PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF (BUFP) belongs to the Defined Outcome category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BUFP. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFP
BUFP charges 0.50% annually. There are 5 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFP vs JULB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFP vs APRB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFP vs JANB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFP vs OCTB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | BUFP vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFP
BUFP has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 88. There are 108 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs ZAPR | |
| Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF... | 98 | 13.20M | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs CPRA |
Top Performing BUFP Alternatives (YTD)
BUFP is at 7.12% YTD. There are 89 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | BUFP vs NVDO | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 13.84% | 2.87M | Jun 2025 | BUFP vs QB | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.73% | — | Jan 2025 | BUFP vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.09% | 214.27M | Mar 2020 | BUFP vs KAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | 11.91% | 403.09M | Mar 2019 | BUFP vs BAPR |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFP
BUFP has 6.48% 1-year volatility. There are 159 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.18%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.18% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.33% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs APXM | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.40% | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs CPSP | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.40% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs PMMY | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.44% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFP
BUFP has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.41%. There are 140 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFP vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFP vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | BUFP vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from PGIM
The 10 most viewed PGIM ETFs shown here include PAAA, PULS, PFRL and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $18B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM AAA CLO ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.76% | 11.25B | Jul 2023 | BUFP vs PAAA | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 99 | 2.36% | 18.30B | Apr 2018 | BUFP vs PULS | |
| PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF | Bank Loan | 94 | 2.97% | 121.63M | May 2022 | BUFP vs PFRL | |
| PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | High Yield Bonds | 64 | 1.43% | 1.39B | Sep 2018 | BUFP vs PHYL | |
| PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 92 | 1.48% | — | Jul 2023 | BUFP vs PSDM | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 92 | 5.36% | 203.06M | Jun 2024 | BUFP vs PBFR | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF | Municipal Bonds | 93 | 1.56% | 106.99M | Jun 2024 | BUFP vs PUSH | |
| PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 84 | 2.49% | 173.89M | Dec 2023 | BUFP vs PSH | |
| PGIM Jennison Focused Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 93 | 20.75% | 125.07M | Dec 2022 | BUFP vs PJFV | |
| PGIM Total Return Bond ETF | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond | 30 | -0.52% | 1.13B | Dec 2021 | BUFP vs PTRB |
Often Compared With BUFP
Investors most often compare BUFP with FJUL, AUGZ, PBAP. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFP with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFP with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFP with funds that move differently
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFP.
Explore BUFP Diversifiers