Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly (DDSQ) 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 DDSQ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to DDSQ
DDSQ charges 0.79% annually. There are 92 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs JANB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs OCTB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs JULB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs APRB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | DDSQ vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DDSQ
Among 236 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 133.20M | Mar 2021 | DDSQ vs XBAP |
Top Performing DDSQ Alternatives (YTD)
Among 285 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | DDSQ vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 14.04% | — | Jan 2025 | DDSQ vs KFEB | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March | 13.86% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs TMAR | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.29% | 217.34M | Mar 2020 | DDSQ vs KAPR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.83% | 556.83M | Mar 2021 | DDSQ vs QMAR |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DDSQ
DDSQ has 10.85% 1-year volatility. There are 275 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 | DDSQ vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.22% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.29% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.34% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.41% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DDSQ
Among 242 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.30M | May 2024 | DDSQ vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from Innovator
The 10 most viewed Innovator ETFs shown here include BALT, FFTY, BUFF and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF | Defined Outcome | 95 | 2.27% | 2.55B | Jun 2021 | DDSQ vs BALT | |
| Innovator IBD 50 ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 31 | 25.11% | 89.40M | Apr 2015 | DDSQ vs FFTY | |
| Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 86 | 5.66% | 871.86M | Oct 2016 | DDSQ vs BUFF | |
| Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF | Options Trading | 54 | 4.82% | 2.04B | Nov 2022 | DDSQ vs SFLR | |
| Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETF | Technology Equities | 63 | 28.99% | 217.36M | Jul 2018 | DDSQ vs LOUP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - January | Defined Outcome | 78 | 5.25% | 1.46B | Jan 2019 | DDSQ vs PJAN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 96 | 11.00% | 400.74M | Mar 2019 | DDSQ vs BAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July | Defined Outcome | 85 | 5.13% | 997.95M | Aug 2018 | DDSQ vs PJUL | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated Plus ETF | Leveraged Equities | 98 | 11.41% | 22.45M | Apr 2021 | DDSQ vs XTAP | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 64 | 6.42% | 522.23M | Jan 2024 | DDSQ vs QFLR |
Often Compared With DDSQ
Investors most often compare DDSQ with DDNQ, QB, BOUT. These 9 comparison targets span 3 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF... | Defined Outcome | — | — | 25.88M | Dec 2025 | DDSQ vs DDNQ | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Nasdaq-100 | 92 | 11.32% | 2.30M | Jun 2025 | DDSQ vs QB | |
| Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF | Mid Cap Growth Equities | 55 | 34.78% | 15.73M | Sep 2018 | DDSQ vs BOUT | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | Defined Outcome, Nasdaq-100 | 97 | 11.93% | 7.34M | Dec 2024 | DDSQ vs PQAP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 98 | 7.87% | 947.19M | Apr 2019 | DDSQ vs PAPR | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May | Defined Outcome | 96 | 2.11% | — | May 2025 | DDSQ vs ZMAY | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October | Defined Outcome | 76 | 5.67% | 958.62M | Sep 2018 | DDSQ vs POCT | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul... | Defined Outcome | — | 10.60% | — | Jul 2025 | DDSQ vs UXJL | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - March | Defined Outcome | 90 | 12.13% | — | Feb 2025 | DDSQ vs KMAR |
Compare DDSQ with Any Fund or Stock
Compare DDSQ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair DDSQ with funds that move differently
Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DDSQ.
Explore DDSQ Diversifiers