BUFQ vs QCJA
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF vs FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - January
Which is better, BUFQ or QCJA?
Nearly the same fund. QCJA costs less.
QCJA has a lower expense ratio. BUFQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | BUFQ | QCJA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.90%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $75M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 10 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +12.76%Best | +8.70% |
| 1Y Return | +16.30%Best | +11.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.43% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.9% | 6.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7% | -10.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,579Best | $12,002 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jun 15, 2022 | Jan 17, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.7 years).
BUFQ vs QCJA 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
BUFQ vs QCJA Performance
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - January (QCJA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% while QCJA returned +11.92%. Year to date, BUFQ is up 12.76% versus a gain of 8.70% for QCJA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUFQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.9% compared with 6.8% for QCJA. 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 -15.7% for BUFQ and -10.7% for QCJA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFQ charges 1.00% per year while QCJA charges 0.90%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $90 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFQ currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for QCJA.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFQ and QCJA 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, BUFQ or QCJA?
BUFQ has an expense ratio of 1.00% while QCJA charges 0.90%. QCJA is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFQ or QCJA?
Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% vs +11.92% for QCJA, so BUFQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUFQ annualized +14.45% vs +11.33% for QCJA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFQ or QCJA?
BUFQ has been the more volatile fund at 9.9% annualized versus 6.8% for QCJA. Worst drawdown: BUFQ -15.7% vs QCJA -10.7%.
Should I hold both BUFQ and QCJA?
BUFQ and QCJA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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, BUFQ or QCJA?
BUFQ yields 0.00% while QCJA yields 0.00%, so QCJA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QCJA better than BUFQ?
QCJA has a lower expense ratio. BUFQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.