BGLD vs FFEB
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF vs FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - February
Which is better, BGLD or FFEB?
Each has led over a different period.
FFEB has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FFEB 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 | FFEB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.85%Best |
| AUM | $53M | $1.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 10 | 10 |
| YTD Return | -5.52% | +11.12%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.00% | +14.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.05%Best | +16.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.14%Best | +11.02% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 9.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2% | -13.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,957Best | $16,866 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Feb 21, 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 FFEB 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 FFEB Performance
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - February (FFEB) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% while FFEB returned +14.59%. Year to date, BGLD is down 5.52% versus a gain of 11.12% for FFEB.
Over three years, BGLD compounded at +18.05% per year against +16.72% for FFEB; over five years the annualized figures are +11.14% and +11.02% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, FFEB has the edge at +11.68% 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 FFEB. 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 -13.8% for FFEB. 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 FFEB charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $85 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGLD currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for FFEB.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGLD and FFEB 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 FFEB?
BGLD has an expense ratio of 0.91% while FFEB charges 0.85%. FFEB is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGLD or FFEB?
Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% vs +14.59% for FFEB, so FFEB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BGLD annualized +8.63% vs +11.68% for FFEB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGLD or FFEB?
BGLD has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.2% for FFEB. Worst drawdown: BGLD -16.2% vs FFEB -13.8%.
Should I hold both BGLD and FFEB?
BGLD and FFEB 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 FFEB?
BGLD yields 0.00% while FFEB yields 0.00%, so FFEB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FFEB better than BGLD?
FFEB has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FFEB over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.