BUFQ vs TQQQ
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF vs ProShares UltraPro QQQ
Which is better, BUFQ or TQQQ?
TQQQ has been ahead.
TQQQ has a lower expense ratio. TQQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94.
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 | TQQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.78%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $38.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.62% |
| Holdings | 10 | 128 |
| YTD Return | +12.76% | +42.42%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.30% | +47.68%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.43% | +58.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.4%Best | 60.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7%Best | -58.2% |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $20,323 | $70,384Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jun 15, 2022 | Feb 9, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.3 years).
BUFQ vs TQQQ 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
BUFQ vs TQQQ Performance
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% while TQQQ returned +47.68%. Year to date, BUFQ is up 12.76% versus a gain of 42.42% for TQQQ.
Over three years, BUFQ compounded at +16.43% per year against +58.33% for TQQQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, TQQQ has the edge at +57.43% annualized vs +17.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TQQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 60.4% compared with 11.4% 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 -15.7% for BUFQ and -58.2% for TQQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. 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 TQQQ charges 0.78%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $78 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFQ currently yields 0.00% against 0.62% for TQQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in BUFQ and 102 in TQQQ, totalling 100.0% and 50.4% 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 102 in TQQQ, against full books of 10 and 128.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFQ and TQQQ 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 TQQQ?
BUFQ has an expense ratio of 1.00% while TQQQ charges 0.78%. TQQQ is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFQ or TQQQ?
Over the past year BUFQ returned +16.30% vs +47.68% for TQQQ, so TQQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), BUFQ annualized +17.93% vs +57.43% for TQQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFQ or TQQQ?
TQQQ has been the more volatile fund at 60.4% annualized versus 11.4% for BUFQ. Worst drawdown: BUFQ -15.7% vs TQQQ -58.2%.
Should I hold both BUFQ and TQQQ?
BUFQ and TQQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 TQQQ?
BUFQ yields 0.00% while TQQQ yields 0.62%, so TQQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TQQQ better than BUFQ?
TQQQ has a lower expense ratio. TQQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.