ACEI vs BUFR
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF vs FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF
Which is better, ACEI or BUFR?
BUFR has been ahead.
ACEI has a lower expense ratio. BUFR 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 | BUFR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $52M | $10.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.88% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +7.65% | +10.03%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.38% | +13.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.92% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 6.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -4.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,755 | $11,431Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2025 | Aug 10, 2020 |
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 BUFR 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 BUFR Performance
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACEI) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year ACEI returned +9.38% while BUFR returned +13.37%. Year to date, ACEI is up 7.65% versus a gain of 10.03% for BUFR.
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 6.2% for BUFR. 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 -4.6% for BUFR. 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 BUFR 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 BUFR.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in ACEI and 12 in BUFR, 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 BUFR, against full books of 26 and 26.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACEI and BUFR 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 BUFR?
ACEI has an expense ratio of 0.79% while BUFR charges 0.95%. ACEI is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACEI or BUFR?
Over the past year ACEI returned +9.38% vs +13.37% for BUFR, so BUFR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ACEI annualized +6.84% vs +12.93% for BUFR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACEI or BUFR?
ACEI has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 6.2% for BUFR. Worst drawdown: ACEI -9.3% vs BUFR -4.6%.
Should I hold both ACEI and BUFR?
ACEI and BUFR 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 BUFR?
ACEI yields 11.88% while BUFR yields 0.00%, so ACEI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFR better than ACEI?
ACEI has a lower expense ratio. BUFR 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.