MLN: Long Tenor Bonds And Interest Rate Risk

VanEck Long Muni ETF offers tax-free income by investing in long-term, investment-grade municipal bonds, appealing to higher-rate taxpayers. MLN minimizes credit risk but exposes investors to significant interest rate risk due to its long bond maturities, impacting returns during rate hikes. The fund's conservative credit approach may miss opportunities, as default rates in the muni market are very low and unrated bonds can offer higher yields without much added risk.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 26, 2025

Unleveraged Options In The Tax-Exempt Sector

Fund-level leverage is only attractive when carry or capital gains potential is high; current tight spreads and an inverted yield curve make it less appealing. For tax-exempt CEFs, higher yields often come from longer duration, not leverage; unleveraged long-duration funds or ETFs can offer similar or better yields. Investors should not assume more leverage is always better; careful, situation-specific exposure to fund-level leverage is key to balancing risk and return.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 25, 2025

Corporate vs. Municipal Bonds: Key Differences Every Investor Should Know

Compare corporate and municipal bonds, including risks, returns, and tax benefits. Learn which bond type fits your investment goals.

ETF Trends • Apr 20, 2025

Municipal Bond Funds: Time To Shine Or Curtain Call?

Municipal bonds are back to offer compelling risk-adjusted opportunities, but future decisions from Washington can either act as a tailwind or headwind. Municipal bond funds saw net inflows during 2024, first annual inflow since 2021—which was a record year. 2024 was a record year in municipal bond issuance. With attractive yields, the market may start to pay more attention to tax-equivalent yield advantages offered through municipal debt.

Seeking Alpha • Mar 13, 2025

The Case For Long-Term Munis: Positioning For Rate Cuts

The Federal Funds rate has held steady at 5.33% for over a year, but the Federal Reserve is now signaling that this period may be coming to an end. Long-term municipal bonds are emerging as a strong alternative to Treasuries. Municipal bonds are exempt from federal taxes and, in some cases, exempt from state and local taxes. The supply of municipal bonds has gotten off to a big start this year. Even with the possibility of lower rates in the future, issuers have issued more new debt than ever in the last decade.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 15, 2024

Time to Chill on Tbills?

By Patrick Schramm, ETF Strategist Discover why savvy investors are starting to cool on Tbills and where they're turning next for greater returns in a market poised for change. 2023 was quite a year for advisors.

ETF Trends • Jan 6, 2024

Income Investing Playbook 2024: Navigating the New Interest Rate Regime

Yields have reset higher across fixed income markets, leaving bonds well positioned in a range of different economic and interest rate scenarios in 2024. Introduction to Income Investing Income investing is a strategy that aims to generate a steady stream of income from investments, typically through interest payments or dividends.

ETF Trends • Dec 16, 2023

U.S. Weekly FundFlows Insight Report: Taxable Bond ETFs And Conventional Funds Attract Net Inflows For The Fund Flows Week

Investors were net sellers of fund assets (including those of conventional funds and ETFs) for the third week in four, withdrawing a net $18.0 billion for the LSEG Lipper fund-flows week ended Wednesday, July 12. Equity ETFs witnessed net inflows for the third week in a row, attracting a little more than $5.1 billion for the most recent fund-flows week. Conventional fund (ex-ETF) investors were net sellers of equity funds for the seventy-fifth week in a row - redeeming $4.1 billion.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 14, 2023

Why Income Investors Should Revisit Municipal Bond ETFs

Investors should consider the opportunities in the municipal bond market and turn to related exchange traded fund strategies to diversify back into this fixed income category.

ETF Trends • Jan 12, 2023

Muni Carnage Could Create Opportunity

Municipal bonds and the related exchange traded funds are languishing as interest rates rise, but a silver lining could materialize. While the first four months of 2022 have been rough on munis, some market observers believe that rare opportunity could avail itself in this corner of the bond market.

ETF Trends • May 2, 2022