IQDF vs. BUFI
IQDF (FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund) and BUFI (AB International Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IQDF is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Index, while BUFI is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein. IQDF is passively managed, while BUFI is actively managed. Over the past year, IQDF returned 35.90% vs 12.80% for BUFI. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IQDF charges 0.47%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BUFI.
Performance
IQDF vs. BUFI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IQDF achieves a 15.38% return, which is significantly higher than BUFI's 4.92% return.
IQDF
- 1D
- -1.02%
- 1M
- 5.16%
- YTD
- 15.38%
- 6M
- 18.18%
- 1Y
- 35.90%
- 3Y*
- 22.80%
- 5Y*
- 10.43%
- 10Y*
- 9.66%
BUFI
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 1.83%
- YTD
- 4.92%
- 6M
- 6.32%
- 1Y
- 12.80%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IQDF vs. BUFI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IQDF FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund | 15.38% | 35.42% | -3.33% |
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF | 4.92% | 16.50% | -1.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between IQDF and BUFI is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 11, 2024 | 0.91 |
The correlation between IQDF and BUFI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IQDF vs. BUFI — Risk / Return Rank
IQDF
BUFI
IQDF vs. BUFI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) and AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI). 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.
| IQDF | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.98 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.10 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.30 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.60 | 2.26 | +1.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.93 | 8.98 | +4.94 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IQDF | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.50 | 1.53 | +0.98 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.68 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 1.50 | -1.05 |
Drawdowns
IQDF vs. BUFI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IQDF drawdown since its inception was -39.83%, which is greater than BUFI's maximum drawdown of -7.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQDF and BUFI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IQDF | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.83% | -7.43% | -32.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.03% | -5.69% | -4.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.92% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.34% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.83% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.02% | -0.32% | -0.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.34% | -0.86% | -8.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.58% | 1.43% | +1.15% |
Volatility
IQDF vs. BUFI - Volatility Comparison
FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) has a higher volatility of 5.63% compared to AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI) at 2.20%. This indicates that IQDF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BUFI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IQDF | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.63% | 2.20% | +3.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.23% | 7.05% | +5.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.44% | 8.43% | +6.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.49% | 9.15% | +6.34% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.63% | 9.15% | +7.48% |
IQDF vs. BUFI - Expense Ratio Comparison
IQDF has a 0.47% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFI's 0.69% expense ratio.
Dividends
IQDF vs. BUFI - Dividend Comparison
IQDF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.77%, while BUFI has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IQDF FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund | 2.77% | 3.27% | 6.72% | 6.06% | 5.59% | 4.13% | 3.31% | 4.46% | 5.78% | 3.89% | 3.75% | 4.27% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, IQDF and BUFI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
IQDF has higher volatility (5.63%) compared to BUFI (2.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IQDF dropped -39.83% vs BUFI's -7.43%.
On 1-year performance, IQDF leads with 35.90% vs 12.80% for BUFI. On fees, IQDF is cheaper at 0.47% per year. On volatility, BUFI has been the lower-risk option at 2.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IQDF has performed better with a 35.90% return vs 12.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IQDF is cheaper with a 0.47% expense ratio, compared with 0.69% for BUFI.
IQDF has the higher dividend yield at 2.77%, compared with 0.00% for BUFI.
IQDF is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while BUFI is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: Northern Trust and AllianceBernstein. Their fees differ too: 0.47% for IQDF and 0.69% for BUFI.
IQDF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.50 vs 1.53), 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.
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