FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August (GAUG) 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 GAUG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GAUG
GAUG charges 0.85% annually. There are 90 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.14%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calamos Tax-Aware Collateral ETF | 0.14% | 1.21B | Apr 2026 | GAUG vs CBOX | |
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 139.40M | Oct 2023 | GAUG vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.87M | Jul 2025 | GAUG vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 296.16M | Nov 2021 | GAUG vs HEQT | |
| Castellan Targeted Income ETF | 0.45% | — | Jun 2025 | GAUG vs CTIF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GAUG
GAUG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 86. There are 53 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 | GAUG vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | GAUG vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 199.47M | May 2020 | GAUG vs APRW | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | GAUG vs XIMR | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer... | 98 | 153.67M | Mar 2023 | GAUG vs XMAR |
Top Performing GAUG Alternatives (YTD)
GAUG is at 6.41% YTD. There are 71 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 87.43%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 87.43% | 382.78M | Sep 2023 | GAUG vs AMDY | |
| Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF | 51.25% | 64.41M | May 2024 | GAUG vs USOY | |
| Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ET... | 15.04% | 6.72M | Apr 2025 | GAUG vs LITL | |
| Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 14.80% | — | Jun 2025 | GAUG vs DIVN | |
| Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF | 13.35% | 95.57M | Oct 2023 | GAUG vs IWMY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GAUG
GAUG has 5.58% 1-year volatility. There are 60 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.30% | — | Mar 2024 | GAUG vs LAPR | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.57% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | GAUG vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.57% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | GAUG vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.68% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | GAUG vs JULJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.06% | — | Mar 2024 | GAUG vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GAUG
GAUG has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.01%. There are 55 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 | GAUG vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | GAUG vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | GAUG vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | GAUG vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 199.47M | May 2020 | GAUG vs APRW |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include RDVI, BGLD, BUFD 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 Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ET... | Derivative Income | 87 | 16.92% | 3.59B | Oct 2022 | GAUG vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 28 | -4.01% | 50.90M | Jan 2021 | GAUG vs BGLD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.83% | 1.97B | Jan 2021 | GAUG vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 75 | 7.59% | 1.51B | Jun 2022 | GAUG vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 85 | 7.68% | 1.17B | Oct 2020 | GAUG vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 79 | 7.68% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | GAUG vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 9 | 0.56% | — | Mar 2024 | GAUG vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 76 | 11.04% | 88.80M | Apr 2023 | GAUG vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 86 | 8.35% | 1.39B | Feb 2020 | GAUG vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.82% | 430.27M | Dec 2020 | GAUG vs DDEC |
Often Compared With GAUG
Investors most often compare GAUG with SPQH.DE, SPY, JHEQX. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare GAUG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GAUG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GAUG with funds that move differently
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GAUG.
Explore GAUG Diversifiers