FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) Alternatives

FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) 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 BUFR. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.

Cheapest Alternatives to BUFR

BUFR charges 0.95% annually. Among ETFs in the Defined Outcome category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among BUFR alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
FBUF	Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF	0.48%	Apr 9, 2024	BUFR vs FBUF
SMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF	0.50%	Sep 30, 2024	BUFR vs SMAX
DMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETF	0.50%	Dec 31, 2024	BUFR vs DMAX
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	0.50%	Mar 31, 2025	BUFR vs MMAX
PBFR	PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF	0.50%	Jun 11, 2024	BUFR vs PBFR

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFR

Among ETFs in the Defined Outcome category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	Inception
ZDEK	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Dec...	97	Dec 1, 2024	BUFR vs ZDEK
ZFEB	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Feb...	97	Feb 3, 2025	BUFR vs ZFEB
DMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETF	96	Dec 31, 2024	BUFR vs DMAX
ZMAR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Mar...	96	Mar 3, 2025	BUFR vs ZMAR
ZJAN	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Jan...	95	Dec 31, 2024	BUFR vs ZJAN

Top Performing BUFR Alternatives (YTD)

BUFR alternatives from the Defined Outcome category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
KAPR	Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April	3.19%	Mar 31, 2020	BUFR vs KAPR
IAPR	Innovator International Developed Power Buffer ETF...	2.69%	Mar 31, 2021	BUFR vs IAPR
FMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - March	2.16%	Mar 19, 2021	BUFR vs FMAR
BAPR	Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April	2.08%	Mar 29, 2019	BUFR vs BAPR
PSMR	Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (April) ETF	1.94%	Mar 31, 2021	BUFR vs PSMR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFR

BUFR alternatives from the Defined Outcome category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
ZMAY	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May	1.51%	May 1, 2025	BUFR vs ZMAY
ZJUN	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Jun...	1.91%	May 30, 2025	BUFR vs ZJUN
AIOO	AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer100 Protection ETF	1.99%	Jun 30, 2025	BUFR vs AIOO
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	2.61%	Mar 31, 2025	BUFR vs MMAX
ZAPR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...	2.62%	Apr 1, 2025	BUFR vs ZAPR

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFR

BUFR alternatives from the Defined Outcome category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
ZDEK	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Dec...	-1.57%	Dec 1, 2024	BUFR vs ZDEK
ZFEB	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Feb...	-1.73%	Feb 3, 2025	BUFR vs ZFEB
ZJAN	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Jan...	-1.87%	Dec 31, 2024	BUFR vs ZJAN
ZOCT	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Oct...	-1.91%	Oct 1, 2024	BUFR vs ZOCT
ZMAR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Mar...	-1.92%	Mar 3, 2025	BUFR vs ZMAR

Other ETFs from First Trust

Most popular First Trust ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	12	-12.12%	Jul 7, 2015	BUFR vs CIBR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	5	-11.19%	Feb 14, 2012	BUFR vs NFTY
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	94	6.96%	Nov 17, 2009	BUFR vs GRID
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	79	15.49%	Mar 9, 2006	BUFR vs FDL
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	95	12.74%	Mar 10, 2014	BUFR vs AIRR
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	84	5.99%	Mar 2, 2021	BUFR vs IGLD
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	77	-2.96%	Aug 14, 2012	BUFR vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	25	1.24%	Mar 26, 2018	BUFR vs KNG
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Technology Equities, Robotics	28	-11.00%	Feb 21, 2018	BUFR vs ROBT
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	87	4.23%	Feb 8, 2007	BUFR vs QCLN

Often Compared With BUFR

What investors most often compare with BUFR, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
BUFF	Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome	77	-0.90%	Oct 20, 2016	BUFR vs BUFF
BUFD	FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome	81	-0.85%	Jan 20, 2021	BUFR vs BUFD
JHEQX	JPMorgan Hedged Equity Fund Class I	Hedge Fund	28	-5.65%	Dec 13, 2013	BUFR vs JHEQX
SFLR	Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF	Options Trading	72	-3.85%	Nov 8, 2022	BUFR vs SFLR
FAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April	Defined Outcome	54	1.09%	Apr 16, 2021	BUFR vs FAPR
FFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February	Defined Outcome	73	-1.36%	Feb 21, 2020	BUFR vs FFEB
FJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January	Defined Outcome	68	-2.59%	Jan 15, 2021	BUFR vs FJAN
FAUG	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - August	Large Cap Blend Equities	69	-2.20%	Nov 6, 2019	BUFR vs FAUG
BUFG	FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF	Options Trading	64	-2.40%	Oct 26, 2021	BUFR vs BUFG
FDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December	Defined Outcome	72	-2.86%	Dec 18, 2020	BUFR vs FDEC
FJUN	FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - June	Large Cap Blend Equities	72	-0.98%	Jun 19, 2020	BUFR vs FJUN
BUFQ	FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF	Options Trading	81	-1.45%	Jun 15, 2022	BUFR vs BUFQ
ACIO	Aptus Collared Income Opportunity ETF	Diversified Portfolio, Actively Managed	48	-3.83%	Jul 10, 2019	BUFR vs ACIO
JAVA	JPMorgan Active Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	55	0.29%	Oct 4, 2021	BUFR vs JAVA
PJAN	Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - January	Defined Outcome	71	-1.89%	Jan 2, 2019	BUFR vs PJAN
PNOV	Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - November	Defined Outcome	61	-2.20%	Nov 1, 2019	BUFR vs PNOV
BFEB	Innovator S&P 500 Buffer ETF - February	Options Trading, S&P 500	70	-1.98%	Jan 31, 2020	BUFR vs BFEB
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	64	-4.37%	Jan 22, 1993	BUFR vs SPY
POCT	Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October	Defined Outcome	68	-1.84%	Sep 28, 2018	BUFR vs POCT
GMOM	Cambria Global Momentum ETF	Hedge Fund, Actively Managed	87	6.82%	Nov 4, 2014	BUFR vs GMOM

Compare BUFR with Any Fund or Stock

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

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FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF

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