BUFT Performance — FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF
Data updated: 2026-07-22
BUFT returned +5.17% year to date and +11.95% over one year to May 2026. The annualised 3-year return is +10.34%. The fund trailed its US Multi-Cap Blend category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $134, against $147 for the category, and to $112 over one year, against $119. Volatility over the past three years was 4.65% a year. In the 12 months to May 2026 the fund took in a net $9.7M, and assets reached $144.85M.
BUFT Growth of $100
What $100 invested in FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the US Multi-Cap Blend category average over the same months.
| Period | BUFT | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jun 2025 – May 2026) | $112 | $119 |
| 3 years (Jun 2023 – May 2026) | $134 | $147 |
| Since data start (Oct 2021 – May 2026) | $129 | $136 |
BUFT Trailing Returns
Total returns to May 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +5.17% |
| 1 year | +11.95% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +10.34% |
BUFT Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–May) | +5.17% |
| 2025 | +9.64% |
| 2024 | +7.77% |
| 2023 | +12.52% |
| 2022 | −8.00% |
| 2021 (Oct–Dec) | +0.50% |
BUFT Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +0.4% | +0.4% | 0.0% | +3.4% | +0.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +1.1% | +0.2% | −1.2% | −0.3% | +3.2% | +2.0% | +0.8% | +0.9% | +0.7% | +0.5% | +0.6% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | +0.9% | +1.1% | +0.6% | −0.5% | +1.9% | +0.6% | +0.5% | +0.6% | +0.2% | +0.2% | +1.2% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | +2.1% | −1.0% | +1.8% | +0.8% | +0.4% | +3.3% | +1.1% | −0.1% | −1.9% | −1.2% | +5.1% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | −0.8% | −1.1% | +1.6% | −3.9% | −0.6% | −3.3% | +2.4% | −1.6% | −2.9% | +2.4% | +1.9% | −2.2% |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.0% | −0.7% | +1.2% |
BUFT Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jun 2023 – May 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 4.65%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 1.26 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +5.08% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −1.89% (Sep 2023)
BUFT Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $9.7M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $303.4M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 1.03×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $1.3M | $0 | $1.3M |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $2.5M | −$2.5M |
| Mar 2026 | $140.5M | $140.6M | −$118K |
| Feb 2026 | $2.5M | $2.5M | $299 |
| Jan 2026 | $2.5M | $0 | $2.5M |
| Dec 2025 | $39.3M | $36.9M | $2.4M |
| Nov 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oct 2025 | $2.4M | $0 | $2.4M |
| Sep 2025 | $37.4M | $36.1M | $1.2M |
| Aug 2025 | $3.6M | $0 | $3.6M |
| Jul 2025 | $2.4M | $0 | $2.4M |
| Jun 2025 | $71.5M | $75.0M | −$3.5M |
BUFT Assets Under Management
Net assets of FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | $144.85M |
| 2026-02-28 | $140.05M |
| 2025-11-30 | $133.00M |
| 2025-08-31 | $127.09M |
| 2025-05-31 | $120.16M |
| 2025-02-28 | $123.94M |
| 2024-11-30 | $118.81M |
| 2024-08-31 | $113.55M |
| 2024-05-31 | $107.27M |
| 2024-02-29 | $99.83M |
| 2023-11-30 | $107.39M |
| 2023-08-31 | $95.43M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.