FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January Price & Performance (FJAN)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has significantly reduced its position in the FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF – October, selling over 92% of its holdings in the last quarter. Meanwhile, other institutional investors, including Kestra Private Wealth and Brookstone Capital, have modestly increased their exposure, reflecting mixed sentiment among large investors.12

A new unit investment trust, Vest Large Cap Deep Buffered 30 Portfolio, Series 38, launched on May 5, 2025, provides investors with up to 30% downside buffer on SPY and capped returns of up to 11.42% before fees. The trust uses FLEX options and is designed for buy-and-hold investors until August 2026.23

The FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF (BUFR) gained 5.39% over the past year, compared to the S&P 500’s 8.06%. While trailing the index, BUFR’s buffered strategy resulted in a smaller decline during downturns, with a three-year return of 35.06% versus the S&P 500’s 40.34%, highlighting its risk-managed approach.45