CPSD vs DDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can fall 12.9% before its buffer engages and CPSD 5.0%, and CPSD resets 18 days sooner. Calamos S&P 500 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December and FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December.

CPSDAt its cap
At its capCPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% period start+6.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.1%At its capCPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% start+6.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.1%

CPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.

DDECAt its cap
At its capDDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap.25 pts of buffer+12%−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+12.0% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%At its capDDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap.25 pts−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+12.0% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%

DDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap.

These are two different products. CPSD is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDEC is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

CPSD resets first, on Dec 1, 2026, 61 days from now; DDEC runs to Dec 18, 2026, 79 days. A fall from here reaches CPSD’s buffer after 5.0% and DDEC’s after 12.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowCPSDDDECCPSDDDEC
3 months+1.6%+2.6%−0.9 pts+0.1 pts
6 months+4.5%+9.6%−12.5 pts−7.4 pts
1 year+6.3%+11.0%−9.4 pts−4.7 pts
3 yearsnot published+44.8%not published−40.2 pts

CPSD and DDEC over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

CPSD
Calamos S&P 500 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December · Absorbs losses from 0.5% to 100.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 6.1%, over a period ending Dec 1, 2026
DDEC
FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 12.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer Calamos First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 1% to 100% 5% to 30%
Outcome period Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 61 79
Starting cap +6.1% +12.0%
Can still gain not published 2.8%
Fall before buffer 5.0% 12.9%
Protection left, index points 99.5% of 99.5% 25.0% of 25.0%
Index return this period +12.1% +12.0%
Fund return this period +4.7% +8.1%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.85%
Net assets $46m $428m

CPSD and DDEC on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

CPSD in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.1% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.3% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 99.5% of the 99.5% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 61 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 1, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDEC in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +12.0% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 2.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 12.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 15.2% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 25.0% of the 25.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, CPSD or DDEC?
CPSD ends its outcome period on Dec 1, 2026 and DDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPSD or DDEC?
CPSD charges 0.69% a year and DDEC charges 0.85%, so CPSD is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, CPSD against DDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/cpsd-vs-ddec

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.