PBAP vs QBSF

PBAP vs QBSF

Which is better, PBAP or QBSF?

PBAP has been ahead.

PBAP has a lower expense ratio. PBAP led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: PBAPHigher Returns: PBAP

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

MetricPBAPQBSF
Expense Ratio0.50%Best0.64%
AUM$38M$64M
Dividend Yield0.00%0.00%
Holdings1615
YTD Return+9.59%Best+4.99%
1Y Return+11.83%Best+7.59%
Volatility (annualized)3.3%2.2%Best
Max Drawdown-1.2%Best-1.6%
$10,000 over 1.3 years$11,473Best$11,012
Fund FamilyPGIM InvestmentsAllianzIM
CategoryAlternativeAlternative
StyleOption WritingOption Writing
InceptionMar 29, 2024Jun 30, 2025

Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.3 years).

PBAP vs QBSF 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 1.3 years both funds cover.

Compare PBAP against instead:PBAP vs SPYPBAP vs QQQPBAP vs VOOPBAP vs VTIQBSF against:QBSF vs VXUS

PBAP vs QBSF Performance

PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - April (PBAP) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and AllianzIM US Equity Buffer15 ETF (QBSF) is an ETF from AllianzIM. Over the past year PBAP returned +11.83% while QBSF returned +7.59%. Year to date, PBAP is up 9.59% versus a gain of 4.99% for QBSF.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

PBAP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 3.3% compared with 2.2% for QBSF. 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 -1.2% for PBAP and -1.6% for QBSF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PBAP charges 0.50% per year while QBSF charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $64 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBAP currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for QBSF.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of PBAP and QBSF you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

PBAPQBSF

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PBAP or QBSF?

PBAP has an expense ratio of 0.50% while QBSF charges 0.64%. PBAP is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, PBAP or QBSF?

Over the past year PBAP returned +11.83% vs +7.59% for QBSF, so PBAP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PBAP annualized +11.15% vs +7.70% for QBSF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, PBAP or QBSF?

PBAP has been the more volatile fund at 3.3% annualized versus 2.2% for QBSF. Worst drawdown: PBAP -1.2% vs QBSF -1.6%.

Should I hold both PBAP and QBSF?

PBAP and QBSF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, PBAP or QBSF?

PBAP yields 0.00% while QBSF yields 0.00%, so QBSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is QBSF better than PBAP?

PBAP has a lower expense ratio. PBAP 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.