Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

BDEC vs DDFD: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 BDEC can fall 11.0% before its buffer engages and DDFD 8.2%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $214m for Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Dec and $95m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Dec.

At a glance
11.0%
BDEC can fall this far before its buffer
8.2%
DDFD can fall this far before its buffer
4.7%
BDEC can still gain
0.6%
DDFD can still gain
BDEC Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBDEC: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +17.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts of buffer+12.2% gain captured+5.3% to cap−9.0% floor0% period start+17.4% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%Between buffer and capBDEC: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +17.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts+12.2%−9.0% floor0% start+17.4% cap+5.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.2%

BDEC: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +17.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

BDEC: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +17.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DDFD At its cap
At its capDDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9.6% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+9.6% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%At its capDDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts+9.6%−15.0% floor0% start+9.6% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%

DDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; BDEC is 2.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

BDEC vs DDFD: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureBDECDDFD
Return
Total return, 1 year+13.2%not published
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer10.8%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$214m$95m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: BDEC vs DDFD: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowBDECDDFDBDECDDFD
3 months+0.9%+1.6%+1.3 pts+1.9 pts
6 months+5.0%+3.9%+0.5 pts−0.6 pts
1 year+13.2%–−0.4 pts–
3 years+55.1%–−21.3 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: BDEC Dec 2019 · DDFD Dec 2025+109.1%+7.9%−37.0 pts−4.8 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

BDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Dec · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 17.4%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026 DDFD Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Dec · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.6%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 15%
Outcome period Nov 30, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026 Nov 30, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026
Days left 26 26
Starting cap +17.4% +9.6%
Can still gain 4.7% 0.6%
Fall before buffer 11.0% 8.2%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +12.2% +12.2%
Fund return this period +11.4% +8.1%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $214m $95m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

DDFD 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

BDEC resets first, on Nov 30, 2026, 26 days from now; DDFD runs to Nov 30, 2026, 26 days. BDEC can still gain 4.7% before its cap, DDFD 0.6%. A fall from here reaches BDEC’s buffer after 11.0% and DDFD’s after 8.2%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
BDEC

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.7% 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 number. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.8% 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. 26 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDFD

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +9.6% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 8.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, BDEC or DDFD?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, BDEC can gain about 4.7% before its cap and DDFD about 0.6%, so BDEC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BDEC or DDFD?
BDEC ends its outcome period on Nov 30, 2026 and DDFD on Nov 30, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BDEC or DDFD?
BDEC and DDFD both charge 0.79% a year, so neither 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, BDEC against DDFD, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bdec-vs-ddfd

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