BUFZ vs NUDG
FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF vs Nuveen Dividend Growth Fund ETF
Which is better, BUFZ or NUDG?
BUFZ has been ahead.
NUDG has a lower expense ratio. BUFZ led over 1Y. NUDG is less concentrated, with 42.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%.
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 | BUFZ | NUDG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.61%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $6.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.50% |
| Holdings | 26 | 43 |
| YTD Return | +8.32%Best | +3.09% |
| 1Y Return | +11.26% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 42.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Nuveen |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2023 | Jun 2, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BUFZ vs NUDG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BUFZ vs NUDG Performance
FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Nuveen Dividend Growth Fund ETF (NUDG) is an ETF from Nuveen. Year to date, BUFZ is up 8.32% versus a gain of 3.09% for NUDG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFZ charges 0.95% per year while NUDG charges 0.61%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $61 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFZ currently yields 0.00% against 0.50% for NUDG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFZ and 42 in NUDG, totalling 99.9% and 99.0% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in BUFZ and 42 in NUDG, against full books of 26 and 43.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 41 positions for NUDG that do not appear in our book for BUFZ (94.5% of the fund), and 12 for BUFZ that do not appear in NUDG (99.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFZ and NUDG 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, BUFZ or NUDG?
BUFZ has an expense ratio of 0.95% while NUDG charges 0.61%. NUDG is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUFZ or NUDG?
BUFZ yields 0.00% while NUDG yields 0.50%, so NUDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NUDG better than BUFZ?
NUDG has a lower expense ratio. BUFZ led over 1Y. NUDG is less concentrated, with 42.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.