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YDECFT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF – December

Grow my moneyStay safe5y track recordRanked #161 of 364 in this goal

Seeks to provide returns that match the price return of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, up to a cap of 13.03%, while providing a buffer against the first 15% of losses.

By First Trust · Launched 2020

Annual Cost

0.90%

#4,723 of 5,861 · expensive

Fund Size

$162M

#2,530 of 5,861 · mid-size

Return (1Y)Goal

+11.1%

Track Record

5 years

#2,205 of 5,861 · seasoned

Performance

Total-return NAV · USD
Growth of $10,000
$11,148+11.5%

Total-return NAV, USD. Net of fund fees, before tax.

What's inside

How Beacon categorizes this fund

Asset class

Alternative

Strategy

Structured outcome

Index tracked

MSCI EAFE Index

What it actually holds

By weight

Concentration

Top 10 holdings = 105.3% of fundconcentrated

CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 C0.95
69.7%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 C0.95
19.3%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 C0.95
13.6%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 P95.46
1.8%
Dreyfus Government Cash Management Funds
1.0%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 P95.46
0.5%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 P95.46
0.4%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 P81.14
-0.1%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 P81.14
-0.2%
CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.EFA 12 C107.9
-0.7%

Asset allocation

Stocks
98.5%
Cash
1.4%
Other
0.1%

Risk profile

Last 12 months · Sharpe & Sortino need 3+ years
Volatility (1Y)
7.0%Low

Year-on-year price swings

Max drawdown
-23.3%Moderate

Worst peak-to-trough loss

Sharpe (3Y)
0.46Below average
Sortino (3Y)
0.65Moderate downside risk

Listing

Exchange
Cboe BZX

Full fund details

Objective
Seeks to provide returns that match the price return of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, up to a cap of 13.03%, while providing a buffer against the first 15% of losses.
Strategy
Invests primarily in FLEX Options referencing the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF to implement a target outcome strategy. Aims for returns matching the Underlying ETF's price performance, with a cap of 13.03% and a buffer against the first 15% of losses. Focuses on developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Inception date
December 18, 2020
Fund family
First Trust

Our take

Structural notes on how this fund behaves. Read our guide on the 6 warning signs.

Buffer
Warning

You can build this cheaper yourself

Defined-outcome funds cap your gains (often 8% to 20%) in exchange for cushioning losses by 9% to 30%, priced with options. The fee runs about 0.70% or more, against 0.03% to 0.10% for a plain index fund. For most investors, a simple stock-and-bond mix gives similar protection for far less.

Sources: Morningstar, 'Buffer Funds Are on the Rise, but They May Not Make Sense for Most Investors' (2025)

Educational analysis of structural product characteristics. Not investment advice. Always read the fund prospectus and consult a qualified advisor before investing. More

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Data updated on 2026-08-04