QBSF vs SEPP
AllianzIM US Equity Buffer15 ETF vs PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - September
Which is better, QBSF or SEPP?
SEPP has been ahead.
SEPP has a lower expense ratio. SEPP led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | QBSF | SEPP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.50%Best |
| AUM | $64M | $33M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 15 | 14 |
| YTD Return | +4.99% | +8.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.59% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.2%Best | 6.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.6%Best | -4.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $11,012 | $11,831Best |
| Fund Family | AllianzIM | PGIM Investments |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jun 30, 2025 | May 15, 2024 |
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).
QBSF vs SEPP 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.
QBSF vs SEPP Performance
AllianzIM US Equity Buffer15 ETF (QBSF) is an ETF from AllianzIM and PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - September (SEPP) is an ETF from PGIM Investments. Over the past year QBSF returned +7.59% while SEPP returned +11.86%. Year to date, QBSF is up 4.99% versus a gain of 8.86% for SEPP.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEPP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.0% 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 -1.6% for QBSF and -4.7% for SEPP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QBSF charges 0.64% per year while SEPP charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $50 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QBSF currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for SEPP.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QBSF and SEPP 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, QBSF or SEPP?
QBSF has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SEPP charges 0.50%. SEPP is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QBSF or SEPP?
Over the past year QBSF returned +7.59% vs +11.86% for SEPP, so SEPP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QBSF annualized +7.70% vs +13.81% for SEPP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QBSF or SEPP?
SEPP has been the more volatile fund at 6.0% annualized versus 2.2% for QBSF. Worst drawdown: QBSF -1.6% vs SEPP -4.7%.
Should I hold both QBSF and SEPP?
QBSF and SEPP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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, QBSF or SEPP?
QBSF yields 0.00% while SEPP yields 0.00%, so SEPP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEPP better than QBSF?
SEPP has a lower expense ratio. SEPP led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.