BUFF vs VTI
Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BUFF or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $990M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 28 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.52% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.39% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.96% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.89% | +11.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,309 | $17,576Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 20, 2016 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (9.9 years).
BUFF 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
BUFF vs VTI Performance
Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) 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 BUFF returned +10.39% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, BUFF is up 7.52% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, BUFF compounded at +11.96% per year against +20.89% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.89% and +11.94% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.09% annualized vs +7.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% 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 -35.0% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFF 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, BUFF currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.9% and 98.1% 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 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 28 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for BUFF (97.5% of the fund), and 12 for BUFF that do not appear in VTI (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 VTI 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 VTI?
BUFF 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, BUFF or VTI?
Over the past year BUFF returned +10.39% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), BUFF annualized +7.90% vs +14.09% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 13.3% for BUFF. Worst drawdown: BUFF -46.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both BUFF and VTI?
BUFF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 VTI?
BUFF yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BUFF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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.