BJAN vs PMJA: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

As of Oct 13, 2026 BJAN can fall 10.9% before its buffer engages and PMJA 4.8%. Net assets on Oct 13, 2026: $351m for Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Jan and $6m for PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - January.

PMJA costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 9.7 points; BJAN is far larger, $351m against $6m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

BJAN vs PMJA: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
BJANPMJA
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$351m$6m
Total return, 1 year+15.9%+6.2%
What it tracksSPYSPY
Holdings in commonnot published
Index fall to the buffer12.3%
10.9%
BJAN can fall this far before its buffer
4.8%
PMJA can fall this far before its buffer
3.9%
BJAN can still gain
1.6%
PMJA can still gain
BJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +11.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.9 pts+14.1% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+16.5% cap+2.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +14.1%Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +11.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.+14.1%−9.0% floor0% start+16.5% cap9 pts of buffer+2.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +14.1%

BJAN: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +11.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.

BJAN: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +11.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.

PMJAAt its cap
At its capPMJA: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.full floor beneath+6.6%full floor0% period start+6.6% capTODAY · SPY +14.1%At its capPMJA: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.6% cap+6.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +14.1%

PMJA: reference +14.1% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 13, 2026.

Figures to Oct 13, 2026.

These are two different products. PMJA 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.

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

Where each one stands today

BJAN resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 79 days from now; PMJA runs to Dec 31, 2026, 79 days. BJAN can still gain 3.9% before its cap, PMJA 1.6%. A fall from here reaches BJAN’s buffer after 10.9% and PMJA’s after 4.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Performance, window by window

Performance, window by window: BJAN vs PMJA: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowBJANPMJABJANPMJA
3 months+3.5%+1.6%0.0 pts−1.8 pts
6 months+9.4%+3.5%−2.6 pts−8.6 pts
1 year+15.9%+6.2%−1.4 pts−11.1 pts
3 years+65.3%not published−15.0 ptsnot published
Since launch
Not the same days: BJAN Jan 2019 · PMJA Jan 2025
+154.3%+11.7%−56.6 pts−21.4 pts

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

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
PMJA
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - January · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.6%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 100%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 79 79
Starting cap +16.5% +6.6%
Can still gain 3.9% 1.6%
Fall before buffer 10.9% 4.8%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +14.1% +14.1%
Fund return this period +11.5% +4.5%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $351m $6m

As of Oct 13, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

About BJAN

From its price on Oct 13, 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 12.3% 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. 79 days remained on Oct 13, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

About PMJA

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.6% for the period on Oct 13, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 4.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. 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, BJAN or PMJA?
From their prices on Oct 13, 2026, BJAN can gain about 3.9% before its cap and PMJA about 1.6%, so BJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BJAN or PMJA?
BJAN ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and PMJA on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BJAN or PMJA?
BJAN charges 0.79% a year and PMJA charges 0.50%, so PMJA 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 pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, BJAN against PMJA, data as of Oct 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bjan-vs-pmja

Open data

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