VTEC ETF — Vanguard California Tax-Exempt Bond ETF

Vanguard California Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEC)

VTEC is a low-cost ETF. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 3.12%, its trailing-12-month yield is 3.21%, its expense ratio is 0.06%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 98/100 (Safe). Fund total return is 5.6% over the past 2.5 years, 55.5 points behind SPY at 61.1%.

At the current 3.12% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $312 per year, or $26.00 per month on an equivalent basis.

Vanguard California Tax-Exempt Bond ETF is an ETF that tracks the investment-grade California municipal bond market through an index strategy, with at least 80% of its assets invested in index securities selected via sampling. The fund offers a modest current distribution rate paid monthly and carries a very low expense ratio of 0.06%. It appeals to investors in higher tax brackets seeking tax-exempt income from California municipal bonds.

VTEC performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 5.6% over the past 2.5 years, 55.5 points behind SPY at 61.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 2.9%.

VTEC key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

98 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.06%

Issuer

Vanguard

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

01/26/2024

Expense ratio

0.06%

Distribution rate

3.12%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

3.21%

Last close

$98.60

AUM

$3,206,628,000

Average volume

559020.0

Last dividend

$0.2564

Ex-dividend date

08/03/2026

Beta

0.0

P/E ratio

872.5664

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (3.12%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (3.21%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: Vanguard fund page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

VTEC risks and drawbacks

VTEC's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 2.9%.

Who may consider VTEC — and who may not

VTEC may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

More funds from Vanguard.