# GAUG (FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August)

First Trust · Buffer ETFs · data as of Sep 11, 2026

As of Sep 11, 2026, GAUG's buffer is absorbing losses, with 14.8% of 15.0% points still beneath SPY.

## Key facts

- GAUG, can still gain: 12.8%, as of Sep 11, 2026.
- GAUG, fall before the buffer: 0.9%, as of Sep 11, 2026.
- GAUG, protection left, index points: 14.8%, as of Sep 11, 2026.
- GAUG, days to reset: 343, as of Sep 11, 2026.
- GAUG, net assets: $402m (issuer page, as of Sep 11, 2026).
- GAUG, expense ratio: 0.85% (issuer page, Sep 11, 2026).

## GAUG over each window to Sep 11, 2026

| Window | Total return | SPY | Gap to SPY |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 months | +2.3% | +3.3% | −1.0 pts |
| 6 months | +8.3% | +16.0% | −7.7 pts |
| 1 year | +9.7% | +17.5% | −7.8 pts |
| 3 years | +39.7% | +77.9% | −38.2 pts |

## Every published field

| Field | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reference index | SPY | ETFIQ |
| Buffer | 15% | ETFIQ |
| Outcome period | Aug 24, 2026 to Aug 20, 2027 | ETFIQ |
| Starting cap | +13.8% | ETFIQ |
| SPY return since period start | −0.2% | ETFIQ |
| Fund return since period start | +0.1% | ETFIQ |
| Net assets | $402m | issuer page, as of Sep 11, 2026 |
| Band state today | Buffer working | ETFIQ |
| Can still gain | 12.8% | issuer, fund price |
| Fall before buffer | 0.9% | issuer, fund price |
| Fall to the buffer in index terms | 0.0% | ETFIQ |
| Protection left in index points | 14.8% of 15.0% | ETFIQ |
| Days left in period | 343 | ETFIQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.85% | issuer page, Sep 11, 2026 |

## Questions

### How much can GAUG still gain?

About 12.8% from its price on Sep 11, 2026, before it reaches its cap, by the issuer's published figure. The cap for the period was set at +13.8%.

### How far can GAUG fall before the buffer helps?

0.9% in fund-price terms on Sep 11, 2026, by the issuer's figure. In index terms SPY can fall 0.0% from that level before the buffer begins. Losses until that point are the holder's.

### How much of the GAUG buffer is left?

14.8% of the 15.0% buffer sat below the SPY level on Sep 11, 2026. That is an ETFIQ calculation in index points, on one definition for every issuer.

### When does GAUG reset?

The outcome period ends on Aug 20, 2027, 343 days from the data on Sep 11, 2026. A new cap is set the next day and the buffer starts again.

### What does GAUG cost?

The prospectus expense ratio is 0.85% a year.


## Cite this page

ETFIQ, GAUG, data as of Sep 11, 2026. https://etfiq.com/funds/gaug
Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at https://etfiq.com/data/.

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