iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) Performance
HYG total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −0.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +1.1% total return
- 5 years
- +3.3% a year
- 10 years
- +4.1% a year
- Since first price
- +4.8% a year since 2007
HYG trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | HYG total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.9% | −1.3% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.3% | −2.8% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −1.2% | −4.1% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −0.1% | −4.4% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +1.1% | −4.7% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +27.4%+8.4%/yr | +6.7% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +17.7%+3.3%/yr | −11.3% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +49.9%+4.1%/yr | −11.8% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +100.7%+4.8%/yr | −12.4% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 11, 2007 | +149.3%+4.8%/yr | −26.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: HYG vs AGG
From Apr 11, 2007: HYG grew to $24,934, AGG to $17,461.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
HYG returns by calendar year
14 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+28.5%), worst 2008 (−17.6%). 2026 is year to date.
HYG annual returns table
| Year | HYG | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −0.1% | −2.9% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +8.6% | −4.6% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +8.0% | −2.3% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +11.5% | −4.9% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −11.0% | −15.5% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +3.8% | −2.4% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +4.5% | −22.0% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +14.1% | −2.0% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −2.0% | −6.4% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +6.1% | −2.4% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +13.4% | −5.3% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −5.0% | −10.6% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +1.9% | −6.4% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | +5.8% | −7.1% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +11.7% | −4.5% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +6.8% | −10.1% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +11.9% | −7.1% | +6.4% | +9.0% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | +28.5% | −21.4% | +3.0% | −21.8% | +26.4% |
| 2008 | −17.6% | −34.2% | +7.9% | +33.9% | −36.8% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
HYG largest drawdowns
Now 2.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2007 | −34.2% | Nov 20, 2008 | Dec 2, 2009 | 1.2 years | 2.2 years |
| Feb 20, 2020 | −22.0% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 4, 2020 | 32 days | 8 months |
| Dec 27, 2021 | −15.8% | Sep 27, 2022 | Mar 7, 2024 | 9 months | 2.2 years |
| Apr 15, 2015 | −13.4% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jul 8, 2016 | 10 months | 1.2 years |
| Jul 22, 2011 | −10.1% | Oct 4, 2011 | Oct 24, 2011 | 2 months | 3 months |
| May 25, 2007 | −8.4% | Jul 27, 2007 | Sep 18, 2007 | 2 months | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
HYG risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +7.8% | +3.2% | +4.2% | +4.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8% | 7.8% | 7.4% | 10.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.69 | -0.02 | 0.28 | 0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.20 | -0.03 | 0.40 | 0.56 |
| Best month | +4.9% | +6.7% | +6.7% | +16.8% |
| Worst month | −2.7% | −7.1% | −10.0% | −11.4% |
| Best 12 months | +15.9% | +15.9% | +18.9% | +44.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.9% | −14.6% | −14.6% | −29.4% |
| Positive months | 72% | 62% | 65% | 64% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.28 | 0.41 | 0.39 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.72 | 0.82 | 0.81 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
HYG rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 223 | −29.4% | +6.4% | +44.7% | 81% |
| 3-year (a year) | 199 | −2.0% | +5.4% | +21.2% | 97% |
| 5-year (a year) | 175 | +0.5% | +4.5% | +16.1% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 115 | +2.7% | +5.2% | +9.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
HYG performance overview
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) returned +1.1% over the past year and +4.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +4.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $24,934. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −34.2%, from Sep 19, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 1.0 years to get back to the old high. HYG finished 14 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+28.5%) and the worst 2008 (−17.6%). Volatility has been 10.2% a year.
Related: HYG chart, HYG dividends, HYG bond profile. See the HYG overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
HYG performance FAQ
What is the HYG return over the past year?
HYG returned +1.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 4.7%.
What is the average annual return of HYG?
HYG has returned +3.3% a year over 5 years, +4.1% a year over 10 years, +4.8% a year since April 11, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in HYG be worth?
$10,000 invested in HYG at its first recorded close on April 11, 2007 would be worth about $24,934 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for HYG?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −17.6%. The best was 2009 at +28.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of HYG?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.2% between September 19, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on December 2, 2009, 1.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is HYG?
Over the past 3 years HYG had an annualized volatility of 4.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.69 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).