SHYL vs. SPHY
SHYL (Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF) and SPHY (SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) are both High Yield Bonds funds - SHYL tracks the Solactive USD High Yield Corporates Total Market 0-5 Year Index while SPHY tracks the ICE BofA US High Yield Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SHYL returned 4.91%/yr vs 4.41%/yr for SPHY. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SHYL charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for SPHY.
Performance
SHYL vs. SPHY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SHYL achieves a 1.30% return, which is significantly lower than SPHY's 1.63% return.
SHYL
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 1.30%
- 6M
- 1.76%
- 1Y
- 6.02%
- 3Y*
- 8.39%
- 5Y*
- 4.91%
- 10Y*
- —
SPHY
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 0.42%
- YTD
- 1.63%
- 6M
- 2.02%
- 1Y
- 7.02%
- 3Y*
- 8.98%
- 5Y*
- 4.41%
- 10Y*
- 5.14%
SHYL vs. SPHY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHYL Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF | 1.30% | 7.78% | 8.52% | 11.39% | -5.21% | 4.60% | 3.64% | 10.16% | -0.67% |
SPHY SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | 1.63% | 8.59% | 8.54% | 12.81% | -10.57% | 5.61% | 6.65% | 13.16% | -2.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between SHYL and SPHY is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2018 | 0.84 |
The correlation between SHYL and SPHY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.84 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SHYL vs. SPHY — Risk / Return Rank
SHYL
SPHY
SHYL vs. SPHY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL) and SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF (SPHY). 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.
| SHYL | SPHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.03 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.38 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.80 | 2.92 | +0.87 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.98 | 13.27 | +1.71 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SHYL | SPHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.89 | 1.92 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.84 | 0.62 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.65 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.72 | 0.64 | +0.09 |
Drawdowns
SHYL vs. SPHY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SHYL drawdown since its inception was -19.26%, smaller than the maximum SPHY drawdown of -21.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SHYL and SPHY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SHYL | SPHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.26% | -21.97% | +2.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.59% | -2.41% | +0.82% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.73% | -4.85% | +0.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.60% | -15.29% | +5.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -21.97% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.08% | -0.14% | +0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.54% | -2.29% | +0.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.40% | 0.53% | -0.13% |
Volatility
SHYL vs. SPHY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL) is 0.86%, while SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF (SPHY) has a volatility of 1.14%. This indicates that SHYL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SHYL | SPHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.86% | 1.14% | -0.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.45% | 2.91% | -0.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.20% | 3.68% | -0.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.84% | 7.17% | -1.33% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.69% | 7.89% | -1.20% |
SHYL vs. SPHY - Expense Ratio Comparison
SHYL has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than SPHY's 0.05% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SHYL vs. SPHY - Dividend Comparison
SHYL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.93%, less than SPHY's 7.26% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SHYL Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF | 6.93% | 7.02% | 7.26% | 6.60% | 5.52% | 4.65% | 6.16% | 5.93% | 5.54% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPHY SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | 7.26% | 7.38% | 7.80% | 7.30% | 6.47% | 5.13% | 5.63% | 5.73% | 4.09% | 4.41% | 4.27% | 4.29% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, SHYL and SPHY move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
SPHY has higher volatility (1.14%) compared to SHYL (0.86%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SHYL dropped -19.26% vs SPHY's -21.97%.
On 5-year performance, SHYL leads with 4.91% vs 4.41% for SPHY. On fees, SPHY is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, SHYL has been the lower-risk option at 0.86%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SHYL has performed better with a 4.91% return vs 4.41%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPHY is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for SHYL.
SPHY has the higher dividend yield at 7.26%, compared with 6.93% for SHYL.
SHYL tracks Solactive USD High Yield Corporates Total Market 0-5 Year Index, while SPHY tracks ICE BofA US High Yield Index. They also come from different issuers: Deutsche Bank and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for SHYL and 0.05% for SPHY.
SPHY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 1.89), 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.
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