PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - December (PBDE) 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 PBDE. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PBDE
PBDE charges 0.50% annually. There are 5 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBDE vs JANB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBDE vs APRB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBDE vs OCTB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PBDE vs JULB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | PBDE vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PBDE
PBDE has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 86. There are 96 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 | PBDE vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs APXM | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs MMAX | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs CPSP |
Top Performing PBDE Alternatives (YTD)
PBDE is at 4.81% YTD. There are 149 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 18.85%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 18.85% | — | Aug 2025 | PBDE vs NVDO | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March | 14.45% | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs TMAR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 13.06% | 557.94M | Mar 2021 | PBDE vs QMAR | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | 12.09% | 7.34M | Dec 2024 | PBDE vs PQAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul... | 11.78% | — | Jul 2025 | PBDE vs UXJL |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PBDE
PBDE has 5.66% 1-year volatility. There are 122 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.01%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.01% | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.12% | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs PMMY | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs PMAP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.39% | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.42% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs CPSP |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PBDE
PBDE has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.94%. There are 103 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.27%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.27% | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs APXM | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs MMAX | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | PBDE vs PMAP | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | -0.36% | — | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PBDE vs CPSP |
Other ETFs from PGIM
The 10 most viewed PGIM ETFs shown here include PAAA, PULS, PFRL and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $16B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM AAA CLO ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.03% | 10.16B | Jul 2023 | PBDE vs PAAA | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.73% | 16.31B | Apr 2018 | PBDE vs PULS | |
| PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF | Bank Loan | 91 | 1.96% | 116.67M | May 2022 | PBDE vs PFRL | |
| PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 89 | 1.23% | — | Jul 2023 | PBDE vs PSDM | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF | Municipal Bonds | 88 | 1.32% | 97.02M | Jun 2024 | PBDE vs PUSH | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 86 | 6.23% | 183.97M | Jun 2024 | PBDE vs BUFP | |
| PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 71 | 1.88% | 161.26M | Dec 2023 | PBDE vs PSH | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 90 | 4.52% | 154.43M | Jun 2024 | PBDE vs PBFR | |
| PGIM Total Return Bond ETF | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond | 40 | 0.34% | 978.28M | Dec 2021 | PBDE vs PTRB | |
| PGIM Jennison Focused Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 28 | 6.64% | 154.47M | Dec 2022 | PBDE vs PJFG |
Often Compared With PBDE
Investors most often compare PBDE with PMFB, BNO, ZMAY. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PBDE with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PBDE with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PBDE with funds that move differently
PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - December alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PBDE.
Explore PBDE Diversifiers