Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

AOCT vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 AOCT can fall 1.1% before its buffer engages and PQXX 0.6%, and PQXX resets 639 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $69m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Oct 2028 and $3.6m for PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 20 ETF.

At a glance
1.1%
AOCT can fall this far before its buffer
0.6%
PQXX can fall this far before its buffer
20.0%
AOCT can still gain
1.9%
PQXX 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.
PQXX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer−20.0% floor0% period start+2.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capPQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts−20.0% floor0% start+2.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PQXX costs 0.29 points a year less; AOCT is 19.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

AOCT vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureAOCTPQXX
Return
Total return, 1 year+6.5%not published
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$69m$3.6m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: AOCT vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowAOCTPQXXAOCTPQXX
3 months+1.7%+1.4%+2.1 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+3.2%–−1.2 pts–
1 year+6.5%–−7.1 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: AOCT Oct 2024 · PQXX Jul 2026+12.6%+2.4%−22.3 pts−0.4 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. – means no data for this window. 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 PQXX PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 20 ETF · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 2.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 20%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2028 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 696 57
Starting cap +21.3% +2.5%
Can still gain 20.0% 1.9%
Fall before buffer 1.1% 0.6%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 20.0% of 20.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.6%
Fund return this period +1.0% +0.5%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $69m $3.6m

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. PQXX 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. PQXX has 57 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

PQXX resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; AOCT runs to Sep 30, 2028, 696 days. AOCT can still gain 20.0% before its cap, PQXX 1.9%. A fall from here reaches AOCT’s buffer after 1.1% and PQXX’s after 0.6%. 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.

PQXX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 1.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 20.0% of the 20.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, AOCT or PQXX?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, AOCT can gain about 20.0% before its cap and PQXX about 1.9%, so AOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, AOCT or PQXX?
AOCT ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2028 and PQXX on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, AOCT or PQXX?
AOCT charges 0.79% a year and PQXX charges 0.50%, so PQXX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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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 PQXX, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/aoct-vs-pqxx

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