VTEL ETF — Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF Shares

Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF Shares (VTEL)

VTEL is a low-cost ETF. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 3.65%, its trailing-12-month yield is 3.83%, its expense ratio is 0.09%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 95/100 (Safe). Fund total return is 6.9% over the past 1.2 years, 26.6 points behind SPY at 33.5%.

At the current 3.65% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $365 per year, or $30.42 per month on an equivalent basis.

Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF Shares is an ETF that tracks the investment-grade segment of the U.S. municipal bond market, focusing on securities with remaining maturities greater than ten years, with at least 80% of assets invested in index holdings. The fund carries a modest current distribution rate and pays distributions monthly, with a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund appeals to income-focused investors seeking tax-exempt municipal bond exposure with longer-term maturities.

VTEL performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 6.9% over the past 1.2 years, 26.6 points behind SPY at 33.5%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 3.2%.

VTEL key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

95 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.47%

Issuer

Vanguard

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

05/20/2025

Expense ratio

0.09%

Distribution rate

3.65%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

3.83%

Last close

$101.63

AUM

$339,050,250

Average volume

33124.0

Last dividend

$0.3090

Ex-dividend date

08/03/2026

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (3.65%) 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 (3.83%) 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.

VTEL risks and drawbacks

VTEL'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 3.2%.

Who may consider VTEL — and who may not

VTEL 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.