BGLD vs BUFR
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF vs FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF
Which is better, BGLD or BUFR?
Each has led over a different period.
BGLD has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, BUFR 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 | BGLD | BUFR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $53M | $10.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 10 | 26 |
| YTD Return | -5.52% | +10.03%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.00% | +13.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.05%Best | +14.92% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.14%Best | +10.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 9.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2% | -13.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,957Best | $16,223 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Aug 10, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.7 years).
BGLD 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 5.7 years both funds cover.
BGLD vs BUFR Performance
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% while BUFR returned +13.37%. Year to date, BGLD is down 5.52% versus a gain of 10.03% for BUFR.
Over three years, BGLD compounded at +18.05% per year against +14.92% for BUFR; over five years the annualized figures are +11.14% and +10.16% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, BUFR has the edge at +10.17% annualized vs +8.63%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BGLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.2% compared with 9.2% 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 -16.2% for BGLD and -13.7% 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 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGLD charges 0.91% per year while BUFR charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $95 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGLD currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for BUFR.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGLD 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, BGLD or BUFR?
BGLD has an expense ratio of 0.91% while BUFR charges 0.95%. BGLD is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGLD or BUFR?
Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% vs +13.37% for BUFR, so BUFR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BGLD annualized +8.63% vs +10.17% for BUFR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGLD or BUFR?
BGLD has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.2% for BUFR. Worst drawdown: BGLD -16.2% vs BUFR -13.7%.
Should I hold both BGLD and BUFR?
BGLD and BUFR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, 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, BGLD or BUFR?
BGLD yields 0.00% while BUFR yields 0.00%, so BUFR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFR better than BGLD?
BGLD has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, BUFR over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.