BUYW vs ZAUG
Main BuyWrite ETF vs Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr August
Which is better, BUYW or ZAUG?
ZAUG has been ahead.
ZAUG has a lower expense ratio. ZAUG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
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 | BUYW | ZAUG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.99% | 0.79%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $165M |
| Dividend Yield | 5.97% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 44 | 21 |
| YTD Return | +2.17% | +4.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.56% | +5.65%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.50% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.3% | 3.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.4% | -4.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $11,512 | $11,631Best |
| Fund Family | Main Management Fund Advisors, LLC | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Dec 29, 2015 | Jul 31, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.2 years).
BUYW vs ZAUG 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
BUYW vs ZAUG Performance
Main BuyWrite ETF (BUYW) is an ETF from Main Management Fund Advisors, LLC and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr August (ZAUG) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year BUYW returned +3.56% while ZAUG returned +5.65%. Year to date, BUYW is up 2.17% versus a gain of 4.59% for ZAUG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUYW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 3.3% compared with 3.0% for ZAUG. 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 -9.4% for BUYW and -4.8% for ZAUG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUYW charges 0.99% per year while ZAUG charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $99 vs $79 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUYW currently yields 5.97% against 0.00% for ZAUG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in BUYW and 1 in ZAUG, totalling 115.1% and 100.5% 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 9 positions we hold weights for in BUYW and 1 in ZAUG, against full books of 44 and 21.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUYW and ZAUG 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, BUYW or ZAUG?
BUYW has an expense ratio of 0.99% while ZAUG charges 0.79%. ZAUG is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUYW or ZAUG?
Over the past year BUYW returned +3.56% vs +5.65% for ZAUG, so ZAUG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUYW annualized +6.61% vs +7.11% for ZAUG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUYW or ZAUG?
BUYW has been the more volatile fund at 3.3% annualized versus 3.0% for ZAUG. Worst drawdown: BUYW -9.4% vs ZAUG -4.8%.
Should I hold both BUYW and ZAUG?
BUYW and ZAUG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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, BUYW or ZAUG?
BUYW yields 5.97% while ZAUG yields 0.00%, so BUYW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZAUG better than BUYW?
ZAUG has a lower expense ratio. ZAUG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.