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DDEC vs PSCX

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

DDECCCboe

Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

PSCXBCboe

Overlap

Expense ratio

PSCX −0.36pt a year

DDEC0.85%PSCX0.49%

Avg volume · 30D

DDEC 11.7×the volume

DDEC11.7KPSCX998

5Y return · a year

Same figure. Both funds show the same value, so neither comes out ahead.

DDEC+8.5%PSCX+8.5%

DDEC vs PSCX Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+50.1%DDEC+50.6%PSCX

Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. DDEC +50.1%. PSCX +50.6%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−10%0%10%20%30%Oct 2021Mar 2024Oct 2026
Expense ratio
DDEC 0.85%
PSCX 0.49%, better
Fund size
DDEC $436M
PSCX $47M
1Y total return
DDEC +10.2%
PSCX +10.2%
Holdings
DDEC 3
PSCX 3
Avg volume (30D)
DDEC 11.7K sh, better
PSCX 998 sh
NAV per share
DDEC $48.68
PSCX $33.53
52W range

ETF.net Grade

DDEC: Cost 31, Risk 49, Mission not scored, Tradability 52, Holdings 57, Durability 63. PSCX: Cost 81, Risk 56, Mission not scored, Tradability 47, Holdings not scored, Durability 28.
Pillar letters and Scores for DDEC, PSCX, with each pillar’s weight
PillarDDECPSCX
Cost30% weightD31A81Higher
Mission25% weightNot scoredNot scored
Risk15% weightC49B56Higher
Tradability15% weightC52HigherC47
Holdings10% weightB57Not scored
Durability5% weightB63HigherD28

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. DDEC 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 DDEC 15th 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 14CDOCTFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - OctoberScore 45
  4. Rank 15CDDECFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - DecemberScore 44
  5. Rank 16CDMAYFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - MayScore 41

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

DDECCFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December

PSCXBPacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

In short

DDEC The deep-buffer version of the trade: DDEC lets the first 5% of an S&P 500 slide go, then absorbs the next 25 points of losses down to a 30% drop, in exchange for a capped upside that resets every December.

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

DDEC The Fund seeks to match the Underlying ETF’s price return up to an upside cap of 11.96%, while buffering losses in the range from 5% through 30% below the initial level 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

  • DDEC Deep, not standard. The first 5% of decline stays with you, then the fund cushions the next 25 points, covering losses down to 30% over the outcome period.ftportfolios.com
  • The reference asset is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, so the thing being hedged is plain large-cap US equity, and the payoff follows its price return.
  • One of twelve dated siblings, one per calendar month. The December reset lets holders stagger entry points across the series instead of betting on a single start date.
  • Live since 2020, so the structure has run through multiple complete reset cycles rather than one untested stretch.
  • 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

  • DDEC 0.85% a year sits right at the deep-buffer median, but Pacer's conservative structured-outcome funds (PSCX, PSCW) charge 0.49% for a defensive brief in the same cohort.
  • Upside is capped and the cushion only starts after a 5% drop. Both terms are set for the one-year period, so buying mid-period changes the cushion and ceiling you actually get.
  • It trades lightly next to the category's largest funds, which can widen the spread between market price and underlying value at the moment of a trade.
  • 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 DDEC profile⁠

Full PSCX profile⁠

DDEC vs PSCX Holdings

As of
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.

DDEC vs PSCX Cost

Overpaying DDEC vs PSCX

$6,407

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

  • DDEC 0.85%

    $16,199

  • PSCX 0.49%

    $9,792

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • DDEC 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$20K051015202530DDEC $16,199PSCX $9,792

Year by year

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

Expense ratio

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

PSCX 3rd cheapest of 19 funds

DDEC 8th cheapest of 19 funds

DDEC vs PSCX Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Payout (12M)
DDEC None
PSCX None

Distribution history

DDECAll DDEC payments⁠

No distribution history available.

PSCXAll PSCX payments⁠

No distribution history available.

DDEC vs PSCX Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • DDEC
  • PSCX
Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. Worst fall: PSCX −10.2% · Jun 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−6%−4%−2%0%Oct 2021Mar 2024Oct 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
DDEC 6.1%PSCX 6.0%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
DDEC 1.42PSCX 1.45, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
DDEC −10.2%PSCX −10.2%Same figure. Both funds show the same value, so neither comes out ahead.
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
DDEC 0.48PSCX 0.46

Popular comparisons

  • DDECCvsUFEBB

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December · Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.85% · 0.79%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • PSCXBvsUFEBB

    Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF · Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.49% · 0.79%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • DDECCvsPSCQB

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December · Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (October) ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.85% · 0.49%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • PSCXBvsPSCQB

    Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF · Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (October) ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.49% · 0.49%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • DDECCvsDFEBC

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December · FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - February

    Expense ratio
    0.85% · 0.85%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • PSCXBvsDFEBC

    Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF · FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - February

    Expense ratio
    0.49% · 0.85%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.