BUFP vs VTI
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BUFP or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%.
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 | BUFP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $251M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 16 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +8.83% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.26% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $13,122 | $14,553Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 13, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.3 years).
BUFP 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
BUFP vs VTI Performance
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF (BUFP) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFP returned +12.26% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, BUFP is up 8.83% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 6.1% for BUFP. 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 -12.0% for BUFP and -19.3% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFP charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFP currently yields 0.01% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFP and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 100.0% 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 BUFP and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 16 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 BUFP (97.5% of the fund), and 12 for BUFP that do not appear in VTI (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 BUFP 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, BUFP or VTI?
BUFP has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFP or VTI?
Over the past year BUFP returned +12.26% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUFP annualized +12.54% vs +17.72% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFP or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 6.1% for BUFP. Worst drawdown: BUFP -12.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both BUFP and VTI?
BUFP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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, BUFP or VTI?
BUFP yields 0.01% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BUFP?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.