FDEC ETF — FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December

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

FDEC is an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 (via SPY). As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 0.00%, its expense ratio is 0.85%. Fund total return is 83.9% over the past 5.7 years, 40.8 points behind SPY at 124.7%.

FDEC is an equity buffer ETF that tracks the S&P 500's price return up to a capped level while providing downside protection against the first 10% of losses within each calendar year. The fund employs an options-based strategy to deliver this asymmetric payoff structure, with an 0.85% expense ratio and annual distributions. This ETF appeals to income and risk-conscious investors seeking S&P 500 exposure with defined loss protection, though the upside cap limits participation in strong bull market rallies.

FDEC performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 83.9% over the past 5.7 years, 40.8 points behind SPY at 124.7%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 5.8%.

FDEC key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

12/19/2019

Expense ratio

0.85%

Distribution rate

0.00%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$55.58

AUM

$1,360,309,177

Average volume

13313.0

Beta

0.65

P/E ratio

26.5968

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.00%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: First Trust fund page; Index: S&P 500 (via SPY); 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.

FDEC risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 5.8%.

Who may consider FDEC — and who may not

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

Frequently asked questions

More funds from First Trust.