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

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 4, 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 209 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
JANB
Aptus January Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs APRB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs OCTB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025OCTM vs JULB
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 93. There are 56 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
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Apr 2025OCTM vs APXM
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
99
—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
98
—Apr 2025OCTM vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
18.90MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP

Top Performing OCTM Alternatives (YTD)

OCTM is at 2.71% YTD. There are 206 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 18.85%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
18.85%
—Aug 2025OCTM vs NVDO
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March
14.45%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs TMAR
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
13.06%
557.94MMar 2021OCTM vs QMAR
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
12.09%
7.34MDec 2024OCTM vs PQAP
UXJL
FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul...
11.78%
—Jul 2025OCTM vs UXJL

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM has 2.43% 1-year volatility. There are 45 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.01%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.01%—Apr 2025OCTM vs APXM
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.12%—Apr 2025OCTM vs PMMY
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.15%—Mar 2025OCTM vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.39%—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.42%18.90MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to OCTM

OCTM has a 1-year max drawdown of -1.64%. There are 54 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.27%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.27%
—Apr 2025OCTM vs APXM
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.34%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.34%
—Mar 2025OCTM vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
-0.36%
—Apr 2025OCTM vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
18.90MApr 2025OCTM vs CPSP

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFTechnology Equities, Cybersecurity
26
28.52%
13.68BJul 2015OCTM vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
79
28.91%
11.29BNov 2009OCTM vs GRID
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFAsia Pacific Equities
3
-9.70%
133.88MFeb 2012OCTM vs NFTY
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
78
31.77%
10.62BMar 2014OCTM vs AIRR
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
70
13.33%
7.39BMar 2006OCTM vs FDL
IGLD
FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFPrecious Metals, Gold
28
1.69%
591.41MMar 2021OCTM vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
97
115.70%
2.52BSep 2016OCTM vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
83
30.57%
4.66BAug 2012OCTM vs TDIV
KNG
FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...Dividend, S&P 500
20
2.20%
3.28BMar 2018OCTM vs KNG
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
89
52.94%
895.30MFeb 2007OCTM vs QCLN

Often Compared With OCTM

Investors most often compare OCTM with DBE, IBIC, PBFR. These 19 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
DBE
Invesco DB Energy FundOil & Gas
71
83.68%
99.79MJan 2007OCTM vs DBE
IBIC
iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETFInflation-Protected Bonds
98
2.37%
85.92MSep 2023OCTM vs IBIC
PBFR
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFDefined Outcome, S&P 500
90
4.52%
154.43MJun 2024OCTM vs PBFR
LJUL
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
96
1.80%
—Jun 2024OCTM vs LJUL
CPSM
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma...Defined Outcome, S&P 500
97
2.27%
55.00MMay 2024OCTM vs CPSM
BNO
United States Brent Oil Fund LPOil & Gas
65
90.47%
95.54MJun 2010OCTM vs BNO
COMT
iShares Commodities Select Strategy ETFCommodities
71
39.67%
1.15BOct 2014OCTM vs COMT
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
97
2.20%
—May 2025OCTM vs ZMAY
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
95
10.96%
214.88MMar 2020OCTM vs KAPR
PMFB
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - FebruaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
95
2.56%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs PMFB
PMJA
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome, S&P 500
94
2.35%
4.58MDec 2024OCTM vs PMJA
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...Defined Outcome
74
11.46%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs KFEB
TWOX
iShares Large Cap Accelerated Outcome ETFDefined Outcome
45
2.15%
—Jan 2025OCTM vs TWOX
DBO
Invesco DB Oil FundOil & Gas
65
84.75%
275.60MJan 2007OCTM vs DBO
EAPR
Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF - Apri...Defined Outcome
94
11.39%
100.91MMar 2021OCTM vs EAPR
CAOS
Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETFOptions Trading
40
0.82%
668.40MAug 2013OCTM vs CAOS
GSG
iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed TrustCommodities
71
42.58%
1.04BJul 2006OCTM vs GSG
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETFDefined Outcome, Nasdaq-100—
10.47%
2.34MJun 2025OCTM vs QB
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...Defined Outcome
98
3.25%
—Apr 2025OCTM vs ZAPR

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