HYG vs USHY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, USHY yields more: 5.93% (dividend yield) against 5.55% for HYG. USHY is cheaper to own at 0.08% a year vs 0.49%. Over the same 9 years (Oct 2017 to Oct 2026), USHY returned 4.5% a year with distributions reinvested, and HYG 3.9%.
HYGiShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF5.55%dividend yield| Compared | HYG | USHY |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 5.55% | 5.93% |
| Expense ratio | 0.49% | 0.08% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +1.6% | +1.9% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +8.4% | +8.7% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +3.4% | +3.7% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +4.3% | — |
| Worst drop since Oct 2017 | -15.3% | -15.3% |
| Share price since Oct 2017 | −12% | −14% |
| Pays | Monthly | Monthly |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| Assets | $17.7B | $26.7B |
| Started | 2007 | 2017 |
| Type | High Yield Bond | High Yield Bond |
Higher yield
USHY
5.93%
Lower cost
USHY
0.08%
Better total return
USHY
4.5%/yr
Smaller worst drop
HYG
-15.3%
Key facts: HYG vs USHY
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, HYG yields 5.55% (dividend yield) and USHY yields 5.93% (dividend yield).
- HYG's expense ratio is 0.49% and USHY's is 0.08%: $49 vs $8 a year on $10,000.
- From Oct 2017 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in HYG grew to $14,142 (3.9% a year) and $10,000 in USHY to $14,810 (4.5% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -15.3% for HYG and -15.3% for USHY.
- 1 of HYG's top ten holdings are also in USHY's top ten, an overlap of at least 1% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "HYG vs USHY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/hyg-vs-ushy
$10,000 in each, Oct 2017 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
HYG became
$14,142
3.9% a year
USHY became
$14,810
4.5% a year
Year by year
| Year | HYG | USHY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +8.6% | +8.8% |
| 2024 | +8.0% | +8.4% |
| 2023 | +11.5% | +12.7% |
| 2022 | −11.0% | −11.2% |
| 2021 | +3.8% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | +4.5% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | +14.1% | +14.2% |
| 2018 | −2.0% | −2.4% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
1 of the top ten overlap, at least 1% of each fund.
HYG
- XTSLA BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency1.1%
USHY
- XTSLA BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency1.5%
HYG vs USHY: questions
Is HYG or USHY better?
It depends on the job. USHY pays more today (5.93% vs 5.55%), USHY costs less, and USHY has the better total return over Oct 2017 to Oct 2026, with HYG holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, HYG or USHY?
USHY, at 5.93% against 5.55% for HYG as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $593 vs $555 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
USHY. From Oct 2017 to Oct 2026, it returned 4.5% a year with distributions reinvested, against 3.9% for HYG. $10,000 became $14,810 vs $14,142.
Which is cheaper, HYG or USHY?
USHY, with a 0.08% expense ratio against 0.49%.
Do HYG and USHY hold the same things?
Partly. 1 of their top ten holdings match (XTSLA), at least 1% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. USHY leads on 5 of 7 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.