FTSL/ First Trust Senior Loan Fund
Comprehensive risk audit, payout history, and forward-looking dividend projections.
What This Page Shows
- Dividend yield and net yield after fees (6.34% vs 5.48%)
- Risk tier classification: Tier 2 Yield Plus
- TTM NAV change: -1.2%
- Income sustainability flags and payout history trends
DivAgent Audit Brief
FTSL is a Tier 2 Yield Plus asset yielding 6.34%. It focuses on capital preservation and dividend growth, suitable for long-term compounding. NAV stability remains within healthy ranges.
Provider
First
Sector
Fixed Income
Asset Class
Bank Loan
Expense Ratio
0.86%
AUM
$2.35B
Inception
—
Distribution
monthly
NAV Change (1Y)
-1.2%
Who Should Buy FTSL?
FTSL is best suited for Compounders. The fund generates a 6.34% yield through collecting dividends from portfolio companies.
Conservative income investors seeking capital preservation and steady dividend growth.
You need double-digit yields immediately and are not concerned with capital erosion.
Quick Audit
- TypeTraditional Equity
- ComplexityLow
- Tax EfficiencyHigh (Qualified)
- VolatilityMarket Correlation
Comparing stated yield to actual total return performance
DivAgent Analyst Verdict
“FTSL is currently serving as a foundational income anchor. Investors should be aware that a traditional equity holding that pays dividends from corporate earnings and cash flow. focused on long-term sustainability and potential dividend growth.”
Risk Profile Audit
High stability. Considered a core holding for capital preservation and compounding income over decades.
Price Chart
Live DataCalculate Your Returns
Estimate income for FTSL
~22.02 shares at $45.42
Estimates use the latest forecasted distribution and are not guarantees.
Track FTSL in DivAgentVerified Payout History
Last 5 of 20 Payments| Ex-Dividend Date | Amount | Frequency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21, 2026 | $0.2400 | Monthly | PAID |
| Dec 12, 2025 | $0.2400 | Monthly | PAID |
| Nov 21, 2025 | $0.2400 | Monthly | PAID |
| Oct 21, 2025 | $0.2450 | Monthly | PAID |
| Sep 25, 2025 | $0.2450 | Monthly | PAID |
+15 more dividends hidden | |||
15 more dividends available
Upgrade to Premium to see up to 10 historical dividends, or Pro for unlimited access.
Compare FTSL Alternatives
See All ComparisonsFTSL FAQ
Common questions about FTSL dividends, safety, and performance
Institutional Analysis Context
This FAQ section provides institutional-grade analysis of FTSL. DivAgent evaluates dividend ETFs using a proprietary 5-Tier Risk Spectrum that measures income sustainability, NAV erosion risk, and distribution source quality. Data is updated daily from market sources.
DivAgent Data Methodology
Risk Tier Classification
Our 5-Tier Risk Spectrum is not an editorial opinion. It is a quantitative scoring model derived from 36-month volatility, max drawdown depth, and option skew (for derivative funds). A "Tier 1" rating implies volatility comparable to short-term treasuries, while "Tier 5" indicates localized volatility exceeding the S&P 500.
NAV Erosion Calculation
We calculate "Erosion" by stripping out distribution payments to isolate the price performance of the underlying collateral. If a fund's share price drops by more than its distribution yield over a rolling 12-month period, it is flagged as eroding capital. This protects investors from "Yield Traps" that return their own principal as taxable income.
Yield vs. Income
DivAgent distinguishes between "SEC Yield" (standardized) and "Distribution Rate" (cash-on-cash). For option-income ETFs (e.g., Covered Calls), we prioritize the Trailing 12-Month (TTM) distribution rate as a more accurate reflection of realized income, while flagging that future payouts fluctuate with implied volatility.
Performance Benchmarking
All "Total Return" metrics differ from price return. We assume immediate reinvestment of all dividends (DRIP) on the pay date, with no tax friction. This "Net Total Return" metric allows for a true apples-to-apples comparison between high-yield/flat-price funds and low-yield/high-growth funds.