NEAR vs. VMATX
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund (VMATX).
NEAR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Sep 25, 2013. VMATX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 9, 1998.
Performance
NEAR vs. VMATX - Performance Comparison
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NEAR vs. VMATX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 0.16% | 5.90% | 5.09% | 7.42% | 0.41% | 0.32% | 1.39% | 3.55% | 1.71% | 1.41% |
VMATX Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund | -0.89% | 4.96% | 2.53% | 7.19% | -10.79% | 1.65% | 6.47% | 8.93% | 0.47% | 6.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NEAR achieves a 0.16% return, which is significantly higher than VMATX's -0.89% return. Over the past 10 years, NEAR has outperformed VMATX with an annualized return of 2.83%, while VMATX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.32% annualized return.
NEAR
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -0.66%
- YTD
- 0.16%
- 6M
- 1.39%
- 1Y
- 4.52%
- 3Y*
- 5.75%
- 5Y*
- 3.77%
- 10Y*
- 2.83%
VMATX
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -3.10%
- YTD
- -0.89%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 4.36%
- 3Y*
- 3.54%
- 5Y*
- 0.92%
- 10Y*
- 2.32%
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NEAR vs. VMATX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VMATX's 0.13% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
NEAR vs. VMATX — Risk / Return Rank
NEAR
VMATX
NEAR vs. VMATX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund (VMATX). 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.
| NEAR | VMATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.41 | 0.95 | +1.46 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.59 | 1.30 | +2.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.56 | 1.26 | +0.30 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.92 | 1.07 | +2.85 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.25 | 3.54 | +11.71 |
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
| NEAR | VMATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.41 | 0.95 | +1.46 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 2.88 | 0.20 | +2.68 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.14 | 0.50 | +0.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.08 | 0.98 | +0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between NEAR and VMATX is 0.24, 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
NEAR vs. VMATX - Dividend Comparison
NEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.51%, more than VMATX's 3.65% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.51% | 4.54% | 5.00% | 4.59% | 1.78% | 0.76% | 1.53% | 2.69% | 2.25% | 1.52% | 1.07% | 0.85% |
VMATX Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund | 3.65% | 4.46% | 3.98% | 3.06% | 2.69% | 2.26% | 3.22% | 3.63% | 3.07% | 2.91% | 3.55% | 3.22% |
Drawdowns
NEAR vs. VMATX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NEAR drawdown since its inception was -9.61%, smaller than the maximum VMATX drawdown of -15.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NEAR and VMATX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NEAR | VMATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.61% | -15.91% | +6.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.16% | -5.36% | +4.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.32% | -15.91% | +14.59% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.61% | -15.91% | +6.30% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -3.10% | +2.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.16% | -2.10% | +1.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.30% | 1.62% | -1.32% |
Volatility
NEAR vs. VMATX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) is 0.62%, while Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund (VMATX) has a volatility of 1.29%. This indicates that NEAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VMATX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NEAR | VMATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.62% | 1.29% | -0.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.93% | 2.00% | -1.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.88% | 5.65% | -3.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.32% | 4.62% | -3.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.49% | 4.62% | -2.13% |