FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF… (GOCT) Performance
GOCT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +9.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +10.3% total return
- 3 years
- +12.2% a year
- Since first price
- +12.2% a year since 2023
GOCT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | GOCT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.4% | +0.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.2% | +3.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +6.2% | +6.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +9.1% | +9.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +10.3% | +10.3% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +41.2%+12.2%/yr | +41.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 23, 2023 | +41.2%+12.2%/yr | +41.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: GOCT vs SPY
From Oct 23, 2023: GOCT grew to $14,119, SPY to $18,742.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
GOCT returns by calendar year
2 of 2 full years positive. Best 2025 (+12.3%), worst 2024 (+8.2%). 2026 is year to date.
GOCT annual returns table
| Year | GOCT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +9.1% | −4.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +12.3% | −10.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +8.2% | −1.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
GOCT largest drawdowns
Now 0.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2025 | −10.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 10, 2025 | 48 days | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
GOCT risk statistics
| Statistic | Since 2023 |
|---|---|
| Annualized return | +12.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.31 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.65 |
| Best month | +5.3% |
| Worst month | −3.0% |
| Best 12 months | +18.6% |
| Worst 12 months | +2.7% |
| Positive months | 77% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
GOCT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 25 | +2.7% | +11.4% | +18.6% | 100% |
| 3-year (a year) | 1 | +12.3% | +12.3% | +12.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2023. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
GOCT performance overview
FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF… (GOCT) returned +10.3% over the past year, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2023 it has returned +12.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,119. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −10.5%, from Feb 19, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025, and it took 2 months to get back to the old high. Volatility has been 5.8% a year.
Related: GOCT chart. See the GOCT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
GOCT performance FAQ
What is the GOCT return over the past year?
GOCT returned +10.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 10.3%.
How much would $10,000 invested in GOCT be worth?
$10,000 invested in GOCT at its first recorded close on October 23, 2023 would be worth about $14,119 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for GOCT?
The worst calendar year was 2024, with a total return of +8.2%. The best was 2025 at +12.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of GOCT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −10.5% between February 19, 2025 and April 8, 2025. It recovered to the old high on June 10, 2025, 2 months after the bottom.
How volatile is GOCT?
Over the past history GOCT had an annualized volatility of 5.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.31 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).