Vanguard to Launch 2 Active Muni ETFs

News August 16, 2024 at 02:54 PM
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Vanguard Group on Friday announced plans to launch two active municipal exchange-traded funds, Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM) and Vanguard Short Duration Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VSDM), by year-end.

Vanguard Fixed Income Group will manage the new funds.

The two funds "underscore the firm's ongoing efforts to improve long-term investor outcomes by offering broadly diversified, low-cost municipal bond exposures with the potential to outperform the market over time," said Dan Reyes, who heads Vanguard's portfolio review department.

"The new ETFs combine Vanguard Fixed Income Group's proven capabilities and talent with the convenience and flexibility of the ETF structure," he said.

Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF and Vanguard Short Duration Tax-Exempt Bond ETF will offer diversified exposure to municipal bonds across sectors, states and credit quality with the potential to outperform their benchmarks over the long term, Vanguard said.

Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF will provide all-curve exposure mostly to high-quality, investment-grade municipal bonds that offer tax-exempt income.

Vanguard Short Duration Tax-Exempt Bond ETF offers exposure to a portfolio of short-duration, primarily high-quality, investment-grade municipal bonds that generate tax-exempt income with lower interest-rate sensitivity.

Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF will have an estimated expense ratio of 0.12% compared with the average expense ratio for competing funds of 0.37% as of June 30.

Vanguard Short Duration Tax-Exempt Bond ETF will also have an estimated expense ratio of 0.12% compared with the average expense ratio for competing funds of 0.24% as of June 30.

The two ETFs reflect new strategies with prospectus benchmarks and investment universes that differ from Vanguard's existing mutual fund lineup, while exhibiting characteristics, exposures and philosophy similar to its active municipal mutual funds approach, the fund giant said.

The new ETFs provide an active counterpart to Vanguard's existing suite of passive municipal ETFs and build on its growing active fixed income ETFs.

Credit: Bloomberg

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