SMB vs. TAXT
SMB (VanEck Short Muni ETF) and TAXT (Northern Trust Tax-Exempt Bond ETF) are both Municipal Bonds funds - SMB tracks the Bloomberg AMT-Free Short Continuous while TAXT tracks the ICE Focused Municipal Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Their 0.56 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. SMB charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for TAXT.
Performance
SMB vs. TAXT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SMB achieves a 0.39% return, which is significantly higher than TAXT's 0.32% return.
SMB
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -0.43%
- 6M
- 0.34%
- YTD
- 0.39%
- 1Y
- 1.99%
- 3Y*
- 3.35%
- 5Y*
- 1.08%
- 10Y*
- 1.40%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.01%
TAXT
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- -1.57%
- 6M
- -0.46%
- YTD
- 0.32%
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- —
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $770.61K | $950.10K | $1.02M | |
| $101.60K | $96.04K | $143.38K |
SMB vs. TAXT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
SMB VanEck Short Muni ETF | 0.39% | 1.59% |
TAXT Northern Trust Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 0.32% | 3.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between SMB and TAXT is 0.56, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 19, 2025 | 0.56 |
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Return for Risk
SMB vs. TAXT — Risk / Return Rank
SMB
TAXT
Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.
SMB vs. TAXT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) and Northern Trust Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TAXT). 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 | TAXT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | — | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.11 | — | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.77 | — | — |
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Drawdowns
SMB vs. TAXT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SMB drawdown since its inception was -12.64%, which is greater than TAXT's maximum drawdown of -2.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMB and TAXT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SMB | TAXT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -12.64% | -2.49% | -10.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.17% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.80% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.47% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -12.64% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.49% | -1.72% | +1.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.13% | -0.52% | -0.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.43% | — | — |
Volatility
SMB vs. TAXT - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| SMB | TAXT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.42% | — | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.06% | — | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.64% | 2.57% | -0.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.48% | 2.57% | -0.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.25% | 2.57% | +1.68% |
SMB vs. TAXT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SMB has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than TAXT's 0.05% 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. TAXT - Dividend Comparison
SMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.77%, less than TAXT's 2.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMB VanEck Short Muni ETF | 2.53% | 2.63% | 2.38% | 1.83% | 1.32% | 1.24% | 1.50% | 1.58% | 1.49% | 1.23% | 1.12% | 1.13% |
TAXT Northern Trust Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 2.86% | 1.23% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SMB and TAXT have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, TAXT is cheaper at 0.05% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
TAXT is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for SMB.
TAXT has the higher dividend yield at 2.86%, compared with 2.53% for SMB.
SMB tracks Bloomberg AMT-Free Short Continuous, while TAXT tracks ICE Focused Municipal Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and Northern Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for SMB and 0.05% for TAXT.
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