Received a Morningstar Analyst RatingTM of Gold and Silver for F-3 and F-2 share classes, respectively.*
Received a Morningstar Analyst RatingTM of Gold for F-2 and F-3 share classes.*
Analyst-driven 100%
Data coverage 100%
Received a Morningstar Medalist RatingTM of Gold for Class F-3 and F-2 shares as of 5/18/2026.
Analyst-driven 100%
Data coverage 100%
Received a Morningstar Medalist RatingTM of Gold for Class F-3 and F-2 shares as of 5/18/2026.
Analyst-driven 100%
Data coverage 100%
Received a Morningstar Medalist RatingTM of Gold for Class F-3 and F-2 shares as of 5/14/2026.
Not only did The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America beat both the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index and its peer average over 10 years, its return also surpassed the 10 largest peers in its Morningstar Category.
Annualized returns over a 10-year period
Class F-2 through June 30, 2026
Sources: Capital Group, Bloomberg Index Services Limited, Morningstar. Indices do not include sales charges. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Annualized returns over 1- and 5-year periods, respectively: For Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, 7.03%, 1.05%. For TEAFX, 6.83%, 1.24%. For 10 largest peers (Morningstar Muni National Interm category), 6.15%, 1.34%. For Ladder benchmark (Bloomberg Municipal Managed Money 1–12 Year Laddered Maturity Index), 4.47%, 0.91%. For Peers (Morningstar Muni National Interm Category), 6.16%, 1.02%. For AHMFX, 8.51%, 2.53%. For American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Custom Index, 7.39%, 1.72%. For Peers (Morningstar High Yield Muni category), 7.56%, 0.54%.
The American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund beat its Morningstar Category peer average over 10 years, and also surpassed its primary and custom benchmarks.
Annualized returns over a 10-year period
Class F-2 through June 30, 2026
Sources: Capital Group, Bloomberg Index Services Limited, Morningstar. Indices do not include sales charges. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Annualized returns over 1- and 5-year periods, respectively: For Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, 7.03%, 1.05%. For TEAFX, 6.83%, 1.24%. For 10 largest peers (Morningstar Muni National Interm category), 6.15%, 1.34%. For Ladder benchmark (Bloomberg Municipal Managed Money 1–12 Year Laddered Maturity Index), 4.47%, 0.91%. For Peers (Morningstar Muni National Interm Category), 6.16%, 1.02%. For AHMFX, 8.51%, 2.53%. For American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Custom Index, 7.39%, 1.72%. For Peers (Morningstar High Yield Muni category), 7.56%, 0.54%.
Funds of funds designed for various investor objectives, including growth, growth and income, and preservation and income.
Tax-aware models designed to focus on investor goals while reducing taxable distributions and short-term capital gains.
OUR APPROACH
The Morningstar Medalist Rating is the summary expression of Morningstar's forward-looking analysis of investment strategies as offered via specific vehicles using a rating scale of Gold, Silver, Bronze, Neutral, and Negative. The Medalist Ratings indicate which investments Morningstar believes are likely to outperform their Morningstar Category average on a risk-adjusted basis over time.Investment products are evaluated on three fundamental pillars (People, Parent, and Process) and the Medalist Rating Price Score, which forms the basis for Morningstar's conviction in those products' investment merits and determines the Medalist Rating they are assigned. Pillar ratings take the form of Low (-2), Below Average (-1), Average (0), Above Average (+1), and High (+2). Pillars may be evaluated via an analyst's qualitative assessment (either directly to a vehicle the analyst covers or indirectly when the pillar ratings of a covered vehicle are mapped to a related uncovered vehicle) or using algorithmic techniques. The cost of an investment product is evaluated using the Medalist Rating Price Score, which is a continuous score running from negative 2.5 to positive 2.5 based on the percentile rank of a vehicle's expense ratio within its Morningstar Category. Morningstar combines the pillar scores and Medalist Rating Price Score using predetermined weights for actively and passively managed vehicles to calculate a weighted score. The weighted score is then compared to a set of fixed numeric thresholds employed consistently across Morningstar Categories and regions, with separate thresholds for actively and passively managed investments. Rating thresholds are reviewed at least annually. Buffers and ratings caps are employed to prevent frequent ratings changes. When analysts directly cover a vehicle, they assign the fundamental pillar ratings based on their qualitative assessment, subject to the oversight of the Analyst Rating Committee, and monitor and reevaluate them approximately once a year. When vehicles are covered either indirectly by analysts or by algorithm, the ratings are assigned monthly. For more detailed information about the Medalist Ratings, including their methodology, please visit Morningstar's website for more information. The Morningstar Medalist Ratings are not statements of fact, nor are they credit or risk ratings. The Morningstar Medalist Rating (i) should not be used as the sole basis in evaluating an investment product, (ii) involves unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause expectations not to occur or to differ significantly from what was expected, (iii) is not guaranteed to be based on complete or accurate assumptions or models when determined algorithmically, (iv) involves the risk that return targets will not be met due to unforeseen changes in management, technology, economic development, interest rate development, operating and/or material costs, competitive pressure, supervisory law, exchange rates, tax rates, or political and social conditions, and (v) should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell the investment product. A change in the fundamental factors underlying the Morningstar Medalist Rating may result in the rating no longer being accurate. Analysts do not have any other material conflicts of interest at the time of publication. Users wishing to obtain further information should contact their local Morningstar office.
Capital Group did not compensate Morningstar for the ratings and comments contained in this material. However, the firm has paid Morningstar a licensing fee to access and publish its ratings data.
Important note: Compared to managed ladders, fully actively managed funds seek to generate returns in additional ways. The risks entailed are, therefore, potentially broader than investors might be exposed to in a ladder. The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America has often shown a somewhat higher duration (sensitivity to prevailing interest rates) than many ladders. Favorable outcomes shown have often been accompanied by relatively higher rate risk. Investors should consult with their financial advisors about the potential tax and risk consequences of different investment vehicles.
Passive funds are not striving to outpace their benchmarks; rather, they seek to replicate the benchmark’s return pattern. Investors should consult with their financial advisor about the different pricing, cost structures and tax implications of mutual funds and ETFs. ETF share prices may significantly exceed the underlying NAV at times of volatility, unlike with mutual funds. And, unlike with ETFs, mutual funds may be subject to sales charges at purchase or redemption — which can detract from returns. Also, ETFs may offer certain tax efficiencies compared to mutual funds. Ladder benchmark is the Bloomberg Municipal Managed Money 1-12 Year Laddered Maturity Index.
Footnotes/Important information:
*Peers include mutual funds and ETFs. Average of peers in category. Category shown is the Morningstar Muni National Interm category.
†A ladder involves buying several bonds with a specified range of (staggered) maturities, to offer regular income. When one bond in the ladder matures, proceeds can be used to buy a new bond at the ladder’s longest maturity.
‡Peers include mutual funds and ETFs. Average of peers in category. Category shown is the Morningstar High Yield Muni category.
The indexes are unmanaged and, therefore, have no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. There have been periods when the funds have lagged the indexes.
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Custom Index reflects results of the following indices: 50%/50% blend of the Bloomberg High Yield Municipal Bond Index and the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index through December 31, 2015. From January 1, 2016, to current, 60%/20%/20% blend of the Bloomberg High Yield Municipal Bond Index (with 5% Tobacco Cap and 2% Issuer Cap), Bloomberg Municipal Bond BBB Index and the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, respectively. Results reflect dividends net of withholding taxes.
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is a market value-weighted index designed to represent the long-term investment-grade tax-exempt bond market.
Bloomberg Municipal Managed Money 1-12 Year Laddered Maturity Index is a component of the Managed Money index — a rules-based, market-value-weighted index of AA-rated tax-exempt bonds; this component is designed to represent a ladder strategy with the specified maturity profile.
Bloomberg High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa.
Bloomberg Municipal BBB Index covers the USD-denominated long-term tax exempt BBB-rated bond market. The index has four main sectors: state and local general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, insured bonds and prerefunded bonds.
Morningstar Muni National Intermediate portfolios invest in bonds issued by various state and local governments to fund public projects. The income from these bonds is generally free from federal taxes. To lower risk, these portfolios spread their assets across many states and sectors. These portfolios have durations of 4.0 to 6.0 years (or average maturities of five to 12 years). Morningstar High-Yield Muni portfolios typically invest a substantial portion of assets in high-income municipal securities that are not rated or that are rated at the level of or below BBB (considered high-yield within the municipal-bond industry) by a major ratings agency such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s.