BUFQ Alternatives & Similar ETFs

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 50 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.15%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
QQQM	Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF	0.15%	100.59B	Oct 2020	BUFQ vs QQQM
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	0.18%	481.14B	Mar 1999	BUFQ vs QQQ
QQMG	Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF	0.20%	206.73M	Oct 2021	BUFQ vs QQMG
QNXT	iShares Nasdaq-100 ex Top 30 ETF	0.20%	28.66M	Oct 2024	BUFQ vs QNXT
QEW	Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF	0.25%	20.92M	Mar 2026	BUFQ vs QEW

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 83. There are 8 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 97.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
NAPR	Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April	97	210.48M	Mar 2020	BUFQ vs NAPR
PQAP	PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	97	25.92M	Dec 2024	BUFQ vs PQAP
QMAR	FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	96	568.10M	Mar 2021	BUFQ vs QMAR
QB	ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF	95	2.84M	Jun 2025	BUFQ vs QB
QCAP	FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April	92	—	Apr 2024	BUFQ vs QCAP

Top Performing BUFQ Alternatives (YTD)

BUFQ is at 9.18% YTD. There are 33 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 52.29%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
QQQA	ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF	52.29%	81.18M	May 2021	BUFQ vs QQQA
QTEC	First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fun...	37.33%	4.80B	Apr 2006	BUFQ vs QTEC
QQQG	Pacer Nasdaq 100 Top 50 Cash Cows Growth Leaders E...	30.77%	20.29M	Aug 2024	BUFQ vs QQQG
BALQ	iShares Nasdaq Premium Income Active ETF	20.11%	16.35M	Dec 2025	BUFQ vs BALQ
QQMG	Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF	18.53%	206.73M	Oct 2021	BUFQ vs QQMG

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has 8.66% 1-year volatility. There are 12 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.79%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
QCAP	FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April	3.79%	—	Apr 2024	BUFQ vs QCAP
NAPR	Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April	4.46%	210.48M	Mar 2020	BUFQ vs NAPR
PQAP	PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	5.12%	25.92M	Dec 2024	BUFQ vs PQAP
QBUF	Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly	5.52%	165.79M	Jun 2024	BUFQ vs QBUF
QCJL	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July	5.54%	—	Jul 2024	BUFQ vs QCJL

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFQ

BUFQ has a 1-year max drawdown of -5.39%. There are 12 ETFs in the Nasdaq-100 category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.79%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
NAPR	Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF - April	-1.79%	210.48M	Mar 2020	BUFQ vs NAPR
QCAP	FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April	-2.10%	—	Apr 2024	BUFQ vs QCAP
PQAP	PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	-2.15%	25.92M	Dec 2024	BUFQ vs PQAP
QBUF	Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly	-2.31%	165.79M	Jun 2024	BUFQ vs QBUF
QMAR	FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	-3.21%	568.10M	Mar 2021	BUFQ vs QMAR

Other ETFs from FT Vest

The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include BGLD, RDVI, BUFD and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
BGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals	20	-4.27%	51.07M	Jan 2021	BUFQ vs BGLD
RDVI	FT Cboe Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Inco...	Derivative Income	78	15.45%	3.49B	Oct 2022	BUFQ vs RDVI
BUFD	FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome	89	5.81%	1.93B	Jan 2021	BUFQ vs BUFD
FOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October	Defined Outcome	83	7.49%	1.16B	Oct 2020	BUFQ vs FOCT
FSEP	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September	Options Trading	77	7.53%	1.22B	Sep 2020	BUFQ vs FSEP
FDND	FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF	Technology Equities	10	0.93%	—	Mar 2024	BUFQ vs FDND
DOGG	FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF	Derivative Income	51	7.95%	77.70M	Apr 2023	BUFQ vs DOGG
FFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February	Defined Outcome	85	8.35%	1.38B	Feb 2020	BUFQ vs FFEB
DDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December	Defined Outcome	88	5.69%	429.01M	Dec 2020	BUFQ vs DDEC
GMAR	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Mar...	Options Trading	97	8.52%	395.71M	Mar 2023	BUFQ 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.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
BUFR	FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome	87	7.27%	10.09B	Aug 2020	BUFQ vs BUFR
NDX1.DE	Nordex SE		94	40.11%	—	—	BUFQ vs NDX1.DE
AGTHX	American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A	Large Cap Growth Equities	20	7.16%	—	Dec 1973	BUFQ vs AGTHX
^IXIC	NASDAQ Composite		56	12.33%	—	—	BUFQ vs ^IXIC
^GSPC	S&P 500 Index		78	10.20%	—	—	BUFQ vs ^GSPC
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.84%	783.21B	Jan 1993	BUFQ vs SPY
DECW	Allianzim U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Dec ETF	Options Trading	88	5.59%	226.38M	Nov 2022	BUFQ vs DECW
GNOV	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Nov...	Options Trading	90	5.74%	296.35M	Nov 2023	BUFQ vs GNOV
QLD	ProShares Ultra QQQ	Leveraged Equities	52	30.96%	14.15B	Jun 2006	BUFQ vs QLD
FJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January	Defined Outcome	82	7.20%	1.43B	Jan 2021	BUFQ vs FJAN
DOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October	Defined Outcome	87	5.94%	383.77M	Oct 2020	BUFQ vs DOCT
DAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - April	Defined Outcome	95	4.33%	310.38M	Apr 2021	BUFQ vs DAPR
DAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August	Defined Outcome	84	6.15%	368.43M	Nov 2019	BUFQ vs DAUG
FJUL	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July	Options Trading	84	6.96%	1.19B	Jul 2020	BUFQ vs FJUL
PHEQ	Parametric Hedged Equity ETF	Options Trading	86	6.57%	140.25M	Oct 2023	BUFQ vs PHEQ
QYLD	Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF	Nasdaq-100, Derivative Income	90	10.42%	8.37B	Dec 2013	BUFQ vs QYLD
DJUL	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July	Options Trading	86	5.78%	407.25M	Jul 2020	BUFQ vs DJUL
BUFG	FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF	Options Trading	75	7.16%	327.56M	Oct 2021	BUFQ vs BUFG
PRXV	Praxis Impact Large Cap Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities, ESG	—	—	53.64M	Apr 2025	BUFQ vs PRXV
GFEB	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Feb...	Options Trading	86	6.50%	384.07M	Feb 2023	BUFQ vs GFEB

Compare BUFQ with Any Fund or Stock

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

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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

FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ) Alternatives