Overview
The benchmark high-yield corporate bond ETF. 1,200+ bonds rated below investment grade. Highest yield of any major bond ETF with commensurate credit risk. The institutional standard for junk bond exposure.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| HY CORP | High Yield Corp Bonds BB rated | ~35% |
| HY CORP B | High Yield Corp Bonds B rated | ~45% |
| HY CORP CCC | High Yield Corp Bonds CCC rated | ~15% |
| CASH | Cash & Equivalents | ~5% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
HYG is the world's most liquid high-yield bond ETF with daily trading volume exceeding 1 billion dollars, making it the institutional benchmark for below-investment-grade corporate credit exposure. The fund's deep options market and tight bid-ask spreads make it the preferred vehicle for tactical high-yield positioning, credit hedging, and fixed income arbitrage strategies. High-yield bonds historically provide equity-like returns over long periods with lower volatility, benefiting from both income and price appreciation during economic expansion.
Who It's For
Income investors seeking the highest yields available in the investment-grade-adjacent bond universe, and those making tactical credit cycle allocations. HYG suits investors who understand that higher yield comes with higher default risk and requires monitoring the credit cycle. Also used by institutional investors for credit hedging strategies via the deep HYG options market. Best held when economic conditions support corporate earnings and default rates remain low.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $81.82 | -- |
| 2017 | $85.18 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | $80.82 | -5.1% |
| 2019 | $86.42 | +6.9% |
| 2020 | $83.82 | -3.0% |
| 2021 | $88.42 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $74.42 | -15.8% |
| 2023 | $77.82 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $77.42 | -0.5% |
| 2025 | $85.25 | +10.1% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5.42% |
| 2017 | 4.82% |
| 2018 | 5.82% |
| 2019 | 5.28% |
| 2020 | 4.42% |
| 2021 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | 6.42% |
| 2023 | 7.42% |
| 2024 | 6.82% |
| 2025 | 6.42% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $15B | -- |
| 2017 | $18B | +20.0% |
| 2018 | $15B | -16.7% |
| 2019 | $18B | +20.0% |
| 2020 | $22B | +22.2% |
| 2021 | $24B | +9.1% |
| 2022 | $16B | -33.3% |
| 2023 | $18B | +12.5% |
| 2024 | $18B | 0.0% |
| 2025 | $18B | 0.0% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
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