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FT Vest Laddered Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFS) Alternatives

ETF · Main listing BUFS · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 4, 2026

BUFS is an actively managed ETF by First Trust. BUFS launched on May 29, 2024 and has a 1.01% expense ratio.

FT Vest Laddered Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFS) 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 BUFS. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to BUFS

BUFS charges 1.01% annually. There are 289 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
JANB
Aptus January Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025BUFS vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025BUFS vs APRB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025BUFS vs OCTB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025BUFS vs JULB
FBUF
Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF0.48%—Apr 2024BUFS vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFS

BUFS has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 72. There are 168 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Mar 2025BUFS vs PMAP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Apr 2025BUFS vs APXM
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
99
—Mar 2025BUFS vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
98
—Apr 2025BUFS vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
18.90MApr 2025BUFS vs CPSP

Top Performing BUFS Alternatives (YTD)

BUFS is at 7.57% YTD. There are 60 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 18.85%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
18.85%
—Aug 2025BUFS vs NVDO
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March
14.45%
—Mar 2025BUFS vs TMAR
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
13.06%
557.94MMar 2021BUFS vs QMAR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
12.09%
7.34MDec 2024BUFS vs PQAP
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...
11.78%
—Jul 2025BUFS vs UXJL

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFS

BUFS has 8.99% 1-year volatility. There are 234 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.01%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.01%—Apr 2025BUFS vs APXM
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.12%—Apr 2025BUFS vs PMMY
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.15%—Mar 2025BUFS vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.39%—Mar 2025BUFS vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.42%18.90MApr 2025BUFS vs CPSP

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFS

BUFS has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.68%. There are 135 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.27%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.27%
—Apr 2025BUFS vs APXM
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.34%
—Mar 2025BUFS vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.34%
—Mar 2025BUFS vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
-0.36%
—Apr 2025BUFS vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
18.90MApr 2025BUFS vs CPSP

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFTechnology Equities, Cybersecurity
26
28.52%
13.68BJul 2015BUFS vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
79
28.91%
11.29BNov 2009BUFS vs GRID
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFAsia Pacific Equities
3
-9.70%
133.88MFeb 2012BUFS vs NFTY
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
78
31.77%
10.62BMar 2014BUFS vs AIRR
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
70
13.33%
7.39BMar 2006BUFS vs FDL
IGLD
FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFPrecious Metals, Gold
28
1.69%
591.41MMar 2021BUFS vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
97
115.70%
2.52BSep 2016BUFS vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
83
30.57%
4.66BAug 2012BUFS vs TDIV
KNG
FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...Dividend, S&P 500
20
2.20%
3.28BMar 2018BUFS vs KNG
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
89
52.94%
895.30MFeb 2007BUFS vs QCLN

Often Compared With BUFS

Investors most often compare BUFS with DBE, IBIC, BNO. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
71
83.68%
99.79MJan 2007BUFS vs DBE
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.37%
85.92MSep 2023BUFS vs IBIC
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
65
90.47%
95.54MJun 2010BUFS vs BNO
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...Defined Outcome
74
11.46%
—Jan 2025BUFS vs KFEB
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
97
2.20%
—May 2025BUFS vs ZMAY
BUFP
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
86
6.23%
183.97MJun 2024BUFS vs BUFP
UGA
United States Gasoline Fund LPOil & Gas
69
75.49%
45.74MFeb 2008BUFS vs UGA
USO
United States Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
66
103.67%
1.92BApr 2006BUFS vs USO
SMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETFDefined Outcome
93
3.09%
—Sep 2024BUFS vs SMAX
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...Defined Outcome, S&P 500
97
2.27%
55.00MMay 2024BUFS vs CPSM
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
96
1.80%
—Jun 2024BUFS vs LJUL
DMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETFDefined Outcome
94
2.34%
136.60MDec 2024BUFS vs DMAX
PMJA
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
94
2.35%
4.58MDec 2024BUFS vs PMJA
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
95
10.96%
214.88MMar 2020BUFS vs KAPR
ROBT
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...Technology Equities, Robotics
32
14.22%
763.61MFeb 2018BUFS vs ROBT
PMFB
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - FebruaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
95
2.56%
—Jan 2025BUFS vs PMFB
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
94
11.39%
100.91MMar 2021BUFS vs EAPR
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
90
4.52%
154.43MJun 2024BUFS vs PBFR
TWOX
iShares Large Cap Accelerated Outcome ETFDefined Outcome
45
2.15%
—Jan 2025BUFS vs TWOX
MSOO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated MSTR Monthly...Defined Outcome, Leveraged Equities—
-23.81%
—Aug 2025BUFS vs MSOO

Compare BUFS with Any Fund or Stock

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

 

Diversifiers

Pair BUFS with funds that move differently

FT Vest Laddered Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFS.

Explore BUFS Diversifiers