First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF
$39.78−0.02 (−0.05%)
- 0.69%
- $1.62B
- +1.9%
- 6.80%
- 235K sh
- low $39.01high $42.40
The ETF.net HYLS Grade
C
Score 54 out of 100
- 51 of 85
Score 54 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.F10 out of 100Rank 76 of 85Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A87 out of 100Rank 45 of 77Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.C48 out of 100Rank 50 of 85Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.A80 out of 100Rank 8 of 85Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.B66 out of 100Rank 35 of 85Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.A85 out of 100Rank 9 of 85
Our read on HYLS
In short
CMost high yield ETFs buy the index and sit still. HYLS has been actively managed since 2013 and runs long and short bond positions at once, aiming at income first, appreciation second. That tactical wiring costs 0.69%, no fee waiver.
Stated mandate
The Fund seeks current income and secondarily capital appreciation through active management. It normally invests at least 80% of net assets in below-investment-grade or comparably rated high-yield debt securities.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
HYLS Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
HYLS$10,191
Returns run to the Nov 5, 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 | HYLS |
|---|---|
| Year to date | +0.5% |
| 1 month | +1.7% |
| 3 months | −0.5% |
| 1 year | +1.9% |
| 3 years | +6.9% |
| 5 years | +2.7% |
| 10 years | +4.1% |
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 | HYLS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | +0.5% | |
| 2025 | +8.0% | |
| 2024 | +5.8% | |
| 2023 | +13.6% | |
| 2022 | −12.8% | |
| 2021 | +3.7% | |
| 2020 | +4.9% |
HYLS in the news
HYLS Dividends
- 6.80%
- $2.71
- $0.22 per share
- Monthly
HYLS Risk
- 5.0%
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.
- 0.67
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.
- −15.8%
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.
- 0.67
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.
HYLS Cost
Overpaying vs SCYB, cheapest in US High Yield
$12,791
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
HYLS 0.69%
$13,429
SCYB 0.03% Cheapest
$638
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | HYLS | SCYB | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,232 | $55 | $1,177 |
| 20 | $4,697 | $216 | $4,481 |
| 30 | $13,429 | $638 | $12,791 |
Other funds in US High Yield
- BXCCCBondBloxx CCC Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.40%1 year return −5.2%
- BGTOHInvesco Short Duration High Yield ETFExpense ratio 0.48%1 year return
- BJHHYJohn Hancock High Yield ETFExpense ratio 0.52%1 year return +2.0%
- CPSHPGIM Short Duration High Yield ETFExpense ratio 0.45%1 year return +3.0%
- CFSYDFidelity Sustainable High Yield ETFExpense ratio 0.55%1 year return +2.9%
