BUFX vs IVV
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BUFX or IVV?
Nearly the same fund. IVV costs less.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.4%.
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 | BUFX | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 26 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +6.15% | +12.27%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.85% | +17.04%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.08% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.4%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.9%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,192 | $12,640Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.4% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.2 years).
BUFX vs IVV 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
BUFX vs IVV Performance
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFX) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year BUFX returned +8.85% while IVV returned +17.04%. Year to date, BUFX is up 6.15% versus a gain of 12.27% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 3.4% for BUFX. 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 -2.9% for BUFX and -8.9% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFX charges 0.96% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $3 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFX currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFX and 490 in IVV, totalling 99.9% and 99.3% 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 BUFX and 490 in IVV, against full books of 26 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for BUFX (98.6% of the fund), and 12 for BUFX that do not appear in IVV (99.9%).
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 BUFX and IVV 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, BUFX or IVV?
BUFX has an expense ratio of 0.96% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFX or IVV?
Over the past year BUFX returned +8.85% vs +17.04% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFX annualized +9.84% vs +21.56% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFX or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 3.4% for BUFX. Worst drawdown: BUFX -2.9% vs IVV -8.9%.
Should I hold both BUFX and IVV?
BUFX and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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, BUFX or IVV?
BUFX yields 0.00% while IVV yields 1.06%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than BUFX?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.