VTEB vs ZTAX
Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund ETF Shares compared with X-Square Municipal Income Tax Free ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
VTEB
Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund ETF Shares
TTM yield · Monthly
ZTAX
X-Square Municipal Income Tax Free ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- ZTAX yields more today: 8.76% vs 3.49% (forward).
- VTEB pays every month; ZTAX pays every quarter.
- Over the last year ZTAX delivered the higher total return: +5.6% vs +3.2% (price change plus payouts).
- VTEB is cheaper to own: 0.03% vs 0.92% expense ratio.
- VTEB has the steadier distribution: consistency 98/100 vs 25/100.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | VTEB | ZTAX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $48.87 | $25.03 |
| TTM yield | 3.49% | 4.69% |
| Forward yield | 3.49% | 8.76% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.704 | $2.192 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.92% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | -1.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | — |
| Consecutive years of increases | — | 0 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 98/100 | 25/100 |
| 1-year total return | +3.2% | +5.6% |
| 1-year price return | -0.3% | +0.9% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 49.1B | 5.1M |
| Years paying | 11.0 | 3.1 |
| Sector / category | Muni National Interm | Muni National Interm |
✓ 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
| VTEB | ZTAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 204.6 | 399.4 |
| Income per year | $349 | $876 |
| Income per month (avg) | $29 | $73 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model VTEB · Model ZTAX
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VTEB Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.142 | Est. |
| VTEB Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $0.142 | Est. |
| VTEB Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | $0.142 | Est. |
| ZTAX Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.548 | Est. |
| ZTAX Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | $0.548 | Est. |
| ZTAX Apr 1, 2027 | Apr 15, 2027 | $0.548 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
VTEBZTAX
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, VTEB or ZTAX?
ZTAX currently has the higher trailing yield: VTEB yields 3.49% and ZTAX yields 4.69%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do VTEB and ZTAX pay?
VTEB pays every month and ZTAX pays every quarter. VTEB's next ex-date is Oct 1, 2026 and ZTAX's is Oct 1, 2026.
Is VTEB or ZTAX better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. VTEB and ZTAX 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.