BUFD vs HEDG
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF vs Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF
Which is better, BUFD or HEDG?
BUFD has been ahead.
BUFD has a lower expense ratio. BUFD 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 | BUFD | HEDG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $2.2B | $465M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.78% |
| Holdings | 26 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +7.99%Best | +6.78% |
| 1Y Return | +10.75%Best | +10.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.44% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.86% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.7% | 3.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -3.4%Best | -3.9% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,063Best | $11,015 |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | - |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Equable Shares |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Oct 13, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 13, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
BUFD vs HEDG 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 years both funds cover.
BUFD vs HEDG Performance
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF (BUFD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF (HEDG) is an ETF from Equable Shares. Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% while HEDG returned +10.34%. Year to date, BUFD is up 7.99% versus a gain of 6.78% for HEDG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 4.7% compared with 3.6% for HEDG. 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 -3.4% for BUFD and -3.9% for HEDG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFD charges 0.95% per year while HEDG charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $96 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFD currently yields 0.00% against 2.78% for HEDG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFD and 10 in HEDG, totalling 99.9% and 104.3% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in BUFD and 10 in HEDG, against full books of 26 and 10.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 12 and 10 positions we hold weights for.
BUFD holds 12 positions HEDG does not, 99.9% of the fund.
Largest: FTXN 8.37%, CIBR 8.35%, DJAN 8.34%, DFEB 8.34%, DNOV 8.34%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFD and HEDG 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, BUFD or HEDG?
BUFD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while HEDG charges 0.96%. BUFD is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFD or HEDG?
Over the past year BUFD returned +10.75% vs +10.34% for HEDG, so BUFD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFD annualized +10.63% vs +10.15% for HEDG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFD or HEDG?
BUFD has been the more volatile fund at 4.7% annualized versus 3.6% for HEDG. Worst drawdown: BUFD -3.4% vs HEDG -3.9%.
Should I hold both BUFD and HEDG?
BUFD and HEDG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUFD or HEDG?
BUFD yields 0.00% while HEDG yields 2.78%, so HEDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is HEDG better than BUFD?
BUFD has a lower expense ratio. BUFD 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.