BAPR vs TAPR: which one stands where?

As of Oct 2, 2026 TAPR can fall 11.1% before its buffer engages and BAPR 11.0%. Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Apr and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Apr 2027.

their one-year returns differ by 12.1 points; BAPR is 38.9 times larger.

BAPRTAPR
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$418m$11m
Total return, 1 year+16.9%+4.8%
What it tracksSPYSPY
Holdings in commonnot published
11.0%
BAPR can fall this far before its buffer
11.1%
TAPR can fall this far before its buffer
5.5%
BAPR can still gain
2.7%
TAPR can still gain
BAPRBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBAPR: reference +18.3% since period start, fund +11.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +18.5%; Between buffer and cap.9 pts+18.3%−9.0% floor0% period start+18.5% capTODAY · SPY +18.3%Between buffer and capBAPR: reference +18.3% since period start, fund +11.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +18.5%; Between buffer and cap.−9.0% floor0% start+18.5% capTODAY · SPY +18.3%

BAPR: reference +18.3% since period start, fund +11.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +18.5%; Between buffer and cap.

TAPRAt its cap
At its capTAPR: reference +37.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer Floor; cap +15.3%; At its cap.full floor beneath+15.3%full floor0% period start+15.3% capTODAY · SPY +37.6%At its capTAPR: reference +37.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer Floor; cap +15.3%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+15.3% capTODAY · SPY +37.6%

TAPR: reference +37.6% since period start, fund +11.0%; buffer Floor; cap +15.3%; At its cap.

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

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

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

BAPR resets first, on Mar 31, 2027, 180 days from now; TAPR runs to Mar 31, 2027, 180 days. BAPR can still gain 5.5% before its cap, TAPR 2.7%. A fall from here reaches BAPR’s buffer after 11.0% and TAPR’s after 11.1%. 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
WindowBAPRTAPRBAPRTAPR
3 months+3.0%+1.4%−0.6 pts−2.1 pts
6 months+11.1%+4.1%−6.9 pts−13.8 pts
1 year+16.9%+4.8%+0.7 pts−11.5 pts
3 years+58.1%not published−31.1 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

BAPR
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Apr · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 18.5%, over a period ending Mar 31, 2027
TAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Apr 2027 · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.3%, over a period ending Mar 31, 2027
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 100%
Outcome period Mar 31, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 Mar 31, 2025 to Mar 31, 2027
Days left 180 180
Starting cap +18.5% +15.3%
Can still gain 5.5% 2.7%
Fall before buffer 11.0% 11.1%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +18.3% +37.6%
Fund return this period +11.8% +11.0%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $418m $11m

BAPR and TAPR on the same fields, as of Oct 2, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

BAPR in plain words

From its price on Oct 2, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 11.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 15.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 9.0% of the 9.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 180 days remained on Oct 2, 2026. On Mar 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

TAPR in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +15.3% for the period on Oct 2, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 2.7% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 11.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 27.3% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, BAPR or TAPR?
From their prices on Oct 2, 2026, BAPR can gain about 5.5% before its cap and TAPR about 2.7%, so BAPR has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BAPR or TAPR?
BAPR ends its outcome period on Mar 31, 2027 and TAPR on Mar 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BAPR or TAPR?
BAPR charges 0.79% a year and TAPR charges 0.79%, so BAPR is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, BAPR against TAPR, data as of Oct 2, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bapr-vs-tapr

Open data

Free to use with attribution for figures ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.