BUFP vs VYM
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BUFP or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $251M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 16 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +8.83% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.26% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 10.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $13,122 | $14,454Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 VYM 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 VYM Performance
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF (BUFP) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFP returned +12.26% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, BUFP is up 8.83% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.3% 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 -14.5% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFP charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFP currently yields 0.01% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFP and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% 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 557 in VYM, against full books of 16 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BUFP (97.1% of the fund), and 12 for BUFP that do not appear in VYM (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 VYM 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 VYM?
BUFP has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFP or VYM?
Over the past year BUFP returned +12.26% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUFP annualized +12.54% vs +17.37% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFP or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.3% annualized versus 6.1% for BUFP. Worst drawdown: BUFP -12.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BUFP and VYM?
BUFP and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, BUFP or VYM?
BUFP yields 0.01% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BUFP?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% 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.