BUFT vs HEDG
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF vs Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF
Which is better, BUFT or HEDG?
HEDG has been ahead.
HEDG has a lower expense ratio. HEDG led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | BUFT | HEDG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.21% | 0.96%Best |
| AUM | $163M | $465M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.78% |
| Holdings | 16 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +7.51%Best | +6.78% |
| 1Y Return | +9.79% | +10.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.83% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.81% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0%Best | 3.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.0%Best | -3.9% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $10,963 | $11,015Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Equable Shares |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2021 | Oct 13, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 13, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
BUFT vs HEDG 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 years both funds cover.
BUFT vs HEDG Performance
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF (BUFT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF (HEDG) is an ETF from Equable Shares. Over the past year BUFT returned +9.79% while HEDG returned +10.34%. Year to date, BUFT is up 7.51% versus a gain of 6.78% for HEDG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HEDG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 3.6% compared with 3.0% for BUFT. 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 -2.0% for BUFT and -3.9% for HEDG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFT charges 1.21% per year while HEDG charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $121 vs $96 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFT currently yields 0.00% against 2.78% for HEDG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in BUFT and 10 in HEDG, totalling 99.9% and 104.3% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in BUFT and 10 in HEDG, against full books of 16 and 10.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 7 and 10 positions we hold weights for.
BUFT holds 7 positions HEDG does not, 99.9% of the fund.
Largest: XMAR 16.58%, XDEC 16.28%, XJAN 14.29%, XFEB 13.99%, FMHI 13.79%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFT and HEDG 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, BUFT or HEDG?
BUFT has an expense ratio of 1.21% while HEDG charges 0.96%. HEDG is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFT or HEDG?
Over the past year BUFT returned +9.79% vs +10.34% for HEDG, so HEDG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFT annualized +9.63% vs +10.15% for HEDG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFT or HEDG?
HEDG has been the more volatile fund at 3.6% annualized versus 3.0% for BUFT. Worst drawdown: BUFT -2.0% vs HEDG -3.9%.
Should I hold both BUFT and HEDG?
BUFT and HEDG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUFT or HEDG?
BUFT yields 0.00% while HEDG yields 2.78%, so HEDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is HEDG better than BUFT?
HEDG has a lower expense ratio. HEDG led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.