Compare · 3 funds side by side · dividends reinvested

DECM, BUFD and BALT

DECMFirst Trust×BUFDFirst Trust×BALTInnovator×

Story of the three · Growth5Y$10,000 five years agoDividends reinvested · all three on one scale$14,188BUFD · best of the three

02 / 04

DECM, BUFD and BALT, Ranked

Today

FundFeeYieldYTD1 year3 yrs · yr5 yrs · yrWorst dropVolatilityAssetsAvg rank

FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETFDefined Outcome · Buffer0.10%0.00%+6.1%+7.6%+12.4%+7.2%−3.4%5.8%$2.2B1.5

Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETFDefined Outcome · Hedged equity0.69%0.00%+3.8%+5.5%+7.7%+6.1%−1.2%2.6%$3.3B1.9

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - DecemberDefined Outcome · Buffer0.85%0.00%+4.1%+5.3%[…][…]−1.7%2.5%$35M2.0

Rank among the three1st → 3rdFee, drop and volatility: lower ranks higherAvg rank: mean of the 8 ranks · 1 is best

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · returns include dividends · since: DECM 2024 · BUFD 2021 · BALT 2021

Head to Head

Swap sides Versus in desk

Head to Head

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - December · $35M[…]

DECM

BUFD

FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF · $2.2B$14,188

$10,000 five years ago, dividends reinvested

DECMMeasureBUFD

+4.1%Year to dateJan 1 → Nov 6+6.1%

+5.3%1 yearTotal return+7.6%

[…]3 years · per year$10,000 became […] · $14,188+12.4%

[…]5 years · per year$10,000 became […] · $14,188+7.2%

0.85%Expense ratio$85 · $10 a year on $10k · lower is better0.10%

0.00%Trailing 12-mo yield$0 · $0 a year on $10k0.00%

−1.7%Worst dropSmaller is better−3.4%

2.5%VolatilityLower is calmer5.8%

DECMBUFD Winner of the row, in its colourEach row: the bigger of the two fills its side

2–3BUFD wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · returns include dividends · 3Y and 5Y figures are per-year returns

More Ways to See the Pairs

DECM vs BUFD: Top 5 Holdings

Today

DECM

[…]in top 5

BUFD

in top 541.9%

DECMStockBUFD

not top 5DNOV8.4%

not top 5DMAR8.4%

not top 5DOCT8.4%

not top 5DFEB8.3%

not top 5DDEC8.3%

Held in common[…]

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · share of each fund

DECM vs BUFD Returns, Every Period

First TrustDECM

+5.3%

past year

BUFDFirst Trust

+7.6%

past year

DECMBUFDFaded: behind in that period

0–2BUFD wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · dividends in · faded = behind in that period

DECM vs BUFD

YTD

First TrustDECM

+4.1%

BUFDFirst Trust

+6.1%

+4.1%Year to date+6.1%

−1.7%Worst drop · 1Y−3.4%

2.5%Volatility · 1Y5.8%

0.0%Yield0.0%

$35.4MAssets$2.2B

2–1DECM wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · smaller drop and lower volatility win

Cost, Income and Risk

Fees: DECM, BUFD, BALT

Today

0.10%lowest, BUFD

FundExpense ratioFee$10k

BUFD0.10%$10

BALT0.69%$69

DECM0.85%$85

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · fee on $10,000 a year

Yields: DECM, BUFD, BALT

0.00%highest, DECM

FundTrailing yieldYield$10k

DECM0.00%$0

BUFD0.00%$0

BALT0.00%$0

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · trailing 12-month yield

Income After Fees on $10,000

−$10most kept, BUFD

BUFD$0 − $10 = −$10

BALT$0 − $69 = −$69

DECM$0 − $85 = −$85

KeptFee

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · yield in dollars minus the fee

Overlap: DECM, BUFD, BALT

Today

[…]holdings […]

DECMBUFDBALT

DECM—[…][…]

BUFD[…]—[…]

BALT[…][…]—

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · share held in common · outlined: the pair in versus

Return vs Bumpiness: 3 ETFs

+7.6%BUFD, at 5.8% volatility

DECMWorst drop−1.7%2.5% vol

BALTWorst drop−1.2%2.6% vol

BUFDWorst drop−3.4%5.8% vol

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026 · up and left is better

Paid More vs Made More

YTD

DECMBUFD

+4.1%Year to date+6.1%

0.0%Yield0.0%

+5.3%Past year+7.6%

0.85%Fee0.10%

3–0BUFD wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026

Popular Pairs Near These Three

SCHD vs VIG

YTD

SchwabSCHD

+31.4%

VIGVanguard

+12.1%

+31.4%Year to date+12.1%

3.0%Yield1.5%

$120BAssets$109B

2–0SCHD wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026

JEPQ vs JEPI

YTD

J.P. MorganJEPQ

+3.2%

JEPIJ.P. Morgan

+5.3%

+3.2%Year to date+5.3%

12.8%Yield8.1%

$42.6BAssets$46.8B

1–1level

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026

SPYM vs SPY

YTD

SPDRSPYM

+8.8%

SPYSPDR

+8.7%

+8.8%Year to date+8.7%

1.1%Yield1.0%

$182BAssets$819B

2–0SPYM wins

End-of-day Nov 6, 2026