FT Vest Laddered International Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFY) 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 BUFY. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFY
BUFY charges 1.00% annually. There are 303 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFY vs OCTB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFY vs APRB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFY vs JULB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BUFY vs JANB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | BUFY vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFY
BUFY has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 68. There are 190 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs PMAP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 134.85M | Mar 2021 | BUFY vs XBAP |
Top Performing BUFY Alternatives (YTD)
BUFY is at 5.42% YTD. There are 161 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | BUFY vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.85% | — | Jan 2025 | BUFY vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.22% | 214.51M | Mar 2020 | BUFY vs KAPR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 12.42% | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | BUFY vs QB | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.12% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | BUFY vs QMAR |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFY
BUFY has 6.94% 1-year volatility. There are 178 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.25% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.31% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.36% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.42% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFY
BUFY has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.65%. There are 151 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | BUFY vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | BUFY vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | BUFY vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.
Often Compared With BUFY
Investors most often compare BUFY with PMFB, DBE, BNO. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFY with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFY with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFY with funds that move differently
FT Vest Laddered International Moderate Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFY.
Explore BUFY Diversifiers