PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - August (PBAU) 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 PBAU. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PBAU
PBAU charges 0.50% annually. There are 5 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBAU vs JULB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBAU vs APRB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBAU vs JANB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBAU vs OCTB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | PBAU vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PBAU
PBAU has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 89. There are 102 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 | PBAU vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | PBAU vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs ZAPR | |
| Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF... | 98 | 13.20M | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs CPRA |
Top Performing PBAU Alternatives (YTD)
PBAU is at 5.41% YTD. There are 165 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 | PBAU vs NVDO | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 13.84% | 2.87M | Jun 2025 | PBAU vs QB | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.73% | — | Jan 2025 | PBAU vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.09% | 214.27M | Mar 2020 | PBAU vs KAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | 11.91% | 403.09M | Mar 2019 | PBAU vs BAPR |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PBAU
PBAU has 4.73% 1-year volatility. There are 86 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.18%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.18% | — | Mar 2025 | PBAU vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.33% | — | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs APXM | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.40% | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs CPSP | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.40% | — | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs PMMY | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.44% | — | Mar 2025 | PBAU vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PBAU
PBAU has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.29%. There are 94 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 | PBAU vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 21.00M | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | PBAU vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | PBAU vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | PBAU vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from PGIM
The 10 most viewed PGIM ETFs shown here include PAAA, PULS, PFRL and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $18B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM AAA CLO ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.76% | 11.25B | Jul 2023 | PBAU vs PAAA | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 99 | 2.36% | 18.30B | Apr 2018 | PBAU vs PULS | |
| PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF | Bank Loan | 94 | 2.97% | 121.63M | May 2022 | PBAU vs PFRL | |
| PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | High Yield Bonds | 64 | 1.43% | 1.39B | Sep 2018 | PBAU vs PHYL | |
| PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 92 | 1.48% | — | Jul 2023 | PBAU vs PSDM | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 88 | 7.12% | 223.70M | Jun 2024 | PBAU vs BUFP | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 92 | 5.36% | 203.06M | Jun 2024 | PBAU vs PBFR | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF | Municipal Bonds | 93 | 1.56% | 106.99M | Jun 2024 | PBAU vs PUSH | |
| PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 84 | 2.49% | 173.89M | Dec 2023 | PBAU vs PSH | |
| PGIM Jennison Focused Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 93 | 20.75% | 125.07M | Dec 2022 | PBAU vs PJFV |
Often Compared With PBAU
Investors most often compare PBAU with PMJL, PMFB, PMAU. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PBAU with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PBAU with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PBAU with funds that move differently
PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - August alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PBAU.
Explore PBAU Diversifiers