BUFQ ETF — FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF

FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF (BUFQ)

BUFQ is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100 (via QQQ). As of August 20, 2026, its distribution rate is 0.00%, its expense ratio is 1.00%. Fund total return is 97.6% over the past 4.2 years, 20.3 points behind SPY at 117.9%.

FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF is an ETF that provides exposure to the Nasdaq-100 through a laddered portfolio of four quarterly buffer funds, each using FLEX Options on QQQ to cap upside returns while protecting against the first 10% of losses within its outcome period. The fund does not currently distribute income and carries an expense ratio of 1.00%. It appeals to equity investors seeking large-cap growth with downside protection, though the capped upside and options-based structure come with complexity and the annual rebalancing of its four-quarter ladder.

BUFQ performance versus SPY

Data as of August 20, 2026.

Fund total return is 97.6% over the past 4.2 years, 20.3 points behind SPY at 117.9%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 5.4%.

BUFQ key facts

Data as of August 20, 2026.

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

03/24/2022

Expense ratio

1.00%

Distribution rate

0.00%

Distribution frequency

Annual

Last close

$39.42

AUM

$1,588,222,031

Average volume

130408.0

Beta

0.62

P/E ratio

32.2454

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.00%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 20, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 20, 2026.

Primary sources: First Trust fund page; Index: Nasdaq 100 (via QQQ); prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

BUFQ risks and drawbacks

Payments are annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 5.4%.

Who may consider BUFQ — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (BUFQ pays annual); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

More funds from First Trust.