BUFZ vs. CTIF

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

BUFZ (FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF) and CTIF (Castellan Targeted Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BUFZ is a Options Trading fund actively managed by FT Vest, while CTIF is a Derivative Income fund actively managed by Castellan. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, BUFZ returned 12.04% vs 13.36% for CTIF. Their 0.68 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. BUFZ charges 1.05%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for CTIF.

Performance

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) and Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BUFZ achieves a 5.96% return, which is significantly lower than CTIF's 9.32% return.

BUFZ

• 1D: 0.50%
• 1M: 0.73%
• 6M: 5.28%
• YTD: 5.96%
• 1Y: 12.04%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 13.72%

CTIF

• 1D: 0.88%
• 1M: 4.08%
• 6M: 7.06%
• YTD: 9.32%
• 1Y: 13.36%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 12.28%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
BUFZ FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF	$5.59M	$4.28M	$4.46M
CTIF Castellan Targeted Income ETF	$185.99K	$160.92K	$255.19K

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
BUFZ FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF	5.96%	7.37%
CTIF Castellan Targeted Income ETF	9.32%	3.87%

Correlation

The correlation between BUFZ and CTIF is 0.68, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 25, 2025	0.68

The correlation between BUFZ and CTIF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.68 to 0.68 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

BUFZ vs. CTIF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

BUFZ

BUFZ Risk / Return Rank: 89
BUFZ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
BUFZ Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
BUFZ Omega Ratio Rank: 91
BUFZ Calmar Ratio Rank: 85
BUFZ Martin Ratio Rank: 93

CTIF

CTIF Risk / Return Rank: 35
CTIF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
CTIF Sortino Ratio Rank: 34
CTIF Omega Ratio Rank: 32
CTIF Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
CTIF Martin Ratio Rank: 40

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) and Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BUFZ	CTIF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.15	0.86	+1.29
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.22	1.29	+1.93
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.43	1.15	+0.28
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.26	1.17	+2.08
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	17.09	4.27	+12.82

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BUFZ Sharpe Ratio is 2.15, which is higher than the CTIF Sharpe Ratio of 0.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BUFZ and CTIF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BUFZ drawdown since its inception was -10.14%, which is greater than CTIF's maximum drawdown of -9.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BUFZ and CTIF.

Drawdown Indicators

	BUFZ	CTIF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-10.14%	-9.43%	-0.71%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.51%	-9.43%	+5.92%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.25%	+0.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.63%	-1.76%	+1.13%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.67%	2.59%	-1.92%

Volatility

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) is 1.54%, while Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF) has a volatility of 3.85%. This indicates that BUFZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CTIF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BUFZ	CTIF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.54%	3.85%	-2.31%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.31%	9.76%	-5.45%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.31%	12.83%	-7.52%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.22%	12.61%	-5.39%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.22%	12.61%	-5.39%

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Expense Ratio Comparison

BUFZ has a 1.05% expense ratio, which is higher than CTIF's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

BUFZ vs. CTIF - Dividend Comparison

BUFZ has not paid dividends to shareholders, while CTIF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.75%.

Position	TTM	2025
BUFZ FT Cboe Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF	0.00%	0.00%
CTIF Castellan Targeted Income ETF	4.75%	2.55%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BUFZ and CTIF in my portfolio?

BUFZ and CTIF have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BUFZ or CTIF?

CTIF has higher volatility (3.85%) compared to BUFZ (1.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BUFZ dropped -10.14% vs CTIF's -9.43%.

Which ETF is better, BUFZ or CTIF?

On 1-year performance, CTIF leads with 13.36% vs 12.04% for BUFZ. On fees, CTIF is cheaper at 0.45% per year. On volatility, BUFZ has been the lower-risk option at 1.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, BUFZ or CTIF?

Over the 1-year period, CTIF has performed better with a 13.36% return vs 12.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, BUFZ or CTIF?

CTIF is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 1.05% for BUFZ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, BUFZ or CTIF?

CTIF has the higher dividend yield at 4.75%, compared with 0.00% for BUFZ.

What is the main difference between BUFZ and CTIF?

BUFZ is categorized as Options Trading, while CTIF is Derivative Income. They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and Castellan. Their fees differ too: 1.05% for BUFZ and 0.45% for CTIF.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BUFZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.15 vs 0.86), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.