Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund

VTEB

Market cap $41.5B

As 2025 winds down, a rocky beginning for municipal bonds is giving way to a smoother ride to the finish. In the latest iteration of its Active Fixed Income Perspectives, Vanguard noted a strong showing by municipal bonds in Q3.

The Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund ETF offers federal tax-exempt income by passively tracking the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. VTEB provides a 3.2%-3.3% tax-exempt yield, high credit quality (79% AAA/AA), and an ultra-low 0.03% expense ratio, making it cost-effective. VTEB's broad diversification, stable municipal bond holdings, and strong index tracking make it ideal for medium- to long-term investors seeking after-tax yield.

I rate both MUB and VTEB as buys, expecting capital appreciation from anticipated rate cuts to 3.25–3.5% by Q1 2026. VTEB's longer maturity profile positions it for higher performance as rates decline, making it my preferred pick for this rate-cut thesis. Both ETFs offer high credit quality, strong liquidity, and diversification, but recent returns have been weak due to delayed rate cuts.

Muni and corporate bonds trading activity has been reaching record levels through the first half of 2025 at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). This certainly speaks to the attractiveness of both, which offer yield and strong fundamentals in the current market landscape.

Lauded for their yield, credit quality, and of course, their federal tax-free income, municipal bond benefits are also extending into the containment of tariff contagion. A pair of funds that income investors should consider are the Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) and the Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM).

The tax exempt status of municipal bonds could be in jeopardy as Congress mulls over whether to tax the income from these debt issues. In the meantime, Vanguard has eight ETFs to contemplate when looking to attain muni exposure.

Advisors and investors showed strong interest in actively managed ETFs and municipal bond products in June according to VettaFi sentiment. While industrywide flows strong support the former, we think the latter is similarly compelling.

Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF offers diversified, tax-exempt income with a focus on high-quality, long-duration municipal bonds, appealing to high-net-worth investors seeking stability. The fund's low expense ratio and large asset base provide liquidity and cost efficiency, but total returns and distributions lag peer ETFs. Geographical concentration in New York, California, and Texas introduces some credit and weather-related risks, though overall credit quality remains high.

Even with the world on edge, with rising geopolitical tensions, uncertain interest rate moves and tech stocks showing some mood swings, ETF investors aren't running scared. They're doing something smarter: diversifying their bets.

VOO, SPY, IWM, BND and VTEB led ETF inflows last week as investors poured $22.7B into diverse fund categories.