CPNQ vs QBQV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 CPNQ can fall 5.6% before its buffer engages and QBQV 0.2%, and CPNQ resets 31 days sooner. Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December and AllianzIM Growth-100 Buffer5 ETF - Jan.

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.

QBQVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% period start+7.6% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%Between buffer and capQBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+7.6% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%

QBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.

These are two different products. CPNQ is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. QBQV 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 QBQV 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; QBQV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. A fall from here reaches CPNQ’s buffer after 5.6% and QBQV’s after 0.2%. 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
WindowCPNQQBQVCPNQQBQV
3 months+1.8%+1.4%−0.3 pts−0.7 pts
6 months+5.4%+7.8%−21.5 pts−19.1 pts
1 year+6.7%not published−17.1 ptsnot published

CPNQ and QBQV 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
QBQV
AllianzIM Growth-100 Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 7.6%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Calamos AllianzIM
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 0% to 100% 5%
Outcome period Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 61 92
Starting cap +6.6% +7.6%
Can still gain not published 7.4%
Fall before buffer 5.6% 0.2%
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% 0.74%
Net assets $20m $54m

CPNQ and QBQV 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.

QBQV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 0.0% 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 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 QBQV?
CPNQ ends its outcome period on Dec 1, 2026 and QBQV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPNQ or QBQV?
CPNQ charges 0.69% a year and QBQV charges 0.74%, so CPNQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

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

Open data

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