt.
Suitability
Best for long-term investors looking to hedge against interest rate volatility in their fixed-income portfolio.
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility | Low | Senior loans are typically less volatile than equities or long-duration bonds. |
| Market risk | Medium | Changes in general economic conditions can affect the ability of borrowers to repay loans. |
| Concentration | Medium | The fund holds a diversified basket of loans, but remains exposed to the corporate credit market. |
| Tracking/expense | Low | As an actively managed fund, the expense ratio is higher than passive index funds. |
| Liquidity | Medium | Senior loans can experience periods of lower liquidity during market stress. |
| Business/sector quality | Medium | The fund relies on the creditworthiness of corporate borrowers across various sectors. |
Risk Analysis
Volatility
FTSL exhibits low price volatility compared to broad stock market indices.
Market Risk
The primary risk is corporate credit risk, specifically the potential for default or credit downgrades.
What the ETF Owns
| Exposure Type | Exposure | Weight (%) | Retail Investor Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-income type | Senior Secured Floating-Rate Loans | 95 | These loans sit at the top of the capital structure and adjust their interest rates to prevailing market benchmarks, providing protection against rising rates. |
| Cash/collateral | Cash and Cash Equivalents | 5 | Maintained to provide liquidity for fund operations and to manage daily redemption requests. |
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 16.34% | Avg. Invested days 143 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  5.0 | ETF Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/25/2026 |
ETF Fundamentals 
Source: EOD Historical Data • Updated Sep 27, 2026
Fund Basics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Fund Size (AUM) | $2.45B |
| Issuer | First Trust |
| Expense Ratio | 0.8699999999999999% |
| Distribution Yield | 6.29% |
| Inception | May 1, 2013 |
Performance
| Period | Total Return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +2.27% |
| 1 Year | +3.93% |
| 3 Year | +6.51% |
| 5 Year | +5.17% |
| 10 Year | +4.44% |
Risk Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 1Y Volatility | 2.05% |
| 3Y Volatility | 1.78% |
| 3Y Sharpe Ratio | 1.04 |
Ratings
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Morningstar Rating | ★★★★★ |
| Benchmark | BBgBarc US Agg Bond TR USD |
Top Sectors
| Sector | Weight |
|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% |
Asset Allocation
Portfolio Characteristics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Holdings Turnover | 54.0% |
Top Holdings
| Holding | Weight |
|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Treasury Portfolio | 8.52% |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
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