BJAN vs DDFJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

As of Oct 9, 2026 BJAN can fall 10.9% before its buffer engages and DDFJ 6.9%. Net assets on Oct 9, 2026: $351m for Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Jan and $75m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jan.

Both cost 0.79% a year; BJAN is 4.7 times larger.

BJANDDFJ
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$351m$75m
Total return, 1 year+15.3%not published
What it tracksSPYSPY
Holdings in commonnot published
Index fall to the buffer12.4%
10.9%
BJAN can fall this far before its buffer
6.9%
DDFJ can fall this far before its buffer
3.9%
BJAN can still gain
1.5%
DDFJ can still gain
BJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.9 pts of buffer+14.2% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+16.5% cap+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +14.2%Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.9 pts+14.2% gained−9.0% floor0% start+16.5% cap+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +14.2%

BJAN: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

BJAN: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +11.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

DDFJAt its cap
At its capDDFJ: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +6.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+9.0% capTODAY · SPY +14.2%At its capDDFJ: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +6.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.15 pts+9%−15.0% floor0% start+9.0% capTODAY · SPY +14.2%

DDFJ: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +6.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

DDFJ: reference +14.2% since period start, fund +6.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

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

DDFJ 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

BJAN resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 83 days from now; DDFJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 83 days. BJAN can still gain 3.9% before its cap, DDFJ 1.5%. A fall from here reaches BJAN’s buffer after 10.9% and DDFJ’s after 6.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowBJANDDFJBJANDDFJ
3 months+3.4%+1.8%+0.2 pts−1.3 pts
6 months+11.0%+5.6%−3.5 pts−9.0 pts
1 year+15.3%not published−0.7 ptsnot published
3 years+64.4%not published−14.8 ptsnot published

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

BJAN
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
DDFJ
Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 15%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 83 83
Starting cap +16.5% +9.0%
Can still gain 3.9% 1.5%
Fall before buffer 10.9% 6.9%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +14.2% +14.2%
Fund return this period +11.4% +6.7%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $351m $75m

As of Oct 9, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

BJAN in plain words

From its price on Oct 9, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 10.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 12.4% 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. 83 days remained on Oct 9, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDFJ in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +9.0% for the period on Oct 9, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 6.9% 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, BJAN or DDFJ?
From their prices on Oct 9, 2026, BJAN can gain about 3.9% before its cap and DDFJ about 1.5%, so BJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BJAN or DDFJ?
BJAN ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and DDFJ on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BJAN or DDFJ?
BJAN and DDFJ both charge 0.79% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure; a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

How this is computed

ETFIQ calculates every figure 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 figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, BJAN against DDFJ, data as of Oct 9, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bjan-vs-ddfj

Open data

Free to use with attribution for figures ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.