# HISF ETF returns, drawdowns and dividends

> HISF (First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF): 1-year total return -0.92%, price return -5.84%, max drawdown 7.10%, trailing yield 5.27%. Daily data through Oct. 26, 2026.

Source: https://findetfstock.com/etf/hisf/ · Prices through: 2026-10-26 · Data: Yahoo Finance daily closes and ex-dividend amounts

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (option income ETF). Total assets: $97M, average daily dollar volume $571K (3 months), as of 2026-10-26 (Yahoo Finance; fund net assets, all share classes).

HISF lost 0.92% over the past year with dividends reinvested (-5.84% on price alone), based on closing prices through Oct. 26, 2026. Over the last 5.3 years (since July 16, 2021) it gained 7.58% with dividends reinvested, or +1.39% a year. Its largest fall from a peak over the past year was 7.10%, and it closed 16.38% below its highest close since July 16, 2021 ($51.15 on Jan. 13, 2022). It pays dividends monthly: $2.25 per share over the last 12 months, a trailing yield of 5.27%. 

## Returns by period

| Period | Since | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 2026-09-25 | +0.70% | +0.27% |
| 3 months | 2026-07-24 | -0.96% | -2.22% |
| 6 months | 2026-04-24 | -1.77% | -4.24% |
| Year to date | 2025-12-31 | -1.38% | -5.48% |
| 1 year | 2025-10-24 | -0.92% | -5.84% |
| 3 years | 2023-10-26 | +17.83% (+5.62%/yr) | +1.99% (+0.66%/yr) |
| 5 years | 2021-07-16 | +7.58% (+1.39%/yr) | -14.94% (-3.02%/yr) |

Total return reinvests every dividend at the ex-dividend date close. Price return excludes dividends.

## Did the payouts keep up with the price?

Over the past year HISF paid out 4.96% of its starting price in distributions, while its price changed -5.84%. Reinvesting every payment gave a total return of -0.92%. The distributions did not make up for the fall in price, so a holder ended the year with less than they started with, even counting every payment.

## Calendar-year returns

| Year | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (year to date) | -1.38% | -5.48% |
| 2025 | +8.39% | +3.35% |
| 2024 | +2.22% | -2.40% |
| 2023 | +6.39% | +1.85% |
| 2022 | -9.96% | -13.19% |

## Drawdowns

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Max drawdown, 1 year | 7.10% |
| Max drawdown, 3 years | 7.69% |
| Max drawdown, 5 years | 18.37% |
| Highest close since 2021-07-16 | $51.15 on 2022-01-13 (-16.38% from there) |
| 52-week closing range | $42.28 to $45.51 |

Deepest fall in the stored history: 18.37%, from 2022-01-13 to 2023-10-25, not yet recovered.

## Dividends

Trailing 12 months: $2.25 per share in 12 payments, yield 5.27%. Last ex-dividend date: 2026-10-21 ($0.18).

| Year | Dividends per share | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | $1.88 | 10 |
| 2025 | $2.12 | 12 |
| 2024 | $2.05 | 12 |
| 2023 | $1.91 | 12 |
| 2022 | $1.68 | 12 |

Historical data for research and education, not investment advice. Methodology: https://findetfstock.com/methodology/