BAFE vs BUFZ
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF
Which is better, BAFE or BUFZ?
Each has led over a different period.
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, BUFZ over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BAFE | BUFZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $1.8B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 90 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +9.97%Best | +8.14% |
| 1Y Return | +12.65%Best | +11.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 5.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -10.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,035 | $12,049Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.4%Best | 83.3% |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Oct 25, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs BUFZ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAFE vs BUFZ Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% while BUFZ returned +11.02%. Year to date, BAFE is up 9.97% versus a gain of 8.14% for BUFZ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAFE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 5.3% for BUFZ. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -18.4% for BAFE and -10.1% for BUFZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while BUFZ charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $95 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 0.00% for BUFZ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 42 holdings in BAFE and 12 in BUFZ, totalling 98.4% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 12 in BUFZ, against full books of 90 and 26.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for BUFZ that do not appear in our book for BAFE (99.9% of the fund), and 37 for BAFE that do not appear in BUFZ (82.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BAFE and BUFZ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAFE or BUFZ?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while BUFZ charges 0.95%. BAFE is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or BUFZ?
Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% vs +11.02% for BUFZ, so BAFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.24% vs +10.31% for BUFZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or BUFZ?
BAFE has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 5.3% for BUFZ. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs BUFZ -10.1%.
Should I hold both BAFE and BUFZ?
BAFE and BUFZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or BUFZ?
BAFE yields 0.27% while BUFZ yields 0.00%, so BAFE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BUFZ better than BAFE?
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, BUFZ over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.