BUFX vs QQQ
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BUFX or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% 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 | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 26 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +6.15% | +17.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.85% | +22.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +25.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.4%Best | 19.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.9%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,192 | $13,221Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.4% | 46.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
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 QQQ 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 QQQ Performance
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFX) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BUFX returned +8.85% while QQQ returned +22.10%. Year to date, BUFX is up 6.15% versus a gain of 17.21% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% 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 -12.0% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFX charges 0.96% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $18 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFX currently yields 0.00% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFX and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% 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 102 in QQQ, against full books of 26 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BUFX (97.5% of the fund), and 12 for BUFX that do not appear in QQQ (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 QQQ 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 QQQ?
BUFX has an expense ratio of 0.96% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFX or QQQ?
Over the past year BUFX returned +8.85% vs +22.10% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFX annualized +9.84% vs +26.20% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFX or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 3.4% for BUFX. Worst drawdown: BUFX -2.9% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both BUFX and QQQ?
BUFX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, BUFX or QQQ?
BUFX yields 0.00% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BUFX?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% 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.