FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF (BUFT) belongs to the Options Trading category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BUFT. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFT
BUFT charges 1.05% annually. There are 142 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.29%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 140.25M | Oct 2023 | BUFT vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.58M | Jul 2025 | BUFT vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 300.35M | Nov 2021 | BUFT vs HEQT | |
| Amplify BlackSwan ISWN ETF | 0.49% | 36.25M | Jan 2021 | BUFT vs ISWN | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 12 ETF - March | 0.50% | — | Feb 2024 | BUFT vs MRCP |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFT
BUFT has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 96. There are 12 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.26M | Mar 2023 | BUFT vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 190.94M | May 2020 | BUFT vs APRW | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs PBAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs XIMR |
Top Performing BUFT Alternatives (YTD)
BUFT is at 5.49% YTD. There are 75 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 109.12%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 109.12% | 443.39M | Sep 2023 | BUFT vs AMDY | |
| Defiance Nasdaq 100 Enhanced Options Income ETF | 15.28% | 190.88M | Sep 2023 | BUFT vs QQQY | |
| Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF | 14.52% | 100.42M | Jul 2024 | BUFT vs KQQQ | |
| Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF | 14.09% | 98.05M | Oct 2023 | BUFT vs IWMY | |
| Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strateg... | 13.13% | 923.83M | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs QDTE |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFT
BUFT has 3.29% 1-year volatility. There are 24 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.27%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.27% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.56% | 13.64M | Jun 2023 | BUFT vs JULJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.56% | 32.26M | Mar 2023 | BUFT vs APRJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.56% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | BUFT vs CAOS | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.04% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFT
BUFT has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.02%. There are 23 ETFs in the Options Trading category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.36%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | -0.36% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.26M | Mar 2023 | BUFT vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.64M | Jun 2023 | BUFT vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | BUFT vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 190.94M | May 2020 | BUFT vs APRW |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include BGLD, RDVI, BUFQ and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 19 | -4.89% | 51.07M | Jan 2021 | BUFT vs BGLD | |
| FT Cboe Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Inco... | Derivative Income | 76 | 14.90% | 3.49B | Oct 2022 | BUFT vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 81 | 8.57% | 1.52B | Jun 2022 | BUFT vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.59% | 1.93B | Jan 2021 | BUFT vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 82 | 7.19% | 1.16B | Oct 2020 | BUFT vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 77 | 7.29% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | BUFT vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 10 | 0.64% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFT vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 56 | 9.21% | 77.70M | Apr 2023 | BUFT vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 85 | 8.10% | 1.38B | Feb 2020 | BUFT vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.49% | 429.01M | Dec 2020 | BUFT vs DDEC |
Often Compared With BUFT
Investors most often compare BUFT with GMAR, UJAN, IBIC. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFT with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFT with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFT with funds that move differently
FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFT.
Explore BUFT Diversifiers