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BFEB vs DDFF: which one stands where?

As of Oct 2, 2026 BFEB can fall 9.0% before its buffer engages and DDFF 6.2%. Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Feb and Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Feb.

BFEB is 3.5 times larger.

BFEBDDFF
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$208m$59m
Total return, 1 year+14.7%not published
What it tracksSPYSPY
Holdings in commonnot published
9.0%
BFEB can fall this far before its buffer
6.2%
DDFF can fall this far before its buffer
6.2%
BFEB can still gain
2.6%
DDFF can still gain
BFEBBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBFEB: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.6%; Between buffer and cap.9 pts of buffer+11.2% gain captured+5.4% to cap−9.0% floor0% period start+16.6% capTODAY · SPY +11.2%Between buffer and capBFEB: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.6%; Between buffer and cap.9 pts+11.2%−9.0% floor0% start+16.6% capTODAY · SPY +11.2%

BFEB: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.6%; Between buffer and cap.

DDFFAt its cap
At its capDDFF: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +6.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.3%; At its cap.15 pts of buffer+9.3% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+9.3% capTODAY · SPY +11.2%At its capDDFF: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +6.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.3%; At its cap.15 pts+9.3%−15.0% floor0% start+9.3% capTODAY · SPY +11.2%

DDFF: reference +11.2% since period start, fund +6.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.3%; At its cap.

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

DDFF 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

BFEB resets first, on Jan 31, 2027, 121 days from now; DDFF runs to Jan 31, 2027, 121 days. BFEB can still gain 6.2% before its cap, DDFF 2.6%. A fall from here reaches BFEB’s buffer after 9.0% and DDFF’s after 6.2%. 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
WindowBFEBDDFFBFEBDDFF
3 months+3.3%+2.1%−0.3 pts−1.5 pts
6 months+13.0%+7.1%−4.9 pts−10.8 pts
1 year+14.7%not published−1.5 ptsnot published
3 years+64.6%not published−24.7 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

BFEB
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Feb · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.6%, over a period ending Jan 31, 2027
DDFF
Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Feb · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.3%, over a period ending Jan 31, 2027
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 15%
Outcome period Jan 31, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 Jan 31, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
Days left 121 121
Starting cap +16.6% +9.3%
Can still gain 6.2% 2.6%
Fall before buffer 9.0% 6.2%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +11.2% +11.2%
Fund return this period +9.3% +6.0%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $208m $59m

BFEB and DDFF on the same fields, as of Oct 2, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

BFEB in plain words

From its price on Oct 2, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.2% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.1% 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. 121 days remained on Oct 2, 2026. On Jan 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDFF in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +9.3% 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 2.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 6.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. 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, BFEB or DDFF?
From their prices on Oct 2, 2026, BFEB can gain about 6.2% before its cap and DDFF about 2.6%, so BFEB has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BFEB or DDFF?
BFEB ends its outcome period on Jan 31, 2027 and DDFF on Jan 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BFEB or DDFF?
BFEB charges 0.79% a year and DDFF charges 0.79%, so BFEB is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
BFEB vs CPSFBFEB vs PMFBBFEB vs SIXFBFEB vs UFEBDDFF vs DDTFDDFF vs FEBPDDFF vs FEBTDDFF vs FEBU
SPY →BFEB on its own →DDFF on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
BFEB and DDFF filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for BFEB ↗Innovator page for DDFF ↗

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, BFEB against DDFF, data as of Oct 2, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bfeb-vs-ddff

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.