BUFSFT Vest Laddered Small Cap Mode
Seeks capital appreciation.
By First Trust · Launched 2024
1.01%
#5,243 of 5,861 · expensive
$169M
#2,495 of 5,861 · mid-size
+17.4%
2 years
#3,504 of 5,861 · seasoned
Performance
Total-return NAV · USDTotal-return NAV, USD. Net of fund fees, before tax.
What's inside
How Beacon categorizes this fundWhat it actually holds
By weightConcentration
Top 5 holdings = 100.0% of fundconcentrated
Asset allocation
Risk profile
Last 12 months · Sharpe & Sortino need 3+ yearsYear-on-year price swings
Worst peak-to-trough loss
Needs 3+ years of history
Needs 3+ years of history
Listing
- Exchange
- Cboe BZX
Full fund details
- Objective
- Seeks capital appreciation.
- Strategy
- Invests in a laddered portfolio of four Underlying ETFs to provide small cap equity market exposure while limiting downside risk. The strategy includes a buffer against the first 15% of IWM losses, aiming to benefit from increases in the value of IWM.
- Inception date
- May 29, 2024
- Fund family
- First Trust
Similar funds
Same asset class, closest by strategy & exposureOur take
Structural notes on how this fund behaves. Read our guide on the 6 warning signs.
You can build this cheaper yourself
Defined-outcome funds cap your gains (often 8% to 20%) in exchange for cushioning losses by 9% to 30%, priced with options. The fee runs about 0.70% or more, against 0.03% to 0.10% for a plain index fund. For most investors, a simple stock-and-bond mix gives similar protection for far less.
Sources: Morningstar, 'Buffer Funds Are on the Rise, but They May Not Make Sense for Most Investors' (2025)
Educational analysis of structural product characteristics. Not investment advice. Always read the fund prospectus and consult a qualified advisor before investing. More
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Data updated on 2026-08-04