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

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Aug 2, 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 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 2025DHDG vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DHDG vs APRB
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 93. There are 67 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
21.00MApr 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
CPRA
Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF...
98
13.20MApr 2025DHDG vs CPRA

Top Performing DHDG Alternatives (YTD)

DHDG is at 8.93% YTD. There are 29 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
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
13.84%
2.87MJun 2025DHDG vs QB
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...
13.73%
—Jan 2025DHDG vs KFEB
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April
13.09%
214.27MMar 2020DHDG vs KAPR
BAPR
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April
11.91%
403.09MMar 2019DHDG vs BAPR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has 6.01% 1-year volatility. There are 138 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 2025DHDG vs PMAP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.33%—Apr 2025DHDG vs APXM
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.40%21.00MApr 2025DHDG vs CPSP
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.40%—Apr 2025DHDG vs PMMY
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.44%—Mar 2025DHDG vs MMAX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DHDG

DHDG has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.66%. There are 105 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%
21.00MApr 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 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFCybersecurity, Technology Equities
39
28.86%
14.31BJul 2015DHDG vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities
49
17.75%
11.67BNov 2009DHDG vs GRID
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
54
19.12%
10.18BMar 2014DHDG vs AIRR
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFIndia Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities
8
-5.91%
118.19MFeb 2012DHDG vs NFTY
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
92
18.16%
7.77BMar 2006DHDG vs FDL
IGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFGold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals
25
-6.56%
514.13MMar 2021DHDG vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
91
67.20%
1.27BSep 2016DHDG vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
43
14.88%
4.18BAug 2012DHDG vs TDIV
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities
39
10.48%
586.61MFeb 2007DHDG vs QCLN
RDVY
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETFDividend, Large Cap Blend Equities
85
17.25%
24.89BJan 2014DHDG vs RDVY

Often Compared With DHDG

Investors most often compare DHDG with IBIC, LJUL, PQAP. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.69%
76.82MSep 2023DHDG vs IBIC
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
98
2.59%
—Jun 2024DHDG vs LJUL
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - AprilDefined Outcome, Nasdaq-100
96
11.16%
26.30MDec 2024DHDG vs PQAP
USO
United States Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
55
86.77%
1.99BApr 2006DHDG vs USO
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - MarchNasdaq-100, Defined Outcome
95
11.91%
566.25MMar 2021DHDG vs QMAR
RBIL
F/m Ultrashort Treasury Inflation-Protected Securi...Inflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.70%
153.59MFeb 2025DHDG vs RBIL
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
72
78.87%
99.84MJan 2007DHDG vs DBE
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
92
5.36%
203.06MJun 2024DHDG vs PBFR
OILK
ProShares K-1 Free Crude Oil ETFOil & Gas
44
52.43%
203.26MSep 2016DHDG vs OILK
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
97
2.57%
—May 2025DHDG vs ZMAY
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETFOptions Trading
56
0.76%
709.87MAug 2013DHDG vs CAOS
SMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETFDefined Outcome
94
3.95%
—Sep 2024DHDG vs SMAX
RSBY
Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETFMultistrategy
43
15.76%
58.39MAug 2024DHDG vs RSBY
NFXS
Direxion Daily NFLX Bear 1X SharesInverse Equities
58
24.98%
4.71MOct 2024DHDG vs NFXS
BUFP
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
88
7.12%
223.70MJun 2024DHDG vs BUFP
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
79
9.17%
98.44MMar 2021DHDG vs EAPR
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...Defined Outcome
56
10.27%
—Jul 2025DHDG vs UXJL
DMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer December ETFDefined Outcome
96
3.19%
138.63MDec 2024DHDG vs DMAX
KNG
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...Dividend, S&P 500
44
8.70%
3.53BMar 2018DHDG vs KNG
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
52
77.90%
615.26MJun 2010DHDG vs BNO

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