SQMX ETF — FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF

FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF (SQMX)

Updated October 16, 2026.

SQMX is an ETF. its expense ratio is 0.85%. Total return is 13.2% over the past 1.8 years, 17.7 points behind SPY at 30.9%.

FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF is a non-diversified fund that invests substantially all of its assets in FLEX Options referencing the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, designed to provide exposure to large-cap U.S. equities with downside protection strategies. The fund does not currently distribute income, and carries an expense ratio of 0.85%. This ETF may appeal to investors seeking equity market exposure with built-in buffer protection against downside moves, though its options-based structure and recent inception date mean it lacks a long track record.

SQMX performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 13.2% over the past 1.8 years, 17.7 points behind SPY at 30.9%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 7.3%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 2.0%.

SQMX key facts

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

12/19/2024

Expense ratio

0.85%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$34.89 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$57,754,900

Average volume

6540.0

Beta

0.2091

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.

SQMX risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 2.0%.

Who may consider SQMX — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (SQMX 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 SQMX

• All tickers starting with S

Tagged: Downside Protection, Options, Target.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.