QDEC vs. FTQI
QDEC (FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December) and FTQI (First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF) are both Nasdaq-100 funds. QDEC is actively managed, while FTQI is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, QDEC returned 9.74%/yr vs 11.76%/yr for FTQI. Their 0.75 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. QDEC charges 0.90%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for FTQI.
Performance
QDEC vs. FTQI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QDEC achieves a 8.08% return, which is significantly lower than FTQI's 11.44% return.
QDEC
- 1D
- 0.51%
- 1M
- -0.28%
- 6M
- 7.23%
- YTD
- 8.08%
- 1Y
- 19.47%
- 3Y*
- 15.79%
- 5Y*
- 9.74%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 10.75%
FTQI
- 1D
- 0.46%
- 1M
- -0.27%
- 6M
- 10.16%
- YTD
- 11.44%
- 1Y
- 23.81%
- 3Y*
- 15.86%
- 5Y*
- 11.76%
- 10Y*
- 7.96%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.96%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $11.90M | $8.88M | $6.02M | |
| $1.40M | $874.77K | $1.05M |
QDEC vs. FTQI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QDEC FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December | 8.08% | 18.12% | 16.40% | 29.29% | -22.26% | 17.23% | 1.26% |
FTQI First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF | 11.44% | 12.68% | 18.30% | 23.63% | -8.77% | 10.46% | 0.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between QDEC and FTQI is 0.91, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.83 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 21, 2020 | 0.75 |
The correlation between QDEC and FTQI shifts across timeframes, from 0.75 (all time) to 0.91 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
QDEC vs. FTQI — Risk / Return Rank
QDEC
FTQI
QDEC vs. FTQI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December (QDEC) and First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI). 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.
| QDEC | FTQI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.37 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.36 | 3.63 | -1.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.65 | 16.41 | -5.75 |
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Drawdowns
QDEC vs. FTQI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QDEC drawdown since its inception was -25.25%, which is greater than FTQI's maximum drawdown of -19.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QDEC and FTQI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QDEC | FTQI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -25.25% | -19.42% | -5.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.58% | -6.24% | -1.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.08% | -19.42% | +3.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.25% | -19.42% | -5.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -19.42% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.54% | -2.01% | +0.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.92% | -3.72% | -1.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.68% | 1.38% | +0.30% |
Volatility
QDEC vs. FTQI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December (QDEC) is 3.25%, while First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) has a volatility of 3.63%. This indicates that QDEC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FTQI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| QDEC | FTQI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.25% | 3.63% | -0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.31% | 9.09% | -0.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.47% | 11.24% | -0.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.80% | 14.79% | +0.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.53% | 12.93% | +1.60% |
QDEC vs. FTQI - Expense Ratio Comparison
QDEC has a 0.90% expense ratio, which is higher than FTQI's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
QDEC vs. FTQI - Dividend Comparison
QDEC has not paid dividends to shareholders, while FTQI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.28%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTQI First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF | 11.28% | 11.46% | 11.66% | 11.49% | 9.85% | 3.05% | 3.27% | 2.95% | 3.27% | 2.74% | 3.02% | 3.54% |
QDEC FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, QDEC and FTQI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
FTQI has higher volatility (3.63%) compared to QDEC (3.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QDEC dropped -25.25% vs FTQI's -19.42%.
On 5-year performance, FTQI leads with 11.76% vs 9.74% for QDEC. On fees, FTQI is cheaper at 0.75% per year. On volatility, QDEC has been the lower-risk option at 3.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FTQI has performed better with a 11.76% return vs 9.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FTQI is cheaper with a 0.75% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for QDEC.
FTQI has the higher dividend yield at 11.28%, compared with 0.00% for QDEC.
They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.90% for QDEC and 0.75% for FTQI.
FTQI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.71), 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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