ETF Evaluator:
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Defined Outcome Over the Last Year
| 23.7% | Innovator U.S. Small Cp Pwr Buf ETF -Nov (KNOV) |
| 23.2% | Innovator U.S. Small Cp Pwr Buf ETF -Feb (KFEB) |
| 21.9% | Innovator U.S. Small Cp Pwr Buf ETF -Mar (KMAR) |
| 21.9% | Innovator US Small Cap Pwr Buff ETF™ Oct (KOCT) |
| 21.1% | FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Mod Buf ETF-Feb (SFEB) |
Risk
Index
Risk
Index
ETF Details
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF Overview
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF (ABUF) is an actively managed Nontraditional Equity Defined Outcome exchange-traded fund (ETF). APTUS ETFs launched the ETF in 2026.
The investment seeks to provide investors with capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest substantially all of its assets in the Underlying ETFs, which seek to provide investors with returns that match the share price performance of SPY up to a pre-determined upside cap, before fees and expenses, while providing a buffer against the first 15% of SPY losses, before fees and expenses, over a defined twelve-month period.
About Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF (ABUF)
There are 5 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.33 years: John Gardner (2026), John Tyner (2026), Mark Callahan (2026), Brad Rapking (2026) and David Wagner (2026). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has 6 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 100.0% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Nontraditional Equity ETF group. Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has 1.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 193.2% There is 1.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has -94.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $7 million in total assets, which is below the $183 million average for the Defined Outcome category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
ABUF Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Defined Outcome category. Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has an expense ratio of 0.30%, which is 58% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 0%, which indicates that it holds its assets around /years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 3% for the Defined Outcome category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF returned 0.6%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Defined Outcome category had an average return of 0.2%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
Aptus Laddered Buffer ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 0.48% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
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ABUF Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| ABUF Return (NAV) | 0.6% | 3.3% | na | na | na | na |
| ABUF Return (Price) | 0.2% | 3.3% | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.422% | -0.085% | na | na | na | na |
| Defined Outcome Avg | 0.2% | 2.2% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 8.6% | na |
| ABUF Grade (NAV) | B | A | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.4% | 1.1% | na | na | na | na |
| ABUF Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | na | na | na | na |
ABUF Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ABUF Return (NAV) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| ABUF Return (Price) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Defined Outcome Avg | 5.8% | 11.3% | 12.4% | 18.5% | -8.8% | 9.7% | 7.7% | 16.4% | -6.7% | 15.8% | na |
| ABUF Grade (NAV) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | -- |
| Total Assets: | $ 7 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 7 Mil |
| Turnover: | na |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.30% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | N/A |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 5 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 0.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 0.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Gardner John (2026), Tyner John (2026), Callahan Mark (2026), Rapking Brad (2026), Wagner David (2026) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 6 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 100.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 1.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 193.2% |
| Foreign Stock: | 1.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | -0.0% |
| Cash: | -94.2% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | APTUS ETFs |
| Phone Number: | 800-617-0004 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | March 31, 2026 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.30% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.72% |
