First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) Performance
HYLS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −0.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +1.4% total return
- 5 years
- +2.8% a year
- 10 years
- +4.0% a year
- Since first price
- +4.3% a year since 2013
HYLS trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | HYLS total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.0% | −1.2% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −0.9% | −2.5% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −0.2% | −3.4% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −0.2% | −5.6% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +1.4% | −5.6% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +25.8%+8.0%/yr | +2.6% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +14.8%+2.8%/yr | −17.4% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +47.6%+4.0%/yr | −18.8% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 27, 2013 | +77.2%+4.3%/yr | −21.1% | — | — | — |
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: HYLS vs AGG
From Feb 27, 2013: HYLS grew to $17,718, AGG to $12,558.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
HYLS returns by calendar year
10 of 12 full years positive. Best 2019 (+14.7%), worst 2022 (−12.8%). 2026 is year to date.
HYLS annual returns table
| Year | HYLS | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −0.2% | −3.1% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +8.6% | −4.0% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +5.9% | −2.5% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +13.7% | −4.9% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −12.8% | −15.7% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +3.7% | −1.7% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +5.3% | −23.0% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +14.7% | −1.0% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −2.5% | −5.7% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +6.4% | −1.7% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +8.4% | −2.8% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.2% | −6.3% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +1.8% | −5.7% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
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.
HYLS largest drawdowns
Now 1.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2020 | −23.0% | Mar 20, 2020 | Aug 6, 2020 | 37 days | 6 months |
| Dec 31, 2021 | −15.7% | Sep 29, 2022 | Jun 5, 2024 | 9 months | 2.4 years |
| Jun 2, 2015 | −7.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jun 8, 2016 | 8 months | 1.0 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −5.7% | Dec 16, 2014 | Feb 27, 2015 | 5 months | 8 months |
| Oct 1, 2018 | −5.7% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 31, 2019 | 3 months | 4 months |
| May 22, 2013 | −5.5% | Jun 24, 2013 | Oct 17, 2013 | 33 days | 5 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
HYLS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +6.9% | +2.5% | +3.9% | +4.2% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.2% | 7.8% | 7.7% | 7.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.48 | -0.11 | 0.24 | 0.38 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.84 | -0.15 | 0.33 | 0.55 |
| Best month | +6.0% | +7.2% | +7.4% | +7.4% |
| Worst month | −2.7% | −7.1% | −11.9% | −11.9% |
| Best 12 months | +15.1% | +15.1% | +22.3% | +22.3% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.3% | −15.0% | −15.0% | −15.0% |
| Positive months | 69% | 58% | 63% | 64% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.29 | 0.41 | 0.40 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.70 | 0.82 | 0.80 | — |
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.
HYLS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 153 | −15.0% | +5.8% | +22.3% | 85% |
| 3-year (a year) | 129 | −1.9% | +4.2% | +9.9% | 92% |
| 5-year (a year) | 105 | +0.7% | +3.7% | +6.5% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 45 | +2.7% | +3.8% | +4.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2013. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
HYLS performance overview
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) returned +1.4% over the past year and +4.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2013 it has returned +4.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $17,718. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −23.0%, from Feb 12, 2020 to Mar 20, 2020, and it took 5 months to get back to the old high. HYLS finished 10 of its 12 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+14.7%) and the worst 2022 (−12.8%). Volatility has been 7.1% a year.
Related: HYLS chart, HYLS dividends, HYLS bond profile. See the HYLS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
HYLS performance FAQ
What is the HYLS return over the past year?
HYLS returned +1.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.6%.
What is the average annual return of HYLS?
HYLS has returned +2.8% a year over 5 years, +4.0% a year over 10 years, +4.3% a year since February 27, 2013 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in HYLS be worth?
$10,000 invested in HYLS at its first recorded close on February 27, 2013 would be worth about $17,718 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for HYLS?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −12.8%. The best was 2019 at +14.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of HYLS?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −23.0% between February 12, 2020 and March 20, 2020. It recovered to the old high on August 6, 2020, 5 months after the bottom.
How volatile is HYLS?
Over the past 3 years HYLS had an annualized volatility of 5.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.48 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).