MAYM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May (MAYM) 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 MAYM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to MAYM

MAYM charges 0.85% annually. There are 217 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
JANB	Aptus January Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	MAYM vs JANB
APRB	Aptus April Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	MAYM vs APRB
JULB	Aptus July Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	MAYM vs JULB
OCTB	Aptus October Buffer ETF	0.25%	—	Oct 2025	MAYM vs OCTB
FBUF	Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF	0.48%	—	Apr 2024	MAYM vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to MAYM

MAYM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 94. There are 64 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	99	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs PMAP
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	98	21.00M	Apr 2025	MAYM vs CPSP
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	98	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs MMAX
ZAPR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...	98	—	Apr 2025	MAYM vs ZAPR
CPRA	Calamos Russell 2000 Structured Alt Protection ETF...	98	13.20M	Apr 2025	MAYM vs CPRA

Top Performing MAYM Alternatives (YTD)

MAYM is at 2.78% YTD. There are 250 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
NVDO	Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...	16.35%	—	Aug 2025	MAYM vs NVDO
QB	ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF	14.64%	2.87M	Jun 2025	MAYM vs QB
KFEB	Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...	14.50%	—	Jan 2025	MAYM vs KFEB
KAPR	Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April	13.86%	214.27M	Mar 2020	MAYM vs KAPR
KMAR	Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - March	12.74%	—	Feb 2025	MAYM vs KMAR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to MAYM

MAYM has 2.07% 1-year volatility. There are 19 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.18%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	1.18%	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs PMAP
APXM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April	1.34%	—	Apr 2025	MAYM vs APXM
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	1.40%	21.00M	Apr 2025	MAYM vs CPSP
PMMY	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May	1.40%	—	Apr 2025	MAYM vs PMMY
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	1.44%	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs MMAX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to MAYM

MAYM has a 1-year max drawdown of -1.22%. There are 23 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
PMAP	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April	-0.35%	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs PMAP
CPSP	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...	-0.37%	21.00M	Apr 2025	MAYM vs CPSP
ZAPR	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...	-0.40%	—	Apr 2025	MAYM vs ZAPR
MMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF	-0.46%	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs MMAX
CPSM	Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...	-0.49%	56.60M	May 2024	MAYM 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.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	44	31.78%	14.31B	Jul 2015	MAYM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	53	19.50%	11.67B	Nov 2009	MAYM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	63	22.38%	10.18B	Mar 2014	MAYM vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	9	-5.08%	118.19M	Feb 2012	MAYM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.62%	7.77B	Mar 2006	MAYM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	23	-6.86%	514.13M	Mar 2021	MAYM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	68.79%	1.27B	Sep 2016	MAYM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	49	16.55%	4.18B	Aug 2012	MAYM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	42	13.15%	586.61M	Feb 2007	MAYM vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	88	18.21%	24.89B	Jan 2014	MAYM vs RDVY

Often Compared With MAYM

Investors most often compare MAYM with RSP, SPYM, SPYD. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
RSP	Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF	S&P 500, Equal Weight	79	14.26%	96.96B	Apr 2003	MAYM vs RSP
SPYM	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.77%	160.81B	Nov 2005	MAYM vs SPYM
SPYD	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ...	S&P 500, Dividend	81	17.73%	8.75B	Oct 2015	MAYM vs SPYD
SPXN	ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Financials ETF	S&P 500	75	12.45%	76.59M	Sep 2015	MAYM vs SPXN
SPHQ	Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF	Quality Factor, S&P 500, Large Cap Blend Equities	65	14.14%	19.45B	Dec 2005	MAYM vs SPHQ
SPYG	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF	S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities	53	12.43%	51.09B	Sep 2000	MAYM vs SPYG
TMAR	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March	Defined Outcome	81	11.84%	—	Mar 2025	MAYM vs TMAR
QVMT	Invesco S&P S&P 500 Concentrated QVM ETF	S&P 500	87	14.95%	133.44M	Oct 2015	MAYM vs QVMT
CHRI	Global X S&P 500 Christian Values ETF	S&P 500, ESG	—	10.88%	7.98M	Sep 2025	MAYM vs CHRI
DIVG	Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Growers ETF	S&P 500, Dividend	91	18.41%	11.30M	Dec 2023	MAYM vs DIVG
SPYV	SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF	S&P 500, Large Cap Value Equities	89	10.77%	36.23B	Sep 2000	MAYM vs SPYV
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.72%	1.70T	Sep 2010	MAYM vs VOO
SMAX	iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF	Defined Outcome	95	4.19%	—	Sep 2024	MAYM vs SMAX
SPLV	Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF	S&P 500, Low Volatility	29	8.10%	7.25B	May 2011	MAYM vs SPLV
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	47	9.32%	3.53B	Mar 2018	MAYM vs KNG
PQAP	PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April	Defined Outcome, Nasdaq-100	97	11.88%	26.30M	Dec 2024	MAYM vs PQAP
SPXT	ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Technology ETF	S&P 500	74	8.41%	283.57M	Sep 2015	MAYM vs SPXT
ZMAY	Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May	Defined Outcome	97	2.63%	—	May 2025	MAYM vs ZMAY
LJUL	Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July	Defined Outcome	98	2.76%	—	Jun 2024	MAYM vs LJUL
PMJA	PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - January	Defined Outcome, S&P 500	96	3.20%	4.58M	Dec 2024	MAYM vs PMJA

Compare MAYM with Any Fund or Stock

Compare MAYM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair MAYM with funds that move differently

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to MAYM.

Explore MAYM Diversifiers

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May (MAYM) Alternatives