HYLS vs. SGOV
HYLS (First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - HYLS is a High Yield Bonds fund actively managed by First Trust, while SGOV is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. HYLS is actively managed, while SGOV is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, HYLS returned 2.94%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for SGOV. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. HYLS charges 1.01%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.
Performance
HYLS vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HYLS achieves a 0.28% return, which is significantly lower than SGOV's 1.51% return.
HYLS
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- 0.39%
- YTD
- 0.28%
- 6M
- 0.70%
- 1Y
- 5.37%
- 3Y*
- 7.73%
- 5Y*
- 2.94%
- 10Y*
- 4.35%
SGOV
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- YTD
- 1.51%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 3.95%
- 3Y*
- 4.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
HYLS vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HYLS First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF | 0.28% | 8.00% | 5.85% | 13.66% | -12.83% | 3.69% | 9.05% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 1.51% | 4.24% | 5.27% | 5.12% | 1.58% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between HYLS and SGOV is -0.14, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.14 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 29, 2020 | -0.02 |
The correlation between HYLS and SGOV shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (1 year) to 0.01 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
HYLS vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank
HYLS
SGOV
HYLS vs. SGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| HYLS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -18.74 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -273.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 195.55 | -194.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.74 | 398.20 | -396.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.42 | 4,462.00 | -4,454.58 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| HYLS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.54 | 20.28 | -18.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 | 14.73 | -14.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.68 | 12.48 | -11.80 |
Drawdowns
HYLS vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HYLS drawdown since its inception was -22.99%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HYLS and SGOV.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| HYLS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.99% | -0.03% | -22.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.09% | -0.01% | -3.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.96% | -0.01% | -3.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.75% | -0.03% | -15.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.99% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.20% | 0.00% | -0.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.15% | -0.00% | -2.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.73% | 0.00% | +0.73% |
Volatility
HYLS vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) has a higher volatility of 1.16% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.05%. This indicates that HYLS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| HYLS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.16% | 0.05% | +1.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.90% | 0.13% | +2.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.51% | 0.20% | +3.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.62% | 0.24% | +6.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.70% | 0.24% | +6.46% |
HYLS vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
HYLS has a 1.01% expense ratio, which is higher than SGOV's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
HYLS vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison
HYLS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.70%, more than SGOV's 3.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HYLS First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF | 6.70% | 6.38% | 6.25% | 5.98% | 7.38% | 5.48% | 5.09% | 5.17% | 5.81% | 5.53% | 5.37% | 6.11% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 3.86% | 4.10% | 5.10% | 4.87% | 1.45% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
HYLS and SGOV have a correlation of -0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HYLS has higher volatility (1.16%) compared to SGOV (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HYLS dropped -22.99% vs SGOV's -0.03%.
On 5-year performance, SGOV leads with 3.54% vs 2.94% for HYLS. On fees, SGOV is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SGOV has performed better with a 3.54% return vs 2.94%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOV is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 1.01% for HYLS.
HYLS has the higher dividend yield at 6.70%, compared with 3.86% for SGOV.
HYLS is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while SGOV is Ultrashort Bond. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 1.01% for HYLS and 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.28 vs 1.54), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for HYLS and SGOV
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer