APXM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April (APXM) belongs to the Defined Outcome category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with APXM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to APXM

APXM charges 0.85% annually. There are 209 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
JANB	Aptus January Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	APXM vs JANB
APRB	Aptus April Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	APXM vs APRB
OCTB	Aptus October Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	APXM vs OCTB
JULB	Aptus July Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	APXM vs JULB
FBUF	Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF	0.48%	—	Apr 2024	APXM vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to APXM

APXM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 99. There is 1 ETF in the Defined Outcome category with a higher risk-adjusted rank, going as high as 99.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	99	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs PMAP
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	99	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs MMAX
PMMY	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May	98	—	Apr 2025	APXM vs PMMY
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	98	18.90M	Apr 2025	APXM vs CPSP
ZAPR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...	98	—	Apr 2025	APXM vs ZAPR

Top Performing APXM Alternatives (YTD)

APXM is at 2.11% YTD. There are 246 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 18.85%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
NVDO	Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...	18.85%	—	Aug 2025	APXM vs NVDO
TMAR	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March	14.45%	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs TMAR
QMAR	FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	13.06%	557.94M	Mar 2021	APXM vs QMAR
PQAP	PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	12.09%	7.34M	Dec 2024	APXM vs PQAP
UXJL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...	11.78%	—	Jul 2025	APXM vs UXJL

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to APXM

APXM has 1.01% 1-year volatility. No ETFs in the Defined Outcome category have lower 1-year volatility; the lowest-volatility alternatives shown here go as low as 1.12%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
PMMY	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May	1.12%	—	Apr 2025	APXM vs PMMY
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	1.15%	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs PMAP
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	1.39%	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs MMAX
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	1.42%	18.90M	Apr 2025	APXM vs CPSP
ZMAY	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May	1.45%	—	May 2025	APXM vs ZMAY

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to APXM

APXM has a 1-year max drawdown of -0.27%. No ETFs in the Defined Outcome category have shallower 1-year drawdowns; the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -0.34%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	-0.34%	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs MMAX
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	-0.34%	—	Mar 2025	APXM vs PMAP
PMMY	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May	-0.36%	—	Apr 2025	APXM vs PMMY
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	-0.37%	18.90M	Apr 2025	APXM vs CPSP
ZMAY	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May	-0.39%	—	May 2025	APXM vs ZMAY

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	26	28.52%	13.68B	Jul 2015	APXM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	79	28.91%	11.29B	Nov 2009	APXM vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-9.70%	133.88M	Feb 2012	APXM vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	78	31.77%	10.62B	Mar 2014	APXM vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	13.33%	7.39B	Mar 2006	APXM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	28	1.69%	591.41M	Mar 2021	APXM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	115.70%	2.52B	Sep 2016	APXM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	83	30.57%	4.66B	Aug 2012	APXM vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	20	2.20%	3.28B	Mar 2018	APXM vs KNG
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	89	52.94%	895.30M	Feb 2007	APXM vs QCLN

Often Compared With APXM

Investors most often compare APXM with PMJA, MAYM, CPSU. These 20 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PMJA	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - January	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	94	2.35%	4.58M	Dec 2024	APXM vs PMJA
MAYM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	94	2.33%	—	May 2025	APXM vs MAYM
CPSU	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ju...	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	96	2.29%	13.10M	Jun 2025	APXM vs CPSU
PMJN	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - June	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	95	2.33%	—	May 2025	APXM vs PMJN
RSDE	FT Vest U.S. Equity Equal Weight Buffer ETF - Dece...	Defined Outcome	52	6.09%	80.67M	Dec 2024	APXM vs RSDE
AIOO	AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer100 Protection ETF	Defined Outcome	—	2.34%	—	Jun 2025	APXM vs AIOO
CPSL	Calamos Laddered S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection...	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	93	2.71%	—	Sep 2024	APXM vs CPSL
KFEB	Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...	Defined Outcome	74	11.46%	—	Jan 2025	APXM vs KFEB
MARM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - March	Defined Outcome	98	3.24%	107.42M	Mar 2024	APXM vs MARM
USEP	Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September	Defined Outcome	84	4.73%	154.58M	Aug 2019	APXM vs USEP
IBUF	Innovator International Developed 10 Buffer ETF - ...	Defined Outcome	80	5.20%	104.14M	Jun 2024	APXM vs IBUF
PMAY	Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - May	Defined Outcome	94	4.47%	917.39M	Apr 2020	APXM vs PMAY
BUFI	AB International Buffer ETF	Defined Outcome, Foreign Large Cap Equities	47	4.92%	122.81M	Dec 2024	APXM vs BUFI
PBFR	PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	90	4.52%	154.43M	Jun 2024	APXM vs PBFR
CPNQ	Calamos Nasdaq-100 Structured Alt Protection ETF -...	Defined Outcome	94	3.12%	—	Dec 2024	APXM vs CPNQ
PMFB	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - February	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	95	2.56%	—	Jan 2025	APXM vs PMFB
EAPR	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...	Defined Outcome	94	11.39%	100.91M	Mar 2021	APXM vs EAPR
TWOX	iShares Large Cap Accelerated Outcome ETF	Defined Outcome	45	2.15%	—	Jan 2025	APXM vs TWOX
QMFE	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Moderate Buffer ETF - February	Defined Outcome	89	9.21%	—	Feb 2025	APXM vs QMFE
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	Defined Outcome, Emerging Markets Equities	—	5.26%	—	Jun 2025	APXM vs TJUN

Compare APXM with Any Fund or Stock

Compare APXM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair APXM with funds that move differently

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to APXM.

Explore APXM Diversifiers

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April (APXM) Alternatives