Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF (CTA) belongs to the Systematic Trend category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with CTA. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to CTA
CTA charges 0.78% annually. There are 5 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplify DBi CTA Managed Futures Index ETF | 0.35% | 36.00M | Feb 2026 | CTA vs SDMF | |
| Global X Dorsey Wright Thematic ETF | 0.50% | 6.00M | Oct 2019 | CTA vs GXDW | |
| JPMorgan Managed Futures Plus ETF | 0.59% | 33.36M | May 2026 | CTA vs JPFP | |
| WisdomTree Managed Futures Strategy Fund | 0.65% | 243.46M | Jan 2011 | CTA vs WTMF | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 0.65% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs IMF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to CTA
CTA has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 15. There are 12 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Managed Futures Active ETF | 93 | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs ISMF | |
| iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 90 | 1.89B | May 2019 | CTA vs DBMF | |
| Fidelity Managed Futures ETF | 88 | 246.93M | Jun 2025 | CTA vs FFUT | |
| American Beacon AHL Trend ETF | 88 | 133.25M | Aug 2023 | CTA vs AHLT | |
| WisdomTree Managed Futures Strategy Fund | 87 | 243.46M | Jan 2011 | CTA vs WTMF |
Top Performing CTA Alternatives (YTD)
CTA is at 2.94% YTD. There are 12 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 17.76%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Chesapeake Pure Trend ETF | 17.76% | — | May 2024 | CTA vs MFUT | |
| Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF | 14.96% | 482.02M | Sep 2023 | CTA vs RSST | |
| Fidelity Managed Futures ETF | 13.58% | 246.93M | Jun 2025 | CTA vs FFUT | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 13.08% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs IMF | |
| KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF | 12.95% | 419.76M | Dec 2020 | CTA vs KMLM |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to CTA
CTA has 21.74% 1-year volatility. There are 14 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.78%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Trend-Following Fixed Income ETF | 7.78% | 36.02M | Feb 2026 | CTA vs TFFI | |
| iShares Managed Futures Active ETF | 8.10% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs ISMF | |
| WisdomTree Managed Futures Strategy Fund | 9.13% | 243.46M | Jan 2011 | CTA vs WTMF | |
| First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund | 9.56% | 257.60M | Aug 2013 | CTA vs FMF | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 10.65% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs IMF |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to CTA
CTA has a 1-year max drawdown of -20.44%. There are 12 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -3.94%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Managed Futures Active ETF | -3.94% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs ISMF | |
| WisdomTree Managed Futures Strategy Fund | -4.04% | 243.46M | Jan 2011 | CTA vs WTMF | |
| First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund | -4.51% | 257.60M | Aug 2013 | CTA vs FMF | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | -4.54% | — | Mar 2025 | CTA vs IMF | |
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures ETF | -5.02% | 29.42M | May 2024 | CTA vs ASMF |
Other ETFs from Simplify
The 10 most viewed Simplify ETFs shown here include SVOL, HEQT, BUCK and span 17 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $1B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplify Volatility Premium ETF | Volatility | 38 | 1.82% | 523.04M | May 2021 | CTA vs SVOL | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | Equity Hedged, Options Trading, Actively Managed | 77 | 5.74% | 296.16M | Nov 2021 | CTA vs HEQT | |
| Simplify Treasury Option Income ETF | Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond, Derivative Income | 95 | 2.42% | 489.70M | Oct 2022 | CTA vs BUCK | |
| Simplify Bitcoin Strategy PLUS Income ETF | Cryptocurrency, Derivative Income | 1 | -36.57% | 24.53M | Sep 2022 | CTA vs MAXI | |
| Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | Inverse Bonds, Nontraditional Bonds | 13 | 10.66% | 182.81M | May 2021 | CTA vs PFIX | |
| Simplify High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 4 | -3.00% | 377.28M | Feb 2022 | CTA vs CDX | |
| Simplify Enhanced Income ETF | Derivative Income, Dividend | 8 | -1.00% | 66.82M | Oct 2022 | CTA vs HIGH | |
| Simplify Aggregate Bond ETF | Intermediate Core Bond | 39 | -0.43% | 574.10M | Feb 2022 | CTA vs AGGH | |
| Simplify MBS ETF | Mortgage Backed Securities | 37 | -0.64% | 1.49B | Nov 2023 | CTA vs MTBA | |
| Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF | Gold, Leveraged Commodities, Precious Metals | 17 | -19.95% | 34.39M | Dec 2024 | CTA vs YGLD |
Often Compared With CTA
Investors most often compare CTA with SPY, HARD, SPMO. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare CTA with Any Fund or Stock
Compare CTA with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair CTA with funds that move differently
Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to CTA.
Explore CTA Diversifiers