GAUG vs. ^SP600

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August (GAUG) and S&P 600 (^SP600).

GAUG is a passively managed fund by FT Vest that tracks the performance of the S&P 500. It was launched on Aug 17, 2023.

Performance

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August (GAUG) and S&P 600 (^SP600). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
GAUG FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August	-0.95%	11.28%	11.78%	5.84%
^SP600 S&P 600	3.65%	4.23%	6.82%	10.20%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GAUG achieves a -0.95% return, which is significantly lower than ^SP600's 3.65% return.

GAUG

• 1D: 0.46%
• 1M: -1.72%
• YTD: -0.95%
• 6M: 0.60%
• 1Y: 11.73%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

^SP600

• 1D: 0.53%
• 1M: -4.39%
• YTD: 3.65%
• 6M: 4.71%
• 1Y: 18.85%
• 3Y*: 8.77%
• 5Y*: 2.57%
• 10Y*: 8.26%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Return for Risk

GAUG vs. ^SP600 — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GAUG

GAUG Risk / Return Rank: 69
GAUG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 64
GAUG Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
GAUG Omega Ratio Rank: 74
GAUG Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
GAUG Martin Ratio Rank: 79

^SP600

^SP600 Risk / Return Rank: 54
^SP600 Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
^SP600 Sortino Ratio Rank: 54
^SP600 Omega Ratio Rank: 51
^SP600 Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
^SP600 Martin Ratio Rank: 59

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August (GAUG) and S&P 600 (^SP600). 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.

	GAUG	^SP600	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.19	0.83	+0.35
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.81	1.31	+0.50
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	1.17	+0.12
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.67	1.28	+0.38
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.33	5.11	+4.22
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GAUG Sharpe Ratio is 1.19, which is higher than the ^SP600 Sharpe Ratio of 0.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GAUG and ^SP600, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GAUG	^SP600	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.19	0.83	+0.35
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.12	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.36	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.40	0.44	+0.96

Correlation

The correlation between GAUG and ^SP600 is 0.69, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Drawdowns

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GAUG drawdown since its inception was -10.08%, smaller than the maximum ^SP600 drawdown of -59.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GAUG and ^SP600.

Drawdown Indicators

	GAUG	^SP600	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-10.08%	-59.17%	+49.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.14%	-14.89%	+7.75%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-28.39%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-45.77%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.00%	-5.55%	+3.55%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.76%	-9.31%	+8.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.28%	3.74%	-2.46%

Volatility

GAUG vs. ^SP600 - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August (GAUG) is 3.03%, while S&P 600 (^SP600) has a volatility of 6.26%. This indicates that GAUG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ^SP600 based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GAUG	^SP600	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.03%	6.26%	-3.23%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.68%	13.06%	-8.38%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	9.93%	22.74%	-12.81%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.68%	21.56%	-13.88%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.68%	23.19%	-15.51%