Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - September (NSEP) 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 NSEP. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to NSEP
NSEP charges 0.79% annually. There are 92 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | NSEP vs JULB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | NSEP vs APRB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | NSEP vs JANB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | NSEP vs OCTB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | NSEP vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to NSEP
NSEP has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 83. There are 139 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 | NSEP vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | NSEP vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 134.85M | Mar 2021 | NSEP vs XBAP |
Top Performing NSEP Alternatives (YTD)
NSEP is at 7.10% YTD. There are 80 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 | NSEP vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.34% | — | Jan 2025 | NSEP vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 12.71% | 214.51M | Mar 2020 | NSEP vs KAPR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.33% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | NSEP vs QMAR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 12.15% | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | NSEP vs QB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to NSEP
NSEP has 6.70% 1-year volatility. There are 173 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.16%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.16% | — | Mar 2025 | NSEP vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.24% | — | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.31% | — | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.34% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.42% | — | Mar 2025 | NSEP vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to NSEP
NSEP has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.66%. There are 151 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 | NSEP vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | NSEP vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | NSEP vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | NSEP vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from Innovator
The 10 most viewed Innovator ETFs shown here include BALT, FFTY, BUFF and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF | Defined Outcome | 95 | 2.57% | 2.68B | Jun 2021 | NSEP vs BALT | |
| Innovator IBD 50 ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 26 | 12.47% | 89.40M | Apr 2015 | NSEP vs FFTY | |
| Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.94% | 891.58M | Oct 2016 | NSEP vs BUFF | |
| Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF | Options Trading | 56 | 5.15% | 2.12B | Nov 2022 | NSEP vs SFLR | |
| Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETF | Technology Equities | 58 | 20.34% | 221.95M | Jul 2018 | NSEP vs LOUP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - January | Defined Outcome | 83 | 5.59% | 1.47B | Jan 2019 | NSEP vs PJAN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated Plus ETF | Leveraged Equities | 98 | 11.77% | 22.82M | Apr 2021 | NSEP vs XTAP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 97 | 11.27% | 404.39M | Mar 2019 | NSEP vs BAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July | Defined Outcome | 87 | 5.32% | 1.12B | Aug 2018 | NSEP vs PJUL | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 55 | 4.38% | 543.68M | Jan 2024 | NSEP vs QFLR |
Often Compared With NSEP
Investors most often compare NSEP with PQAP, BNO, BOUT. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare NSEP with Any Fund or Stock
Compare NSEP with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair NSEP with funds that move differently
Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - September alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to NSEP.
Explore NSEP Diversifiers