PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF (PHYL) belongs to the High Yield Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with PHYL. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PHYL
PHYL charges 0.53% annually. There are 89 ETFs in the High Yield Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab High Yield Bond ETF | 0.03% | 2.75B | Jul 2023 | PHYL vs SCYB | |
| SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | 0.05% | 11.60B | Jun 2012 | PHYL vs SPHY | |
| Nuveen High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 0.08% | 1.70B | Sep 2025 | PHYL vs NHYB | |
| iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 0.15% | 28.59B | Oct 2017 | PHYL vs USHY | |
| Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 0.15% | 3.46B | Dec 2016 | PHYL vs HYLB |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PHYL
PHYL has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 58. There are 52 ETFs in the High Yield Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corp Bond ETF | 96 | 870.26M | Aug 2018 | PHYL vs BSJQ | |
| Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF | 96 | 251.21M | Apr 2019 | PHYL vs SEIX | |
| WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond Fu... | 92 | 259.69M | Dec 2013 | PHYL vs HYZD | |
| Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bon... | 87 | 865.81M | Sep 2019 | PHYL vs BSJR | |
| iShares iBonds 1-5 Year High Yield and Income Ladd... | 87 | 22.57M | Nov 2024 | PHYL vs LDRH |
Top Performing PHYL Alternatives (YTD)
PHYL is at 2.08% YTD. There are 61 ETFs in the High Yield Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 8.52%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Asset Debt Strategy ETF | 8.52% | — | Aug 2025 | PHYL vs DADS | |
| Man Active High Yield ETF | 6.25% | 19.82M | Sep 2025 | PHYL vs MHY | |
| VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF | 4.64% | 521.46M | May 2012 | PHYL vs HYEM | |
| ProShares High Yield-Interest Rate Hedged | 4.10% | 185.42M | May 2013 | PHYL vs HYHG | |
| iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF | 3.94% | 596.69M | May 2014 | PHYL vs HYGH |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PHYL
PHYL has 3.39% 1-year volatility. There are 39 ETFs in the High Yield Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.00%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers J.P. Morgan ESG USD High Yield Corporate... | 0.00% | 6.49M | Mar 2015 | PHYL vs ESHY | |
| Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corp Bond ETF | 1.28% | 870.26M | Aug 2018 | PHYL vs BSJQ | |
| Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF | 1.63% | 251.21M | Apr 2019 | PHYL vs SEIX | |
| State Street My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 1.71% | 4.98M | Feb 2026 | PHYL vs MYHA | |
| Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bon... | 1.95% | 865.81M | Sep 2019 | PHYL vs BSJR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PHYL
PHYL has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.68%. There are 59 ETFs in the High Yield Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.54%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corp Bond ETF | -0.54% | 870.26M | Aug 2018 | PHYL vs BSJQ | |
| iShares iBonds 2027 Term High Yield and Income ETF | -0.73% | 507.25M | Jul 2021 | PHYL vs IBHG | |
| Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF | -1.13% | 251.21M | Apr 2019 | PHYL vs SEIX | |
| Invesco BulletShares 2027 High Yield Corporate Bon... | -1.16% | 865.81M | Sep 2019 | PHYL vs BSJR | |
| iShares iBonds 2028 Term High Yield and Income ETF | -1.22% | 457.18M | Mar 2022 | PHYL vs IBHH |
Other ETFs from PGIM
The 10 most viewed PGIM ETFs shown here include PAAA, PULS, PFRL and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $18B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM AAA CLO ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.80% | 11.25B | Jul 2023 | PHYL vs PAAA | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 99 | 2.43% | 18.30B | Apr 2018 | PHYL vs PULS | |
| PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF | Bank Loan | 93 | 3.12% | 121.63M | May 2022 | PHYL vs PFRL | |
| PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 89 | 1.75% | — | Jul 2023 | PHYL vs PSDM | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 89 | 8.45% | 223.70M | Jun 2024 | PHYL vs BUFP | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 93 | 6.30% | 203.06M | Jun 2024 | PHYL vs PBFR | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF | Municipal Bonds | 90 | 1.64% | 106.99M | Jun 2024 | PHYL vs PUSH | |
| PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 76 | 2.71% | 173.89M | Dec 2023 | PHYL vs PSH | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 99 | 4.09% | — | Mar 2025 | PHYL vs PMAP | |
| PGIM Jennison Focused Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 93 | 22.66% | 125.07M | Dec 2022 | PHYL vs PJFV |
Often Compared With PHYL
Investors most often compare PHYL with BUL, YLD, FNGR. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PHYL with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PHYL with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PHYL with funds that move differently
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PHYL.
Explore PHYL Diversifiers