BUFG vs QQQ
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BUFG or QQQ?
Option Writing against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | BUFG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.13% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $331M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 16 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +9.19% | +21.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.11% | +23.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.09% | +28.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.76% | +15.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 20.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.6%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,218 | $20,841Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2021 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2021 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.9 years).
BUFG vs QQQ 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 4.9 years both funds cover.
BUFG vs QQQ Performance
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BUFG returned +12.11% while QQQ returned +23.58%. Year to date, BUFG is up 9.19% versus a gain of 21.22% for QQQ.
Over three years, BUFG compounded at +15.09% per year against +28.18% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +8.76% and +15.82% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% compared with 10.5% for BUFG. 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 -17.6% for BUFG and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFG charges 1.13% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $113 vs $18 annually, a gap of $95 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFG currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in BUFG and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in BUFG and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 16 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BUFG (97.5% of the fund), and 7 for BUFG that do not appear in QQQ (100.0%).
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 BUFG and QQQ 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, BUFG or QQQ?
BUFG has an expense ratio of 1.13% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $95 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFG or QQQ?
Over the past year BUFG returned +12.11% vs +23.58% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 10.5% for BUFG. Worst drawdown: BUFG -17.6% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BUFG and QQQ?
BUFG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, BUFG or QQQ?
BUFG yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BUFG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.