BGLD vs FMAY
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF vs FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - May
Which is better, BGLD or FMAY?
Each has led over a different period.
FMAY has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FMAY 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 | FMAY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.85%Best |
| AUM | $53M | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 10 | 10 |
| YTD Return | -5.52% | +8.03%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.00% | +10.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.05%Best | +14.11% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.14%Best | +9.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 9.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,957Best | $15,592 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | May 15, 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 FMAY 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 FMAY Performance
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - May (FMAY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% while FMAY returned +10.90%. Year to date, BGLD is down 5.52% versus a gain of 8.03% for FMAY.
Over three years, BGLD compounded at +18.05% per year against +14.11% for FMAY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.14% and +9.29% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, FMAY has the edge at +9.28% 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 9.3% for FMAY. 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 -13.6% for FMAY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.17. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGLD charges 0.91% per year while FMAY 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 FMAY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGLD and FMAY 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 FMAY?
BGLD has an expense ratio of 0.91% while FMAY charges 0.85%. FMAY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGLD or FMAY?
Over the past year BGLD returned -4.00% vs +10.90% for FMAY, so FMAY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BGLD annualized +8.63% vs +9.28% for FMAY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGLD or FMAY?
BGLD has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.3% for FMAY. Worst drawdown: BGLD -16.2% vs FMAY -13.6%.
Should I hold both BGLD and FMAY?
BGLD and FMAY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.17, 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 FMAY?
BGLD yields 0.00% while FMAY yields 0.00%, so FMAY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FMAY better than BGLD?
FMAY has a lower expense ratio. BGLD led over 3Y and 5Y, FMAY over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.