TJUL vs. BUFR

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

TJUL (Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF – 2 Yr to July 2025) and BUFR (FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - TJUL is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Innovator, while BUFR is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, TJUL returned 5.85% vs 17.61% for BUFR. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. TJUL charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for BUFR.

Performance

TJUL vs. BUFR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF – 2 Yr to July 2025 (TJUL) and FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TJUL achieves a 2.08% return, which is significantly lower than BUFR's 6.42% return.

TJUL

• 1D: -0.05%
• 1M: 0.62%
• YTD: 2.08%
• 6M: 2.41%
• 1Y: 5.85%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BUFR

• 1D: -0.21%
• 1M: 2.16%
• YTD: 6.42%
• 6M: 7.11%
• 1Y: 17.61%
• 3Y*: 14.50%
• 5Y*: 9.98%
• 10Y*: —

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

TJUL vs. BUFR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
TJUL Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF – 2 Yr to July 2025	2.08%	6.55%	8.18%	3.05%
BUFR FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF	6.42%	12.44%	14.68%	4.40%

Correlation

The correlation between TJUL and BUFR is 0.63, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.63
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 19, 2023	0.76

The correlation between TJUL and BUFR shifts across timeframes, from 0.63 (1 year) to 0.76 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

TJUL vs. BUFR - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	TJUL	BUFR
Technology	33.6%	35.8%
Financial Services	12.4%	11.8%
Communication Services	10.5%	11.3%
Consumer Cyclical	10.0%	10.2%
Healthcare	9.5%	8.4%
Industrials	8.5%	7.9%
Consumer Defensive	5.3%	4.9%
Energy	4.0%	3.5%
Utilities	2.5%	2.4%
Real Estate	2.0%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.9%	1.8%

Return for Risk

TJUL vs. BUFR — Risk / Return Rank

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

TJUL

TJUL Risk / Return Rank: 65
TJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
TJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
TJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 67
TJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
TJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 71

BUFR

BUFR Risk / Return Rank: 84
BUFR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
BUFR Sortino Ratio Rank: 86
BUFR Omega Ratio Rank: 87
BUFR Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
BUFR Martin Ratio Rank: 89

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.

TJUL vs. BUFR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF – 2 Yr to July 2025 (TJUL) and FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR). 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.

	TJUL	BUFR	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.12	2.71	-0.59
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.12	3.95	-0.83
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.41	1.55	-0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.82	3.84	-1.02
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.10	20.78	-7.68
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

TJUL vs. BUFR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TJUL Sharpe Ratio is 2.12, which is comparable to the BUFR Sharpe Ratio of 2.71. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TJUL and BUFR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	TJUL	BUFR	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.12	2.71	-0.59
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.96	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.64	1.07	+0.56

Drawdowns

TJUL vs. BUFR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TJUL drawdown since its inception was -4.61%, smaller than the maximum BUFR drawdown of -13.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TJUL and BUFR.

Drawdown Indicators

	TJUL	BUFR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-4.61%	-13.73%	+9.12%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.08%	-4.61%	+2.53%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.81%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-13.73%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.12%	-0.21%	+0.09%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.39%	-2.09%	+1.70%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.45%	0.85%	-0.40%

Volatility

TJUL vs. BUFR - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF – 2 Yr to July 2025 (TJUL) is 0.51%, while FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) has a volatility of 1.03%. This indicates that TJUL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BUFR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TJUL	BUFR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.51%	1.03%	-0.52%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.14%	4.95%	-2.81%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.77%	6.53%	-3.76%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.26%	10.44%	-6.18%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.26%	10.23%	-5.97%

TJUL vs. BUFR - Expense Ratio Comparison

TJUL has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFR's 0.95% expense ratio.

Dividends

TJUL vs. BUFR - Dividend Comparison

Neither TJUL nor BUFR has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TJUL and BUFR in my portfolio?

TJUL and BUFR have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TJUL or BUFR?

BUFR has higher volatility (1.03%) compared to TJUL (0.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TJUL dropped -4.61% vs BUFR's -13.73%.

Which ETF is better, TJUL or BUFR?

On 1-year performance, BUFR leads with 17.61% vs 5.85% for TJUL. On fees, TJUL is cheaper at 0.79% per year. On volatility, TJUL has been the lower-risk option at 0.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TJUL or BUFR?

Over the 1-year period, BUFR has performed better with a 17.61% return vs 5.85%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TJUL or BUFR?

TJUL is cheaper with a 0.79% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for BUFR.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, TJUL or BUFR?

TJUL and BUFR have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between TJUL and BUFR?

TJUL is categorized as Options Trading, while BUFR is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: Innovator and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for TJUL and 0.95% for BUFR.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BUFR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.71 vs 2.12), 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.