BFLB vs VTI
BufferLABS US Equity Dynamic Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BFLB or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | BFLB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 6 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +9.23% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.07% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.7%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.1%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,095 | $11,463Best |
| Fund Family | BufferLabs LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 7, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 8, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
BFLB vs VTI 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 years both funds cover.
BFLB vs VTI Performance
BufferLABS US Equity Dynamic Buffer ETF (BFLB) is an ETF from BufferLabs LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BFLB returned +12.07% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, BFLB is up 9.23% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 7.7% for BFLB. 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 -5.1% for BFLB and -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFLB charges 0.79% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $3 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BFLB currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in BFLB and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 0.0% and 98.1% 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 BFLB and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 6 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BFLB and VTI 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, BFLB or VTI?
BFLB has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BFLB or VTI?
Over the past year BFLB returned +12.07% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BFLB annualized +10.95% vs +14.63% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFLB or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 7.7% for BFLB. Worst drawdown: BFLB -5.1% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both BFLB and VTI?
BFLB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFLB or VTI?
BFLB yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BFLB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.