Better iShares Bond ETF: IEI vs. MUB

2 hours ago 1

The iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEMKT:MUB) and iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:IEI) disagree successful cost, yield, and enslaved exposure, with MUB focusing connected municipal bonds and IEI connected intermediate-term Treasuries, each offering chiseled risk-return profiles for fixed income investors.

MUB and IEI some travel from iShares and supply vulnerability to high-quality U.S. bonds, but determination are cardinal differences. MUB invests successful a wide premix of municipal bonds, making it appealing to those seeking imaginable taxation advantages, portion IEI tracks U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities of 3 to 7 years.

This examination breaks down cost, yield, performance, and portfolio creation to assistance item which money whitethorn acceptable antithetic portfolio needs.

Metric

MUB

IEI

Issuer

IShares

IShares

Expense ratio

0.05%

0.15%

1-yr instrumentality (as of 2026-04-09)

6.9%

4.3%

Dividend yield

3.2%

3.6%

Beta

0.9

0.7

AUM

$42.6 billion

$18.7 billion

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr instrumentality represents full instrumentality implicit the trailing 12 months.

IEI comes with a higher disbursal ratio, making MUB the much affordable prime connected fees, but IEI offers a somewhat higher dividend yield, which could entreaty to investors prioritizing income.

Metric

MUB

IEI

Max drawdown (5 y)

-11.89%

-13.88%

Growth of $1,000 implicit 5 years

$1,048

$1,025

IEI tracks U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities betwixt 3 and 7 years and holds 83 securities, making it a concentrated play connected intermediate-term authorities debt. Its largest positions, specified arsenic Treasury Note 05/15/2029, Treasury Note 11/30/2030, and Treasury Note 02/28/2030, are each U.S. authorities issues, reflecting a portfolio focused connected information and involvement complaint risk. The money has been astir for implicit 19 years, providing a agelong way grounds for investors to evaluate.

MUB, connected the different hand, provides vulnerability to a wide premix of investment-grade municipal bonds, with apical holdings similar the authorities of California, metropolis of New York, and the New Jersey Transportation spot fund. Both MUB and IEI are fixed income funds with nary equity assemblage breakdown, focusing solely connected fixed income quality.

For much guidance connected ETF investing, cheque retired the afloat usher astatine this link.

In comparing the iShares National Muni Bond ETF (MUB) and iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI), the prime betwixt them depends connected idiosyncratic fiscal goals, since each serves antithetic capitalist needs.

MUB combines a little disbursal ratio with involvement payments mostly exempt from national and immoderate authorities taxes to supply an charismatic root of income. The tax-exempt constituent is simply a peculiar vantage for high-income investors. It besides sports a overmuch higher AUM of $42.6 billion, and wide diversification successful municipal bonds to trim risk. But it is much volatile than IEI arsenic indicated by its higher beta.

Read Entire Article