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Data as of .

BOCT vs DDSQ: which one stands where?

As of Sep 21, 2026 BOCT can fall 13.1% before its buffer engages and DDSQ 3.0%.

Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Oct and Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

13.1%BOCT can fall this far before its buffer
3.0%DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
0.4%BOCT can still gain
0.5%DDSQ can still gain
BOCTAt its cap
9 pts of buffer+15.4% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+15.4% capTODAY · SPY +16.2%9 pts+15.4% gained−9.0% floor0% start+15.4% capTODAY · SPY +16.2%
DDSQAt its cap
5 pts of buffer+3.6%−5.0% floor0% period start+3.6% capTODAY · SPY +3.6%−5.0% floor0% start+3.6% capTODAY · SPY +3.6%

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

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

BOCT resets first, on Sep 30, 2026, 9 days from now; DDSQ runs to Sep 30, 2026, 9 days. BOCT can still gain 0.4% before its cap, DDSQ 0.5%. A fall from here reaches BOCT’s buffer after 13.1% and DDSQ’s after 3.0%. 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

BOCT and DDSQ over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowTotal returnGap to the reference
BOCTDDSQBOCTDDSQ
3 months+3.4%+2.2%+1.2 pts−0.1 pts
6 months+14.4%+12.9%−3.6 pts−5.1 pts
1 year+14.0%not published−2.5 ptsnot published
3 years+49.0%not published−29.4 ptsnot published
Open the live comparison on ETFIQ
BOCT and DDSQ on the same fields, as of Sep 21, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
BOCT
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - Oct
Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.4%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2026
DDSQ
Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly
Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.6%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2026
IssuerInnovatorInnovator
Reference indexSPYSPY
Buffer9%5%
Outcome periodSep 30, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026Jun 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026
Days left99
Starting cap+15.4%+3.6%
Can still gain0.4%0.5%
Fall before buffer13.1%3.0%
Protection left, index points9.0% of 9.0%5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period+16.2%+3.6%
Fund return this period+14.1%+2.9%
State todayAt capAt cap
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$286m$90m

BOCT in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +15.4% for the period on Sep 21, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.4% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 13.9% 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. 9 days remained on Sep 21, 2026. On Sep 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDSQ in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +3.6% for the period on Sep 21, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 3.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, BOCT or DDSQ?
From their prices on Sep 21, 2026, BOCT can gain about 0.4% before its cap and DDSQ about 0.5%, so DDSQ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, BOCT or DDSQ?
BOCT ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2026 and DDSQ on Sep 30, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, BOCT or DDSQ?
BOCT charges 0.79% a year and DDSQ charges 0.79%, so BOCT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

BOCT against DDSQ, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 21, 2026. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, BOCT against DDSQ, data as of Sep 21, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/boct-vs-ddsq Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How every figure is computed · Standards and sources