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 28 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.14%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calamos Tax-Aware Collateral ETF | 0.14% | 1.21B | Apr 2026 | BUFC vs CBOX | |
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 139.40M | Oct 2023 | BUFC vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.87M | Jul 2025 | BUFC vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 296.16M | Nov 2021 | BUFC vs HEQT | |
| Castellan Targeted Income ETF | 0.45% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFC vs CTIF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 68. 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 | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFC vs APRW | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs XIMR | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer... | 98 | 153.67M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs XMAR |
Top Performing BUFC Alternatives (YTD)
BUFC is at 3.40% YTD. There are 127 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 87.43%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 87.43% | 382.78M | Sep 2023 | BUFC vs AMDY | |
| Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF | 51.25% | 64.41M | May 2024 | BUFC vs USOY | |
| Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ET... | 15.04% | 6.72M | Apr 2025 | BUFC vs LITL | |
| Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 14.80% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFC vs DIVN | |
| Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF | 13.35% | 95.57M | Oct 2023 | BUFC vs IWMY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has 4.45% 1-year volatility. There are 40 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.30% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.57% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.57% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFC vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.68% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFC vs JULJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.06% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFC vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFC
BUFC has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.62%. There are 47 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% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFC vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFC vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFC vs APRW |
Other ETFs from AllianceBernstein
The 10 most viewed AllianceBernstein ETFs shown here include FWD, LOWV, YEAR and span 10 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 | 51 | 20.07% | 2.91B | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs FWD | |
| AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF | Low Volatility | 37 | 5.85% | 202.10M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs LOWV | |
| AB Ultra Short Income ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 98 | 1.63% | 1.51B | Sep 2022 | BUFC vs YEAR | |
| AB US High Dividend ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 78 | 12.88% | 202.64M | Mar 2023 | BUFC vs HIDV | |
| AB International Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Foreign Large Cap Equities | 76 | 6.77% | 122.81M | Dec 2024 | BUFC vs BUFI | |
| AB Tax-Aware Short Duration ETF | Municipal Bonds | 78 | 0.92% | 1.37B | Sep 2022 | BUFC vs TAFI | |
| AB US Large Cap Strategic Equities ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 49 | 9.49% | 1.29B | Sep 2023 | BUFC vs LRGC | |
| AB High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 66 | 1.96% | 328.06M | Jul 2016 | BUFC vs HYFI | |
| AB Tax-Aware Intermediate Municipal ETF | Municipal Bonds | 73 | 0.84% | 702.03M | Dec 2023 | BUFC vs TAFM | |
| AB Corporate Bond ETF | Corporate Bonds | 22 | -1.02% | 25.94M | Dec 2023 | BUFC vs EYEG |
Often Compared With BUFC
Investors most often compare BUFC with ILOW, EMOP, SYFI. These 20 comparison targets span 11 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