The Best High Yield Bonds ETFs

The table below compares the performance and other essential indicators like dividend yield and expense ratio of High Yield Bonds ETFs.

High-yield bonds ETFs are exchange-traded funds that invest in a diversified portfolio of bonds with lower credit ratings, also known as "junk bonds". These bonds are issued by companies or municipalities with a higher risk of default and thus offer higher yields to compensate for the added risk. As a result, high-yield bonds are considered to be a higher-risk, higher-return investment than investment-grade bonds, which are issued by companies or municipalities with better credit ratings.

Number of ETFs: 120
Avg. Expense Ratio: 0.44%
Avg. Dividend Yield: 5.84%
Avg. 1 Year Return: 6.23%
Median Risk/Return Score: 62 / 100

120 results

Symbol	Full Name	Category	Inception	Expense Ratio	YTD Return	10Y Return (Annualized)	Dividend Yield	Risk / Return Rank
SJNK	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond...	High Yield Bonds	Mar 15, 2012	0.40%	1.16%	5.42%	7.04%	69
SNLN	Highland iBoxx Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds	Nov 8, 2012	0.75%	—	—	0.00%	—
SPHY	SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	Jun 19, 2012	0.05%	1.24%	5.04%	7.29%	62
SRLN	SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds	Apr 3, 2013	0.70%	0.55%	4.49%	7.50%	55
SYFI	AB Short Duration High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	Dec 7, 2011	0.40%	1.34%	—	6.14%	71
THY	Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF	High Yield Bonds	Jun 25, 2020	1.36%	0.20%	—	5.41%	41
THYF	T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	Oct 25, 2022	0.56%	1.45%	—	7.02%	64
USHY	iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	Oct 25, 2017	0.15%	1.20%	—	6.94%	61
VGHY	Vanguard High-Yield Active ETF	High Yield Bonds	Sep 16, 2025	0.22%	1.00%	—	4.00%	—
VSHY	Virtus Newfleet Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	Dec 5, 2016	0.40%	1.85%	—	6.40%	73
WFHY	WisdomTree U.S. High Yield Corporate Bond Fund	High Yield Bonds	Apr 27, 2016	0.38%	1.11%	4.87%	6.28%	62
XB	BondBloxx B Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ET...	High Yield Bonds	May 24, 2022	0.30%	1.69%	—	7.09%	69
XBB	BondBloxx BB Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond E...	High Yield Bonds	May 24, 2022	0.20%	1.41%	—	5.56%	53
XCCC	BondBloxx CCC Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ...	High Yield Bonds	May 24, 2022	0.40%	-0.35%	—	10.08%	28
XHYD	BondBloxx US High Yield Consumer Non-Cyclicals Sec...	High Yield Bonds	Feb 15, 2022	0.35%	0.44%	—	5.31%	53
XHYE	BondBloxx US High Yield Energy Sector ETF	High Yield Bonds	Feb 15, 2022	0.35%	3.57%	—	5.79%	95
XHYF	BondBloxx US High Yield Financial & REIT Sector ET...	High Yield Bonds	Feb 15, 2022	0.35%	-0.10%	—	6.27%	48
XHYH	BondBloxx US High Yield Healthcare Sector ETF	High Yield Bonds	Feb 15, 2022	0.35%	1.24%	—	6.58%	66
YLD	Principal Active High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	Jul 9, 2015	0.39%	2.56%	5.64%	7.29%	57
ZTOP	F/m High Yield 100 ETF	High Yield Bonds	Apr 14, 2025	0.39%	1.30%	—	6.26%	63

Best High Yield Bonds ETFs by Risk/Return Score

The top High Yield Bonds ETFs by PortfoliosLab Risk/Return Score are IBHE (98) and BSJQ (96). The score measures risk-adjusted performance over the past year, accounting for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
IBHE	iShares iBonds 2025 Term High Yield & Income ETF	98	364.90M	May 2019
BSJQ	Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corp Bond ETF	96	1.03B	Aug 2018
XHYE	BondBloxx US High Yield Energy Sector ETF	95	5.96M	Feb 2022
LDRH	iShares iBonds 1-5 Year High Yield and Income Ladd...	87	8.41M	Nov 2024
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	85	615.17M	Feb 2015

Best-Performing High Yield Bonds ETFs Over 5 Years

The top High Yield Bonds ETFs is HYHG (6.99%). Across the lineup, High Yield Bonds ETFs show an average 1-year return of 6.23% and an average 5-year return of 3.83%, providing a clearer view of performance across different investment horizons.

Symbol	Name	Return 5Y	AUM	Inception
HYHG	ProShares High Yield-Interest Rate Hedged	6.99%	173.54M	May 2013
HYGH	iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF	6.93%	529.12M	May 2014
HYZD	WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond Fu...	6.23%	234.27M	Dec 2013
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	5.94%	615.17M	Feb 2015
FLBL	Franklin Liberty Senior Loan ETF	5.18%	853.20M	May 2018

Lowest-Cost High Yield Bonds ETFs

The top High Yield Bonds ETFs is SCYB (0.03%). With an average expense ratio of 0.44%, High Yield Bonds ETFs remain a low-cost option for investors seeking broad market exposure, sector allocations, and diversified portfolio building blocks.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
SCYB	Schwab High Yield Bond ETF	0.03%	2.54B	Jul 2023
SPHY	SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF	0.05%	11.07B	Jun 2012
NHYB	Nuveen High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	0.08%	1.68B	Sep 2025
BBHY	JPMorgan BetaBuilders USD High Yield Corporate Bon...	0.15%	608.96M	Sep 2016
HYLB	Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	0.15%	3.48B	Dec 2016

Highest-Yield High Yield Bonds ETFs

The top High Yield Bonds ETFs is HYGW (11.59%). Across the lineup, High Yield Bonds ETFs show an average dividend yield of 5.84%, offering investors a steady stream of income through regular dividend payments, making them attractive for income-seeking portfolios.

Symbol	Name	Dividend Yield	AUM	Inception
HYGW	iShares High Yield Corporate Bond Buywrite Strateg...	11.59%	108.68M	Aug 2022
XCCC	BondBloxx CCC Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ...	10.08%	274.02M	May 2022
PHYD	Putnam ESG High Yield ETF -	9.05%	7.67M	Jan 2023
CDX	Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF	8.35%	406.85M	Feb 2022
PCHI	Polen High Income ETF	8.14%	21.55M	Mar 2025

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Top ETFs Comparisons

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Risk vs. Return Scatterplot

The Risk vs. Return Scatterplot allows you to quickly compare funds, stocks, and ETFs in one view. It displays the yearly return of an instrument on one axis and the risk (volatility) on the other.

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