HYLS Performance — First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF
Data updated: 2026-09-24
HYLS returned +0.54% year to date and +3.70% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +7.08% over 3 years and +2.86% over 5 years. The fund trailed its High Yield Bond category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $123, against $123 for the category, and to $104 over one year, against $105. Volatility over the past three years was 4.71% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $13.4M, and assets reached $1.62B.
HYLS Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the High Yield Bond category average over the same months.
| Period | HYLS | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $104 | $105 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $123 | $123 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $115 | $118 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $128 | $132 |
HYLS Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +0.54% |
| 1 year | +3.70% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +7.08% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +2.86% |
HYLS Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +0.54% |
| 2025 | +7.78% |
| 2024 | +5.96% |
| 2023 | +13.38% |
| 2022 | −12.59% |
| 2021 | +3.61% |
| 2020 | +5.43% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +3.28% |
HYLS 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 | −0.2% | −0.5% | −0.9% | +1.6% | +0.4% | +0.2% | −0.1% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +1.1% | +0.4% | −0.9% | +0.5% | +1.6% | +1.6% | +0.2% | +1.2% | +0.6% | +0.2% | +0.4% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | −0.4% | +0.2% | +0.7% | −1.3% | +0.8% | +0.8% | +1.7% | +1.6% | +1.5% | −0.7% | +1.1% | −0.2% |
| 2023 | +3.8% | −1.5% | +1.2% | +0.7% | −1.1% | +1.5% | +1.4% | +0.5% | −1.2% | −1.6% | +5.9% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | −1.7% | −1.0% | −0.5% | −3.5% | −2.3% | −7.6% | +7.2% | −2.0% | −4.0% | +2.8% | +1.1% | −1.2% |
| 2021 | +0.4% | +0.3% | +0.3% | +0.5% | +0.1% | +0.7% | 0.0% | +0.4% | +0.2% | −0.5% | −0.7% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | −1.7% | −9.1% | +4.1% | +3.8% | −0.3% | +4.0% | +0.9% | −0.5% | +0.2% | +3.4% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +0.2% | +0.7% | +0.2% | +0.7% | +1.5% |
HYLS Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 4.71%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.55 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +5.87% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −1.62% (Oct 2023)
HYLS Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $13.4M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $229.4M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 1.06×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $16.2M | $32.6M | −$16.4M |
| Jun 2026 | $4.1M | $0 | $4.1M |
| May 2026 | $10.2M | $0 | $10.2M |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $111.5M | −$111.5M |
| Mar 2026 | $2.1M | $42.5M | −$40.4M |
| Feb 2026 | $20.7M | $0 | $20.7M |
| Jan 2026 | $66.9M | $29.3M | $37.6M |
| Dec 2025 | $10.4M | $0 | $10.4M |
| Nov 2025 | $4.2M | $0 | $4.2M |
| Oct 2025 | $60.9M | $0 | $60.9M |
| Sep 2025 | $31.6M | $0 | $31.6M |
| Aug 2025 | $2.1M | $0 | $2.1M |
HYLS Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $1.62B |
| 2026-04-30 | $1.64B |
| 2026-01-31 | $1.80B |
| 2025-10-31 | $1.76B |
| 2025-07-31 | $1.66B |
| 2025-04-30 | $1.65B |
| 2025-01-31 | $1.66B |
| 2024-10-31 | $1.62B |
| 2024-07-31 | $1.47B |
| 2024-04-30 | $1.43B |
| 2024-01-31 | $1.46B |
| 2023-10-31 | $1.37B |
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.