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DAUG vs PSCX

FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August

DAUGCCboe

Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

PSCXBCboe

Overlap

Expense ratio

PSCX −0.36pt a year

DAUG0.85%PSCX0.49%

Avg volume · 30D

DAUG 26.3×the volume

DAUG26.3KPSCX998

5Y return · a year

PSCX +2.3pt

DAUG+6.2%PSCX+8.5%

DAUG vs PSCX Performance

Nov 2, 2021 – Nov 2, 2026

+34.9%DAUG+50.1%PSCX

Nov 2, 2021 to Nov 2, 2026. DAUG +34.9%. PSCX +50.1%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−10%0%10%20%Nov 2021May 2024Nov 2026
Expense ratio
DAUG 0.85%
PSCX 0.49%, better
Fund size
DAUG $446M
PSCX $47M
1Y total return
DAUG +7.6%
PSCX +9.9%, better
Holdings
DAUG 3
PSCX 3
Avg volume (30D)
DAUG 26.3K sh, better
PSCX 998 sh
NAV per share
DAUG $47.42
PSCX $33.53
52W range

ETF.net Grade

DAUG: Cost 31, Risk 45, Mission not scored, Tradability 74, Holdings 48, Durability 79. PSCX: Cost 81, Risk 56, Mission not scored, Tradability 47, Holdings not scored, Durability 27.
Pillar letters and Scores for DAUG, PSCX, with each pillar’s weight
PillarDAUGPSCX
Cost30% weightD31A81Higher
Mission25% weightNot scoredNot scored
Risk15% weightC45B56Higher
Tradability15% weightA74HigherC47
Holdings10% weightC48Not scored
Durability5% weightA79HigherD27

Rank among S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30% funds

How we build Categories ›
Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. DAUG and PSCX are both graded against the same 19 S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30% funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30%⁠

Category · 19 funds
See all 19 ›

PSCX ranks 1st and DAUG 10th of 19 funds in the S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30% Category.

  1. Rank 1BPSCXPacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETFScore 63
  2. Rank 1BUFEBInnovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETFScore 63
  3. Rank 9CDJULFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - JulyScore 49
  4. Rank 10CDAUGFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - AugustScore 47
  5. Rank 10CDMARFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - MarchScore 47

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

DAUGCFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August

PSCXBPacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

In short

DAUG Insurance with a deductible. DAUG bears the first 5% of an S&P 500 slide, then absorbs the next 25 points of losses, and in exchange your upside is capped at a level reset every August. Running since 2019.

PSCX A 25% deep buffer against the S&P 500, reset every January, for 0.49% a year, well under the typical fee in its deep-buffer group. The trade-off: a cap on the upside, set fresh each outcome period.

Stated mandate

DAUG The Fund seeks to match the price return of the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust before fees and expenses, subject to an 11.98% upside cap and protection for losses in the -5% to -30% range during the current outcome period.

PSCX The fund seeks to match the pre-fee returns of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust up to a predetermined cap while providing a downside buffer over approximately one year.

Why people hold it

  • DAUG The cushion sits where drawdowns bite: SPY losses between -5% and -30% are absorbed, a 25-point buffer, before losses pass through one-for-one again.sec.gov
  • Twelve siblings run the same deep-buffer recipe on a monthly cycle (DJAN through DDEC), so you can pick a reset month or spread money across several start dates.
  • Terms are knowable up front: the new cap is set at each August reset, disclosed in a filing and posted to the fund's site before the period begins.sec.gov
  • Live since 2019, so this August reset has been rolled through real market stress rather than a backtest.
  • PSCX At 0.49%, one of the cheaper ways to buy a deep buffer: cohort peers DMAR (0.85%) and UFEB (0.79%) charge more for a similar job.
  • The cushion is deep. The structure aims to absorb the first 25% of SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust losses over an approximately one-year outcome period.paceretfs.com
  • Pacer runs the same recipe on a quarterly calendar (PSCW in April, PSCQ in October), so the January reset is a choice of start date, not the only option.
  • Live since 2020, so the strategy has cycled through several full outcome periods, not one flattering stretch.

Worth knowing

  • DAUG The reference is SPY's price return, so S&P 500 dividends are not part of what you capture. That is part of what the buffer costs.sec.gov
  • Buffer and cap are designed for the full outcome period. Buy midstream and your own remaining cushion and upside differ from the headline terms.sec.gov
  • 0.85% matches the deep-buffer cohort median, while Pacer's SOS conservative funds (PSCX, PSCW) charge 0.49%. Volume is light here, so spreads can run wider.
  • PSCX Upside is capped. A new cap is set at the start of each outcome period, and a deeper buffer generally comes with a lower ceiling.paceretfs.com
  • Buffer and cap are measured over the full outcome period and stated before fees. Buy mid-period and your own cushion and ceiling differ from the headline terms.paceretfs.com
  • A small, thinly traded fund, so bid-ask spreads can run wider than on mainstream index ETFs.

Full DAUG profile⁠

Full PSCX profile⁠

DAUG vs PSCX Holdings

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

DAUG vs PSCX Cost

Overpaying DAUG vs PSCX

$6,407

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • DAUG 0.85%

    $16,199

  • PSCX 0.49%

    $9,792

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • DAUG 0.85%
  • PSCX 0.49%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$5K$10K$15K$20K051015202530DAUG $16,199PSCX $9,792

Year by year

YearDAUGPSCXOverpaying
10$1,508$883$625
20$5,706$3,394$2,312
30$16,199$9,792$6,407

Expense ratio

  • 0.85%DAUG
  • 0.49%PSCX, cheaper
  • Middle half of S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30% funds
  • Median 0.85%

PSCX 3rd cheapest of 19 funds

DAUG 8th cheapest of 19 funds

DAUG vs PSCX Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 2, 2026
Payout (12M)
DAUG None
PSCX None

Distribution history

DAUGAll DAUG payments⁠

No distribution history available.

PSCXAll PSCX payments⁠

No distribution history available.

DAUG vs PSCX Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • DAUG
  • PSCX
Nov 2, 2021 to Nov 2, 2026. Worst fall: DAUG −15.3% · Oct 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−10%−7.5%−5%−2.5%0%Nov 2021May 2024Nov 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
DAUG 6.2%PSCX 6.0%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
DAUG 1.33PSCX 1.45, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
DAUG −15.3%PSCX −10.2%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
DAUG 0.53PSCX 0.46

Popular comparisons

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