SMB vs. BSMQ
SMB (VanEck Short Muni ETF) and BSMQ (Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF) are both Municipal Bonds funds - SMB tracks the Bloomberg AMT-Free Short Continuous while BSMQ tracks the Invesco BulletShares Municipal Bond 2026 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SMB returned 1.24%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for BSMQ. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SMB charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for BSMQ.
Performance
SMB vs. BSMQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SMB achieves a 0.76% return, which is significantly lower than BSMQ's 1.09% return.
SMB
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.79%
- YTD
- 0.76%
- 6M
- 0.76%
- 1Y
- 3.53%
- 3Y*
- 3.47%
- 5Y*
- 1.24%
- 10Y*
- 1.48%
BSMQ
- 1D
- 0.13%
- 1M
- 0.36%
- YTD
- 1.09%
- 6M
- 1.21%
- 1Y
- 3.07%
- 3Y*
- 2.82%
- 5Y*
- 0.38%
- 10Y*
- —
SMB vs. BSMQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMB VanEck Short Muni ETF | 0.76% | 4.61% | 2.41% | 3.14% | -4.50% | 0.12% | 3.30% | 1.16% |
BSMQ Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF | 1.09% | 3.12% | 1.99% | 3.60% | -7.62% | 1.05% | 5.26% | 0.28% |
Correlation
The correlation between SMB and BSMQ is 0.13, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019 | 0.41 |
Over the past year, the correlation between SMB and BSMQ has dropped to 0.13 - well below their long-term average of 0.41, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
SMB vs. BSMQ — Risk / Return Rank
SMB
BSMQ
SMB vs. BSMQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) and Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF (BSMQ). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SMB | BSMQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.43 | 1.49 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.03 | 9.40 | -6.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.52 | 24.86 | -16.34 |
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Drawdowns
SMB vs. BSMQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SMB drawdown since its inception was -12.64%, roughly equal to the maximum BSMQ drawdown of -13.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMB and BSMQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SMB | BSMQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -12.64% | -13.18% | +0.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.17% | -0.33% | -0.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.80% | -2.53% | +0.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.48% | -11.50% | +4.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -12.64% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.05% | 0.00% | -0.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.14% | -3.45% | +2.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.12% | +0.30% |
Volatility
SMB vs. BSMQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) is 0.29%, while Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF (BSMQ) has a volatility of 0.39%. This indicates that SMB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BSMQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SMB | BSMQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.29% | 0.39% | -0.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.16% | 0.94% | +0.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.63% | 1.32% | +0.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.48% | 2.67% | -0.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.26% | 4.77% | -0.51% |
SMB vs. BSMQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
SMB has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than BSMQ's 0.18% 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%.
Dividends
SMB vs. BSMQ - Dividend Comparison
SMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.69%, less than BSMQ's 2.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSMQ Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF | 2.75% | 2.74% | 2.75% | 2.47% | 1.60% | 1.14% | 1.57% | 0.44% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SMB VanEck Short Muni ETF | 2.69% | 2.63% | 2.38% | 1.83% | 1.32% | 1.24% | 1.50% | 1.58% | 1.49% | 1.23% | 1.12% | 1.13% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SMB and BSMQ have a correlation of 0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BSMQ has higher volatility (0.39%) compared to SMB (0.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SMB dropped -12.64% vs BSMQ's -13.18%.
On 5-year performance, SMB leads with 1.24% vs 0.38% for BSMQ. On fees, BSMQ is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, SMB has been the lower-risk option at 0.29%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SMB has performed better with a 1.24% return vs 0.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BSMQ is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for SMB.
BSMQ has the higher dividend yield at 2.75%, compared with 2.69% for SMB.
SMB tracks Bloomberg AMT-Free Short Continuous, while BSMQ tracks Invesco BulletShares Municipal Bond 2026 Index. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for SMB and 0.18% for BSMQ.
BSMQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.34 vs 2.18), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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