iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF (BFLX) belongs to the Long-Short category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BFLX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BFLX
BFLX charges 0.40% annually. No ETFs in the Long-Short category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.45%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proshares Large Cap Core Plus | 0.45% | 511.33M | Jul 2009 | BFLX vs CSM | |
| Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF | 0.45% | 490.37M | Jul 2021 | BFLX vs IDUB | |
| Arin Tactical Tail Risk ETF | 0.63% | — | Oct 2025 | BFLX vs ATTR | |
| ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF | 0.65% | 7.28M | Nov 2017 | BFLX vs CLIX | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | 0.65% | 1.00B | Dec 2019 | BFLX vs FLSP |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BFLX
Among 21 ETFs in the Long-Short category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | 96 | 447.61M | Dec 2009 | BFLX vs CLSE | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | 83 | 1.00B | Dec 2019 | BFLX vs FLSP | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | 79 | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | BFLX vs QAI | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | 77 | 21.96M | Jul 2011 | BFLX vs HDG | |
| First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | 75 | 2.45B | Sep 2014 | BFLX vs FTLS |
Top Performing BFLX Alternatives (YTD)
Among 26 ETFs in the Long-Short category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 23.23%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | 23.23% | 447.61M | Dec 2009 | BFLX vs CLSE | |
| Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF | 22.28% | 16.20M | Dec 2023 | BFLX vs LSEQ | |
| Changebridge Capital Long/Short Equity ETF | 16.70% | 58.88M | Nov 2020 | BFLX vs CBLS | |
| Efficient Market Portfolio Plus ETF | 13.11% | — | Dec 2024 | BFLX vs EMPB | |
| Aptus International Enhanced Yield ETF | 12.94% | 490.37M | Jul 2021 | BFLX vs IDUB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BFLX
BFLX has 13.83% 1-year volatility. There are 13 ETFs in the Long-Short category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.20%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arin Tactical Tail Risk ETF | 3.20% | — | Oct 2025 | BFLX vs ATTR | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | 6.35% | 21.96M | Jul 2011 | BFLX vs HDG | |
| Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral ETF | 6.62% | 106.80M | Sep 2025 | BFLX vs MKTN | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | 6.76% | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | BFLX vs QAI | |
| AltShares Event-Driven ETF | 7.59% | 8.62M | Dec 2014 | BFLX vs EVNT |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BFLX
Among 21 ETFs in the Long-Short category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -3.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AltShares Event-Driven ETF | -3.35% | 8.62M | Dec 2014 | BFLX vs EVNT | |
| NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF | -3.71% | 1.02B | Mar 2009 | BFLX vs QAI | |
| First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | -3.79% | 2.45B | Sep 2014 | BFLX vs FTLS | |
| ProShares Hedge Replication | -3.97% | 21.96M | Jul 2011 | BFLX vs HDG | |
| Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF | -4.03% | 1.00B | Dec 2019 | BFLX vs FLSP |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, SOXX and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $880B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.99% | 98.56B | May 2020 | BFLX vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -25.70% | 47.12B | Jan 2024 | BFLX vs IBIT | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 91 | 74.24% | 45.06B | Jul 2001 | BFLX vs SOXX | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 64 | 9.40% | 880.32B | May 2000 | BFLX vs IVV | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 86 | 11.48% | 42.19B | Jun 2014 | BFLX vs DGRO | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 15 | -1.57% | 42.81B | Jul 2002 | BFLX vs TLT | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 28 | -20.86% | 26.77B | Apr 2006 | BFLX vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 24 | -7.17% | 59.26B | Jan 2005 | BFLX vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 72 | 19.24% | 82.12B | May 2000 | BFLX vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 62 | 9.89% | 32.80B | Mar 2008 | BFLX vs ACWI |
Often Compared With BFLX
Investors most often compare BFLX with WTIP, NLSI, HTUS. These 14 comparison targets span 1 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BFLX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BFLX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BFLX with funds that move differently
iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BFLX.
Explore BFLX Diversifiers