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DMAY vs PSCX

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

DMAYCCboe

Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

PSCXBCboe

Overlap

Expense ratio

PSCX −0.36pt a year

DMAY0.85%PSCX0.49%

Avg volume · 30D

DMAY 9.6×the volume

DMAY9.56KPSCX998

5Y return · a year

PSCX +1.7pt

DMAY+6.8%PSCX+8.5%

DMAY vs PSCX Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+38.8%DMAY+50.6%PSCX

Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. DMAY +38.8%. PSCX +50.6%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−10%0%10%20%30%Oct 2021May 2024Oct 2026
Expense ratio
DMAY 0.85%
PSCX 0.49%, better
Fund size
DMAY $391M
PSCX $47M
1Y total return
DMAY +7.2%
PSCX +10.2%, better
Holdings
DMAY 3
PSCX 3
Avg volume (30D)
DMAY 9.56K sh, better
PSCX 998 sh
NAV per share
DMAY $47.79
PSCX $33.53
52W range

ETF.net Grade

DMAY: Cost 31, Risk 31, Mission not scored, Tradability 46, Holdings 67, Durability 72. PSCX: Cost 81, Risk 56, Mission not scored, Tradability 47, Holdings not scored, Durability 28.
Pillar letters and Scores for DMAY, PSCX, with each pillar’s weight
PillarDMAYPSCX
Cost30% weightD31A81Higher
Mission25% weightNot scoredNot scored
Risk15% weightD31B56Higher
Tradability15% weightC46C47Higher
Holdings10% weightB67Not scored
Durability5% weightA72HigherD28

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. DMAY 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 DMAY 16th 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 15CDDECFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - DecemberScore 44
  4. Rank 16CDMAYFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - MayScore 41
  5. Rank 17CCTJLCorgi U.S. Equities 30% Structured Buffer ETF - July SeriesScore 40

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

DMAYCFT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May

PSCXBPacer Swan SOS Conservative (January) ETF

In short

DMAY A deep buffer with a May start date. DMAY absorbs a 25-percentage-point band of losses in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust over each one-year outcome period, and in exchange you live under a cap that resets every May.

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

DMAY The Fund seeks to track the price return of the State Street® SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust, subject to a 13.56% upside cap, while buffering specified losses over the current target-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

  • DMAY Twenty-five percentage points of buffer against declines in the reference fund per outcome period. That is the deep end of the buffer menu, not the usual thin cushion.ftportfolios.com
  • The thing being buffered is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust itself, price return. No custom index to decode.ftportfolios.com
  • One of twelve monthly vintages First Trust runs on the same deep-buffer recipe, DJAN through DDEC, every one at 0.85%. Start dates can be laddered without changing the fee math.
  • Running since 2020, so the structure has been through real market weather 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

  • DMAY 0.85% sits right at the median for deep-buffer funds, but not the floor: the Pacer Swan SOS Conservative siblings (PSCX, PSCW, PSCQ) run 0.49%.
  • Price return only. Dividends paid inside the S&P 500 are not passed along, and income has not been part of the package here.
  • Trades lightly next to the biggest buffer funds, so execution deserves attention. Buy mid-period and you inherit whatever cap and buffer remain, not the reset-day terms.
  • 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 DMAY profile⁠

Full PSCX profile⁠

DMAY 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.

DMAY vs PSCX Cost

Overpaying DMAY vs PSCX

$6,407

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

  • DMAY 0.85%

    $16,199

  • PSCX 0.49%

    $9,792

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • DMAY 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$20K051015202530DMAY $16,199PSCX $9,792

Year by year

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

Expense ratio

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

PSCX 3rd cheapest of 19 funds

DMAY 8th cheapest of 19 funds

DMAY vs PSCX Dividends

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

Distribution history

DMAYAll DMAY payments⁠

No distribution history available.

PSCXAll PSCX payments⁠

No distribution history available.

DMAY vs PSCX Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • DMAY
  • PSCX
Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. Worst fall: DMAY −13.9% · Oct 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−10%−7.5%−5%−2.5%0%Oct 2021May 2024Oct 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
DMAY 6.4%PSCX 6.0%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
DMAY 1.19PSCX 1.45, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
DMAY −13.9%PSCX −10.2%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
DMAY 0.46PSCX 0.46Same figure. Both funds show the same value, so neither comes out ahead.

Popular comparisons

  • DMAYCvsUFEBB

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May · 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.

  • DMAYCvsPSCQB

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May · 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.

  • DMAYCvsDFEBC

    FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May · 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.