CPNQ vs DDNQ: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 CPNQ can fall 5.6% before its buffer engages and DDNQ 0.0%, and CPNQ resets 31 days sooner. Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December and Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

CPNQAt its cap
At its capCPNQ: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +5.4%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% period start+6.6% capTODAY · QQQ +19.9%At its capCPNQ: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +5.4%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% start+6.6% capTODAY · QQQ +19.9%

CPNQ: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +5.4%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +6.6%; At its cap.

DDNQBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% period start+5.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%Between buffer and capDDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+5.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%

DDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.

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

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

They do not reset together. CPNQ has 61 days of its period left and DDNQ has 92, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

CPNQ resets first, on Dec 1, 2026, 61 days from now; DDNQ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. A fall from here reaches CPNQ’s buffer after 5.6% and DDNQ’s after 0.0%. Both track QQQ, 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
WindowCPNQDDNQCPNQDDNQ
3 months+1.8%+1.7%−0.3 pts−0.5 pts
6 months+5.4%+5.7%−21.5 pts−21.1 pts
1 year+6.7%not published−17.1 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

CPNQ
Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December · Absorbs losses from 0.5% to 100.0% on QQQ and caps the gain at 6.6%, over a period ending Dec 1, 2026
DDNQ
Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 5.7%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Calamos Innovator
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 0% to 100% 5%
Outcome period Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 61 92
Starting cap +6.6% +5.7%
Can still gain not published 5.7%
Fall before buffer 5.6% 0.0%
Protection left, index points 99.5% of 99.5% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +19.9% 0.0%
Fund return this period +5.4% 0.0%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.79%
Net assets $20m $25m

CPNQ and DDNQ on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

CPNQ in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.6% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's price can fall 5.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 17.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 99.5% of the 99.5% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 61 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 1, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDNQ in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.7% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, CPNQ or DDNQ?
CPNQ ends its outcome period on Dec 1, 2026 and DDNQ on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPNQ or DDNQ?
CPNQ charges 0.69% a year and DDNQ charges 0.79%, so CPNQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, CPNQ against DDNQ, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/cpnq-vs-ddnq

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.