BUFZ vs PWRD
FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF vs TCW Transform Systems ETF
Which is better, BUFZ or PWRD?
Each has led over a different period.
PWRD has a lower expense ratio. BUFZ led over 1Y, PWRD over 3Y and the full window. PWRD is less concentrated, with 50.6% 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 | PWRD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.75%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Holdings | 26 | 56 |
| YTD Return | +8.14%Best | +3.29% |
| 1Y Return | +11.02%Best | +2.06% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.52% | +25.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.3%Best | 22.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.1%Best | -25.9% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $14,629 | $20,829Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 50.6%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | TCW ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2023 | Feb 2, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3 years).
BUFZ vs PWRD 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 3 years both funds cover.
BUFZ vs PWRD Performance
FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and TCW Transform Systems ETF (PWRD) is an ETF from TCW ETFs. Over the past year BUFZ returned +11.02% while PWRD returned +2.06%. Year to date, BUFZ is up 8.14% versus a gain of 3.29% for PWRD.
Over three years, BUFZ compounded at +13.52% per year against +25.66% for PWRD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PWRD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 5.3% for BUFZ. 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 -10.1% for BUFZ and -25.9% for PWRD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFZ charges 0.95% per year while PWRD charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $75 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFZ currently yields 0.00% against 0.06% for PWRD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFZ and 28 in PWRD, totalling 99.9% and 98.3% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in BUFZ and 28 in PWRD, against full books of 26 and 56.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 22 positions for PWRD that do not appear in our book for BUFZ (81.3% of the fund), and 12 for BUFZ that do not appear in PWRD (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 PWRD 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 PWRD?
BUFZ has an expense ratio of 0.95% while PWRD charges 0.75%. PWRD is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFZ or PWRD?
Over the past year BUFZ returned +11.02% vs +2.06% for PWRD, so BUFZ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFZ or PWRD?
PWRD has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 5.3% for BUFZ. Worst drawdown: BUFZ -10.1% vs PWRD -25.9%.
Should I hold both BUFZ and PWRD?
BUFZ and PWRD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, BUFZ or PWRD?
BUFZ yields 0.00% while PWRD yields 0.06%, so PWRD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PWRD better than BUFZ?
PWRD has a lower expense ratio. BUFZ led over 1Y, PWRD over 3Y and the full window. PWRD is less concentrated, with 50.6% 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.