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 89 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 July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs JULB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | DDSQ vs OCTB | |
| 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 220 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 | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs APXM | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs PMMY |
Top Performing DDSQ Alternatives (YTD)
Among 275 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 20.98%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 20.98% | — | Aug 2025 | DDSQ vs NVDO | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March | 13.87% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs TMAR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 13.03% | 557.94M | Mar 2021 | DDSQ vs QMAR | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul... | 12.29% | — | Jul 2025 | DDSQ vs UXJL | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 12.25% | — | Jan 2025 | DDSQ vs KFEB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DDSQ
DDSQ has 11.71% 1-year volatility. There are 268 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.01%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.01% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.12% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs PMMY | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs PMAP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.39% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.41% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DDSQ
Among 220 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -0.27%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.27% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs PMAP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | DDSQ vs MMAX | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | -0.36% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs CPSP |
Other ETFs from Innovator
The 10 most viewed Innovator ETFs shown here include BALT, FFTY, BUFF and span 5 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF | Defined Outcome | 93 | 2.03% | 2.46B | Jun 2021 | DDSQ vs BALT | |
| Innovator IBD 50 ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 32 | 21.49% | 89.40M | Apr 2015 | DDSQ vs FFTY | |
| Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.58% | 869.87M | Oct 2016 | DDSQ vs BUFF | |
| Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF | Options Trading | 67 | 6.20% | 2.00B | Nov 2022 | DDSQ vs SFLR | |
| Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETF | Technology Equities | 73 | 29.15% | 219.47M | Jul 2018 | DDSQ vs LOUP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - January | Defined Outcome | 81 | 5.32% | 1.52B | Jan 2019 | DDSQ vs PJAN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 96 | 10.98% | 401.85M | Mar 2019 | DDSQ vs BAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July | Defined Outcome | 88 | 4.63% | 1.00B | Aug 2018 | DDSQ vs PJUL | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 74 | 6.83% | 527.81M | Jan 2024 | DDSQ vs QFLR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October | Defined Outcome | 77 | 5.56% | 1.02B | Sep 2018 | DDSQ vs POCT |
Often Compared With DDSQ
Investors most often compare DDSQ with DDNQ, QB, ZAPR. These 6 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 | — | — | 25.80M | Dec 2025 | DDSQ vs DDNQ | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Nasdaq-100 | — | 10.26% | 2.34M | Jun 2025 | DDSQ vs QB | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | Defined Outcome | 98 | 3.28% | — | Apr 2025 | DDSQ vs ZAPR | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | Defined Outcome, Nasdaq-100 | 98 | 12.11% | 7.34M | Dec 2024 | DDSQ vs PQAP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May | Defined Outcome | 97 | 2.24% | — | May 2025 | DDSQ vs ZMAY | |
| Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF | Mid Cap Growth Equities | 51 | 31.14% | 15.73M | Sep 2018 | DDSQ vs BOUT |
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