PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - August (PMAU) 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 PMAU. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PMAU
PMAU 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 | PMAU vs JANB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PMAU vs APRB | |
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PMAU vs OCTB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | PMAU vs JULB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | PMAU vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PMAU
Among 220 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs APXM | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs MMAX | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs CPSP |
Top Performing PMAU Alternatives (YTD)
PMAU is at 2.95% YTD. There are 196 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 | PMAU vs NVDO | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March | 14.45% | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs TMAR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 13.06% | 557.94M | Mar 2021 | PMAU vs QMAR | |
| PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April | 12.09% | 7.34M | Dec 2024 | PMAU vs PQAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - Jul... | 11.78% | — | Jul 2025 | PMAU vs UXJL |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PMAU
PMAU has 2.51% 1-year volatility. There are 49 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 | PMAU vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.12% | — | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs PMMY | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.15% | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs PMAP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.39% | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.42% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs CPSP |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PMAU
Among 220 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go 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 | PMAU vs APXM | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs MMAX | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.34% | — | Mar 2025 | PMAU vs PMAP | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | -0.36% | — | Apr 2025 | PMAU vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 18.90M | Apr 2025 | PMAU 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 | PMAU vs PAAA | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.73% | 16.31B | Apr 2018 | PMAU vs PULS | |
| PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF | Bank Loan | 91 | 1.96% | 116.67M | May 2022 | PMAU vs PFRL | |
| PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 89 | 1.23% | — | Jul 2023 | PMAU vs PSDM | |
| PGIM Ultra Short Municipal Bond ETF | Municipal Bonds | 88 | 1.32% | 97.02M | Jun 2024 | PMAU vs PUSH | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 86 | 6.23% | 183.97M | Jun 2024 | PMAU vs BUFP | |
| PGIM Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 71 | 1.88% | 161.26M | Dec 2023 | PMAU vs PSH | |
| PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF | Defined Outcome, S&P 500 | 90 | 4.52% | 154.43M | Jun 2024 | PMAU vs PBFR | |
| PGIM Total Return Bond ETF | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond | 40 | 0.34% | 978.28M | Dec 2021 | PMAU vs PTRB | |
| PGIM Jennison Focused Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 28 | 6.64% | 154.47M | Dec 2022 | PMAU vs PJFG |
Often Compared With PMAU
Investors most often compare PMAU with FEBU, PBJN, XDEC. These 20 comparison targets span 3 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PMAU with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PMAU with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PMAU with funds that move differently
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - August alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PMAU.
Explore PMAU Diversifiers