HISF Performance — First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF
Data updated: 2026-09-24
HISF returned −0.24% year to date and +3.56% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +4.66% over 3 years and +4.52% over 5 years. The fund trailed its US Multi-Cap Blend category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $115, against $139 for the category, and to $104 over one year, against $114. Volatility over the past three years was 5.01% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $49.5M, and assets reached $98.51M.
HISF Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the US Multi-Cap Blend category average over the same months.
| Period | HISF | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $104 | $114 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $115 | $139 |
| 5 years (Feb 2021 – Jul 2026) | $125 | $159 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $125 | $187 |
HISF Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | −0.24% |
| 1 year | +3.56% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +4.66% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +4.52% |
HISF Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | −0.24% |
| 2025 | +8.20% |
| 2024 | +2.29% |
| 2023 | +6.48% |
| 2022 (Jan–Dec) | −3.19% |
| 2021 | +9.54% |
| 2020 | −2.50% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +3.23% |
HISF Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +0.3% | +1.0% | −1.9% | +0.7% | +0.4% | +0.1% | −0.8% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +0.8% | +1.6% | −0.2% | +0.4% | +0.1% | +1.6% | −0.1% | +1.4% | +1.1% | +0.6% | +0.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | −0.1% | −0.8% | +0.6% | −2.2% | +1.6% | +0.8% | +2.2% | +1.5% | +1.4% | −2.2% | +1.1% | −1.4% |
| 2023 | +2.8% | −1.6% | +1.1% | +0.6% | −0.7% | +0.1% | +0.3% | −0.3% | −2.0% | −1.5% | +4.3% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | −0.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | −1.5% | −3.4% | +0.1% | +2.1% | −0.3% |
| 2021 | −0.1% | −0.2% | +3.3% | +2.5% | +1.1% | −0.2% | +0.3% | +0.9% | −2.0% | +2.4% | −2.3% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | −0.7% | −4.3% | −14.3% | +7.2% | +2.9% | −0.5% | +2.5% | +0.4% | −2.6% | +1.5% | +5.3% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −0.2% | +1.2% | −0.1% | 0.0% | +2.2% |
HISF Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 5.01%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.03 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +4.33% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −2.25% (Apr 2024)
HISF Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $49.5M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $49.5M
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $2.2M | $0 | $2.2M |
| Jun 2026 | $2.2M | $0 | $2.2M |
| May 2026 | $4.4M | $0 | $4.4M |
| Apr 2026 | $4.5M | $0 | $4.5M |
| Mar 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Feb 2026 | $2.3M | $0 | $2.3M |
| Jan 2026 | $20.4M | $0 | $20.4M |
| Dec 2025 | $6.8M | $0 | $6.8M |
| Nov 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oct 2025 | $6.8M | $0 | $6.8M |
| Sep 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aug 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
HISF Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $98.51M |
| 2026-04-30 | $91.14M |
| 2026-01-31 | $85.81M |
| 2025-10-31 | $58.82M |
| 2025-07-31 | $51.10M |
| 2025-04-30 | $46.49M |
| 2025-01-31 | $43.98M |
| 2024-10-31 | $46.53M |
| 2024-07-31 | $44.55M |
| 2024-04-30 | $32.30M |
| 2024-01-31 | $31.26M |
| 2023-10-31 | $29.34M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.