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FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December (DDEC) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Aug 4, 2026

The FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF – December aims to provide investors with specific buffered losses and capped gains on the S&P 500 Index over a defined holding period, utilizing options and collateral to achieve its investment objectives.

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 217 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
JANB
Aptus January Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDEC vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDEC vs APRB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDEC vs JULB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDEC vs OCTB
FBUF
Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF0.48%—Apr 2024DDEC vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DDEC

DDEC has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 91. There are 100 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Mar 2025DDEC vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
98
—Mar 2025DDEC vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
21.00MApr 2025DDEC vs CPSP
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
98
—Apr 2025DDEC vs ZAPR
CPRA
Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF...
98
13.20MApr 2025DDEC vs CPRA

Top Performing DDEC Alternatives (YTD)

DDEC is at 6.31% YTD. There are 153 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
16.35%
—Aug 2025DDEC vs NVDO
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
14.64%
2.87MJun 2025DDEC vs QB
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...
14.50%
—Jan 2025DDEC vs KFEB
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April
13.86%
214.27MMar 2020DDEC vs KAPR
KMAR
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - March
12.74%
—Feb 2025DDEC vs KMAR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DDEC

DDEC has 5.88% 1-year volatility. There are 132 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.18%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.18%—Mar 2025DDEC vs PMAP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.34%—Apr 2025DDEC vs APXM
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.40%21.00MApr 2025DDEC vs CPSP
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.40%—Apr 2025DDEC vs PMMY
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.44%—Mar 2025DDEC vs MMAX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DDEC

DDEC has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.18%. There are 129 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.35%
—Mar 2025DDEC vs PMAP
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
21.00MApr 2025DDEC vs CPSP
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
-0.40%
—Apr 2025DDEC vs ZAPR
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.46%
—Mar 2025DDEC vs MMAX
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...
-0.49%
56.60MMay 2024DDEC vs CPSM

Other ETFs from FT Vest

The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include RDVI, BGLD, BUFD and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
RDVI
FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ET...Derivative Income
89
17.72%
3.59BOct 2022DDEC vs RDVI
BGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETFDefined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals
25
-3.76%
50.90MJan 2021DDEC vs BGLD
BUFD
FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETFDefined Outcome
92
6.44%
1.97BJan 2021DDEC vs BUFD
BUFQ
FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETFNasdaq-100, Options Trading
81
8.37%
1.51BJun 2022DDEC vs BUFQ
FOCT
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - OctoberDefined Outcome
88
8.24%
1.17BOct 2020DDEC vs FOCT
FSEP
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - SeptemberOptions Trading
83
8.36%
1.22BSep 2020DDEC vs FSEP
FDND
FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETFTechnology Equities
15
3.80%
—Mar 2024DDEC vs FDND
DOGG
FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETFDerivative Income
72
11.00%
88.80MApr 2023DDEC vs DOGG
FFEB
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - FebruaryDefined Outcome
89
9.10%
1.39BFeb 2020DDEC vs FFEB
GMAR
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Mar...Options Trading
97
9.11%
393.02MMar 2023DDEC vs GMAR

Often Compared With DDEC

Investors most often compare DDEC with FJUL, FJAN, FDEC. These 20 comparison targets span 6 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
FJUL
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - JulyOptions Trading
89
8.47%
1.22BJul 2020DDEC vs FJUL
FJAN
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome
86
7.90%
1.43BJan 2021DDEC vs FJAN
FDEC
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - DecemberDefined Outcome
88
7.80%
1.33BDec 2020DDEC vs FDEC
GOCT
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Oct...Options Trading
89
6.94%
262.42MOct 2023DDEC vs GOCT
FMAR
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - MarchDefined Outcome
97
11.43%
1.14BMar 2021DDEC vs FMAR
BUFG
FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETFOptions Trading
80
7.59%
326.67MOct 2021DDEC vs BUFG
GNOV
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Nov...Options Trading
92
6.43%
296.70MNov 2023DDEC vs GNOV
FNOV
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - NovemberDefined Outcome
87
8.05%
1.22BNov 2019DDEC vs FNOV
QCAP
FT Vest NASDAQ-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - AprilNasdaq-100, Options Trading
87
4.68%
—Apr 2024DDEC vs QCAP
TDEC
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - DecemberDefined Outcome, Emerging Markets Equities
68
8.63%
10.25MDec 2024DDEC vs TDEC
XISE
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income E...Options Trading
90
3.90%
35.81MSep 2023DDEC vs XISE
LQTI
FT Vest Investment Grade & Target Income ETFDerivative Income, Investment Grade Bonds
15
-1.43%
273.02MFeb 2025DDEC vs LQTI
DOCT
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - OctoberDefined Outcome
91
6.67%
384.27MOct 2020DDEC vs DOCT
XDEC
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer...Defined Outcome
87
5.71%
202.72MDec 2021DDEC vs XDEC
GFEB
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Feb...Options Trading
89
7.10%
378.61MFeb 2023DDEC vs GFEB
GAUG
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - Aug...Options Trading
87
6.64%
291.50MAug 2023DDEC vs GAUG
XAPR
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer...Options Trading
97
4.58%
—Apr 2024DDEC vs XAPR
QDEC
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – DecemberNasdaq-100, Defined Outcome
79
8.92%
683.14MDec 2020DDEC vs QDEC
GMAY
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - MayOptions Trading
84
5.42%
531.31MMay 2023DDEC vs GMAY
DECM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - DecemberDefined Outcome
95
3.38%
53.14MDec 2024DDEC vs DECM

Compare DDEC with Any Fund or Stock

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

 

Diversifiers

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