{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec","section":"compare","title":"BALT vs DDEC: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 BALT can gain 2.4% before its cap and DDEC 2.8%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.9% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, BALT or DDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, BALT can gain about 2.4% before its cap and DDEC about 2.8%, so DDEC has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, BALT or DDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"BALT ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and DDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, BALT or DDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"BALT charges 0.69% a year and DDEC charges 0.85%, so BALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buffer ETFs","item":"https://etfiq.com/buffer/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"BALT vs DDEC","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"BALT vs DDEC: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 BALT can gain 2.4% before its cap and DDEC 2.8%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.9% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can fall 12.9% before its buffer engages and BALT 0.0%, and DDEC resets 13 days sooner.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#website"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]}},{"@type":"Dataset","name":"ETFIQ comparison of BALT and DDEC","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 BALT can gain 2.4% before its cap and DDEC 2.8%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.9% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec","license":"https://etfiq.com/standards/","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"inLanguage":"en","creativeWorkStatus":"Published","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://etfiq.com/data/funds.json"}],"variableMeasured":["Remaining cap","Fall before the buffer engages","Protection left in index points","Starting buffer","Outcome period","Reference index return","Fund return","Days remaining","Expense ratio"],"keywords":["exchange-traded funds","ETF","Buffer ETFs","fund data","SEC filings"]}],"characters":5942,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / BALT vs DDEC \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n BALT vs DDEC: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can fall 12.9% before its buffer engages and BALT 0.0%, and DDEC resets 13 days sooner.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF - Quarterly and FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 0.0% BALT can fall this far before its buffer \n 12.9% DDEC can fall this far before its buffer \n 2.4% BALT can still gain \n 2.8% DDEC can still gain \n\n ETFIQ Downside Cover Score: ","source":"ETFIQ, independent ETF data. Recomputed nightly from public filings and prices.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"license":"https://etfiq.com/license/","citation":"ETFIQ, as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec","a":{"ticker":"BALT","name":"Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF - Quarterly","issuer":"Innovator","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-10-01","verdict":"As of Oct 1, 2026, BALT is between its buffer and cap, with SPY flat since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/balt","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"2.4%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.0%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"20.0%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"92","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$3.0bn","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.69%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, Oct 1, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"DDEC","name":"FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December","issuer":"First Trust","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, DDEC has reached its cap.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/ddec","key_facts":[{"label":"Past the cap, price drift left","value":"2.8%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"12.9%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"25.0%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"79","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$428m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.85%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"overlap_pct":null,"overlap_note":"ETFIQ does not publish a holdings overlap for this pair. Either the funds are not compared on holdings, or one book is incomplete.","full_text_at":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/balt-vs-ddec"}