QUAL vs. BUFX
QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) and BUFX (FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - QUAL is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, while BUFX is a Defined Outcome fund managed by First Trust. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. QUAL charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.96%/yr for BUFX.
Performance
QUAL vs. BUFX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QUAL achieves a 8.80% return, which is significantly higher than BUFX's 4.10% return.
QUAL
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- 4.62%
- YTD
- 8.80%
- 6M
- 8.86%
- 1Y
- 21.68%
- 3Y*
- 19.66%
- 5Y*
- 11.96%
- 10Y*
- 14.27%
BUFX
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- 1.35%
- YTD
- 4.10%
- 6M
- 4.88%
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
QUAL vs. BUFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 8.80% | 11.34% |
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF | 4.10% | 5.62% |
Correlation
The correlation between QUAL and BUFX is 0.86, 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 | 0.86 |
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Return for Risk
QUAL vs. BUFX — Risk / Return Rank
QUAL
BUFX
QUAL vs. BUFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) 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.
| QUAL | BUFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | — | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.41 | — | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.00 | — | — |
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
| QUAL | BUFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.84 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.80 | 2.68 | -1.88 |
Drawdowns
QUAL vs. BUFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QUAL drawdown since its inception was -34.06%, which is greater than BUFX's maximum drawdown of -2.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUAL and BUFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QUAL | BUFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.06% | -2.87% | -31.19% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.03% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.00% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.23% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.06% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.16% | -0.07% | -0.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.11% | -0.24% | -3.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.98% | — | — |
Volatility
QUAL vs. BUFX - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| QUAL | BUFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.51% | — | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.03% | — | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.83% | 3.98% | +7.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.33% | 3.98% | +13.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.10% | 3.98% | +14.12% |
QUAL vs. BUFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
QUAL has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFX's 0.96% expense ratio.
Dividends
QUAL vs. BUFX - Dividend Comparison
QUAL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.88%, while BUFX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate 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% |
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 0.88% | 0.94% | 1.02% | 1.23% | 1.59% | 1.20% | 1.39% | 1.60% | 2.00% | 1.76% | 1.96% | 1.63% |
Frequently Asked Questions
QUAL and BUFX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, QUAL is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
QUAL is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for BUFX.
QUAL has the higher dividend yield at 0.88%, compared with 0.00% for BUFX.
QUAL is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while BUFX is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for QUAL and 0.96% for BUFX.
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