Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

BJAN vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 BJAN can fall 10.4% before its buffer engages and ZJAN 5.0%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $348m for Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Jan and $106m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr January.

At a glance
10.4%
BJAN can fall this far before its buffer
5.0%
ZJAN can fall this far before its buffer
4.4%
BJAN can still gain
1.2%
ZJAN can still gain
BJAN Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +10.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts+12.4% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+16.5% cap+4.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%Between buffer and capBJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +10.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.+12.4%−9.0% floor0% start+16.5% cap9 pts of buffer+4.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%

BJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +10.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

BJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +10.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +16.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZJAN At its cap
At its capZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.5%full floor0% period start+6.5% capTODAY · SPY +12.4%At its capZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.5% cap+6.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.4%

ZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; their one-year returns differ by 8.3 points; BJAN is 3.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

BJAN vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureBJANZJAN
Return
Total return, 1 year+14.1%+5.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer11.0%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$348m$106m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Jan 10, 2025 to Oct 30, 2026 · 94 weekly returns · each against SPY
BJAN ZJAN
Return
Total return edge BJAN +26.5% +11.3%
Annualized edge BJAN +13.9% +6.1%
Price return edge BJAN +26.5% +11.3%
Risk
Volatility edge ZJAN 10.2% 2.7%
Max drawdown edge ZJAN −11.9% −3.0%
Downside capture 68.4% 16.1%
Beta 0.67 0.17
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge BJAN 0.93 0.73
Sortino edge BJAN 1.39 1.13
Treynor 0.143 0.116
Calmar edge ZJAN 1.17 2.03
Against the benchmark
Alpha +1.0% a year −0.2% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.76 −0.32
Information ratio −0.62 −0.86
Tracking error 5.3% 12.6%
Reading

From Jan 2025 to Oct 2026, BJAN returned more: +26.5% to +11.3%. ZJAN swung less: 2.7% to 10.2%. ZJAN fell less at its worst: −3.0% to −11.9%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
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Risk and return: BJAN vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureBJANZJANSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+26.5%+11.3%BJANPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+13.9%+6.1%BJANTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+26.5%+11.3%BJANPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility10.2%2.7%ZJANSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation6.9%1.7%ZJANLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−11.9%−3.0%ZJANDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture57.7%13.9%100.0%BJANShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture68.4%16.1%100.0%ZJANShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.670.171.00ZJAN lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.970.901.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe0.930.73BJANReturn above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino1.391.13BJANReturn above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1430.1160.128BJANReturn above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar1.172.03ZJANAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+1.0% a year−0.2% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.76−0.32Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−1.6% to +3.5%−1.4% to +1.0%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−0.62−0.86BJANReturn against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error5.3%12.6%0.0%Not an edgeHow far weekly returns stray from the benchmark, annualized.

Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices and ETFIQ's distribution records, 94 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: BJAN vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowBJANZJANBJANZJAN
3 months+1.3%+1.2%+1.7 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+5.2%+2.6%+0.7 pts−1.9 pts
1 year+14.1%+5.8%+0.5 pts−7.8 pts
3 years+63.4%–−13.0 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: BJAN Jan 2019 · ZJAN Jan 2025+152.9%+11.6%−53.6 pts−19.6 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

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 ZJAN Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr January · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 100%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 57 57
Starting cap +16.5% +6.5%
Can still gain 4.4% 1.2%
Fall before buffer 10.4% 5.0%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +12.4% +12.4%
Fund return this period +10.8% +4.6%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $348m $106m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. ZJAN 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.

ZJAN 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, 57 days from now; ZJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. BJAN can still gain 4.4% before its cap, ZJAN 1.2%. A fall from here reaches BJAN’s buffer after 10.4% and ZJAN’s after 5.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

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About each fund
BJAN

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 10.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.0% 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. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZJAN

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.5% 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 1.2% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. 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 ZJAN?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, BJAN can gain about 4.4% before its cap and ZJAN about 1.2%, so BJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BJAN or ZJAN?
BJAN ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and ZJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BJAN or ZJAN?
BJAN and ZJAN 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, BJAN against ZJAN, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/bjan-vs-zjan

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