BFRZ vs VTI
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BFRZ or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | BFRZ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $145M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 370 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +0.64% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.08% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.1%Best | 11.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.1%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,791 | $13,119Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.3 years).
BFRZ vs VTI 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
BFRZ vs VTI Performance
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF (BFRZ) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BFRZ returned +3.08% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, BFRZ is up 0.64% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 4.1% for BFRZ. 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 -3.1% for BFRZ and -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFRZ charges 0.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BFRZ currently yields 0.27% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 93.8% of BFRZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of BFRZ is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, BFRZ as of Sep 1, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
162 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 370 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BFRZ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.77% | 6.32% | 1.45% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.07% | 5.84% | 1.23% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.63% | 3.81% | 1.82% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.98% | 3.17% | 0.81% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.09% | 2.88% | 0.21% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.75% | 2.46% | 0.29% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.57% | 2.27% | 0.30% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.84% | 1.79% | 0.05% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.79% | 1.63% | 0.16% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.60% | 1.40% | 0.20% |
93.8% of BFRZ is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BFRZ or VTI?
BFRZ has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BFRZ or VTI?
Over the past year BFRZ returned +3.08% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BFRZ annualized +6.03% vs +23.22% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFRZ or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 4.1% for BFRZ. Worst drawdown: BFRZ -3.1% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both BFRZ and VTI?
BFRZ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BFRZ and VTI?
At least 93.8% of BFRZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 162 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFRZ or VTI?
BFRZ yields 0.27% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BFRZ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.