BGLD vs FMAR
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF vs FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - March
Which is better, BGLD or FMAR?
Each has led over a different period.
FMAR has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FMAR 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 | FMAR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.85%Best |
| AUM | $53M | $1.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 10 | 10 |
| YTD Return | -5.52% | +13.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.00% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.05%Best | +14.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.14%Best | +10.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 8.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2% | -14.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,957Best | $16,654 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Mar 19, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.6 years).
BGLD vs FMAR 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
BGLD vs FMAR Performance
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - March (FMAR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% while FMAR returned +16.31%. Year to date, BGLD is down 5.52% versus a gain of 13.39% for FMAR.
Over three years, BGLD compounded at +18.05% per year against +14.66% for FMAR; over five years the annualized figures are +11.14% and +10.74% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, FMAR has the edge at +11.22% annualized vs +9.76%.
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 8.9% for FMAR. 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 -14.4% for FMAR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.13. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGLD charges 0.91% per year while FMAR 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 FMAR.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGLD and FMAR 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 FMAR?
BGLD has an expense ratio of 0.91% while FMAR charges 0.85%. FMAR is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGLD or FMAR?
Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% vs +16.31% for FMAR, so FMAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BGLD annualized +9.76% vs +11.22% for FMAR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGLD or FMAR?
BGLD has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 8.9% for FMAR. Worst drawdown: BGLD -16.2% vs FMAR -14.4%.
Should I hold both BGLD and FMAR?
BGLD and FMAR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.13, 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 FMAR?
BGLD yields 0.00% while FMAR yields 0.00%, so FMAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FMAR better than BGLD?
FMAR has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FMAR over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.