Compare · 2 funds side by side · dividends reinvested

SMAX and BUFQ

SMAXiShares×BUFQFirst Trust×
$10BUFQ$53SMAX0.10%BUFQ · $10 a year on $10kSMAX · $53 a yearStory of the two · CostLowest cost
01 / 03

SMAX and BUFQ, Ranked

Today
FundFeeYieldYTD1 year3 yrs · yr5 yrs · yrWorst dropVolatilityAssetsAvg rank
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETFDefined Outcome · Buffer0.10%0.00%+9.8%+11.0%+16.5%[…]−5.4%9.7%$1.7B1.4
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETFDefined Outcome · Buffer0.53%0.92%+6.3%+7.2%[…][…]−1.9%2.7%$128M1.5
Rank among the two1st → 2ndFee, drop and volatility: lower ranks higherAvg rank: mean of the 8 ranks · 1 is best
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · returns include dividends · since: SMAX 2024 · BUFQ 2022
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Head to Head

5Y
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF · $128M[…]
SMAX
BUFQ
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF · $1.7B[…]

$10,000 five years ago, dividends reinvested · they hold 0.0% in common

SMAXMeasureBUFQ
+6.3%Year to dateJan 1 → Nov 4+9.8%
+7.2%1 yearTotal return+11.0%
[…]3 years · per year$10,000 became […] · $15,797+16.5%
[…]5 years · per year[…]
0.53%Expense ratio$53 · $10 a year on $10k · lower is better0.10%
0.92%Trailing 12-mo yield$92 · $0 a year on $10k0.00%
−1.9%Worst dropSmaller is better−5.4%
2.7%VolatilityLower is calmer9.7%
SMAXBUFQ Winner of the row, in its colourEach row: the bigger of the two fills its side
3–3Level
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · returns include dividends · 3Y and 5Y figures are per-year returns
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

More Ways to See the Pairs

SMAX vs BUFQ: Top 5 Holdings

Today
SMAX
97.0%in top 5
BUFQ
in top 5100.0%
SMAXStockBUFQ
97.0%IVVnot top 5
not top 5QMAR25.4%
not top 5QDEC25.1%
not top 5QSPT24.8%
not top 5QJUN24.6%
Held in common0.0%
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · share of each fund
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

SMAX vs BUFQ Returns, Every Period

1Y
iSharesSMAX
+7.2%
past year
BUFQFirst Trust
+11.0%
past year
0%+5%+10%+15%+6.3%+9.8%YTD+7.2%+11.0%1 year
SMAXBUFQFaded: behind in that period
0–2BUFQ wins
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · dividends in · faded = behind in that period
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

SMAX vs BUFQ

YTD
iSharesSMAX
+6.3%
BUFQFirst Trust
+9.8%
Jan 1Nov 4+6.3%+9.8%
+6.3%Year to date+9.8%
−1.9%Worst drop · 1Y−5.4%
2.7%Volatility · 1Y9.7%
0.9%Yield0.0%
$128MAssets$1.7B
3–1SMAX wins
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · smaller drop and lower volatility win
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Cost, Income and Risk

Fees: SMAX, BUFQ

Today
0.10%lowest, BUFQ
FundExpense ratioFee$10k
BUFQ0.10%$10
SMAX0.53%$53
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · fee on $10,000 a year
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Yields: SMAX, BUFQ

1Y
0.92%highest, SMAX
FundTrailing yieldYield$10k
SMAX0.92%$92
BUFQ0.00%$0
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · trailing 12-month yield
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Income After Fees on $10,000

1Y
$39most kept, SMAX
SMAX$92 − $53 = $39
BUFQ$0 − $10 = −$10
KeptFee
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · yield in dollars minus the fee
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Overlap: SMAX, BUFQ

Today
0.0%most shared, SMAX and BUFQ
SMAXBUFQ
SMAX—0.0%
BUFQ0.0%—
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · share held in common · outlined: the pair in versus
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Return vs Bumpiness: 2 ETFs

1Y
+11.0%BUFQ, at 9.7% volatility
0%+5%+10%+15%2%4%6%8%10%12%Volatility · 1 year → bumpierBUFQ +11.0%SMAX +7.2%
SMAXWorst drop−1.9%2.7% vol
BUFQWorst drop−5.4%9.7% vol
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026 · up and left is better
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Paid More vs Made More

YTD
SMAXBUFQ
Jan 1Nov 4+6.3%+9.8%
+6.3%Year to date+9.8%
0.9%Yield0.0%
+7.2%Past year+11.0%
0.53%Fee0.10%
3–1BUFQ wins
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

Popular Pairs Near These Two

SCHD vs VIG

YTD
SchwabSCHD
+35.3%
VIGVanguard
+16.4%
Jan 1Nov 4+35.3%+16.4%
+35.3%Year to date+16.4%
2.9%Yield1.4%
$123BAssets$109B
2–0SCHD wins
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

JEPQ vs JEPI

YTD
J.P. MorganJEPQ
+8.5%
JEPIJ.P. Morgan
+8.8%
Jan 1Nov 4+8.5%+8.8%
+8.5%Year to date+8.8%
12.2%Yield7.8%
$42.1BAssets$46.1B
1–1level
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com

SPYM vs SPY

YTD
SPDRSPYM
+13.4%
SPYSPDR
+13.3%
Jan 1Nov 4+13.4%+13.3%
+13.4%Year to date+13.3%
1.0%Yield1.0%
$182BAssets$805B
1–0SPYM wins
End-of-day Nov 4, 2026
@TheETFTracker·theetftracker.com