NUHY ETF: What Is It? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings and Alternative ETFs
The Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY) is a bond product that diversifies across US high-yield corporate bonds that pass ESG criteria. For investors who need to weigh dividend appeal against credit risk, it serves as a reference point when comparing related products.
SubscribeWhat Is the Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF?
This is a passive bond ETF that tracks an index of US dollar-denominated high-yield corporate bonds that meet ESG criteria. It is built on a highly liquid corporate bond universe.
It suits investors who want high-coupon interest income but also want a bond product with ESG screening applied.
The ETF is managed by Nuveen using a passive (index-tracking) approach.
How Does the Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracking Index | Bloomberg MSCI US High Yield Liquid ESG Select Index |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Regular rebalancing |
| Dividend Frequency | Monthly |
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% |
The portfolio is built from securities that remain after ESG criteria are applied to a base index of highly liquid US dollar-denominated high-yield corporate bonds. The fund invests most of its net assets in the index constituents.
- A high-yield bond portfolio with ESG screening applied
- A passive, index-tracking structure that keeps the cost burden relatively low
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $108.1M, and the expense ratio is an annual 0.30%.
Unlike general high-yield bond ETFs such as USHY, HYG and SPHY shown alongside it in the table, the key difference is that it holds only securities that have passed ESG review.
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeGiven the nature of high-yield corporate bonds, prices rise and fall with the interest rate environment and changes in credit spreads, and the high coupon income has partly offset price volatility.
In high-rate phases, money tends to flow in on the appeal of interest income, while growing concerns about an economic slowdown tend to widen credit spreads and trigger outflows.
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Pros and Cons
ESG-screened high-yield bonds offer the chance to pursue relatively high interest income, but exposure to credit risk and interest rate movements remains.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Alternative ETFs and Related Products
USHY, HYG and SPHY, which appear together in the table, are all large ETFs that hold broad high-yield corporate bonds without ESG screening, and they have the advantage in liquidity and fund size. Conversely, investors who want higher-credit-quality bonds can consider alternatives such as LQD and USIG, which hold investment-grade corporate bonds. Those who want to keep ESG criteria while stepping down in risk to investment-grade bonds may also want to review related ESG investment-grade corporate bond ETFs.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LQD | iShares iBoxx USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | $103.72 | +0.0% | $32.9B | 0.14% | 4.87% | -6.2% |
 USHY | iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | $35.54 | +0.1% | $26.9B | 0.08% | 7.14% | -4.6% |
 USIG | iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | $49.26 | -0.1% | $17.9B | 0.04% | 4.96% | -5.0% |
 HYG | iShares iBoxx USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | $76.98 | +0.1% | $17.7B | 0.49% | 6.1% | -3.9% |
 SPHY | State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | $22.44 | +0.0% | $11.9B | 0.05% | 7.43% | -4.9% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MYMK | State Street My2031 Municipal Bond ETF | 0.05% | $24.68 | +0.2% | $0.0M | - | 2.61% |
 GT | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co | 0.02% | $4.44 | +0.0% | $1.3B | - | - |
 PFGC | Performance Food Group Company | 0.03% | $96.51 | -4.3% | $15.2B | 42.2 | - |
 CYH | Community Health Systems Inc | 0.01% | $2.05 | -2.4% | $289.1M | 8.2 | - |
 LUMN | Lumen Technologies Inc | 0.01% | $4.75 | -1.7% | $4.9B | - | - |
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to check before investing in NUHY. You should review the credit risk inherent in high-yield bonds, what ESG screening actually means, and the liquidity gap versus comparable large ETFs.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check the cumulative cost impact over a long holding period | Maintained at a passive-management level |
| 📉 Credit Rating Distribution | Review the share of speculative-grade issuers | High-yield composition maintained |
| 🌱 ESG Screening | Whether ESG filters are applied relative to the base index | Applied |
| 💧 Liquidity | Trading volume versus comparable large high-yield ETFs | Relatively low |
Given the nature of high-yield corporate bonds, price volatility can rise during an economic slowdown or a widening of credit spreads, and ESG screening does not in itself reduce credit risk.
It is a suitable choice for investors who want high-yield corporate bond exposure that reflects ESG criteria. If liquidity and fund size matter more to you, it is worth comparing large high-yield ETFs such as USHY and HYG as well.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of July 2, 2026.
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