XISE vs. FSEP

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XISE (FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September) and FSEP (FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September) are both Options Trading funds from FT Vest. XISE is actively managed, while FSEP is passively managed. Over the past year, XISE returned 6.80% vs 17.62% for FSEP. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.85% expense ratio.

Performance

XISE vs. FSEP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September (XISE) and FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September (FSEP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XISE achieves a 3.00% return, which is significantly lower than FSEP's 6.56% return.

XISE

• 1D: -0.02%
• 1M: 0.75%
• YTD: 3.00%
• 6M: 3.75%
• 1Y: 6.80%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

FSEP

• 1D: -0.22%
• 1M: 2.58%
• YTD: 6.56%
• 6M: 7.03%
• 1Y: 17.62%
• 3Y*: 14.44%
• 5Y*: 10.07%
• 10Y*: —

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

XISE vs. FSEP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
XISE FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September	3.00%	6.42%	5.70%	3.09%
FSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September	6.56%	12.83%	13.56%	5.73%

Correlation

The correlation between XISE and FSEP is 0.81, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.81
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 19, 2023	0.77

The correlation between XISE and FSEP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.81 - a consistent structural relationship.

XISE vs. FSEP - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XISE	FSEP
Technology	36.2%	36.2%
Financial Services	11.9%	11.9%
Communication Services	10.9%	10.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.1%	10.1%
Healthcare	8.4%	8.4%
Industrials	8.1%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	4.9%	4.9%
Energy	3.5%	3.5%
Utilities	2.3%	2.3%
Real Estate	1.9%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.8%	1.8%

Return for Risk

XISE vs. FSEP — Risk / Return Rank

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

XISE

XISE Risk / Return Rank: 80
XISE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
XISE Sortino Ratio Rank: 81
XISE Omega Ratio Rank: 87
XISE Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
XISE Martin Ratio Rank: 90

FSEP

FSEP Risk / Return Rank: 74
FSEP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
FSEP Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
FSEP Omega Ratio Rank: 77
FSEP Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
FSEP Martin Ratio Rank: 80

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.

XISE vs. FSEP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September (XISE) and FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September (FSEP). 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.

	XISE	FSEP	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.31	2.36	-0.05
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.59	3.40	+0.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.53	1.47	+0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.64	3.15	+0.49
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	20.31	15.90	+4.41
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XISE vs. FSEP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XISE Sharpe Ratio is 2.31, which is comparable to the FSEP Sharpe Ratio of 2.36. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XISE and FSEP, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XISE	FSEP	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.31	2.36	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.94	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.39	1.10	+0.29

Drawdowns

XISE vs. FSEP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XISE drawdown since its inception was -6.17%, smaller than the maximum FSEP drawdown of -13.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XISE and FSEP.

Drawdown Indicators

	XISE	FSEP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.17%	-13.79%	+7.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.88%	-5.62%	+3.74%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.37%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-13.79%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.02%	-0.22%	+0.20%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.24%	-2.14%	+1.90%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.34%	1.11%	-0.77%

Volatility

XISE vs. FSEP - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September (XISE) is 0.37%, while FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September (FSEP) has a volatility of 1.19%. This indicates that XISE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FSEP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XISE	FSEP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.37%	1.19%	-0.82%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.33%	5.79%	-3.46%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.96%	7.52%	-4.56%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.92%	10.79%	-5.87%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.92%	10.54%	-5.62%

XISE vs. FSEP - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both XISE and FSEP have an expense ratio of 0.85%.

Dividends

XISE vs. FSEP - Dividend Comparison

XISE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.92%, while FSEP has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
FSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XISE FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF – September	5.92%	5.81%	7.04%	1.20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XISE and FSEP in my portfolio?

XISE and FSEP have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XISE or FSEP?

FSEP has higher volatility (1.19%) compared to XISE (0.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XISE dropped -6.17% vs FSEP's -13.79%.

Which ETF is better, XISE or FSEP?

On 1-year performance, FSEP leads with 17.62% vs 6.80% for XISE. Both ETFs have the same 0.85% expense ratio. On volatility, XISE has been the lower-risk option at 0.37%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XISE or FSEP?

Over the 1-year period, FSEP has performed better with a 17.62% return vs 6.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XISE or FSEP?

XISE and FSEP have the same expense ratio: 0.85% per year.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XISE or FSEP?

XISE has the higher dividend yield at 5.92%, compared with 0.00% for FSEP.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

FSEP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.36 vs 2.31), 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.