FMB vs. MEAR
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB) and iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR).
FMB and MEAR are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FMB is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on May 13, 2014. MEAR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Mar 3, 2015.
Performance
FMB vs. MEAR - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
FMB vs. MEAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FMB First Trust Managed Municipal ETF | -0.03% | 3.73% | 1.94% | 6.31% | -9.91% | 2.43% | 4.44% | 8.25% | 0.89% | 7.22% |
MEAR iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF | 0.47% | 3.76% | 3.40% | 3.93% | 0.10% | 0.05% | 1.18% | 1.91% | 1.63% | 1.12% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FMB achieves a -0.03% return, which is significantly lower than MEAR's 0.47% return. Over the past 10 years, FMB has outperformed MEAR with an annualized return of 2.30%, while MEAR has yielded a comparatively lower 1.74% annualized return.
FMB
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -2.26%
- YTD
- -0.03%
- 6M
- 1.70%
- 1Y
- 4.05%
- 3Y*
- 3.14%
- 5Y*
- 0.70%
- 10Y*
- 2.30%
MEAR
- 1D
- 0.12%
- 1M
- -0.31%
- YTD
- 0.47%
- 6M
- 1.07%
- 1Y
- 3.12%
- 3Y*
- 3.50%
- 5Y*
- 2.30%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
FMB vs. MEAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
FMB has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than MEAR's 0.25% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FMB vs. MEAR — Risk / Return Rank
FMB
MEAR
FMB vs. MEAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB) and iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| FMB | MEAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.05 | 2.71 | -1.66 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.33 | 3.63 | -2.30 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.70 | -0.46 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.17 | 3.69 | -2.51 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.23 | 20.82 | -17.59 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FMB | MEAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 2.71 | -1.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 | 2.37 | -2.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 1.15 | -0.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 1.09 | -0.45 |
Correlation
The correlation between FMB and MEAR is 0.19, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
FMB vs. MEAR - Dividend Comparison
FMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.48%, more than MEAR's 2.87% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FMB First Trust Managed Municipal ETF | 3.48% | 3.37% | 3.22% | 2.98% | 2.47% | 1.96% | 2.19% | 2.47% | 2.58% | 2.49% | 2.93% | 3.07% |
MEAR iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF | 2.87% | 2.95% | 3.44% | 3.30% | 0.88% | 0.30% | 0.90% | 1.57% | 1.36% | 1.01% | 0.81% | 0.53% |
Drawdowns
FMB vs. MEAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FMB drawdown since its inception was -14.16%, which is greater than MEAR's maximum drawdown of -2.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FMB and MEAR.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| FMB | MEAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.16% | -2.68% | -11.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.55% | -0.86% | -2.69% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.16% | -1.12% | -13.04% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.16% | -2.68% | -11.48% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.26% | -0.35% | -1.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.63% | -0.19% | -2.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.29% | 0.15% | +1.14% |
Volatility
FMB vs. MEAR - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB) has a higher volatility of 1.31% compared to iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR) at 0.36%. This indicates that FMB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MEAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| FMB | MEAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.31% | 0.36% | +0.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.79% | 0.60% | +1.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.87% | 1.16% | +2.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.69% | 0.98% | +2.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.55% | 1.52% | +3.03% |