YEAR vs. BUFI

Last updated Jun 25, 2026

YEAR (AB Ultra Short Income ETF) and BUFI (AB International Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - YEAR is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein, while BUFI is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, YEAR returned 3.61% vs 12.33% for BUFI. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. YEAR charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BUFI.

Performance

YEAR vs. BUFI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) and AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, YEAR achieves a 1.33% return, which is significantly lower than BUFI's 4.95% return.

YEAR

• 1D: 0.06%
• 1M: 0.30%
• YTD: 1.33%
• 6M: 1.41%
• 1Y: 3.61%
• 3Y*: 4.98%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BUFI

• 1D: -0.13%
• 1M: 0.21%
• YTD: 4.95%
• 6M: 4.82%
• 1Y: 12.33%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

YEAR vs. BUFI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	1.33%	4.69%	0.20%
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF	4.95%	16.50%	-1.18%

Correlation

The correlation between YEAR and BUFI is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.18
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 10, 2024	0.21

Return for Risk

YEAR vs. BUFI — Risk / Return Rank

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

YEAR

YEAR Risk / Return Rank: 98
YEAR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Omega Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Martin Ratio Rank: 98

BUFI

BUFI Risk / Return Rank: 50
BUFI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 46
BUFI Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
BUFI Omega Ratio Rank: 50
BUFI Calmar Ratio Rank: 50
BUFI Martin Ratio Rank: 56

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.

YEAR vs. BUFI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) and AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI). 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.

	YEAR	BUFI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.63	1.44	+3.19
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	8.31	2.13	+6.18
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.08	1.28	+0.80
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	15.94	2.18	+13.77
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	68.69	8.65	+60.05

YEAR vs. BUFI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current YEAR Sharpe Ratio is 4.63, which is higher than the BUFI Sharpe Ratio of 1.44. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of YEAR and BUFI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

YEAR vs. BUFI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum YEAR drawdown since its inception was -0.64%, smaller than the maximum BUFI drawdown of -7.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for YEAR and BUFI.

Drawdown Indicators

	YEAR	BUFI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.64%	-7.43%	+6.79%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.23%	-5.69%	+5.46%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.43%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-1.08%	+1.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.06%	-0.84%	+0.78%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.05%	1.43%	-1.38%

Volatility

YEAR vs. BUFI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) is 0.29%, while AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI) has a volatility of 2.38%. This indicates that YEAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BUFI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	YEAR	BUFI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.29%	2.38%	-2.09%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.54%	7.33%	-6.79%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.78%	8.62%	-7.84%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	1.15%	9.15%	-8.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	1.15%	9.15%	-8.00%

YEAR vs. BUFI - Expense Ratio Comparison

YEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFI's 0.69% expense ratio.

Dividends

YEAR vs. BUFI - Dividend Comparison

YEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.14%, while BUFI has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	4.14%	4.33%	5.16%	5.00%	1.19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both YEAR and BUFI in my portfolio?

YEAR and BUFI have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, YEAR or BUFI?

BUFI has higher volatility (2.38%) compared to YEAR (0.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, YEAR dropped -0.64% vs BUFI's -7.43%.

Which ETF is better, YEAR or BUFI?

On 1-year performance, BUFI leads with 12.33% vs 3.61% for YEAR. On fees, YEAR is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, YEAR has been the lower-risk option at 0.29%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, YEAR or BUFI?

Over the 1-year period, BUFI has performed better with a 12.33% return vs 3.61%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, YEAR or BUFI?

YEAR is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.69% for BUFI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, YEAR or BUFI?

YEAR has the higher dividend yield at 4.14%, compared with 0.00% for BUFI.

What is the main difference between YEAR and BUFI?

YEAR is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while BUFI is Defined Outcome. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for YEAR and 0.69% for BUFI.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

YEAR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.63 vs 1.44), 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.