VanEck CEF Muni Income ETF

XMPT

Market cap $190M

VanEck CEF Muni Income ETF offers diversified exposure to municipal bonds via closed-end funds, capturing leverage and CEF discounts/premiums. XMPT currently yields nearly 6%, significantly higher than traditional muni ETFs like MUB, but a portion of distributions is return of capital, impacting tax treatment. Underlying CEF discounts have narrowed, boosting XMPT's performance, though discounts remain wider than pre-2023 levels.

XMPT offers diversified, tax-exempt municipal bond exposure through a passive fund-of-funds CEF approach, which introduces leverage and discount/premium dynamics. The underlying portfolio leverage boosted recent returns, but also meaningful discount narrowing brings us to relatively less attractive valuations, potentially limiting future upside potential. The distribution yield is quite high, but this is a function of an attempt to reduce discounts in the underlying holdings rather than payouts that are being covered entirely.

XMPT is a fund of funds ETF investing in municipal bond CEFs, resulting in two layers of management fees without clear outperformance. The fund's appeal lies in tax-free income, making it attractive for higher-rate US taxpayers seeking yield, but less so for others. XMPT's 1.98% expense ratio is high, eroding yield and offering little value versus building a diversified muni CEF portfolio directly.

Compare corporate and municipal bonds, including risks, returns, and tax benefits. Learn which bond type fits your investment goals.

XMPT is an ETF investing in muni bond CEFs. It focuses on investment-grade bonds, offering investors a tax-advantaged 5.4% SEC yield. XMPT provides higher after-tax income for investors in higher tax brackets.

VanEck CEF Municipal Income ETF offers high tax-free yields by investing in closed-end funds focused on U.S. municipal bonds, leveraging unique discount opportunities. The XMPT ETF's 30-Day SEC Yield of 4.85% surpasses many competitors, driven by leverage and discounted CEF purchases, despite a higher expense ratio of 1.98%. The fund provides diversification across various municipal sectors, potential capital appreciation, and risk management, making it appealing for high-tax-bracket investors.

VanEck CEF Municipal Income ETF offers diversification in the municipal bond space through closed-end funds.

While ETFs are traditionally passive products, active opportunities in the broader ETF market have been growing significantly over the past few years. Active ETFs of CEFs have historically had lower distribution rates than their passive counterparts.

Closed-end funds (CEFs) are relatively under the radar compared to peers like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. Closed-end funds are generally desirable for two reasons: 1) high income; and 2) premium/discount mechanism.

Municipal bond closed-end funds (CEFs) are recommended as a top trade idea for 2024, offering the potential for high total returns in a relatively safe asset class.