AB Conservative Buffer ETF (BUFC) belongs to the Options Trading category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BUFC. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC charges 0.69% annually. There are 24 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.29%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 137.12M | Oct 2023 | BUFC vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.57M | Jul 2025 | BUFC vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 316.92M | Nov 2021 | BUFC vs HEQT | |
| Amplify BlackSwan ISWN ETF | 0.49% | 36.90M | Jan 2021 | BUFC vs ISWN | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December | 0.50% | 6.51M | Nov 2025 | BUFC vs PMDE |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 57. There are 102 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 198.50M | May 2020 | BUFC vs APRW | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April | 97 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs PBAP | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 12 ETF - April | 97 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs APRP |
Top Performing BUFC Alternatives (YTD)
BUFC is at 2.49% YTD. There are 124 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 101.34%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 101.34% | 409.32M | Sep 2023 | BUFC vs AMDY | |
| Defiance R2000 Enhanced Options & 0DTE Income ETF | 14.94% | 97.61M | Oct 2023 | BUFC vs IWMY | |
| Defiance Nasdaq 100 Enhanced Options Income ETF | 14.69% | 184.62M | Sep 2023 | BUFC vs QQQY | |
| Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF | 14.14% | 100.42M | Jul 2024 | BUFC vs KQQQ | |
| Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strateg... | 12.61% | 864.88M | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs QDTE |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has 4.36% 1-year volatility. There are 38 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.26%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.26% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs LAPR | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.50% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | BUFC vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.54% | 13.80M | Jun 2023 | BUFC vs JULJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.56% | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.08% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.62%. There are 48 ETFs in the Options Trading category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.36%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | -0.36% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.80M | Jun 2023 | BUFC vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | BUFC vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 198.50M | May 2020 | BUFC vs APRW |
Other ETFs from AllianceBernstein
The 10 most viewed AllianceBernstein ETFs shown here include FWD, LOWV, YEAR and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB Disruptors ETF | Global Equities | 81 | 35.59% | 2.99B | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs FWD | |
| AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 22 | 0.40% | 198.95M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs LOWV | |
| AB Ultra Short Income ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 98 | 1.27% | 1.46B | Sep 2022 | BUFC vs YEAR | |
| AB US High Dividend ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 64 | 8.94% | 204.83M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs HIDV | |
| AB Tax-Aware Short Duration ETF | Municipal Bonds | 79 | 1.19% | 1.31B | Sep 2022 | BUFC vs TAFI | |
| AB High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 65 | 1.98% | 345.77M | Jul 2016 | BUFC vs HYFI | |
| AB Corporate Bond ETF | Corporate Bonds | 34 | 0.60% | 26.49M | Dec 2023 | BUFC vs EYEG | |
| AB US Large Cap Strategic Equities ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 49 | 5.99% | 1.25B | Sep 2023 | BUFC vs LRGC | |
| AB International Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Foreign Large Cap Equities | 51 | 5.09% | 122.81M | Dec 2024 | BUFC vs BUFI | |
| AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 27 | 5.17% | 1.79B | Jul 2024 | BUFC vs ILOW |
Often Compared With BUFC
Investors most often compare BUFC with EMOP, TAFM, AAPR. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFC with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFC with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFC with funds that move differently
AB Conservative Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFC.
Explore BUFC Diversifiers