Municipal Market Update | September 2025
Summary
September marked one of the strongest months for municipal performance since 2023. While municipals continue to lag taxable returns, they remain attractive on an after-tax yield basis and have delivered solid QTD and YTD results.
Issuance remains elevated YTD, extending their record-setting pace. This has been a headwind for municipal performance for the year.
Major Bond Index Returns (%)
| Duration (years) | Yield | Tax Adjusted Yield (40.8% Tax Rate) | QTD Return | YTD Return | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year Municipal | 1.27 | 2.61 | 4.41 | 0.99 | 2.89 |
| Short Treasury | 1.81 | 3.65 | 1.12 | 3.99 | |
| Intermediate Treasury | 3.55 | 3.74 | 1.26 | 5.29 | |
| 5 Year Municipal | 3.64 | 2.78 | 4.69 | 2.19 | 4.51 |
| Intermediate Corporate | 4.01 | 4.47 | 7.54 | 2.04 | 6.58 |
| 1-15 Year Municipal | 4.97 | 3.20 | 5.41 | 2.59 | 3.71 |
| Taxable Agg | 5.97 | 4.37 | 2.03 | 6.13 | |
| Municipal Agg | 6.86 | 3.66 | 6.19 | 3.00 | 2.64 |
Municipal & Tax Equivalent Yields (%)
Muni yields for the quarter lowered across all maturities. We saw the biggest moves QTD in the front end of the curve. Year-to-date, municipals have experienced a curve steepening, as shown in the chart below, with yields declining in the front end and rising in the long end.
Quarter-to-Date
Year-to-Date
SBH Municipal Fixed Income Platform
Source: All data from Bloomberg as of 9/30/25.
A basis point is a standard measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. This update provides an overview of certain broad-based Fixed Income benchmarks and does not include performance of the Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC (dba CI Segall Bryant & Hamill Asset Management) Fixed Income styles. Past performance cannot guarantee future results. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. All opinions expressed in this material are solely the opinions of Segall Bryant & Hamill. You should not treat any opinion expressed as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of the manager’s opinions. The opinions expressed are based upon information the manager considers reliable, but completeness or accuracy is not warranted, and it should not be relied upon as such. Market conditions are subject to change at any time, and no forecast can be guaranteed. Any and all information perceived from this material does not constitute financial, legal, tax or other professional advice and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a qualified professional. The manager’s statements and opinions are subject to change without notice, and Segall Bryant & Hamill is not under any obligation to update or correct any information provided in this material.
The Bloomberg 1 Year (1-2) Municipal Bond Index measures the performance of municipal bonds with time to maturity of more than one year and less than two years. The Bloomberg 5 Year (4-6) Municipal Bond Index measures the performance of municipal bonds with time to maturity of more than four year and less than six years. The Bloomberg U.S. 1-15 Year Municipal Bond Index measures the performance of USD-denominated long-term, tax-exempt bond market with maturities of 1-15 years. The Bloomberg Taxable U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based fixed-income index used by bond traders. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Yield to Worst is the lowest potential bond yield received without the issuer defaulting; it assumes the worst-case scenario, or earliest redemption possible under terms of the bond. Duration is a calculation of the average life of a bond (or portfolio of bonds) that is a useful measure of the bond's price sensitivity to interest rate changes. The higher the duration number, the greater the risk and reward potential of the bond.
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