VanEck High Yield Muni ETF

HYD

Market cap $4.3B

The 10-year Treasury yields 4.43%, which sounds competitive until a high earner runs it through the tax screen.

When advisors and investors hear the terms “high yield” or “junk” as it relates to bonds, they understandably have some apprehension. After all, junk bonds carry elevated credit risk relative to their investment-grade peers.

HYD is a muni bond ETF, investing in both high-yield and investment-grade muni bonds. It has a tax-advantaged 4.4% yield, which should provide above-average income to some investors in higher tax brackets. It seems broadly inferior to FLMI, another muni bond ETF, with higher-quality holdings and stronger performance.

As we navigate the first quarter of 2026, advisor interest is increasingly shifting toward traditional hedges and quality-oriented products. VanEck, a pioneer in thematic and hard-asset investing, has seen its lineup take center stage as market participants grapple with a shifting macro environment.

VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (HYD) is recommended for investors seeking tax-advantaged income, especially those in higher tax brackets. HYD captures excess yield by allocating to unrated and low-rated municipal bonds, exploiting perceived mispricing of credit risk in the muni market. The fund's strategy partially implements a favored approach—overweighting unrated bonds—yet does not pursue it as aggressively as some peers.

State Street® SPDR® Nuveen ICE High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB) is rated a buy, while VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (HYD) is rated hold. HYMB offers higher yields and better risk-adjusted returns despite a slightly higher expense ratio and increased volatility compared to HYD. Current stabilizing interest rates and resilient municipal fundamentals create a favorable outlook for high-yield municipal bonds.

Many Boomers in 2025 need dependable passive income, and one outstanding way to achieve this is to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

HYD offers exposure to high-yield, long-term, tax-exempt U.S. municipal bonds, appealing to income-focused investors seeking tax advantages. The fund aims to track the overall performance of the high-yield muni bond market, providing diversified access to this asset class. Current market pricing and yield levels present a contrarian entry point for investors comfortable with elevated credit risk.

VanEck High Yield Muni ETF offers attractive, tax-free income, strong yield, liquidity, and broad diversification, making it compelling for taxable portfolios. HYD's current 4.67% SEC yield translates to a much higher tax-equivalent yield, especially for high earners, with lower default risk than high-yield corporates. Potential Fed rate cuts could boost HYD's price, offering both income and capital gains; the current price is below historical highs, adding upside potential.

Though the S&P 500 has recently returned to positive territory in terms of year-to-date (YTD) performance, turbulence throughout 2025 so far may have pushed skittish investors away from stocks and toward bonds.