Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

AOCT vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 OCTP can fall 1.1% before its buffer engages and AOCT 1.1%, and OCTP resets 366 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $69m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Oct 2028 and $52m for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - October.

At a glance
1.1%
AOCT can fall this far before its buffer
1.1%
OCTP can fall this far before its buffer
20.0%
AOCT can still gain
15.1%
OCTP can still gain
AOCT Full floor
Full floorAOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer Floor; cap +21.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+20.8% more to the capfull floor0% period start+21.3% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Full floorAOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer Floor; cap +21.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+21.3% cap+0.5% gain captured+20.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

AOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer Floor; cap +21.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.
OCTP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capOCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12 pts of buffer+15.8% more to the cap−12.0% floor0% period start+16.3% cap+0.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capOCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−12.0% floor0% start+16.3% cap12 pts of buffer+0.6% gain captured+15.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

OCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

OCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

OCTP costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 6.5 points; AOCT is 1.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

AOCT vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureAOCTOCTP
Return
Total return, 1 year+6.5%+13.0%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$69m$52m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: AOCT vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowAOCTOCTPAOCTOCTP
3 months+1.7%+2.4%+2.1 pts+2.8 pts
6 months+3.2%+6.2%−1.2 pts+1.7 pts
1 year+6.5%+13.0%−7.1 pts−0.6 pts
Since launchNot the same days: AOCT Oct 2024 · OCTP May 2024+12.6%+34.7%−22.3 pts−10.1 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

AOCT Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Oct 2028 · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 21.3%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2028 OCTP PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - October · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.3%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 12%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2028 Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 696 330
Starting cap +21.3% +16.3%
Can still gain 20.0% 15.1%
Fall before buffer 1.1% 1.1%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 12.0% of 12.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.6%
Fund return this period +1.0% +0.6%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $69m $52m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. AOCT is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. OCTP is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

They do not reset together. OCTP has 330 days of its period left and AOCT has 696, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

OCTP resets first, on Sep 30, 2027, 330 days from now; AOCT runs to Sep 30, 2028, 696 days. AOCT can still gain 20.0% before its cap, OCTP 15.1%. A fall from here reaches AOCT’s buffer after 1.1% and OCTP’s after 1.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
AOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 20.0% 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 number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 696 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2028 the period ends and a new cap is set.

OCTP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 15.1% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 12.0% of the 12.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, AOCT or OCTP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, AOCT can gain about 20.0% before its cap and OCTP about 15.1%, so AOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, AOCT or OCTP?
AOCT ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2028 and OCTP on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, AOCT or OCTP?
AOCT charges 0.79% a year and OCTP charges 0.50%, so OCTP is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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Sources and dates

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

How this is computed

ETFIQ calculates every number from each issuer’s published outcome-period terms. Buffer ETFs hold options on an index, not shares, so there is no holdings overlap to report.

Every number is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested.

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ETFIQ, AOCT against OCTP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/aoct-vs-octp

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Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.