DDEC ETF — FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December

FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December (DDEC)

Updated October 16, 2026.

DDEC is an ETF. its expense ratio is 0.85%. Total return is 61.0% over the past 5.8 years, 63.0 points behind SPY at 124.0%.

FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December is an equity ETF that employs a structured strategy designed to provide buffer protection against U.S. market declines while maintaining upside participation. The fund carries an expense ratio of 0.85% and does not currently distribute income to shareholders. This ETF appeals to investors seeking downside risk management within their equity allocation rather than those focused on generating regular dividend income.

DDEC performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 61.0% over the past 5.8 years, 63.0 points behind SPY at 124.0%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 12.0%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 4.2%.

DDEC key facts

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

12/18/2020

Expense ratio

0.85%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$48.73 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$432,355,057

Average volume

1934.0

Beta

0.48

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (the posted rate) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: First Trust or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

DDEC risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 4.2%.

Who may consider DDEC — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (DDEC does not currently distribute); investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on DDEC

• All tickers starting with D

Tagged: Downside Protection, Options, Target.

Frequently asked questions

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