Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
SPLG vs ZSEP: how they differ
SPLG and ZSEP are funds of different kinds, on the fields both publish.
S&P 500, book from IVV and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr September.
| SPLG S&P 500, book from IVV | ZSEP Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr September | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Buffer ETF |
| Issuer | S&P | Innovator |
| What it is | S&P 500, book from IVV | Defined outcome, 100% on SPY |
| Total return, 1 year | +17.6% | not published |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | not published |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.1 pts | not available |
| Expense ratio | not published | 0.79% |
SPLG in plain words
SPLG is an index equity fund tracking the S&P 500. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +17.6% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100.
ZSEP in plain words
From its price on Sep 12, 2026, the fund can gain about 8.9% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 99.6% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 354 days remained on Sep 12, 2026. On Aug 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Are SPLG and ZSEP the same kind of fund?
- No. SPLG is an index ETF and ZSEP is a buffer ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
Other comparisons
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, SPLG against ZSEP, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/SPLG-ZSEP Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources