BUFD vs SEPM
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF vs FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - September
Which is better, BUFD or SEPM?
Nearly the same fund. SEPM costs less.
SEPM has a lower expense ratio. BUFD led over 1Y 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 | SEPM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.85%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $37M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +7.99%Best | +5.12% |
| 1Y Return | +10.75%Best | +6.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.44% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.86% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.7% | 2.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -10.2% | -3.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,291Best | $11,333 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Sep 20, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.1 years).
BUFD vs SEPM 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
BUFD vs SEPM Performance
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF (BUFD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - September (SEPM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% while SEPM returned +6.53%. Year to date, BUFD is up 7.99% versus a gain of 5.12% for SEPM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 5.7% compared with 2.6% for SEPM. 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 -10.2% for BUFD and -3.9% for SEPM. 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 SEPM charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $85 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFD currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for SEPM.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFD and SEPM 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 SEPM?
BUFD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SEPM charges 0.85%. SEPM is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFD or SEPM?
Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% vs +6.53% for SEPM, so BUFD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUFD annualized +10.32% vs +6.14% for SEPM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFD or SEPM?
BUFD has been the more volatile fund at 5.7% annualized versus 2.6% for SEPM. Worst drawdown: BUFD -10.2% vs SEPM -3.9%.
Should I hold both BUFD and SEPM?
BUFD and SEPM 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 SEPM?
BUFD yields 0.00% while SEPM yields 0.00%, so SEPM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEPM better than BUFD?
SEPM has a lower expense ratio. BUFD led over 1Y 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.