FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September (DSEP) belongs to the Options Trading category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with DSEP. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to DSEP
DSEP charges 0.85% annually. There are 84 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.29%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 137.12M | Oct 2023 | DSEP vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.57M | Jul 2025 | DSEP vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 316.92M | Nov 2021 | DSEP vs HEQT | |
| Amplify BlackSwan ISWN ETF | 0.49% | 36.90M | Jan 2021 | DSEP vs ISWN | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December | 0.50% | 6.51M | Nov 2025 | DSEP vs PMDE |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DSEP
DSEP has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 77. There are 75 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | DSEP vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 198.50M | May 2020 | DSEP vs APRW | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April | 97 | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs PBAP | |
| PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 12 ETF - April | 97 | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs APRP |
Top Performing DSEP Alternatives (YTD)
DSEP is at 4.88% YTD. There are 65 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 101.34%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 101.34% | 409.32M | Sep 2023 | DSEP vs AMDY | |
| Defiance R2000 Enhanced Options & 0DTE Income ETF | 14.94% | 97.61M | Oct 2023 | DSEP vs IWMY | |
| Defiance Nasdaq 100 Enhanced Options Income ETF | 14.69% | 184.62M | Sep 2023 | DSEP vs QQQY | |
| Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF | 14.14% | 100.42M | Jul 2024 | DSEP vs KQQQ | |
| Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strateg... | 12.61% | 864.88M | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs QDTE |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DSEP
DSEP has 5.93% 1-year volatility. There are 67 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.26%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.26% | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs LAPR | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.50% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | DSEP vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.54% | 13.80M | Jun 2023 | DSEP vs JULJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.56% | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | DSEP vs APRJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.08% | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DSEP
DSEP has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.54%. There are 70 ETFs in the Options Trading category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.36%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | -0.36% | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.69M | Mar 2023 | DSEP vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.80M | Jun 2023 | DSEP vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 668.40M | Aug 2013 | DSEP vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 198.50M | May 2020 | DSEP vs APRW |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include BGLD, RDVI, BUFQ and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 18 | -3.71% | 49.20M | Jan 2021 | DSEP vs BGLD | |
| FT Cboe Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Inco... | Derivative Income | 69 | 13.37% | 3.76B | Oct 2022 | DSEP vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 79 | 7.95% | 1.49B | Jun 2022 | DSEP vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 86 | 4.55% | 1.88B | Jan 2021 | DSEP vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 76 | 5.72% | 1.22B | Oct 2020 | DSEP vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 71 | 5.82% | 1.28B | Sep 2020 | DSEP vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 8 | -5.36% | — | Mar 2024 | DSEP vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 48 | 7.19% | 73.65M | Apr 2023 | DSEP vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 81 | 6.88% | 1.36B | Feb 2020 | DSEP vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 84 | 4.35% | 425.94M | Dec 2020 | DSEP vs DDEC |
Often Compared With DSEP
Investors most often compare DSEP with MSDD, AMZY, AAPR. These 20 comparison targets span 6 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare DSEP with Any Fund or Stock
Compare DSEP with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair DSEP with funds that move differently
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DSEP.
Explore DSEP Diversifiers