The iShares National Muni Bond ETF is a popular choice for investors looking to diversify their portfolios with tax-exempt income. It tracks the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index.
This ETF is designed to provide broad exposure to the national muni bond market, with a portfolio that includes over 1,000 individual bonds from a wide range of issuers. The fund's investment objective is to track the performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index.
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.07%, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors.
Fees and Expenses
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a management fee of 0.05% of its assets under management (AUM). This is a relatively low fee compared to other ETFs in its category.
The ETF also has an expense ratio of 0.05%, which is the total cost of owning the fund, including management fees and other expenses. This expense ratio is also 0.05% of the AUM.
Other expenses, such as acquired fund fees and expenses, are negligible, at 0.00% of AUM. This is a positive factor for investors, as it means they won't have to pay extra fees on top of the management fee.
Here's a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the iShares National Muni Bond ETF:
Overall, the fees and expenses associated with the iShares National Muni Bond ETF are relatively low, making it a cost-effective option for investors looking to invest in municipal bonds.
Investment Details
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF is a passively managed fund launched in 2007.
The fund seeks to track the ICE AMT-Free US National Muni TR USD index, which includes municipal bonds exempt from Federal income taxes and alternative minimum tax.
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and at least 90% in fixed income securities that can help it track the index.
The management team has an average tenure of 8.43 years, with James Mauro and Karen Uyehara being the team members since 2011 and 2021 respectively.
The fund has 5942 securities in its portfolio, with the top 10 holdings constituting just 2.1% of its assets.
The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund, and it has a bond allocation of 100.1% of its total assets, with 100.1% being domestic bond and 0.0% foreign bond.
The fund has 0.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues, and 0.0% allocated to domestic stock, foreign stock, or preferred stocks.
The fund has -0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Performance and Rankings
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF has had a mixed performance over the years. In terms of return ranking, the ETF's 1-year return of 1.6% ranks 69.71% in its category.
The ETF's 10-year return of 1.9% is actually a decent performance, ranking 33.00% in its category. However, its 3-year return of -0.2% is concerning, ranking 30.81% in its category.
Here are some specific return rankings for the ETF over different periods:
It's worth noting that the ETF's portfolio turnover rate is 27%, which is lower than the average for its category. This could be a positive factor for investors looking for a more stable investment.
Dividend Yield Analysis
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF offers a competitive dividend yield. At 3.1%, it's a decent return for investors looking for regular income.
The dividend yield is calculated based on the fund's annual dividend payments divided by its current price. In the case of MUB, the dividend yield is 3.07%, which is slightly lower than the category average.
The dividend yield analysis shows that MUB's 3.07% dividend yield ranks 53.62% in its category, indicating that it's above average but not the highest.
Here's a comparison of MUB's dividend yield with its category peers:
MUB's dividend yield is attractive, especially considering its frequency of monthly distributions. This can provide investors with a regular stream of income.
Grades
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a mixed track record when it comes to returns. Over the past year, the ETF has returned 4.5%, which is actually better than the category average. However, its 2.3% return year-to-date is 0.9 percentage points worse than the category average, earning it a grade of F.
The ETF has also underperformed in the past five years, with a 1.3% return per year, which translates to a grade of D. On the other hand, its 2.2% return per year over the past 10 years is a respectable C grade. Here's a breakdown of the ETF's grades over different time periods:
Despite its mixed performance, the ETF has a relatively low expense ratio of 0.05%, which is lower than the category average of 0.30%.
MUB Overview and Performance
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF (MUB) is a passively managed municipal bond ETF that tracks the ICE AMT-Free US National Municipal Index. It was launched in 2007.
The fund seeks to track the investment results of the underlying index, which includes municipal bonds that are exempt from Federal income taxes and not subject to alternative minimum tax. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index.
Here are some key statistics about MUB's performance:
MUB's portfolio turnover rate is 27%, which is lower than the average portfolio turnover rate of 35% for the Muni National Interm category. This suggests that the fund holds its assets for a relatively long period of time, which can be beneficial for long-term investors.
MUB Performance and Fees
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 27%, which is relatively low compared to the average portfolio turnover rate of 35% for the Muni National Interm category.
This low turnover rate can help minimize expenses and potentially lead to better after-tax returns. The fund has a grade of B, based on its performance in the month of November 2024, with a return of 1.5% compared to the category average of 1.4%.
Here's a breakdown of the fund's performance and fees:
The fund's low turnover rate and relatively good performance make it an attractive option for investors looking for a stable and tax-efficient investment.
Muni Bond Overview
The iShares National Muni Bond ETF (MUB) is a passively managed fund that tracks the ICE AMT-Free US National Muni TR USD index. This index includes municipal bonds with interest exempt from Federal income taxes and alternative minimum tax.
Launched in 2007, the ETF seeks to invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index. The fund invests at least 90% of its assets in fixed income securities that BFA believes will help the fund track the underlying index.
Municipal bonds make up a significant portion of the MUB portfolio, accounting for 97.90% of the weighting. This is followed by cash & equivalents at 3.64%, and the remaining sectors have a weighting of less than 1%.
Here is a breakdown of the sectors in the MUB portfolio:
The ETF has a management team with an average tenure of 8.43 years, with two members: James Mauro and Karen Uyehara.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best municipal bond ETF?
The best municipal bond ETFs include VanEck Short High Yield Muni ETF (SHYD), VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (HYD), and SPDR Nuveen Blmbg Hi Yld Muncpl Bd ETF (HYMB), each offering unique investment strategies and benefits. Consider your investment goals and risk tolerance to choose the most suitable option.
How often does MUB pay a dividend?
MUB pays a dividend monthly. The exact payment schedule is based on the ex-dividend date, which is typically set in advance.
Is mub etf tax-free?
Yes, muni ETFs offer tax-free income at the federal, state, and municipal levels. This tax-exempt benefit can help investors maximize their returns.
What is the downside of tax-free municipal bonds?
While municipal bonds offer tax-free interest, they may still be subject to state or local taxes, and could even increase your Social Security tax liability. This means you may not be completely tax-free after all.
Sources
- https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/239766/ishares-national-amtfree-muni-bond-etf
- https://www.dividend.com/etfs/mub-ishares-national-muni-bond-etf/
- https://www.aaii.com/etf/ticker/MUB
- https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/ishares-short-term-national-muni-bond-etf-us4642881589
- https://finviz.com/quote.ashx
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