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FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF (DHDG) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jul 14, 2026

The FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF (DHDG) is an actively managed defined outcome ETF that seeks to provide investors with returns that match the price return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), up to a cap, while buffering against losses between 2.5% and 15% over a three-month target outcome period. The fund resets its buffer and cap each calendar quarter, investing in FLEX Options referencing SPY to implement its defined outcome strategy.

FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF (DHDG) 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 DHDG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG charges 0.85% annually. There are 215 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

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

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 92. There are 72 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 2025DHDG vs PMAP
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
19.60MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
98
—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
98
—Apr 2025DHDG vs ZAPR
XBAP
Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A...
98
134.85MMar 2021DHDG vs XBAP

Top Performing DHDG Alternatives (YTD)

DHDG is at 8.14% YTD. There are 38 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 2025DHDG vs NVDO
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...
13.34%
—Jan 2025DHDG vs KFEB
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April
12.71%
214.51MMar 2020DHDG vs KAPR
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
12.33%
568.10MMar 2021DHDG vs QMAR
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
12.15%
2.84MJun 2025DHDG vs QB

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has 5.86% 1-year volatility. There are 140 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.16%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.16%—Mar 2025DHDG vs PMAP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.24%—Apr 2025DHDG vs APXM
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.31%—Apr 2025DHDG vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.34%19.60MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.42%—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.66%. There are 107 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 2025DHDG vs PMAP
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
19.60MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
-0.40%
—Apr 2025DHDG vs ZAPR
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.46%
—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...
-0.49%
56.60MMay 2024DHDG vs CPSM

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFCybersecurity, Technology Equities
34
28.87%
14.26BJul 2015DHDG vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
58
19.10%
11.74BNov 2009DHDG vs GRID
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
66
23.60%
10.80BMar 2014DHDG vs AIRR
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFIndia Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities
4
-7.65%
132.86MFeb 2012DHDG vs NFTY
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
76
15.23%
7.48BMar 2006DHDG vs FDL
IGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFGold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals
18
-7.95%
510.89MMar 2021DHDG vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
94
86.56%
2.46BSep 2016DHDG vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
44
17.47%
4.34BAug 2012DHDG vs TDIV
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
54
20.15%
718.18MFeb 2007DHDG vs QCLN
KNG
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...Dividend, S&P 500
34
8.48%
3.40BMar 2018DHDG vs KNG

Often Compared With DHDG

Investors most often compare DHDG with LJUL, IBIC, USO. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
97
2.27%
—Jun 2024DHDG vs LJUL
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.61%
79.20MSep 2023DHDG vs IBIC
USO
United States Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
41
70.32%
1.92BApr 2006DHDG vs USO
RBIL
F/m Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Securi...Inflation-Protected Bonds
97
2.65%
138.94MFeb 2025DHDG vs RBIL
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - AprilDefined Outcome, Nasdaq-100
97
11.39%
25.92MDec 2024DHDG vs PQAP
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
53
66.08%
85.45MJan 2007DHDG vs DBE
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
92
5.10%
194.07MJun 2024DHDG vs PBFR
SMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETFDefined Outcome
94
3.62%
—Sep 2024DHDG vs SMAX
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
77
8.12%
104.11MMar 2021DHDG vs EAPR
RSBY
Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETFMultistrategy
51
17.89%
91.83MAug 2024DHDG vs RSBY
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
96
2.20%
—May 2025DHDG vs ZMAY
DMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETFDefined Outcome
95
2.77%
137.28MDec 2024DHDG vs DMAX
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - MarchDefined Outcome
82
10.79%
—Mar 2025DHDG vs TMAR
BALT
Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETFDefined Outcome
95
2.57%
2.68BJun 2021DHDG vs BALT
BUFP
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
87
6.76%
213.82MJun 2024DHDG vs BUFP
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETFOptions Trading
48
0.73%
668.40MAug 2013DHDG vs CAOS
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
39
62.43%
883.37MJun 2010DHDG vs BNO
OILK
ProShares K-1 Free Crude Oil Strategy ETFOil & Gas
38
48.61%
200.43MSep 2016DHDG vs OILK
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...Defined Outcome—
10.81%
—Jul 2025DHDG vs UXJL
NFXS
Direxion Daily NFLX Bear 1X SharesInverse Equities
59
22.10%
5.10MOct 2024DHDG vs NFXS

Compare DHDG with Any Fund or Stock

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

 

Diversifiers

Pair DHDG with funds that move differently

FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DHDG.

Explore DHDG Diversifiers