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

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 4, 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 209 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 2025DHDG vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DHDG vs APRB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DHDG vs OCTB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DHDG vs JULB
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 87. There are 89 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
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Apr 2025DHDG vs APXM
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
99
—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
98
—Apr 2025DHDG vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
18.90MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP

Top Performing DHDG Alternatives (YTD)

DHDG is at 7.00% YTD. There are 71 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 18.85%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
18.85%
—Aug 2025DHDG vs NVDO
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March
14.45%
—Mar 2025DHDG vs TMAR
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
13.06%
557.94MMar 2021DHDG vs QMAR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
12.09%
7.34MDec 2024DHDG vs PQAP
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...
11.78%
—Jul 2025DHDG vs UXJL

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has 5.37% 1-year volatility. There are 108 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.01%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.01%—Apr 2025DHDG vs APXM
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.12%—Apr 2025DHDG vs PMMY
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.15%—Mar 2025DHDG vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.39%—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.42%18.90MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.66%. There are 97 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.27%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.27%
—Apr 2025DHDG vs APXM
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.34%
—Mar 2025DHDG vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.34%
—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
-0.36%
—Apr 2025DHDG vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
18.90MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFTechnology Equities, Cybersecurity
26
28.52%
13.68BJul 2015DHDG vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
79
28.91%
11.29BNov 2009DHDG vs GRID
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFAsia Pacific Equities
3
-9.70%
133.88MFeb 2012DHDG vs NFTY
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
78
31.77%
10.62BMar 2014DHDG vs AIRR
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
70
13.33%
7.39BMar 2006DHDG vs FDL
IGLD
FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFPrecious Metals, Gold
28
1.69%
591.41MMar 2021DHDG vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
97
115.70%
2.52BSep 2016DHDG vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
83
30.57%
4.66BAug 2012DHDG vs TDIV
KNG
FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...Dividend, S&P 500
20
2.20%
3.28BMar 2018DHDG vs KNG
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
89
52.94%
895.30MFeb 2007DHDG vs QCLN

Often Compared With DHDG

Investors most often compare DHDG with DBE, IBIC, LJUL. These 19 comparison targets span 6 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
71
83.68%
99.79MJan 2007DHDG vs DBE
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.37%
85.92MSep 2023DHDG vs IBIC
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
96
1.80%
—Jun 2024DHDG vs LJUL
RBIL
F/m Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Securi...Inflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.70%
112.50MFeb 2025DHDG vs RBIL
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...Defined Outcome, S&P 500
97
2.27%
55.00MMay 2024DHDG vs CPSM
DMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETFDefined Outcome
94
2.34%
136.60MDec 2024DHDG vs DMAX
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
95
10.96%
214.88MMar 2020DHDG vs KAPR
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...Defined Outcome
74
11.46%
—Jan 2025DHDG vs KFEB
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
90
4.52%
154.43MJun 2024DHDG vs PBFR
SMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETFDefined Outcome
93
3.09%
—Sep 2024DHDG vs SMAX
USO
United States Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
66
103.67%
1.92BApr 2006DHDG vs USO
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
97
2.20%
—May 2025DHDG vs ZMAY
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
65
90.47%
95.54MJun 2010DHDG vs BNO
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
94
11.39%
100.91MMar 2021DHDG vs EAPR
BUFP
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
86
6.23%
183.97MJun 2024DHDG vs BUFP
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETFOptions Trading
40
0.82%
668.40MAug 2013DHDG vs CAOS
OILK
ProShares K-1 Free Crude Oil Strategy ETFOil & Gas
55
64.22%
276.16MSep 2016DHDG vs OILK
RSBY
Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETFMultistrategy
49
18.98%
91.83MAug 2024DHDG vs RSBY
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...Defined Outcome
98
3.25%
—Apr 2025DHDG vs ZAPR

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