LOWV vs. BUFX

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

LOWV (AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF) and BUFX (FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - LOWV is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein, while BUFX is a Defined Outcome fund managed by First Trust. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. LOWV charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.96%/yr for BUFX.

Performance

LOWV vs. BUFX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF (LOWV) and FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, LOWV achieves a 3.60% return, which is significantly lower than BUFX's 4.14% return.

LOWV

• 1D: -0.09%
• 1M: 1.23%
• YTD: 3.60%
• 6M: 3.58%
• 1Y: 12.24%
• 3Y*: 15.81%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BUFX

• 1D: -0.02%
• 1M: 1.17%
• YTD: 4.14%
• 6M: 4.86%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

LOWV vs. BUFX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
LOWV AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF	3.60%	7.06%
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF	4.14%	5.62%

Correlation

The correlation between LOWV and BUFX is 0.82, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2025	0.82

Return for Risk

LOWV vs. BUFX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

LOWV

LOWV Risk / Return Rank: 31
LOWV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 32
LOWV Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
LOWV Omega Ratio Rank: 31
LOWV Calmar Ratio Rank: 27
LOWV Martin Ratio Rank: 34

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

LOWV vs. BUFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF (LOWV) and FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFX). 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.

	LOWV	BUFX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.18	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.68	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.21	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.30	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.34	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	LOWV	BUFX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.18	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.50	2.70	-1.21

Drawdowns

LOWV vs. BUFX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LOWV drawdown since its inception was -13.87%, which is greater than BUFX's maximum drawdown of -2.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LOWV and BUFX.

Drawdown Indicators

	LOWV	BUFX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-13.87%	-2.87%	-11.00%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.59%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-13.87%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.12%	-0.02%	-0.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.50%	-0.24%	-1.26%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.34%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	LOWV	BUFX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.04%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.85%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.44%	3.99%	+6.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.95%	3.99%	+7.96%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.95%	3.99%	+7.96%

LOWV vs. BUFX - Expense Ratio Comparison

LOWV has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFX's 0.96% expense ratio.

Dividends

LOWV vs. BUFX - Dividend Comparison

LOWV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.90%, while BUFX has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
LOWV AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF	0.90%	0.85%	0.92%	0.77%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both LOWV and BUFX in my portfolio?

LOWV and BUFX have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, LOWV or BUFX?

On fees, LOWV is cheaper at 0.48% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, LOWV or BUFX?

LOWV is cheaper with a 0.48% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for BUFX.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, LOWV or BUFX?

LOWV has the higher dividend yield at 0.90%, compared with 0.00% for BUFX.

What is the main difference between LOWV and BUFX?

LOWV is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while BUFX is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: AllianceBernstein and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for LOWV and 0.96% for BUFX.