IXUS vs. BUFI
IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) and BUFI (AB International Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IXUS is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while BUFI is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein. IXUS is passively managed, while BUFI is actively managed. Over the past year, IXUS returned 32.15% vs 12.80% for BUFI. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IXUS charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BUFI.
Performance
IXUS vs. BUFI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXUS achieves a 14.51% return, which is significantly higher than BUFI's 4.92% return.
IXUS
- 1D
- -1.01%
- 1M
- 4.91%
- YTD
- 14.51%
- 6M
- 17.16%
- 1Y
- 32.15%
- 3Y*
- 19.44%
- 5Y*
- 8.38%
- 10Y*
- 9.78%
BUFI
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 1.83%
- YTD
- 4.92%
- 6M
- 6.32%
- 1Y
- 12.80%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IXUS vs. BUFI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 14.51% | 32.40% | -3.26% |
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF | 4.92% | 16.50% | -1.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between IXUS 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 | 0.93 |
The correlation between IXUS and BUFI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.93 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IXUS vs. BUFI — Risk / Return Rank
IXUS
BUFI
IXUS vs. BUFI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) 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.
| IXUS | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.58 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.65 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.30 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.84 | 2.26 | +0.58 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.13 | 8.98 | +2.15 |
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
| IXUS | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.10 | 1.53 | +0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 1.50 | -1.00 |
Drawdowns
IXUS vs. BUFI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXUS drawdown since its inception was -36.22%, which is greater than BUFI's maximum drawdown of -7.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXUS and BUFI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXUS | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.22% | -7.43% | -28.79% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.36% | -5.69% | -5.67% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.75% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.04% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.22% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.01% | -0.32% | -0.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.50% | -0.86% | -6.64% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.90% | 1.43% | +1.47% |
Volatility
IXUS vs. BUFI - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has a higher volatility of 5.64% compared to AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI) at 2.20%. This indicates that IXUS'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
| IXUS | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.64% | 2.20% | +3.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.16% | 7.05% | +6.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.37% | 8.43% | +6.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.21% | 9.15% | +7.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.07% | 9.15% | +7.92% |
IXUS vs. BUFI - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXUS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFI's 0.69% expense ratio.
Dividends
IXUS vs. BUFI - Dividend Comparison
IXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.83%, 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% |
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 2.83% | 3.24% | 3.33% | 3.13% | 2.48% | 3.12% | 1.85% | 3.09% | 3.00% | 2.41% | 2.58% | 2.81% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, IXUS 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.
IXUS has higher volatility (5.64%) compared to BUFI (2.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IXUS dropped -36.22% vs BUFI's -7.43%.
On 1-year performance, IXUS leads with 32.15% vs 12.80% for BUFI. On fees, IXUS is cheaper at 0.07% 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, IXUS has performed better with a 32.15% return vs 12.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IXUS is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.69% for BUFI.
IXUS has the higher dividend yield at 2.83%, compared with 0.00% for BUFI.
IXUS is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while BUFI is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: iShares and AllianceBernstein. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IXUS and 0.69% for BUFI.
IXUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 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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