BAI vs BUFZ
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF vs FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF
Which is better, BAI or BUFZ?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
BAI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%.
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 | BAI | BUFZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $14.2B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 55 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +30.13%Best | +8.14% |
| 1Y Return | +30.79%Best | +11.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.4% | 5.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -10.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $18,007Best | $12,151 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.0%Best | 83.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2024 | Oct 25, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
BAI vs BUFZ 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 2 years both funds cover.
BAI vs BUFZ Performance
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% while BUFZ returned +11.02%. Year to date, BAI is up 30.13% versus a gain of 8.14% for BUFZ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.4% compared with 5.3% for BUFZ. 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 -34.1% for BAI and -10.1% for BUFZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAI charges 0.55% per year while BUFZ charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $95 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAI currently yields 1.26% against 0.00% for BUFZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in BAI and 12 in BUFZ, totalling 99.9% 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 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 12 in BUFZ, against full books of 55 and 26.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for BUFZ that do not appear in our book for BAI (99.9% of the fund), and 36 for BAI that do not appear in BUFZ (74.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BAI and BUFZ 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, BAI or BUFZ?
BAI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while BUFZ charges 0.95%. BAI is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAI or BUFZ?
Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% vs +11.02% for BUFZ, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAI annualized +34.19% vs +10.23% for BUFZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAI or BUFZ?
BAI has been the more volatile fund at 37.4% annualized versus 5.3% for BUFZ. Worst drawdown: BAI -34.1% vs BUFZ -10.1%.
Should I hold both BAI and BUFZ?
BAI and BUFZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, BAI or BUFZ?
BAI yields 1.26% while BUFZ yields 0.00%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFZ better than BAI?
BAI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.