BUFR ETF — FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF

FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR)

Updated October 8, 2026.

BUFR is an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 (via SPY). its expense ratio is 0.95%. Total return is 88.0% over the past 6.2 years, 62.1 points behind SPY at 150.1%.

FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF is an ETF that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. equities through a laddered portfolio of twelve monthly outcome periods, each using options strategies to cap upside returns while buffering the first 10% of losses on S&P 500 exposure. The fund does not currently distribute income and carries an expense ratio of 0.95%. It appeals to investors seeking downside protection alongside equity market participation, though with a trade-off of capped upside potential.

BUFR performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-08.

Total return is 88.0% over the past 6.2 years, 62.1 points behind SPY at 150.1%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 12.8%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 4.6%.

BUFR key facts

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

08/13/2020

Expense ratio

0.95%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$37.81 (as of 2026-10-08)

AUM

$10,806,592,456

Average volume

902500.0

Beta

0.56

P/E ratio

24.4026

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (the posted rate) 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. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: First Trust or company page; Index: S&P 500 (via SPY); 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.

BUFR risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 4.6%.

Who may consider BUFR — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (BUFR does not currently distribute); 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 securities from First Trust.