iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
P/E 51.17 means the share price is 51.17 times one year of earnings per share. Beta 0.06: the stock has moved about 94% less than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 15, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnsweriShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) trades at $49.79. The iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) focuses on maximizing tax-free current income. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 15, 2026Analyst Coverage for CALI: CALI does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) Financial Services Profile
iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) provides targeted exposure to California's short-term municipal bond market, seeking tax-free income. With a low beta and focus on high-quality municipal debt, CALI offers a conservative investment option within the broader asset management landscape, appealing to investors prioritizing capital preservation and tax efficiency.
What Is the Investment Thesis for CALI?
However, the ETF's profit margin of 0.9% and gross margin of 0.6% suggest limited profitability, which could constrain future growth. The high P/E ratio of 51.17 indicates that the ETF may be overvalued relative to its earnings. Ongoing: The demand for tax-exempt income, especially in high-tax states like California, will continue to drive investment in municipal bond funds like CALI. Upcoming: Potential changes in tax laws could impact the attractiveness of municipal bonds, either positively or negatively.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
CALI Key Highlights
Market Cap of $0.21B indicates a moderate size within the ETF market.
- P/E Ratio of 51.17 suggests a relatively high valuation compared to earnings.
- Profit Margin of 0.9% reflects limited profitability.
- Dividend Yield of 2.56% provides a steady income stream for investors.
- Beta of 0.06 indicates low volatility compared to the overall market.
Who Are CALI's Competitors?
CALI is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | $47.06 | -0.56% | $46.3B | — |
| MUB iShares National Muni Bond ETF | $100.52 | -0.49% | $43.8B | — |
| CMF iShares California Muni Bond ETF | $53.85 | -0.50% | $4.37B | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1069.63 | -0.91% | $167B | 52 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $111.80 | -1.38% | $135B | 69 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.43 | -0.66% | $74.6B | 56 5-pillar |
| BAM Brookfield Asset Management | $44.50 | -1.57% | $72.2B | 57 5-pillar |
| AMP Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | $490.46 | -1.24% | $44.1B | 78 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are CALI's Key Strengths?
Tax-exempt income stream.
- Low beta and relatively low volatility.
- Active management strategy.
- Focus on short-term maturities.
What Are CALI's Weaknesses?
Relatively high P/E ratio.
- Low profit margin.
- Concentrated exposure to California municipal bonds.
- Potential for underperformance compared to passively managed funds.
What Are the Key Risks for CALI?
Rich valuation — a P/E of 51.17 runs well above the Financial Services sector’s ~17.20x, leaving little room for a miss.
- Rising interest rates could negatively impact the value of municipal bonds.
- Changes in tax laws could reduce the attractiveness of municipal bonds.
- Credit risk of municipal bonds, particularly during economic downturns.
- Increased competition from other ETFs and investment products.
- Market volatility and economic uncertainty.
What Are CALI's Competitive Advantages?
- Established brand and reputation of iShares as a leading ETF provider.
- Access to BlackRock's extensive research and investment management expertise.
- Focus on a specific niche market (short-term California municipal bonds).
- Tax-exempt income stream, which is particularly valuable to investors in high-tax states.
What Does CALI Do?
The iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF (CALI) is designed to provide investors with tax-free current income by investing primarily in short-term municipal bonds issued within the State of California. As an actively managed ETF, CALI's investment strategy focuses on selecting municipal bonds that offer attractive yields while maintaining a relatively short duration, which helps to mitigate interest rate risk. The fund's objective is to offer a balance between income generation and capital preservation, making it a suitable option for investors seeking a stable, tax-advantaged income stream. CALI's investment approach involves rigorous credit analysis and active portfolio management to identify undervalued opportunities within the California municipal bond market. The ETF's focus on short-term maturities aims to reduce sensitivity to changes in interest rates, providing a degree of stability in varying market conditions. CALI is managed by BlackRock, a global leader in investment management, leveraging their expertise in fixed income and municipal bond markets. The ETF's structure allows investors to access a diversified portfolio of California municipal bonds through a single investment vehicle, offering convenience and transparency. CALI's performance is benchmarked against relevant municipal bond indices, providing investors with a means to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving its stated objectives. The ETF's expense ratio reflects the cost of active management and operational expenses, which are factored into its overall return profile.
What Products and Services Does CALI Offer?
- Invests primarily in short-term municipal bonds issued in California.
- Seeks to maximize tax-free current income for investors.
- Actively manages a portfolio of municipal bonds to identify undervalued opportunities.
- Provides a diversified exposure to the California municipal bond market through a single ETF.
- Offers a relatively low-risk investment option with a focus on capital preservation.
- Distributes tax-exempt income to shareholders on a regular basis.
How Does CALI Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management (AUM).
- Aims to attract and retain investors by providing competitive tax-free returns.
- Utilizes active management strategies to enhance portfolio performance.
- Distributes income to shareholders after deducting expenses.
What Industry Does CALI Operate In?
The asset management industry is characterized by intense competition, with numerous firms offering a wide range of investment products, including ETFs, mutual funds, and separately managed accounts. The municipal bond market, in particular, is influenced by factors such as interest rates, credit quality, and tax policies. ETFs like CALI compete with other municipal bond funds, as well as individual municipal bonds. The demand for tax-exempt income, especially in high-tax states like California, drives investment in this sector. The industry is also subject to regulatory oversight, which can impact investment strategies and product offerings. Growth in the asset management industry is generally correlated with overall economic growth and investor sentiment.
Who Are CALI's Key Customers?
- Individual investors seeking tax-advantaged income.
- Financial advisors looking for low-risk investment options for their clients.
- Institutional investors seeking exposure to the California municipal bond market.
- Retirees seeking a stable income stream.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is an etf, not an operating company
MoonshotScore History
Recorded daily since 2026-08-23 · 43 snapshots
| 2026-08-23 | 46 |
| 2026-08-31 | 46 |
| 2026-09-08 | 46 |
| 2026-09-16 | 46 |
| 2026-09-24 | 46 |
| 2026-10-04 | 46 |
| 2026-10-06 | 46 |
What changed?
The score has stayed at 46.
Over the same 30 days the stock moved -0.9%.
Key Financial Metrics
Return on equity for iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF stands at 17.7%, a gauge of how efficiently it converts shareholder capital into profit. Return on assets is 2.5%, showing how much profit it generates from its asset base. CALI trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 51.17, above the Financial Services sector average of ~17.20x. Its free cash flow yield is -23.6%, a gauge of the cash the business throws off relative to its market value. A current ratio of 1.17 indicates the company holds enough short-term assets to cover its near-term obligations. Its earnings yield is 2.0%, the inverse of the P/E and a quick read on earnings relative to price.
CALI Financials
Fundamental Snapshot
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Tax-exempt income stream.
- Low beta and relatively low volatility.
- Active management strategy.
- Focus on short-term maturities.
Bear Case
- Relatively high P/E ratio.
- Low profit margin.
- Concentrated exposure to California municipal bonds.
- Potential for underperformance compared to passively managed funds.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
CALI Latest News
No recent news available for CALI.
CALI Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for CALI.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for CALI.
CALI MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for CALI; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
Leadership: Abigail Johnson
CEO
Abigail Johnson is the CEO of Fidelity Investments, a role she assumed in 2014. She has been with Fidelity since 1988, holding various positions in asset management and retail operations. Johnson holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in art history from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She is the granddaughter of Edward Johnson II, the founder of Fidelity Investments, and has played a significant role in the company's growth and evolution.
Track Record: Under Abigail Johnson's leadership, Fidelity Investments has continued to expand its product offerings and enhance its technology platform. She has overseen the company's entry into new markets, including cryptocurrency trading and robo-advisory services. Johnson has also focused on promoting diversity and inclusion within Fidelity's workforce. Her tenure has been marked by a commitment to innovation and customer service.
iShares Short-Term California Muni Active ETF Financials Stock: Key Questions Answered
What are the main risks for CALI?
The main risks for CALI include interest rate risk, credit risk, and market risk. Interest rate risk refers to the potential for bond prices to decline as interest rates rise. Credit risk is the risk that a municipal issuer may default on its debt obligations.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- Financial data is based on the most recent available information.