FTSL Distribution History & Yield

First Trust Senior Loan Fund · NasdaqGM

ETF Bank Loan Monthly payer Bond fundHigh yield
$44.30
-0.07% today
as of Oct 25, 2026
TTM yield
6.31%
$2.795/share over the last 12 months
Forward yield
6.31%
$2.795/share indicated annual rate
Annual distribution
$2.795
per share, forward
Per payment
$0.2329
per share, every month
Frequency
Monthly
12 payments a year
Next ex-distribution date
Nov 20, 2026 Estimated
in 26 days
Next pay date
Nov 28, 2026
in 34 days
Last ex-distribution date
Oct 21, 2026
$0.225 per share
Expense ratio
0.70%
AUM 2.4B
Consistency
97/100
very stable payouts
5y distribution CAGR
n/a
needs 6+ years of history
Growth streak
0 yrs
no current streak
Years paying
13.4
since May 21, 2013
1y total return
+2.7%
price -3.4% + distributions 6.1%

Upcoming distribution payments

Ex-datePay datePer sharePer 100 sharesStatus
Fri, Nov 20, 2026 (in 26 days) Nov 28, 2026 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Sun, Dec 20, 2026 (in 56 days) Dec 28, 2026 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Tue, Jan 19, 2027 (in 86 days) Jan 27, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Thu, Feb 18, 2027 (in 116 days) Feb 26, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Sat, Mar 20, 2027 (in 146 days) Mar 28, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Mon, Apr 19, 2027 (in 176 days) Apr 27, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Wed, May 19, 2027 (in 206 days) May 27, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Fri, Jun 18, 2027 (in 236 days) Jun 26, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Sun, Jul 18, 2027 (in 266 days) Jul 26, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Tue, Aug 17, 2027 (in 296 days) Aug 25, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Thu, Sep 16, 2027 (in 326 days) Sep 24, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated
Sat, Oct 16, 2027 (in 356 days) Oct 24, 2027 $0.2329 $23.29 Estimated

Estimated dates and amounts are projected from FTSL's recent payment pattern and will be replaced by declared figures when the fund announces them. Total over the next 12 months: about $2.795 per share.

Distribution payment history

Last 40 payments per share. RegularSpecial

Last 40 payments per share from Jul 21, 2023 to Oct 21, 2026; most recent $0.225$0.00$0.20$0.40Jul 21, 2023: $0.29Jul '23Aug 22, 2023: $0.305Sep 22, 2023: $0.30Oct 24, 2023: $0.295Nov 21, 2023: $0.295Dec 22, 2023: $0.303Dec '23Jan 23, 2024: $0.308Feb 21, 2024: $0.30Mar 21, 2024: $0.30Apr 23, 2024: $0.295May 21, 2024: $0.293May '24Jun 27, 2024: $0.288Jul 23, 2024: $0.288Aug 21, 2024: $0.29Sep 26, 2024: $0.29Oct 22, 2024: $0.29Oct '24Nov 21, 2024: $0.28Dec 13, 2024: $0.275Jan 22, 2025: $0.268Feb 21, 2025: $0.263Mar 27, 2025: $0.26Mar '25Apr 22, 2025: $0.258May 21, 2025: $0.258Jun 26, 2025: $0.253Jul 22, 2025: $0.253Aug 21, 2025: $0.245Aug '25Sep 25, 2025: $0.245Oct 21, 2025: $0.245Nov 21, 2025: $0.24Dec 12, 2025: $0.24Jan 21, 2026: $0.24Jan '26Feb 20, 2026: $0.24Mar 26, 2026: $0.235Apr 21, 2026: $0.235May 21, 2026: $0.235Jun 25, 2026: $0.23Jun '26Jul 21, 2026: $0.225Aug 21, 2026: $0.225Sep 24, 2026: $0.225Oct 21, 2026: $0.225

Annual distributions per share

Annual dividend per share by calendar year, 2017 to 2026 (year to date)$0.00$2.00$4.002017: $1.75$1.7520172018: $1.953$1.95320182019: $2.131$2.13120192020: $1.656$1.65620202021: $1.522$1.52220212022: $2.129$2.12920222023: $3.498$3.49820232024: $3.497$3.49720242025: $3.028$3.02820252026 (YTD): $2.315$2.3152026 YTD

How much FTSL do you need for monthly income?

Target incomeShares neededCapital at today's pricePer year
$100 / month430$19,020$1,200
$500 / month2,147$95,098$6,000
$1,000 / month4,294$190,197$12,000

Based on the forward yield of 6.31%. $10,000 in FTSL would currently pay about $631 a year ($53 a month on average). Model reinvestment and growth →

FTSL distribution history

Ex-datePay dateAmountChange
Oct 21, 2026 Oct 30, 2026 $0.225 +0.0%
Sep 24, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 $0.225 +0.0%
Aug 21, 2026 Aug 31, 2026 $0.225 +0.0%
Jul 21, 2026 Jul 31, 2026 $0.225 -2.2%
Jun 25, 2026 Jun 30, 2026 $0.23 -2.1%
May 21, 2026 May 29, 2026 $0.235 +0.0%
Apr 21, 2026 Apr 30, 2026 $0.235 +0.0%
Mar 26, 2026 Mar 31, 2026 $0.235 -2.1%
Feb 20, 2026 Feb 27, 2026 $0.24 +0.0%
Jan 21, 2026 Jan 30, 2026 $0.24 +0.0%
Dec 12, 2025 Dec 31, 2025 $0.24 +0.0%
Nov 21, 2025 Nov 28, 2025 $0.24 -2.0%
Oct 21, 2025 Oct 31, 2025 $0.245 +0.0%
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 30, 2025 $0.245 +0.0%
Aug 21, 2025 Aug 29, 2025 $0.245 -3.2%
Jul 22, 2025 Jul 31, 2025 $0.253 +0.0%
Jun 26, 2025 Jun 30, 2025 $0.253 -1.9%
May 21, 2025 May 30, 2025 $0.258 +0.0%
Apr 22, 2025 Apr 30, 2025 $0.258 -0.8%
Mar 27, 2025 Mar 31, 2025 $0.26 -1.1%
Feb 21, 2025 Feb 28, 2025 $0.263 -1.9%
Jan 22, 2025 Jan 31, 2025 $0.268 -2.5%
Dec 13, 2024 Dec 31, 2024 $0.275 -1.8%
Nov 21, 2024 Nov 29, 2024 $0.28 -3.4%

Payout risk check

Distribution stabilityLow risk

FTSL's last 12 distributions were very stable (consistency score 97/100).

Its share price moved -3.4% over the past year.

This is a rule-based screen computed from public data, not a rating or a recommendation. Read our guide to yield traps for what the signals mean.

About First Trust Senior Loan Fund

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in first and second lien senior floating rate bank loans (collectively, “Senior Loans”). Senior loans represent debt obligations of sub-investment grade corporate borrowers, similar to high yield bonds; however, senior loans are different from traditional high yield bonds in that senior loans are typically senior to other obligations of the borrower and generally secured by a lien on all or some portion of the assets of the borrower.

Fund family: First Trust. Category: Bank Loan. First distribution on our records: May 21, 2013. 162 payments tracked. Data last refreshed Oct 25, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll fix it.

FTSL distribution FAQ

When is FTSL's next ex-distribution date?

FTSL's next ex-distribution date is Nov 20, 2026 (in 26 days, estimated from its monthly schedule). You must own the shares before that date to receive the payment of about $0.2329 per share, expected on Nov 28, 2026.

How often does FTSL pay distributions?

FTSL pays distributions every month, 12 times a year. The most recent payment was $0.225 per share with an ex-date of Oct 21, 2026.

What is FTSL's distribution yield?

FTSL's trailing 12-month distribution yield is 6.31%, based on $2.795 per share paid over the last year and a share price of $44.30. The forward yield, using the indicated annual rate of $2.795 per share, is 6.31%.

How much does FTSL pay per share?

FTSL pays about $0.2329 per share each month, which works out to roughly $2.795 per share a year. 100 shares would collect about $279.50 a year.

Has FTSL grown or cut its distribution?

There has been no cut to a regular payment in the last 5 years. As a fund, FTSL's distributions vary with the income its holdings generate, so payouts are not designed to rise every year the way a dividend-growth stock's are.

How many shares of FTSL do I need to earn $100 a month?

At the current forward yield of 6.31%, you would need about 430 shares of FTSL (roughly $19,020 invested at today's price) to collect $1,200 a year, or $100 a month on average, before taxes. Payments arrive every month, so the monthly figure is an average.

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