CPSD vs FDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 FDEC can fall 9.6% 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 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.

FDECBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capFDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +9.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts+12%−10.0% floor0% period start+14.8% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%Between buffer and capFDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +9.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap.−10.0% floor0% start+14.8% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%

FDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +9.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap.

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

CPSD is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

CPSD resets first, on Dec 1, 2026, 61 days from now; FDEC runs to Dec 18, 2026, 79 days. A fall from here reaches CPSD’s buffer after 5.0% and FDEC’s after 9.6%. 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
WindowCPSDFDECCPSDFDEC
3 months+1.6%+2.9%−0.9 pts+0.4 pts
6 months+4.5%+12.0%−12.5 pts−5.0 pts
1 year+6.3%+13.8%−9.4 pts−1.9 pts
3 yearsnot published+59.2%not published−25.8 pts

CPSD and FDEC 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
FDEC
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.8%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer Calamos First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 1% to 100% 10%
Outcome period Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 61 79
Starting cap +6.1% +14.8%
Can still gain not published 3.9%
Fall before buffer 5.0% 9.6%
Protection left, index points 99.5% of 99.5% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +12.1% +12.0%
Fund return this period +4.7% +9.6%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.85%
Net assets $46m $1.3bn

CPSD and FDEC 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.

FDEC in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% 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 FDEC?
CPSD ends its outcome period on Dec 1, 2026 and FDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPSD or FDEC?
CPSD charges 0.69% a year and FDEC charges 0.85%, so CPSD is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

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

Open data

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