BUFQ vs QGRD
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF vs Horizon Nasdaq-100 Defined Risk ETF
Which is better, BUFQ or QGRD?
BUFQ has been ahead.
QGRD has a lower expense ratio. BUFQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | QGRD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.85%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $173M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.39% |
| Holdings | 10 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +12.76%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +16.30%Best | +12.66% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.43% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.2%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.4%Best | -9.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,196Best | $12,098 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Horizon Funds |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jun 15, 2022 | Jul 9, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 10, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.3 years).
BUFQ vs QGRD 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
BUFQ vs QGRD Performance
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Horizon Nasdaq-100 Defined Risk ETF (QGRD) is an ETF from Horizon Funds. Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% while QGRD returned +12.66%. Year to date, BUFQ is up 12.76% versus a gain of 11.35% for QGRD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QGRD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 8.2% for BUFQ. 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 -5.4% for BUFQ and -9.4% for QGRD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. 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 QGRD charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $85 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFQ currently yields 0.00% against 1.39% for QGRD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in BUFQ and 1 in QGRD, totalling 100.0% and 4.6% 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 4 positions we hold weights for in BUFQ and 1 in QGRD, against full books of 10 and 10.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFQ and QGRD 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 QGRD?
BUFQ has an expense ratio of 1.00% while QGRD charges 0.85%. QGRD is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFQ or QGRD?
Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% vs +12.66% for QGRD, so BUFQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFQ annualized +16.50% vs +15.78% for QGRD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFQ or QGRD?
QGRD has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 8.2% for BUFQ. Worst drawdown: BUFQ -5.4% vs QGRD -9.4%.
Should I hold both BUFQ and QGRD?
BUFQ and QGRD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 QGRD?
BUFQ yields 0.00% while QGRD yields 1.39%, so QGRD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QGRD better than BUFQ?
QGRD has a lower expense ratio. BUFQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.