FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December (FDEC) 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 FDEC. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to FDEC
FDEC charges 0.85% annually. There are 215 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | FDEC vs OCTB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | FDEC vs JULB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | FDEC vs JANB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | FDEC vs APRB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | FDEC vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FDEC
FDEC has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 84. There are 136 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 134.85M | Mar 2021 | FDEC vs XBAP |
Top Performing FDEC Alternatives (YTD)
FDEC is at 7.00% YTD. There are 100 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | FDEC vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.68% | — | Jan 2025 | FDEC vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 13.02% | 214.51M | Mar 2020 | FDEC vs KAPR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.77% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | FDEC vs QMAR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 12.67% | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | FDEC vs QB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FDEC
FDEC has 7.67% 1-year volatility. There are 213 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.24% | — | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.31% | — | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.34% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.42% | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FDEC
FDEC has a 1-year max drawdown of -5.83%. There are 193 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | FDEC vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | FDEC vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | FDEC vs CPSM |
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 $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 20 | -4.27% | 51.07M | Jan 2021 | FDEC vs BGLD | |
| FT Cboe Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Inco... | Derivative Income | 78 | 15.45% | 3.49B | Oct 2022 | FDEC vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 83 | 9.18% | 1.52B | Jun 2022 | FDEC vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.81% | 1.93B | Jan 2021 | FDEC vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 83 | 7.49% | 1.16B | Oct 2020 | FDEC vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 77 | 7.53% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | FDEC vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 10 | 0.93% | — | Mar 2024 | FDEC vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 51 | 7.95% | 77.70M | Apr 2023 | FDEC vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 85 | 8.35% | 1.38B | Feb 2020 | FDEC vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.69% | 429.01M | Dec 2020 | FDEC vs DDEC |
Often Compared With FDEC
Investors most often compare FDEC with BUFR, VOO, SPY. These 20 comparison targets span 3 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare FDEC with Any Fund or Stock
Compare FDEC with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair FDEC with funds that move differently
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FDEC.
Explore FDEC Diversifiers