VCRM vs. SCMB
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM) and Schwab Municipal Bond ETF (SCMB).
VCRM and SCMB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VCRM is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P Broad AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. It was launched on Nov 21, 2024. SCMB is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the ICE AMT-Free Core U.S. National Municipal Index - Benchmark TR Gross. It was launched on Oct 11, 2022. Both VCRM and SCMB are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
VCRM vs. SCMB - Performance Comparison
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VCRM vs. SCMB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
VCRM Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 0.34% | 4.91% | -0.58% |
SCMB Schwab Municipal Bond ETF | -0.33% | 3.78% | -0.30% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCRM achieves a 0.34% return, which is significantly higher than SCMB's -0.33% return.
VCRM
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- -1.55%
- YTD
- 0.34%
- 6M
- 1.86%
- 1Y
- 4.77%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
SCMB
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- -0.33%
- 6M
- 1.25%
- 1Y
- 3.75%
- 3Y*
- 2.51%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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VCRM vs. SCMB - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCRM has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than SCMB's 0.03% 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
VCRM vs. SCMB — Risk / Return Rank
VCRM
SCMB
VCRM vs. SCMB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM) and Schwab Municipal Bond ETF (SCMB). 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.
| VCRM | SCMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.20 | 0.91 | +0.29 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.53 | 1.18 | +0.35 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.21 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.63 | 1.08 | +0.55 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.63 | 3.02 | +1.61 |
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
| VCRM | SCMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.20 | 0.91 | +0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.91 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCRM and SCMB is 0.74, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VCRM vs. SCMB - Dividend Comparison
VCRM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.59%, more than SCMB's 3.45% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCRM Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 3.59% | 3.42% | 0.40% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SCMB Schwab Municipal Bond ETF | 3.45% | 3.36% | 3.34% | 3.10% | 0.59% |
Drawdowns
VCRM vs. SCMB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCRM drawdown since its inception was -4.12%, smaller than the maximum SCMB drawdown of -6.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCRM and SCMB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCRM | SCMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -4.12% | -6.13% | +2.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.22% | -3.79% | +0.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.83% | -2.24% | +0.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.15% | -1.32% | +0.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.13% | 1.35% | -0.22% |
Volatility
VCRM vs. SCMB - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM) has a higher volatility of 1.49% compared to Schwab Municipal Bond ETF (SCMB) at 1.39%. This indicates that VCRM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SCMB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCRM | SCMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.49% | 1.39% | +0.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.07% | 2.03% | +0.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.02% | 4.15% | -0.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.00% | 4.21% | -0.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.00% | 4.21% | -0.21% |