BUFT vs VTI
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BUFT or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | BUFT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.21% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $160M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 16 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.19% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.48% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.51% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.83% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -25.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,275 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.9 years).
BUFT 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 4.9 years both funds cover.
BUFT vs VTI Performance
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF (BUFT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFT returned +9.48% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, BUFT is up 7.19% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, BUFT compounded at +9.51% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.83% and +12.36% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 5.5% for BUFT. 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 -10.4% for BUFT and -25.4% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFT charges 1.21% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $121 vs $3 annually, a gap of $118 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFT currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in BUFT 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 7 positions we hold weights for in BUFT 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 BUFT (97.5% of the fund), and 7 for BUFT 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 BUFT 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, BUFT or VTI?
BUFT has an expense ratio of 1.21% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $118 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFT or VTI?
Over the past year BUFT returned +9.48% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFT or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 5.5% for BUFT. Worst drawdown: BUFT -10.4% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both BUFT and VTI?
BUFT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, 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, BUFT or VTI?
BUFT yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BUFT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.