First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF
$42.96−0.29 (−0.67%)
- 0.83%
- $91M
- +0.7%
- 5.21%
- 11.8K sh
- low $42.15high $45.58
The ETF.net HISF Grade
C
Score 46 out of 100
- 14 of 25
Score 46 of 100 falls in the C band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.F21 out of 100Rank 20 of 25Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.B56 out of 100Rank 11 of 14Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.C52 out of 100Rank 11 of 25Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.A71 out of 100Rank 2 of 25Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.C42 out of 100Rank 16 of 25Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.A75 out of 100Rank 5 of 25
Our read on HISF
In short
CAn income-first fund that ranks risk-adjusted income above raw yield, with capital appreciation as the second job. Trading since 2014, paying monthly, built on fixed income, and charging 0.83% for the active work.
Stated mandate
The Fund seeks risk-adjusted income as its primary objective and capital appreciation secondarily.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
HISF Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
HISF$10,065
Returns run to the Nov 9, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | HISF |
|---|---|
| Year to date | −0.3% |
| 1 month | +2.1% |
| 3 months | −0.5% |
| 1 year | +0.7% |
| 3 years | +5.4% |
| 5 years | +1.3% |
| 10 years | +2.8% |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | HISF |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | −0.3% | |
| 2025 | +8.4% | |
| 2024 | +2.2% | |
| 2023 | +6.4% | |
| 2022 | −10.0% | |
| 2021 | +10.2% | |
| 2020 | −2.8% |
HISF in the news
HISF Dividends
- 5.21%
- $2.25
- $0.18 per share
- Monthly
HISF Risk
- 5.2%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- 0.25
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −13.2%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 0.88
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.
HISF Cost
Overpaying vs VGMS, cheapest in Multi-Sector Bond Income
$9,710
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
HISF 0.83%
$15,859
VGMS 0.30% Cheapest
$6,149
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | HISF | VGMS | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,474 | $545 | $929 |
| 20 | $5,581 | $2,113 | $3,468 |
| 30 | $15,859 | $6,149 | $9,710 |
Other funds in Multi-Sector Bond Income
- CKNRGSimplify Kayne Anderson Energy and Infrastructure Credit ETFExpense ratio 0.75%1 year return +4.9%
- CWTBNWisdomTree Bianco Total Return FundExpense ratio 0.60%1 year return −1.2%
- CFFLXFIRST TRUST FLEXIBLE INCOME ETFExpense ratio 0.65%1 year return
- CARMSAristotle Multi-Sector Income ETFExpense ratio 0.59%1 year return
- DNBFCNeuberger Berman Flexible Credit Income ETFExpense ratio 1.08%1 year return +3.1%
