MEAR vs VTES
iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF compared with Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF Shares on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
MEAR
iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
VTES
Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF Shares
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- MEAR yields more today: 2.82% vs 2.72% (forward).
- Both pay every month.
- Over the last year MEAR delivered the higher total return: +2.0% vs +1.4% (price change plus payouts).
- VTES is cheaper to own: 0.05% vs 0.26% expense ratio.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | MEAR | VTES |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $50.08 | $100.35 |
| TTM yield | 2.82% | 2.72% |
| Forward yield | 2.82% | 2.72% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.414 | $2.732 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.26% | 0.05% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | — |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | — |
| Consecutive years of increases | — | — |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 95/100 | 97/100 |
| 1-year total return | +2.0% | +1.4% |
| 1-year price return | -0.8% | -1.3% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 1.4B | 2.4B |
| Years paying | 11.4 | 3.4 |
| Sector / category | Muni National Short | Muni National Short |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| MEAR | VTES | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 199.7 | 99.7 |
| Income per year | $282 | $272 |
| Income per month (avg) | $24 | $23 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model MEAR · Model VTES
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEAR Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.1178 | Est. |
| MEAR Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $0.1178 | Est. |
| MEAR Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | $0.1178 | Est. |
| VTES Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.2277 | Est. |
| VTES Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $0.2277 | Est. |
| VTES Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | $0.2277 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
MEARVTES
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, MEAR or VTES?
MEAR currently has the higher trailing yield: MEAR yields 2.82% and VTES yields 2.72%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do MEAR and VTES pay?
MEAR pays every month and VTES pays every month. MEAR's next ex-date is Oct 1, 2026 and VTES's is Oct 1, 2026.
Is MEAR or VTES better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. MEAR and VTES differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.