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FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - October (OCTM) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jul 14, 2026

The FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - October (OCTM) is an actively managed defined outcome ETF that seeks to match the price return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) up to a predetermined cap while buffering against 100% of SPY losses before fees and expenses over a one-year target outcome period that resets each October. The fund invests in FLEX Options referencing SPY to deliver a maximum-buffer defined outcome profile.

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

Cheapest Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM charges 0.85% annually. There are 215 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs APRB
JANB
Aptus January Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs JANB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs JULB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs OCTB
FBUF
Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF0.48%—Apr 2024OCTM vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 94. There are 55 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Mar 2025OCTM vs PMAP
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
19.60MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
98
—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
98
—Apr 2025OCTM vs ZAPR
XBAP
Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A...
98
134.85MMar 2021OCTM vs XBAP

Top Performing OCTM Alternatives (YTD)

OCTM is at 3.23% YTD. There are 210 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
16.35%
—Aug 2025OCTM vs NVDO
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...
13.34%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs KFEB
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April
12.71%
214.51MMar 2020OCTM vs KAPR
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
12.33%
568.10MMar 2021OCTM vs QMAR
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF
12.15%
2.84MJun 2025OCTM vs QB

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM has 2.37% 1-year volatility. There are 43 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.16%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.16%—Mar 2025OCTM vs PMAP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.24%—Apr 2025OCTM vs APXM
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.31%—Apr 2025OCTM vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.34%19.60MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.42%—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM has a 1-year max drawdown of -1.64%. There are 55 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.35%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs PMAP
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
19.60MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
-0.40%
—Apr 2025OCTM vs ZAPR
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.46%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...
-0.49%
56.60MMay 2024OCTM vs CPSM

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFCybersecurity, Technology Equities
34
28.87%
14.26BJul 2015OCTM vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
58
19.10%
11.74BNov 2009OCTM vs GRID
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
66
23.60%
10.80BMar 2014OCTM vs AIRR
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFIndia Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities
4
-7.65%
132.86MFeb 2012OCTM vs NFTY
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
76
15.23%
7.48BMar 2006OCTM vs FDL
IGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFGold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals
18
-7.95%
510.89MMar 2021OCTM vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
94
86.56%
2.46BSep 2016OCTM vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
44
17.47%
4.34BAug 2012OCTM vs TDIV
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
54
20.15%
718.18MFeb 2007OCTM vs QCLN
KNG
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...Dividend, S&P 500
34
8.48%
3.40BMar 2018OCTM vs KNG

Often Compared With OCTM

Investors most often compare OCTM with PAPR, LJUL, DBE. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
PAPR
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
98
8.13%
954.02MApr 2019OCTM vs PAPR
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
97
2.27%
—Jun 2024OCTM vs LJUL
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
53
66.08%
85.45MJan 2007OCTM vs DBE
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
92
5.10%
194.07MJun 2024OCTM vs PBFR
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.61%
79.20MSep 2023OCTM vs IBIC
PMFB
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - FebruaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
96
2.90%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs PMFB
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
96
2.20%
—May 2025OCTM vs ZMAY
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - MarchDefined Outcome
82
10.79%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs TMAR
COMT
iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETFCommodities
49
29.18%
1.12BOct 2014OCTM vs COMT
PMJA
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
95
2.71%
4.58MDec 2024OCTM vs PMJA
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
39
62.43%
883.37MJun 2010OCTM vs BNO
TWOX
iShares Large Cap Accelerated Outcome ETFDefined Outcome
51
3.48%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs TWOX
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - AprilDefined Outcome, Nasdaq-100
97
11.39%
25.92MDec 2024OCTM vs PQAP
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
77
8.12%
104.11MMar 2021OCTM vs EAPR
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...Defined Outcome—
10.81%
—Jul 2025OCTM vs UXJL
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETFOptions Trading
48
0.73%
668.40MAug 2013OCTM vs CAOS
GSG
iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed TrustCommodities
51
32.35%
853.88MJul 2006OCTM vs GSG
UXJA
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jan...Defined Outcome
59
10.65%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs UXJA
DBO
Invesco DB Oil FundOil & Gas
43
60.57%
215.47MJan 2007OCTM vs DBO
FAAR
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy E...Commodities
64
16.63%
186.66MMay 2016OCTM vs FAAR

Compare OCTM with Any Fund or Stock

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

 

Diversifiers

Pair OCTM with funds that move differently

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

Explore OCTM Diversifiers