DSEP vs. LITL
DSEP (FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September) and LITL (Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DSEP is a Options Trading fund tracking the Cboe S&P 500 30% (-5% to -35%) Buffer Protect September Series Index, while LITL is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Simplify. DSEP is passively managed, while LITL is actively managed. Over the past year, DSEP returned 12.19% vs 31.53% for LITL. Their 0.72 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. DSEP charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.91%/yr for LITL.
Performance
DSEP vs. LITL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DSEP achieves a 6.65% return, which is significantly lower than LITL's 15.04% return.
DSEP
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- 0.92%
- 6M
- 5.86%
- YTD
- 6.65%
- 1Y
- 12.19%
- 3Y*
- 11.29%
- 5Y*
- 8.21%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 8.57%
LITL
- 1D
- 0.24%
- 1M
- -2.40%
- 6M
- 12.72%
- YTD
- 15.04%
- 1Y
- 31.53%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 28.40%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $390.97K | $377.99K | $486.45K | |
| $92.88K | $67.65K | $57.85K |
DSEP vs. LITL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
DSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September | 6.65% | 13.86% |
LITL Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF | 15.04% | 18.93% |
Correlation
The correlation between DSEP and LITL is 0.69, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.69 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 29, 2025 | 0.72 |
The correlation between DSEP and LITL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.69 to 0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
DSEP vs. LITL — Risk / Return Rank
DSEP
LITL
DSEP vs. LITL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September (DSEP) and Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF (LITL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| DSEP | LITL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.27 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.49 | 3.05 | -0.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.12 | 9.55 | +2.57 |
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Drawdowns
DSEP vs. LITL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DSEP drawdown since its inception was -11.78%, which is greater than LITL's maximum drawdown of -9.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DSEP and LITL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DSEP | LITL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.78% | -9.32% | -2.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.54% | -9.32% | +4.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -9.93% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.78% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -2.98% | +2.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.81% | -2.24% | +0.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 2.98% | -2.05% |
Volatility
DSEP vs. LITL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September (DSEP) is 1.51%, while Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF (LITL) has a volatility of 3.56%. This indicates that DSEP experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LITL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DSEP | LITL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.51% | 3.56% | -2.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.80% | 12.19% | -7.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.03% | 18.20% | -12.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.81% | 18.33% | -10.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.44% | 18.33% | -10.89% |
DSEP vs. LITL - Expense Ratio Comparison
DSEP has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is lower than LITL's 0.91% expense ratio.
Dividends
DSEP vs. LITL - Dividend Comparison
DSEP has not paid dividends to shareholders, while LITL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.67%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
DSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September | 0.00% | 0.00% |
LITL Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF | 1.67% | 0.71% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DSEP and LITL have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LITL has higher volatility (3.56%) compared to DSEP (1.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DSEP dropped -11.78% vs LITL's -9.32%.
On 1-year performance, LITL leads with 31.53% vs 12.19% for DSEP. On fees, DSEP is cheaper at 0.85% per year. On volatility, DSEP has been the lower-risk option at 1.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, LITL has performed better with a 31.53% return vs 12.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
DSEP is cheaper with a 0.85% expense ratio, compared with 0.91% for LITL.
LITL has the higher dividend yield at 1.67%, compared with 0.00% for DSEP.
DSEP is categorized as Options Trading, while LITL is Small Cap Blend Equities. They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and Simplify. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for DSEP and 0.91% for LITL.
DSEP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 1.57), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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