FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 0.66: the stock has moved about 34% less than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 18, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerFT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) trades at $29.96. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 18, 2026Analyst Coverage for BUFG: BUFG does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) Financial Services Profile
FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) provides investors with capital appreciation through a portfolio of buffered ETFs linked to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), offering defined downside protection and capped upside, managed by First Trust and Vest Financial.
What Is the Investment Thesis for BUFG?
BUFG offers a unique investment strategy by providing exposure to the S&P 500 with a degree of downside protection and capped upside. The fund's appeal lies in its ability to mitigate losses during market downturns, making it suitable for risk-averse investors seeking capital appreciation. However, the capped upside limits potential gains in strong bull markets. The fund's performance is directly tied to the performance of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the effectiveness of the underlying ETFs' buffered strategies. Investors may want to evaluate the potential limitations on returns due to the caps and the fact that the fund itself does not provide a buffer. As of March 18, 2026, the market cap is $0.30 billion and the beta is 0.66, indicating lower volatility compared to the broader market. The absence of a dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
BUFG Key Highlights
Market cap of $0.30 billion indicates a moderate size within the ETF market.
- Beta of 0.66 suggests lower volatility compared to the S&P 500, appealing to risk-averse investors.
- The fund's investment strategy focuses on capital appreciation through buffered ETFs linked to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).
- Managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. and sub-advised by Vest Financial LLC, providing experienced management.
- The fund offers a defined buffer against losses, providing downside protection during market downturns.
Who Are BUFG's Competitors?
BUFG is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJAN Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF | $60.81 | +0.55% | $347M | — |
| DAPR FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - April | $41.88 | +0.34% | $334M | — |
| DJUN FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | $50.31 | +0.50% | $365M | — |
| DMAY FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | $48.07 | +0.42% | $304M | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1127.66 | +0.84% | $175B | 49 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $119.06 | +0.92% | $137B | 59 5-pillar |
| BAM Brookfield Asset Management | $47.04 | +0.02% | $75.1B | 75 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.06 | -0.28% | $66.5B | 55 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are BUFG's Key Strengths?
Defined buffer against losses.
- Managed by experienced advisors (First Trust and Vest Financial).
- Focus on capital appreciation.
- Lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 (beta of 0.66).
What Are BUFG's Weaknesses?
Capped upside potential.
- Fund itself does not provide a buffer; relies on underlying ETFs.
- May not fully benefit from the buffers of the Underlying ETFs.
- No dividend yield.
What Are the Key Risks for BUFG?
Market volatility impacting the performance of underlying ETFs.
- Changes in interest rates affecting investment returns.
- Competition from other buffered ETFs.
- Capped upside potential limiting returns in strong bull markets.
What Are BUFG's Competitive Advantages?
- Expertise of First Trust Advisors L.P. and Vest Financial LLC in managing buffered ETFs.
- Defined buffer against losses provides a competitive advantage in volatile markets.
- Established track record of providing capital appreciation with downside protection.
What Does BUFG Do?
The FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) was created to provide investors with capital appreciation. The fund achieves this objective by investing in a portfolio of other exchange-traded funds (ETFs), specifically those that aim to mirror the returns of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). These underlying ETFs are designed to provide returns based on the price return of SPY, up to a predetermined cap, while also offering a defined buffer against losses over a one-year period. Under normal market conditions, BUFG invests substantially all of its assets in these Underlying ETFs. Both BUFG and the Underlying ETFs are advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust"), with Vest Financial LLC ("Vest") serving as the sub-advisor. PDR Services, LLC sponsors SPY. The investment objective of SPY is to provide investment results that, before expenses, generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index. It is important to note that unlike the Underlying ETFs, BUFG itself does not pursue a defined outcome strategy. The buffer against losses is provided solely by the Underlying ETFs, and BUFG does not offer any stated buffer. Consequently, BUFG may not fully benefit from the buffers of the Underlying ETFs and could experience limited upside potential. The fund's returns may be limited to the caps of the Underlying ETFs, which can impact its overall performance in rapidly rising markets.
What Products and Services Does BUFG Offer?
- Invests in a portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
- Seeks capital appreciation for investors.
- Provides returns based on the price return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).
- Offers a defined buffer against losses of SPY over a one-year period through underlying ETFs.
- Managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. and sub-advised by Vest Financial LLC.
- Aims to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index.
How Does BUFG Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees charged on the assets under management (AUM).
- AUM is driven by investor inflows and the performance of the underlying ETFs.
- The fund's profitability depends on its ability to attract and retain investors, as well as manage expenses effectively.
What Industry Does BUFG Operate In?
BUFG operates within the asset management industry, specifically in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) segment. The ETF market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by increasing investor demand for low-cost, diversified investment options. Buffered ETFs, like those used by BUFG, have gained popularity as investors seek strategies to manage risk and volatility. The competitive landscape includes a variety of asset managers offering similar buffered and defined outcome ETFs. BUFG differentiates itself through its specific allocation strategy and the expertise of its advisors, First Trust and Vest Financial.
Who Are BUFG's Key Customers?
- Retail investors seeking capital appreciation with downside protection.
- Financial advisors looking for investment solutions for their clients.
- Institutional investors seeking to manage risk and volatility in their portfolios.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is an etf, not an operating company
BUFG Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Defined buffer against losses.
- Managed by experienced advisors (First Trust and Vest Financial).
- Focus on capital appreciation.
- Lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 (beta of 0.66).
Bear Case
- Capped upside potential.
- Fund itself does not provide a buffer; relies on underlying ETFs.
- May not fully benefit from the buffers of the Underlying ETFs.
- No dividend yield.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
BUFG Latest News
No recent news available for BUFG.
BUFG Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for BUFG.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for BUFG.
BUFG MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for BUFG; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
Common Questions About BUFG (Financials)
What do analysts say about BUFG stock?
As of March 18, 2026, there is no specific analyst consensus available for BUFG. However, the fund's performance is closely tied to the performance of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the effectiveness of the underlying ETFs' buffered strategies.
What are the tax implications of investing in BUFG?
The tax implications of investing in BUFG depend on the investor's individual circumstances and the holding period. As an ETF, BUFG is subject to capital gains taxes when shares are sold at a profit. The underlying ETFs may also generate taxable distributions, which are passed on to BUFG shareholders.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- The information provided is based on available data and may be subject to change.