MEAR vs. FSMB
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR) and First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF (FSMB).
MEAR and FSMB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MEAR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Mar 3, 2015. FSMB is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Nov 1, 2018.
Performance
MEAR vs. FSMB - Performance Comparison
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MEAR vs. FSMB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEAR iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF | 0.47% | 3.76% | 3.40% | 3.93% | 0.10% | 0.05% | 1.18% | 1.91% | 0.34% |
FSMB First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF | 0.37% | 4.22% | 2.35% | 3.54% | -3.75% | 1.20% | 3.53% | 3.80% | 0.61% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MEAR achieves a 0.47% return, which is significantly higher than FSMB's 0.37% return.
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%
FSMB
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -1.02%
- YTD
- 0.37%
- 6M
- 0.98%
- 1Y
- 3.64%
- 3Y*
- 3.06%
- 5Y*
- 1.45%
- 10Y*
- —
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MEAR vs. FSMB - Expense Ratio Comparison
MEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than FSMB's 0.45% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MEAR vs. FSMB — Risk / Return Rank
MEAR
FSMB
MEAR vs. FSMB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR) and First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF (FSMB). 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.
| MEAR | FSMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.71 | 1.76 | +0.94 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.63 | 2.32 | +1.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.70 | 1.42 | +0.28 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.69 | 2.13 | +1.55 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 20.82 | 9.08 | +11.74 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MEAR | FSMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.71 | 1.76 | +0.94 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 2.37 | 0.74 | +1.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.15 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.09 | 0.73 | +0.36 |
Correlation
The correlation between MEAR and FSMB is 0.22, 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
MEAR vs. FSMB - Dividend Comparison
MEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.87%, less than FSMB's 3.13% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
FSMB First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF | 3.13% | 3.09% | 2.88% | 2.40% | 1.47% | 1.20% | 1.79% | 2.27% | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
MEAR vs. FSMB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MEAR drawdown since its inception was -2.68%, smaller than the maximum FSMB drawdown of -6.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MEAR and FSMB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MEAR | FSMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -2.68% | -6.32% | +3.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.86% | -1.76% | +0.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.12% | -5.97% | +4.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -2.68% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.35% | -1.02% | +0.67% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.19% | -1.17% | +0.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.15% | 0.41% | -0.26% |
Volatility
MEAR vs. FSMB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond ETF (MEAR) is 0.36%, while First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF (FSMB) has a volatility of 0.60%. This indicates that MEAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FSMB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MEAR | FSMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.36% | 0.60% | -0.24% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.60% | 1.02% | -0.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.16% | 2.08% | -0.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.98% | 1.95% | -0.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.52% | 2.95% | -1.43% |