BUFD vs BUFG
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF vs FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF
Which is better, BUFD or BUFG?
Nearly the same fund. BUFD costs less.
BUFD has a lower expense ratio. BUFG led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97.
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 | BUFD | BUFG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95%Best | 1.13% |
| AUM | $2.2B | $338M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +7.99% | +9.10%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.75% | +12.26%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.44% | +14.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.86% | +8.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.9%Best | 10.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.8%Best | -17.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,598 | $15,127Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | - |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Oct 26, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5 years).
BUFD vs BUFG 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 years both funds cover.
BUFD vs BUFG Performance
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF (BUFD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% while BUFG returned +12.26%. Year to date, BUFD is up 7.99% versus a gain of 9.10% for BUFG.
Over three years, BUFD compounded at +12.44% per year against +14.60% for BUFG; over five years the annualized figures are +7.86% and +8.63% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUFG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.4% compared with 6.9% for BUFD. 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 -10.8% for BUFD and -17.6% for BUFG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFD charges 0.95% per year while BUFG charges 1.13%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $113 annually, a gap of $18 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFD currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for BUFG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFD and 7 in BUFG, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in BUFD and 7 in BUFG, against full books of 26 and 16.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 7 positions for BUFG that do not appear in our book for BUFD (99.9% of the fund), and 12 for BUFD that do not appear in BUFG (99.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFD and BUFG 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, BUFD or BUFG?
BUFD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while BUFG charges 1.13%. BUFD is the cheaper option, by $18 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFD or BUFG?
Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% vs +12.26% for BUFG, so BUFG leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFD or BUFG?
BUFG has been the more volatile fund at 10.4% annualized versus 6.9% for BUFD. Worst drawdown: BUFD -10.8% vs BUFG -17.6%.
Should I hold both BUFD and BUFG?
BUFD and BUFG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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, BUFD or BUFG?
BUFD yields 0.00% while BUFG yields 0.00%, so BUFG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFG better than BUFD?
BUFD has a lower expense ratio. BUFG led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.