FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December (DDEC) 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 DDEC. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to DDEC
DDEC charges 0.85% annually. There are 215 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDEC vs OCTB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDEC vs JULB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDEC vs JANB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDEC vs APRB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | DDEC vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DDEC
DDEC has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 88. There are 96 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 134.85M | Mar 2021 | DDEC vs XBAP |
Top Performing DDEC Alternatives (YTD)
DDEC is at 5.69% YTD. There are 149 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | DDEC vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.68% | — | Jan 2025 | DDEC vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.02% | 214.51M | Mar 2020 | DDEC vs KAPR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.77% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | DDEC vs QMAR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 12.67% | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | DDEC vs QB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DDEC
DDEC has 5.80% 1-year volatility. There are 137 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.24% | — | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.31% | — | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.34% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.42% | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DDEC
DDEC has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.18%. There are 131 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | DDEC vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | DDEC vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | DDEC vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include BGLD, RDVI, BUFQ and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 20 | -4.27% | 51.07M | Jan 2021 | DDEC vs BGLD | |
| FT Cboe Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Inco... | Derivative Income | 78 | 15.45% | 3.49B | Oct 2022 | DDEC vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 83 | 9.18% | 1.52B | Jun 2022 | DDEC vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.81% | 1.93B | Jan 2021 | DDEC vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 83 | 7.49% | 1.16B | Oct 2020 | DDEC vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 77 | 7.53% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | DDEC vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 10 | 0.93% | — | Mar 2024 | DDEC vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 51 | 7.95% | 77.70M | Apr 2023 | DDEC vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 85 | 8.35% | 1.38B | Feb 2020 | DDEC vs FFEB | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Mar... | Options Trading | 97 | 8.52% | 395.71M | Mar 2023 | DDEC vs GMAR |
Often Compared With DDEC
Investors most often compare DDEC with FJUL, FJAN, GOCT. These 20 comparison targets span 5 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare DDEC with Any Fund or Stock
Compare DDEC with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair DDEC with funds that move differently
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DDEC.
Explore DDEC Diversifiers