BUFY vs VYM
FT Vest Laddered International Moderate Buffer ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BUFY or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | BUFY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $163M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 10 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.14% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.62% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.2%Best | 10.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $11,870 | $13,241Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2 years).
BUFY vs VYM 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 2 years both funds cover.
BUFY vs VYM Performance
FT Vest Laddered International Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUFY returned +10.62% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, BUFY is up 7.14% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.6% compared with 6.2% for BUFY. 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 -8.0% for BUFY and -14.5% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUFY charges 1.00% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $4 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUFY currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in BUFY and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% 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 4 positions we hold weights for in BUFY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 10 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUFY and VYM 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, BUFY or VYM?
BUFY has an expense ratio of 1.00% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUFY or VYM?
Over the past year BUFY returned +10.62% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BUFY annualized +8.95% vs +15.07% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUFY or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.6% annualized versus 6.2% for BUFY. Worst drawdown: BUFY -8.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BUFY and VYM?
BUFY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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, BUFY or VYM?
BUFY yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BUFY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.