BUFR vs SCHD
FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, BUFR or SCHD?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUFR led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% 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 | BUFR | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $10.5B | $112.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 3.00% |
| Holdings | 26 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +8.98% | +24.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.56% | +27.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.07% | +15.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.98%Best | +9.97% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.4%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -16.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,090Best | $16,083 |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 41.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 10, 2020 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 11, 2020 to Sep 17, 2026 (6.1 years).
BUFR vs SCHD 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 6.1 years both funds cover.
BUFR vs SCHD Performance
FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year BUFR returned +12.56% while SCHD returned +27.90%. Year to date, BUFR is up 8.98% versus a gain of 24.23% for SCHD.
Over three years, BUFR compounded at +14.07% per year against +15.55% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +9.98% and +9.97% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +10.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCHD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 9.4% for BUFR. 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 -13.7% for BUFR and -16.9% for SCHD. 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
BUFR charges 0.95% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $6 annually, a gap of $89 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFR currently yields 0.00% against 3.00% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFR and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% 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 BUFR and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 26 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for BUFR (99.9% of the fund), and 12 for BUFR that do not appear in SCHD (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 BUFR and SCHD 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, BUFR or SCHD?
BUFR has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $89 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFR or SCHD?
Over the past year BUFR returned +12.56% vs +27.90% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BUFR annualized +10.83% vs +13.39% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFR or SCHD?
SCHD has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 9.4% for BUFR. Worst drawdown: BUFR -13.7% vs SCHD -16.9%.
Should I hold both BUFR and SCHD?
BUFR and SCHD 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, BUFR or SCHD?
BUFR yields 0.00% while SCHD yields 3.00%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than BUFR?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. BUFR led over 5Y, SCHD over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.8% 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.