BUFX vs VTI
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BUFX or VTI?
Nearly the same fund. VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 26 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +6.15% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.85% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.4%Best | 11.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.9%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,192 | $12,650Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.4% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
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 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
BUFX vs VTI Performance
FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFX) 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 BUFX returned +8.85% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, BUFX is up 6.15% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% 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 VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. 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 VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in BUFX and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.9% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in BUFX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 26 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 BUFX (97.5% of the fund), and 12 for BUFX that do not appear in VTI (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 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, BUFX or VTI?
BUFX has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFX or VTI?
Over the past year BUFX returned +8.85% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BUFX annualized +9.84% vs +21.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFX or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 3.4% for BUFX. Worst drawdown: BUFX -2.9% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both BUFX and VTI?
BUFX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 VTI?
BUFX yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BUFX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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.