APOC vs FMAR: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 FMAR can fall 10.7% before its buffer engages and APOC 0.0%, and FMAR resets 12 days sooner. Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 6 Mo Apr/Oct and FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - March.

0.0%
APOC can fall this far before its buffer
10.7%
FMAR can fall this far before its buffer
4.3%
APOC can still gain
4.8%
FMAR can still gain
APOCFull floor
Full floorAPOC: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer Floor; cap +4.3%; Full floor.full floor beneathfull floor0% period start+4.3% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Full floorAPOC: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer Floor; cap +4.3%; Full floor.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+4.3% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

APOC: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer Floor; cap +4.3%; Full floor.

FMARAt its cap
At its capFMAR: reference +17.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.2%; At its cap.10 pts+17.2% gained−10.0% floor0% period start+17.2% capTODAY · SPY +17.6%At its capFMAR: reference +17.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.2%; At its cap.−10.0% floor0% start+17.2% capTODAY · SPY +17.6%

FMAR: reference +17.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.2%; At its cap.

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

FMAR is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

FMAR resets first, on Mar 19, 2027, 170 days from now; APOC runs to Mar 31, 2027, 182 days. APOC can still gain 4.3% before its cap, FMAR 4.8%. A fall from here reaches APOC’s buffer after 0.0% and FMAR’s after 10.7%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowAPOCFMARAPOCFMAR
3 months+1.5%+2.5%−1.0 pts−0.1 pts
6 months+3.1%+9.9%−13.9 pts−7.1 pts
1 year+2.8%+15.5%−12.9 pts−0.2 pts
3 yearsnot published+52.2%not published−32.8 pts

APOC and FMAR over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

APOC
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 6 Mo Apr/Oct · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 4.3%, over a period ending Mar 31, 2027
FMAR
FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - March · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 17.2%, over a period ending Mar 19, 2027
Issuer Innovator First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 10%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 Mar 23, 2026 to Mar 19, 2027
Days left 182 170
Starting cap +4.3% +17.2%
Can still gain 4.3% 4.8%
Fall before buffer 0.0% 10.7%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +17.6%
Fund return this period 0.0% +11.0%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets $72m $1.2bn

APOC and FMAR on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

APOC in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.3% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 182 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Mar 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

FMAR in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +17.2% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 4.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 10.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 14.9% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 170 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Mar 19, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, APOC or FMAR?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, APOC can gain about 4.3% before its cap and FMAR about 4.8%, so FMAR has more room left this period.
Which resets first, APOC or FMAR?
APOC ends its outcome period on Mar 31, 2027 and FMAR on Mar 19, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, APOC or FMAR?
APOC charges 0.79% a year and FMAR charges 0.85%, so APOC is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, APOC against FMAR, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/apoc-vs-fmar

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.