- Issuer
- Innovator
- Inception Date
- Feb 8, 2022
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Defined Outcome
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- MerQube U.S. Large Cap Equity Buffer Laddered Index - Benchmark TR Gross
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Accumulating
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Large-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $314M
Share Price Chart
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Performance
BUFB Performance Chart
Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF (BUFB) is up 6.8% since the beginning of the year. BUFB is currently trading at $39 per share.
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Returns By Period
Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF (BUFB) has returned 6.82% so far this year and 18.84% over the past 12 months.
Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.37%
- YTD
- 6.82%
- 6M
- 7.04%
- 1Y
- 18.84%
- 3Y*
- 15.14%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
BUFB Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Feb 9, 2022, BUFB's average daily return is +0.04%, while the average monthly return is +0.89%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.5 years.
Historically, 66% of months were positive and 34% were negative. The best month was Nov 2023 with a return of +7.1%, while the worst month was Sep 2022 at -6.8%. The longest winning streak lasted 9 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 3 months.
On a daily basis, BUFB closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Apr 9, 2025 with a return of +7.1%, while the worst single day was Apr 4, 2025 at -4.1%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.81% | -0.03% | -2.74% | 6.59% | 2.73% | -0.47% | 6.82% | ||||||
| 2025 | 1.92% | -0.65% | -3.93% | -0.58% | 4.68% | 3.61% | 1.68% | 1.35% | 2.36% | 0.84% | 0.78% | 0.87% | 13.42% |
| 2024 | 1.67% | 2.45% | 1.63% | -1.36% | 3.16% | 2.09% | 0.68% | 1.72% | 1.03% | 0.09% | 3.09% | -0.87% | 16.37% |
| 2023 | 4.86% | -1.37% | 2.60% | 1.03% | 0.38% | 5.42% | 2.09% | -0.79% | -3.70% | -1.77% | 7.11% | 3.50% | 20.50% |
| 2022 | -2.88% | 3.03% | -6.39% | 0.30% | -5.41% | 6.64% | -2.39% | -6.81% | 6.20% | 4.14% | -3.74% | -8.23% |
Benchmark Metrics
Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF has an annualized alpha of 2.22%, beta of 0.67, and R2 of 0.94 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since February 09, 2022.
- This ETF participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (66.33%) than losses (65.33%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- This ETF generated an annualized alpha of 2.22% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- Beta of 0.67 indicates this ETF moves significantly less than S&P 500 Index - a genuinely defensive profile with reduced participation in both market rallies and downturns.
- Alpha
- 2.22%
- Beta
- 0.67
- R²
- 0.94
- Upside Capture
- 66.33%
- Downside Capture
- 65.33%
Expense Ratio
BUFB has an expense ratio of 0.89%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
BUFB ranks 83 for risk / return — in the top 83% of ETFs on our site. This means strong returns relative to risk — exactly what professional investors look for. Well-suited for investors who want to maximize return per unit of risk.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF (BUFB) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BUFB | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.81 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.49 | 1.37 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.70 | 2.78 | +0.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 19.19 | 12.44 | +6.75 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF was 14.88%, occurring on Oct 14, 2022. Recovery took 163 trading sessions.
The current Innovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETF drawdown is 0.52%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bear market2022 | -14.88%Oct 2022 | 6mo 18d | 7mo 28d | 1y 2moMar 2022 - Jun 2023 |
2025 selloff2025 | -13.75%Apr 2025 | 1mo 17d | 2mo 17d | 4mo 4dFeb 2025 - Jun 2025 |
2023 pullback2023 | -7.41%Oct 2023 | 2mo 28d | 24d | 3mo 22dJul 2023 - Nov 2023 |
Bear market2022 | -6.11%Mar 2022 | 1mo 2d | 14d | 1mo 16dFeb 2022 - Mar 2022 |
2026 pullback2026 | -5.12%Mar 2026 | 1mo 2d | 14d | 1mo 16dFeb 2026 - Apr 2026 |
Drawdown Indicators
| BUFB | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.88% | -56.78% | +41.90% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.12% | -9.10% | +3.98% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.75% | -18.90% | +5.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -25.43% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.92% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.52% | -1.80% | +1.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.85% | -10.71% | +7.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.98% | 2.03% | -1.05% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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