ACEI vs BUFD
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF vs FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF
Which is better, ACEI or BUFD?
BUFD has been ahead.
ACEI has a lower expense ratio. BUFD led over 1Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ACEI | BUFD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $52M | $2.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.88% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +7.65% | +7.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.38% | +10.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +7.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 4.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -3.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,755 | $11,181Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2025 | Jan 20, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
ACEI vs BUFD growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
ACEI vs BUFD Performance
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACEI) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF (BUFD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year ACEI returned +9.38% while BUFD returned +10.75%. Year to date, ACEI is up 7.65% versus a gain of 7.99% for BUFD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACEI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.2% compared with 4.5% for BUFD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -9.3% for ACEI and -3.4% for BUFD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACEI charges 0.79% per year while BUFD charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $95 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACEI currently yields 11.88% against 0.00% for BUFD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in ACEI and 12 in BUFD, totalling 0.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in ACEI and 12 in BUFD, against full books of 26 and 26.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACEI and BUFD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACEI or BUFD?
ACEI has an expense ratio of 0.79% while BUFD charges 0.95%. ACEI is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACEI or BUFD?
Over the past year ACEI returned +9.38% vs +10.75% for BUFD, so BUFD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ACEI annualized +6.84% vs +10.68% for BUFD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACEI or BUFD?
ACEI has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 4.5% for BUFD. Worst drawdown: ACEI -9.3% vs BUFD -3.4%.
Should I hold both ACEI and BUFD?
ACEI and BUFD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACEI or BUFD?
ACEI yields 11.88% while BUFD yields 0.00%, so ACEI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFD better than ACEI?
ACEI has a lower expense ratio. BUFD led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.