HYLS vs USHY
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF vs iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, HYLS or USHY?
Each has led over a different period.
USHY has a lower expense ratio. HYLS led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, USHY over 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 | HYLS | USHY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $27.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.85% | 7.14% |
| Holdings | 716 | 3,815 |
| YTD Return | +0.64%Best | -4.60% |
| 1Y Return | +1.07%Best | -4.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.74%Best | +5.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.65%Best | +2.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.1%Best | 9.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.5%Best | -31.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,397Best | $11,303 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Style | High Yield Bond | High Yield Bond |
| Inception | Feb 25, 2013 | Oct 25, 2017 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2017 to Nov 11, 2026 (9 years).
HYLS vs USHY 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 covers the 9 years both funds cover.
HYLS vs USHY Performance
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year HYLS returned +1.07% while USHY returned -4.24%. Year to date, HYLS is up 0.64% versus a loss of 4.60% for USHY.
Over three years, HYLS compounded at +6.74% per year against +5.76% for USHY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.65% and +2.48% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, USHY has the edge at +1.69% annualized vs +1.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USHY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.6% compared with 8.1% for HYLS. 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 -23.5% for HYLS and -31.0% for USHY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HYLS charges 0.69% per year while USHY charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $8 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HYLS currently yields 6.85% against 7.14% for USHY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 208 holdings in HYLS and 1,421 in USHY, totalling 69.6% and 71.9% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 190 positions appear in both.
190 positions in common, counted across the 208 positions we hold weights for in HYLS and 1,421 in USHY, against full books of 716 and 3,815.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HYLS | Weight in USHY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RKT 6.375 08/01/33 1ROCKET COS 6.375% 08/33 | 1.53% | 0.14% | 1.39% |
| BCULC 4 10/15/30 1441011778 Bc / New Red Fin 4 10/15/2030 | 1.48% | 0.18% | 1.30% |
| SATS 10.75 11/30/29 | 1.02% | 0.42% | 0.60% |
| TIBX 9 09/30/29 144ACloud Software Group Inc 9% 30Sep2029 | 1.07% | 0.26% | 0.81% |
| QUIKHO 6.75 03/01/33Quikrete Holdin 6.75% 03/01/33 | 1.06% | 0.12% | 0.94% |
| FAIRIC 6 05/15/33 14Fair Isaac Corp Sr Unsecured 144A 05/33 6 6 05/15/2033 | 1.04% | 0.10% | 0.94% |
| TDG 6.375 05/31/33 1Transdigm Inc 6.375% 05/31/33 | 0.92% | 0.22% | 0.70% |
| ALIANT 6.75 04/15/28Alliant Hold / 6.75% 04/15/28 | 0.92% | 0.11% | 0.81% |
| FOUR 6.75 08/15/32 1Shift4 Payments Llc C% 2032-08-15 | 0.90% | 0.12% | 0.78% |
| YUM 5.375 04/01/32Sr Unsecured 04/32 5.375 | 0.92% | 0.06% | 0.86% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HYLS and USHY 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, HYLS or USHY?
HYLS has an expense ratio of 0.69% while USHY charges 0.08%. USHY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HYLS or USHY?
Over the past year HYLS returned +1.07% vs -4.24% for USHY, so HYLS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), HYLS annualized +1.65% vs +1.69% for USHY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HYLS or USHY?
USHY has been the more volatile fund at 9.6% annualized versus 8.1% for HYLS. Worst drawdown: HYLS -23.5% vs USHY -31.0%.
Should I hold both HYLS and USHY?
HYLS and USHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, HYLS or USHY?
HYLS yields 6.85% while USHY yields 7.14%, so USHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USHY better than HYLS?
USHY has a lower expense ratio. HYLS led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, USHY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.