FTSL vs QQQ
First Trust Senior Loan Fund ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, FTSL or QQQ?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | FTSL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.33% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 333 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +1.93% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.32% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.25% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.05% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.9%Best | 17.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.4%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,793 | $19,390Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 1, 2013 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2013 to Sep 10, 2026 (13.4 years).
FTSL vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FTSL vs QQQ Performance
First Trust Senior Loan Fund ETF (FTSL) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year FTSL returned +3.32% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, FTSL is up 1.93% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, FTSL compounded at +6.25% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +5.05% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.05% annualized vs +1.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 4.9% for FTSL. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -26.4% for FTSL and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTSL charges 0.70% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $18 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTSL currently yields 6.33% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 56 holdings in FTSL and 102 in QQQ, totalling 11.7% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in FTSL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 333 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FTSL and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FTSL or QQQ?
FTSL has an expense ratio of 0.70% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTSL or QQQ?
Over the past year FTSL returned +3.32% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FTSL annualized +1.68% vs +19.05% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTSL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 4.9% for FTSL. Worst drawdown: FTSL -26.4% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both FTSL and QQQ?
FTSL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTSL or QQQ?
FTSL yields 6.33% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so FTSL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than FTSL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.