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FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Aug 4, 2026

BUFQ is a passive ETF by FT Vest tracking the investment results of the NASDAQ 100 Index - USD. BUFQ launched on Jun 15, 2022 and has a 1.10% expense ratio.

FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) belongs to the Nasdaq-100 category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BUFQ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ charges 1.10% annually. There are 55 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.10%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
QNDX
SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF0.10%150.50MJun 2026BUFQ vs QNDX
IQQ
iShares Nasdaq 100 ETF0.10%302.44MJul 2026BUFQ vs IQQ
QQQM
Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF0.15%97.11BOct 2020BUFQ vs QQQM
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF0.18%452.80BMar 1999BUFQ vs QQQ
QQMG
Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF0.20%194.23MOct 2021BUFQ vs QQMG

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 81. There are 8 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 97.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
NAPR
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April
97
207.95MMar 2020BUFQ vs NAPR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
97
26.30MDec 2024BUFQ vs PQAP
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
96
2.87MJun 2025BUFQ vs QB
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
96
566.25MMar 2021BUFQ vs QMAR
FTQI
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF
90
907.91MJan 2014BUFQ vs FTQI

Top Performing BUFQ Alternatives (YTD)

BUFQ is at 8.37% YTD. There are 33 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 44.44%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
QQQA
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF
44.44%
69.09MMay 2021BUFQ vs QQQA
QTEC
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fun...
31.94%
4.57BApr 2006BUFQ vs QTEC
QQQG
Pacer Nasdaq 100 Top 50 Cash Cows Growth Leaders E...
24.40%
20.86MAug 2024BUFQ vs QQQG
BALQ
iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF
18.43%
16.09MDec 2025BUFQ vs BALQ
QQQE
Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares
16.27%
1.33BMar 2012BUFQ vs QQQE

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has 9.08% 1-year volatility. There are 11 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 4.22%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
QCAP
FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April4.22%—Apr 2024BUFQ vs QCAP
NAPR
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April4.73%207.95MMar 2020BUFQ vs NAPR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April5.44%26.30MDec 2024BUFQ vs PQAP
QCJL
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July5.93%—Jul 2024BUFQ vs QCJL
QBUF
Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly6.14%162.74MJun 2024BUFQ vs QBUF

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has a 1-year max drawdown of -5.39%. There are 10 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.06%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
NAPR
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April
-2.06%
207.95MMar 2020BUFQ vs NAPR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
-2.52%
26.30MDec 2024BUFQ vs PQAP
QCAP
FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April
-2.58%
—Apr 2024BUFQ vs QCAP
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
-3.21%
566.25MMar 2021BUFQ vs QMAR
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
-3.47%
2.87MJun 2025BUFQ vs QB

Other ETFs from FT Vest

The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include RDVI, BGLD, BUFD and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
RDVI
FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ET...Derivative Income
89
17.72%
3.59BOct 2022BUFQ vs RDVI
BGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETFDefined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals
25
-3.76%
50.90MJan 2021BUFQ vs BGLD
BUFD
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETFDefined Outcome
92
6.44%
1.97BJan 2021BUFQ vs BUFD
FOCT
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - OctoberDefined Outcome
88
8.24%
1.17BOct 2020BUFQ vs FOCT
FSEP
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - SeptemberOptions Trading
83
8.36%
1.22BSep 2020BUFQ vs FSEP
FDND
FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETFTechnology Equities
15
3.80%
—Mar 2024BUFQ vs FDND
DOGG
FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETFDerivative Income
72
11.00%
88.80MApr 2023BUFQ vs DOGG
FFEB
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - FebruaryDefined Outcome
89
9.10%
1.39BFeb 2020BUFQ vs FFEB
DDEC
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - DecemberDefined Outcome
91
6.31%
430.27MDec 2020BUFQ vs DDEC
GMAR
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Mar...Options Trading
97
9.11%
393.02MMar 2023BUFQ vs GMAR

Often Compared With BUFQ

Investors most often compare BUFQ with BUFR, NDX1.DE, AGTHX. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
BUFR
FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETFDefined Outcome
91
8.06%
10.19BAug 2020BUFQ vs BUFR
NDX1.DE
Nordex SE
88
36.95%
——BUFQ vs NDX1.DE
AGTHX
American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class ALarge Cap Growth Equities
18
5.61%
—Dec 1973BUFQ vs AGTHX
^IXIC
NASDAQ Composite
54
11.50%
——BUFQ vs ^IXIC
^GSPC
S&P 500 Index
79
11.03%
——BUFQ vs ^GSPC
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETFS&P 500
78
11.70%
789.06BJan 1993BUFQ vs SPY
DECW
Allianzim U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Dec ETFOptions Trading
91
6.16%
226.14MNov 2022BUFQ vs DECW
GNOV
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Nov...Options Trading
92
6.43%
296.70MNov 2023BUFQ vs GNOV
FJAN
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome
86
7.90%
1.43BJan 2021BUFQ vs FJAN
PHEQ
Parametric Hedged Equity ETFOptions Trading
88
6.81%
139.40MOct 2023BUFQ vs PHEQ
QLD
ProShares Ultra QQQLeveraged Equities
48
23.13%
12.76BJun 2006BUFQ vs QLD
DOCT
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - OctoberDefined Outcome
91
6.67%
384.27MOct 2020BUFQ vs DOCT
DAUG
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - AugustDefined Outcome
87
6.87%
372.25MNov 2019BUFQ vs DAUG
FJUL
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - JulyOptions Trading
89
8.47%
1.22BJul 2020BUFQ vs FJUL
DAPR
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
95
4.92%
311.13MApr 2021BUFQ vs DAPR
DJUL
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - JulyOptions Trading
88
6.83%
448.12MJul 2020BUFQ vs DJUL
BUFG
FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETFOptions Trading
80
7.59%
326.67MOct 2021BUFQ vs BUFG
QYLD
Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETFNasdaq-100, Derivative Income
87
8.73%
8.09BDec 2013BUFQ vs QYLD
PRXV
Praxis Impact Large Cap Value ETFLarge Cap Value Equities, ESG——53.64MApr 2025BUFQ vs PRXV
APRH
Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - AprilOptions Trading
96
5.51%
24.99MMar 2023BUFQ vs APRH

Compare BUFQ with Any Fund or Stock

Compare BUFQ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair BUFQ with funds that move differently

FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFQ.

Explore BUFQ Diversifiers