RND vs. BUFX

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

RND (First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF) and BUFX (FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - RND is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Bloomberg R&D Leaders Select Index, while BUFX is a Defined Outcome fund managed by First Trust. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. RND charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.96%/yr for BUFX.

Performance

RND vs. BUFX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) 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, RND achieves a 1.67% return, which is significantly lower than BUFX's 3.84% return.

RND

• 1D: -1.59%
• 1M: -2.84%
• YTD: 1.67%
• 6M: 0.70%
• 1Y: 20.03%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BUFX

• 1D: -0.27%
• 1M: 0.09%
• YTD: 3.84%
• 6M: 3.89%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

RND vs. BUFX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	1.67%	16.38%
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF	3.84%	5.43%

Correlation

The correlation between RND and BUFX is 0.85, 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 25, 2025	0.85

Return for Risk

RND vs. BUFX — Risk / Return Rank

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

RND

RND Risk / Return Rank: 34
RND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
RND Sortino Ratio Rank: 35
RND Omega Ratio Rank: 35
RND Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
RND Martin Ratio Rank: 33

BUFX

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

RND vs. BUFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	RND	BUFX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.22	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.71	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.29	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.58	—	—

Drawdowns

RND vs. BUFX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RND drawdown since its inception was -23.52%, which is greater than BUFX's maximum drawdown of -2.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RND and BUFX.

Drawdown Indicators

	RND	BUFX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.52%	-2.87%	-20.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.56%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.30%	-0.59%	-4.71%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.71%	-0.24%	-3.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.39%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	RND	BUFX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.27%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.84%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.55%	4.05%	+12.50%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.27%	4.05%	+17.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.27%	4.05%	+17.22%

RND vs. BUFX - Expense Ratio Comparison

RND has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFX's 0.96% expense ratio.

Dividends

RND vs. BUFX - Dividend Comparison

Neither RND nor BUFX has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
BUFX FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RND and BUFX in my portfolio?

RND and BUFX have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, RND or BUFX?

On fees, RND is cheaper at 0.60% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, RND or BUFX?

RND is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for BUFX.

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

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

What is the main difference between RND and BUFX?

RND is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while BUFX is Defined Outcome. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for RND and 0.96% for BUFX.