FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) 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 BUFZ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFZ
BUFZ charges 1.05% annually. There are 153 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.14%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calamos Tax-Aware Collateral ETF | 0.14% | 1.21B | Apr 2026 | BUFZ vs CBOX | |
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 139.40M | Oct 2023 | BUFZ vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.87M | Jul 2025 | BUFZ vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 296.16M | Nov 2021 | BUFZ vs HEQT | |
| Castellan Targeted Income ETF | 0.45% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFZ vs CTIF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFZ
BUFZ has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 89. There are 33 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 | BUFZ vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFZ vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFZ vs APRW | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFZ vs XIMR | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer... | 98 | 153.67M | Mar 2023 | BUFZ vs XMAR |
Top Performing BUFZ Alternatives (YTD)
BUFZ is at 5.96% YTD. There are 79 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 87.43%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 87.43% | 382.78M | Sep 2023 | BUFZ vs AMDY | |
| Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF | 51.25% | 64.41M | May 2024 | BUFZ vs USOY | |
| Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ET... | 15.04% | 6.72M | Apr 2025 | BUFZ vs LITL | |
| Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 14.80% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFZ vs DIVN | |
| Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF | 13.35% | 95.57M | Oct 2023 | BUFZ vs IWMY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFZ
BUFZ has 5.31% 1-year volatility. There are 56 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.30% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFZ vs LAPR | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.57% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFZ vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.57% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFZ vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.68% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFZ vs JULJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.06% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFZ vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFZ
BUFZ has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.51%. There are 43 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 | BUFZ vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFZ vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFZ vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFZ vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFZ vs APRW |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include RDVI, BGLD, BUFD and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ET... | Derivative Income | 87 | 16.92% | 3.59B | Oct 2022 | BUFZ vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 28 | -4.01% | 50.90M | Jan 2021 | BUFZ vs BGLD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.83% | 1.97B | Jan 2021 | BUFZ vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 75 | 7.59% | 1.51B | Jun 2022 | BUFZ vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 85 | 7.68% | 1.17B | Oct 2020 | BUFZ vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 79 | 7.68% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | BUFZ vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 9 | 0.56% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFZ vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 76 | 11.04% | 88.80M | Apr 2023 | BUFZ vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 86 | 8.35% | 1.39B | Feb 2020 | BUFZ vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.82% | 430.27M | Dec 2020 | BUFZ vs DDEC |
Often Compared With BUFZ
Investors most often compare BUFZ with SPY, FDMO, IVVB. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFZ with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFZ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFZ with funds that move differently
FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFZ.
Explore BUFZ Diversifiers