First Trust TCW Unconstrained Plus Bond ETF (UCON) belongs to the Nontraditional Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with UCON. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to UCON
UCON charges 0.86% annually. There are 17 ETFs in the Nontraditional Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.23%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bon... | 0.23% | 131.15M | Dec 2013 | UCON vs AGZD | |
| DoubleLine Asset-Backed Securities ETF | 0.40% | 146.87M | Feb 2025 | UCON vs DABS | |
| JPMorgan Flexible Debt ETF | 0.45% | 1.44B | Sep 2025 | UCON vs JFLX | |
| Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | 0.50% | 182.81M | May 2021 | UCON vs PFIX | |
| Simplify Bond Bull ETF | 0.50% | 45.63M | Dec 2024 | UCON vs RFIX |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to UCON
UCON has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 48. There are 8 ETFs in the Nontraditional Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 98.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF | 98 | 16.11M | Mar 2025 | UCON vs ILS | |
| WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bon... | 91 | 131.15M | Dec 2013 | UCON vs AGZD | |
| Simplify Kayne Anderson Energy and Infrastructure ... | 88 | 150.10M | May 2025 | UCON vs KNRG | |
| DoubleLine Asset-Backed Securities ETF | 85 | 146.87M | Feb 2025 | UCON vs DABS | |
| NEOS Enhanced Income Credit Select ETF | 81 | 219.35M | Sep 2024 | UCON vs HYBI |
Top Performing UCON Alternatives (YTD)
UCON is at 0.17% YTD. There are 16 ETFs in the Nontraditional Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 10.66%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | 10.66% | 182.81M | May 2021 | UCON vs PFIX | |
| FolioBeyond Alternative Income and Interest Rate H... | 4.91% | 180.75M | Sep 2021 | UCON vs RISR | |
| Simplify Bond Bull ETF | 4.85% | 45.63M | Dec 2024 | UCON vs RFIX | |
| Return Stacked Bonds & Managed Futures ETF | 4.41% | 137.91M | Feb 2023 | UCON vs RSBT | |
| Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF | 3.50% | 16.11M | Mar 2025 | UCON vs ILS |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to UCON
UCON has 2.98% 1-year volatility. There are 5 ETFs in the Nontraditional Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.00%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vest 2 Year Interest Rate Hedge ETF | 0.00% | — | Jan 2024 | UCON vs HYKE | |
| DoubleLine Asset-Backed Securities ETF | 2.41% | 146.87M | Feb 2025 | UCON vs DABS | |
| Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF | 2.46% | 16.11M | Mar 2025 | UCON vs ILS | |
| JPMorgan Flexible Debt ETF | 2.58% | 1.44B | Sep 2025 | UCON vs JFLX | |
| WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bon... | 2.69% | 131.15M | Dec 2013 | UCON vs AGZD |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to UCON
UCON has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.45%. There are 5 ETFs in the Nontraditional Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.55%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF | -0.55% | 16.11M | Mar 2025 | UCON vs ILS | |
| WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bon... | -0.73% | 131.15M | Dec 2013 | UCON vs AGZD | |
| DoubleLine Asset-Backed Securities ETF | -1.29% | 146.87M | Feb 2025 | UCON vs DABS | |
| NEOS Enhanced Income Credit Select ETF | -1.43% | 219.35M | Sep 2024 | UCON vs HYBI | |
| Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF | -2.40% | 130.55M | Nov 2022 | UCON vs FIAX |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.
Often Compared With UCON
Investors most often compare UCON with DIAL, FTSM, AOK. These 20 comparison targets span 13 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare UCON with Any Fund or Stock
Compare UCON with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair UCON with funds that move differently
First Trust TCW Unconstrained Plus Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to UCON.
Explore UCON Diversifiers