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FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) Fund Overview

Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this

$27.84 -$0.0907 (-0.32%)
Vol: 6.3K|

Beta 0.71: the stock has moved about 29% less than the S&P 500.

Data from FMP · Methodology

For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 18, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR

Quick Answer

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) trades at $27.84. Sector: Financials.

Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 18, 2026
FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May seeks to match the price return of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, with a capped upside and downside buffer. The fund's strategy aims to provide a balance between growth potential and risk mitigation for investors in the small-cap market.

Analyst Coverage for SMAY: SMAY does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.

▶ Watch the SMAY film Every key number, told as a short cinematic story — just press play. ~2 min

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) Financial Services Profile

IPO Year2023

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) offers investors a buffered exposure to the Russell 2000, limiting both upside and downside. It targets a specific outcome over a defined period, appealing to risk-conscious investors seeking participation in small-cap growth with downside protection within the asset management sector.

Data Provenance | Financial Data Quantitative Analysis Analysis: Mar 18, 2026

What Is the Investment Thesis for SMAY?

AI-written as of Mar 18, 2026 — figures and tone reflect the data available then, not today's score.

SMAY presents a targeted investment strategy for investors seeking buffered exposure to the U.S. small-cap market. The fund's capped upside of 16.50% and downside buffer of 15% offer a defined risk-return profile for the period of May 19, 2025, through May 15, 2026. Key value drivers include the fund's ability to provide downside protection during market corrections and its potential to capture a portion of the upside during periods of market growth. Ongoing catalysts include continued investor demand for risk-managed investment solutions and the potential for increased adoption of buffered ETFs as part of a diversified portfolio. Potential risks include the fund's capped upside, which may limit participation in significant market rallies, and the potential for underperformance relative to the Underlying ETF if the market experiences losses exceeding the 15% buffer. The fund's beta of 0.71 suggests lower volatility compared to the broader market, which may appeal to risk-averse investors.

Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis

SMAY Key Highlights

AI-written as of Mar 18, 2026 — figures and tone reflect the data available then, not today's score.

SMAY seeks to match the price return of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, providing exposure to the U.S. small-cap market.

  • The fund offers a predetermined upside cap of 16.50%, limiting potential gains during periods of strong market growth.
  • SMAY provides a buffer against the first 15% of losses of the Underlying ETF, offering downside protection during market corrections.
  • The fund's investment strategy is passive, aiming to track the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • SMAY is designed for investors seeking a balance between growth potential and risk management in their investment portfolios.

Who Are SMAY's Competitors?

SMAY is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.

Company Price Change Market Cap MoonshotScore
BAMV Brookstone Value Stock ETF $36.36 -0.44% $98.2M —
FLJH Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF $46.98 -0.78% $189M —
IFLO VictoryShares International Free Cash Flow ETF $35.05 -0.83% $129M —
INCE Franklin Income Equity Focus ETF $66.06 -0.20% $123M —
RAFE PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF $49.39 -0.14% $164M —
BLK BlackRock, Inc. $1069.63 -0.91% $167B 52 5-pillar
BX Blackstone Inc. $111.80 -1.38% $135B 69 5-pillar
APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. $25.43 -0.66% $74.6B 56 5-pillar

AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance

What Are SMAY's Key Strengths?

Defined risk-return profile with capped upside and downside buffer.

  • Passive investment strategy tracking the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • ETF structure providing liquidity and transparency.
  • Potential for downside protection during market corrections.

What Are SMAY's Weaknesses?

Capped upside may limit participation in significant market rallies.

  • Potential for underperformance relative to the Underlying ETF if the market experiences losses exceeding the 15% buffer.
  • Reliance on the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • Management fees may reduce overall returns.

What Are the Key Risks for SMAY?

Capped upside may limit participation in significant market rallies.

  • Underperformance relative to the Underlying ETF if the market experiences losses exceeding the 15% buffer.
  • Dependence on the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • Management fees may reduce overall returns.
  • Changes in market conditions and investor sentiment.

What Threats Does SMAY Face?

  • Competition from other buffered ETFs and investment products.
  • Changes in market conditions and investor sentiment.
  • Regulatory changes impacting the ETF industry.
  • Economic downturns and market volatility.

What Are SMAY's Competitive Advantages?

  • Defined Risk-Return Profile: SMAY offers investors a unique combination of upside participation and downside protection, providing a defined risk-return profile.
  • Passive Investment Strategy: The fund's passive investment strategy allows it to track the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF efficiently.
  • ETF Structure: The fund's ETF structure provides liquidity and transparency, allowing investors to buy and sell shares on the open market.

What Does SMAY Do?

The FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) is designed to provide investors with a unique investment strategy that combines participation in the potential growth of the U.S. small-cap market with a degree of downside protection. SMAY seeks to replicate the price return of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, a widely recognized benchmark for small-cap stocks in the United States. However, SMAY's investment objective includes a predetermined upside cap of 16.50% and a buffer against the first 15% of losses of the Underlying ETF. This strategy is implemented over a specific period, from May 19, 2025, through May 15, 2026. As an exchange-traded fund (ETF), SMAY offers investors the flexibility to buy and sell shares on the open market, providing liquidity and transparency. The fund's structure allows investors to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks while mitigating some of the risks associated with investing in this asset class. SMAY is part of a broader suite of buffered ETFs managed by FT Vest, each designed with different buffer levels and investment periods to cater to various risk tolerances and investment objectives. The fund's investment strategy is passive, aiming to track the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF rather than actively selecting individual stocks. SMAY is geared towards investors seeking a balance between growth potential and risk management in their investment portfolios.

What Products and Services Does SMAY Offer?

  • Provides investors with exposure to the U.S. small-cap market through the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • Offers a predetermined upside cap of 16.50%, limiting potential gains during periods of strong market growth.
  • Provides a buffer against the first 15% of losses of the Underlying ETF, offering downside protection during market corrections.
  • Implements a passive investment strategy, aiming to track the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • Offers investors a defined risk-return profile for a specific period, from May 19, 2025, through May 15, 2026.
  • Provides liquidity and transparency through its exchange-traded fund (ETF) structure.
  • Offers a balance between growth potential and risk management in investment portfolios.

How Does SMAY Make Money?

  • SMAY generates revenue through management fees charged to investors.
  • The fund's expense ratio covers the costs of managing the fund, including administrative expenses, marketing expenses, and other operational costs.
  • The fund's investment strategy is passive, aiming to track the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.

What Industry Does SMAY Operate In?

The asset management industry is characterized by a diverse range of investment products and strategies, catering to various risk tolerances and investment objectives. Buffered ETFs, like SMAY, represent a growing segment of the market, offering investors defined risk-return profiles. The competitive landscape includes traditional asset managers, ETF providers, and fintech companies offering innovative investment solutions. Market trends include increasing demand for passive investment strategies, growing adoption of ETFs, and a focus on risk management and downside protection. SMAY fits into this landscape by providing a targeted investment solution for investors seeking buffered exposure to the U.S. small-cap market.

Who Are SMAY's Key Customers?

  • Retail investors seeking exposure to the U.S. small-cap market.
  • Financial advisors and wealth management firms seeking to incorporate buffered ETFs into client portfolios.
  • Institutional investors seeking to manage risk and volatility in their portfolios.
Model self-rating on this text: 81% (not a measure of the evidence) Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Research confidence

Low

Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.

  • ● Scoring coverage unknown
  • ● Price is current
  • ● No filing on record
  • ● No analyst coverage
  • ● This is an etf, not an operating company

SMAY Financials

Bull Case vs Bear Case

Bull Case

  • Defined risk-return profile with capped upside and downside buffer.
  • Passive investment strategy tracking the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • ETF structure providing liquidity and transparency.
  • Potential for downside protection during market corrections.

Bear Case

  • Capped upside may limit participation in significant market rallies.
  • Potential for underperformance relative to the Underlying ETF if the market experiences losses exceeding the 15% buffer.
  • Reliance on the performance of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF.
  • Management fees may reduce overall returns.

AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026

SMAY Latest News

No recent news available for SMAY.

SMAY Analyst Consensus

Consensus Rating

Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for SMAY.

Price Targets

Wall Street price target analysis for SMAY.

SMAY MoonshotScore

MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for SMAY; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).

SMAY Financials Stock FAQ

What does FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May do?

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May (SMAY) is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with a buffered exposure to the U.S. small-cap market.

How does SMAY's buffered strategy work, and what are its limitations?

SMAY's buffered strategy works by providing a predetermined level of downside protection (15%) against losses in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, while also capping the potential upside (16.50%). This strategy is implemented over a specific period, from May 19, 2025, through May 15, 2026.

What is FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May's strategy for adapting to market volatility?

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May's strategy for adapting to market volatility is embedded in its core design: a predetermined buffer against the first 15% of losses in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF. This buffer is intended to mitigate the impact of market downturns on investor returns.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.

Official Resources

Price as of Analysis updated

MoonshotScore is not published for this security.

Data Sources & Methodology
Figures come from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP). If FMP has no figure for a ticker, a price or fundamental may come from a Yahoo Finance fallback, or a price from an Alpaca fallback. SEC EDGAR is used only for filing links and company identity details (legal name, address), never for figures. AI analysis by Stock Expert AI proprietary algorithms. Technical indicators via industry-standard calculations. Last updated: .
Data Provenance
Sources: Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) — Primary · Yahoo Finance — Fallback · Alpaca — Tertiary
Last fetched:
Cache TTL: Quote 5min · Profile 7d · Financials 7d · Insider 48h
How we use AI: Numbers are pulled directly from FMP & Yahoo Finance — our AI writes the analysis, it never edits the figures.
Data provided as-is for educational purposes. Not financial advice. Methodology

Data provided for informational purposes only.

Analysis Notes
  • The information provided is based on publicly available data and management's estimates.
  • The fund's performance is subject to market risk and may fluctuate over time.
  • Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Data Sources
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)Stock Expert AI proprietary analysis