BUFF vs VOO
Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BUFF or VOO?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.7%.
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 | BUFF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $990M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 28 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +7.52% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.39% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.96% | +21.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.89% | +13.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,309 | $18,490Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.7% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (9.9 years).
BUFF vs VOO 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
BUFF vs VOO Performance
Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFF returned +10.39% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, BUFF is up 7.52% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Over three years, BUFF compounded at +11.96% per year against +21.25% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +8.89% and +13.08% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.60% annualized vs +7.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 13.3% for BUFF. 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 -46.2% for BUFF and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFF charges 0.89% per year while VOO 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, BUFF currently yields 0.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFF and 494 in VOO, totalling 99.9% and 99.5% 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 BUFF and 494 in VOO, against full books of 28 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for BUFF (99.2% of the fund), and 12 for BUFF that do not appear in VOO (99.9%).
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 BUFF and VOO 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, BUFF or VOO?
BUFF has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFF or VOO?
Over the past year BUFF returned +10.39% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), BUFF annualized +7.90% vs +14.60% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFF or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.3% for BUFF. Worst drawdown: BUFF -46.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both BUFF and VOO?
BUFF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, BUFF or VOO?
BUFF yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than BUFF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.