PSFD vs. BUFX

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

PSFD (Pacer Swan SOS Flex (December) ETF) and BUFX (FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PSFD is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Pacer, while BUFX is a Defined Outcome fund managed by First Trust. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure. PSFD charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.96%/yr for BUFX.

Performance

PSFD vs. BUFX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer Swan SOS Flex (December) ETF (PSFD) 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, PSFD achieves a 6.69% return, which is significantly higher than BUFX's 4.14% return.

PSFD

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 2.33%
• YTD: 6.69%
• 6M: 7.90%
• 1Y: 18.41%
• 3Y*: 15.00%
• 5Y*: 11.94%
• 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)

PSFD vs. BUFX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
PSFD Pacer Swan SOS Flex (December) ETF	6.69%	8.92%
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF	4.14%	5.62%

Correlation

The correlation between PSFD and BUFX is 0.87, 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	0.87

Return for Risk

PSFD vs. BUFX — Risk / Return Rank

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

PSFD

PSFD Risk / Return Rank: 80
PSFD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
PSFD Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
PSFD Omega Ratio Rank: 88
PSFD Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
PSFD Martin Ratio Rank: 81

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.

PSFD vs. BUFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Swan SOS Flex (December) ETF (PSFD) 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.

	PSFD	BUFX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.72	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	4.01	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.57	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.20	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	16.43	—	—
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

	PSFD	BUFX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.72	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.14	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.25	2.70	-1.46

Drawdowns

PSFD vs. BUFX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PSFD drawdown since its inception was -14.94%, which is greater than BUFX's maximum drawdown of -2.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSFD and BUFX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PSFD	BUFX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.94%	-2.87%	-12.07%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.88%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.26%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.94%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.02%	+0.02%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.02%	-0.24%	-1.78%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.15%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	PSFD	BUFX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.16%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.61%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.80%	3.99%	+2.81%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.48%	3.99%	+6.49%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	10.43%	3.99%	+6.44%

PSFD vs. BUFX - Expense Ratio Comparison

PSFD has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFX's 0.96% expense ratio.

Dividends

PSFD vs. BUFX - Dividend Comparison

Neither PSFD nor BUFX has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PSFD and BUFX in my portfolio?

PSFD and BUFX have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, PSFD or BUFX?

On fees, PSFD is cheaper at 0.75% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, PSFD or BUFX?

PSFD is cheaper with a 0.75% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for BUFX.

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

PSFD and BUFX have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between PSFD and BUFX?

PSFD is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while BUFX is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for PSFD and 0.96% for BUFX.