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Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.

ETFIQetfiq.com · independent ETF data

EBUF vs EEM: how they differ

Over the year EEM returned more, +32.3% against +14.7%, and EEM charges 0.72% against 0.89%.

Innovator Emerging Markets 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.

EBUF and EEM on the fields both publish, as of Sep 13, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
EBUF
Innovator Emerging Markets 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Where it sitsBuffer ETFCore index fund
IssuerInnovatoriShares
What it isDefined outcome, 10% on EEMEmerging markets
Total return, 1 year+14.7%+32.3%
S&P 500 over the same days+32.3%+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500−17.6 pts+14.8 pts
Expense ratio0.89%0.72%
Holdingsnot filed965

EBUF in plain words

From its price on Sep 13, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EEM can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 9.2% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EEM level. 19 days remained on Sep 13, 2026. On Sep 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

EEM in plain words

EEM is an index equity fund tracking the Emerging markets. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +32.3% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.72% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 965 positions, with the top ten at 38.3%. It sat 4.7% below its high of Jun 22, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.

Questions people ask

Which returned more over the last year, EBUF or EEM?
In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EBUF returned +14.7% and EEM returned +32.3%, so EEM returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, EBUF or EEM?
EBUF charges 0.89% a year and EEM charges 0.72%, so EEM is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Are EBUF and EEM the same kind of fund?
No. EBUF is a buffer ETF and EEM is an index ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.

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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.

EBUF against EEM, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 13, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, EBUF against EEM, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/ebuf-vs-eem Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources