BUFG vs VOO
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BUFG or VOO?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.13% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $331M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 16 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +9.19% | +14.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.11% | +17.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.09% | +23.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.76% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.6%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,218 | $19,128Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2021 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2021 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.9 years).
BUFG 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 4.9 years both funds cover.
BUFG vs VOO Performance
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFG returned +12.11% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, BUFG is up 9.19% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, BUFG compounded at +15.09% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +8.76% and +13.85% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% 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 -24.5% 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFG charges 1.13% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $113 vs $3 annually, a gap of $110 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFG currently yields 0.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in BUFG and 494 in VOO, totalling 100.0% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in BUFG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 16 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for BUFG (99.2% of the fund), and 7 for BUFG that do not appear in VOO (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 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, BUFG or VOO?
BUFG has an expense ratio of 1.13% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $110 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFG or VOO?
Over the past year BUFG returned +12.11% vs +17.31% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFG or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 10.5% for BUFG. Worst drawdown: BUFG -17.6% vs VOO -24.5%.
Should I hold both BUFG and VOO?
BUFG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUFG or VOO?
BUFG yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than BUFG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.