First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 0.65: the stock has moved about 35% less than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 17, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerFirst Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) trades at $39.36. First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF is an actively managed fund focusing on high-yield debt securities. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 17, 2026Analyst Coverage for HYLS: HYLS does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) Financial Services Profile
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) is an actively managed ETF seeking current income and capital appreciation through high-yield debt investments. With a focus on below-investment-grade securities, HYLS offers exposure to the high-yield market within the broader financial services sector, maintaining a beta of 0.65.
What Is the Investment Thesis for HYLS?
HYLS presents an investment opportunity for those seeking high current income through exposure to the high-yield debt market. The fund's active management aims to navigate market conditions and optimize returns. With a market cap of $1.80 billion, HYLS offers substantial liquidity. However, investors should be aware of the inherent risks associated with high-yield bonds, including credit risk and interest rate sensitivity. The fund's success depends on the advisor's ability to effectively manage risk and capitalize on opportunities within the high-yield sector. The absence of a dividend yield may deter some income-focused investors, but the fund's focus on capital appreciation could offset this. The ETF's beta of 0.65 suggests lower volatility compared to the broader market.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
HYLS Key Highlights
Actively managed ETF focused on high-yield debt securities.
- Primary investment objective is to provide current income.
- Secondary investment objective is to provide capital appreciation.
- Invests at least 80% of net assets in below-investment-grade or unrated high-yield debt.
- Market capitalization of $1.80 billion indicates substantial size and liquidity.
Who Are HYLS's Competitors?
HYLS is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF | $34.99 | 0.00% | $2.81B | — |
| BSVO EA Bridgeway Omni Small-Cap Value ETF | $28.63 | +0.53% | $2.33B | — |
| CGSD Capital Group Short Duration Income ETF | $25.29 | +0.06% | $2.31B | — |
| EWA iShares MSCI Australia ETF | $28.43 | +0.39% | $1.39B | — |
| FPEI First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF | $18.42 | -0.05% | $1.84B | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1066.45 | +0.64% | $165B | 51 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $112.52 | +0.69% | $136B | 66 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.59 | 0.00% | $74.8B | 56 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are HYLS's Key Strengths?
Active management allows for tactical adjustments to market conditions.
- Diversified portfolio reduces risk compared to individual high-yield bonds.
- Established brand recognition of First Trust.
- Focus on high current income appeals to income-seeking investors.
What Are HYLS's Weaknesses?
High-yield bonds are subject to credit risk and interest rate sensitivity.
- Active management fees can be higher than passive ETFs.
- Performance depends on the advisor's skill and market conditions.
- Absence of dividend yield may deter some investors.
What Are the Key Risks for HYLS?
Credit risk associated with high-yield bonds.
- Interest rate sensitivity can negatively impact bond prices.
- Economic downturns can lead to increased defaults.
- Competition from other high-yield ETFs.
- Dependence on advisor's skill and market conditions.
What Are HYLS's Competitive Advantages?
- Active management expertise in high-yield debt markets.
- Established track record of performance.
- Brand recognition of First Trust.
- Diversified portfolio of high-yield securities.
What Does HYLS Do?
The First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS) is an actively managed exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with current income and, secondarily, capital appreciation. The fund achieves this by investing primarily in high-yield debt securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," which are rated below investment grade or are unrated but deemed of comparable quality by the fund's advisor. Launched to capitalize on opportunities within the high-yield market, HYLS offers a tactical approach to fixed-income investing. The fund's investment strategy involves actively selecting and managing a portfolio of high-yield securities, adjusting allocations based on market conditions and perceived opportunities. This active management seeks to outperform passive high-yield benchmarks. HYLS invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield debt. The ETF provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of high-yield bonds, potentially offering higher yields compared to investment-grade bonds, but with increased credit risk. The fund's performance is influenced by factors such as interest rate movements, credit spreads, and the overall health of the high-yield market.
What Products and Services Does HYLS Offer?
- Invests in high-yield debt securities rated below investment grade.
- Actively manages a portfolio of high-yield bonds.
- Seeks to provide current income to investors.
- Aims to achieve capital appreciation as a secondary objective.
- Adjusts portfolio allocations based on market conditions.
- Offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of high-yield bonds.
- Provides a tactical approach to fixed-income investing.
How Does HYLS Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management (AUM).
- AUM increases through investment performance and net inflows.
- Actively manages portfolio to generate returns above benchmark.
- Invests in high-yield debt securities to provide income.
What Industry Does HYLS Operate In?
HYLS operates within the asset management industry, specifically focusing on fixed-income ETFs. The high-yield debt market is influenced by factors such as interest rates, economic growth, and credit spreads. The competitive landscape includes other high-yield ETFs and actively managed fixed-income funds. HYLS differentiates itself through its tactical approach to high-yield investing, aiming to outperform passive benchmarks through active security selection and portfolio management. Demand for high-yield debt is driven by investors seeking higher yields in a low-interest-rate environment, but this demand is tempered by concerns about credit risk and potential economic downturns.
Who Are HYLS's Key Customers?
- Individual investors seeking high current income.
- Financial advisors allocating client portfolios.
- Institutional investors looking for high-yield exposure.
- Retirement savers seeking income-generating assets.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is an etf, not an operating company
MoonshotScore History
Recorded daily since 2026-08-23 · 42 snapshots
| 2026-08-23 | 44 |
| 2026-08-31 | 44 |
| 2026-09-08 | 44 |
| 2026-09-16 | 44 |
| 2026-09-24 | 44 |
| 2026-10-04 | 44 |
| 2026-10-05 | 44 |
What changed?
The score has stayed at 44.
Over the same 30 days the stock moved -2.8%.
HYLS Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Active management allows for tactical adjustments to market conditions.
- Diversified portfolio reduces risk compared to individual high-yield bonds.
- Established brand recognition of First Trust.
- Focus on high current income appeals to income-seeking investors.
Bear Case
- High-yield bonds are subject to credit risk and interest rate sensitivity.
- Active management fees can be higher than passive ETFs.
- Performance depends on the advisor's skill and market conditions.
- Absence of dividend yield may deter some investors.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
HYLS Latest News
No recent news available for HYLS.
HYLS Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for HYLS.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for HYLS.
HYLS MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for HYLS; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
ETFs that hold HYLS
Funds in our ETF coverage that list HYLS among the top 10 holdings on their fund page, largest weight first. Each weight is the fund's reported holding weight as of the date in its row.
| ETF | Weight | Holdings as of |
|---|---|---|
| MDIV ETF | 18.71% |
Common Questions About HYLS (Financials)
What are the main risks for HYLS?
The main risks for HYLS are associated with investing in high-yield debt securities. These securities are subject to credit risk, meaning that issuers may default on their obligations. High-yield bonds are also sensitive to interest rate changes, which can negatively impact bond prices. Economic downturns can lead to increased defaults in the high-yield market, potentially reducing the fund's value.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- The information provided is based on available data and is subject to change.