CPNQ vs QMNV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

As of Oct 9, 2026 QMNV can fall 13.4% before its buffer engages and CPNQ 5.8%, and QMNV resets 10 days sooner. Net assets on Oct 9, 2026: $20m for Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December and $45m for FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Moderate Buffer ETF - November.

CPNQ costs 0.21 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 9.4 points; QMNV is 2.2 times larger.

CPNQQMNV
Expense ratio0.69%0.90%
Net assets$20m$45m
Total return, 1 year+6.6%+16.0%
What it tracksQQQQQQ
Holdings in commonnot published
Index fall to the buffer17.9%21.5%
CPNQAt its cap
At its capCPNQ: reference +21.7% since period start, fund +5.6%; buffer Floor; cap +7.1%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.full floor beneath+7.1%full floor0% period start+7.1% capTODAY · QQQ +21.7%At its capCPNQ: reference +21.7% since period start, fund +5.6%; buffer Floor; cap +7.1%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.1% cap+7.1% gain capturedTODAY · QQQ +21.7%

CPNQ: reference +21.7% since period start, fund +5.6%; buffer Floor; cap +7.1%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

QMNVAt its cap
At its capQMNV: reference +27.3% since period start, fund +14.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +16.4%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.15 pts of buffer+16.4% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+16.4% capTODAY · QQQ +27.3%At its capQMNV: reference +27.3% since period start, fund +14.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +16.4%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.15 pts+16.4%−15.0% floor0% start+16.4% capTODAY · QQQ +27.3%

QMNV: reference +27.3% since period start, fund +14.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +16.4%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

QMNV: reference +27.3% since period start, fund +14.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +16.4%; At its cap. Figures to Oct 9, 2026.

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

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

QMNV resets first, on Nov 20, 2026, 42 days from now; CPNQ runs to Nov 30, 2026, 52 days. A fall from here reaches CPNQ’s buffer after 5.8% and QMNV’s after 13.4%. Both track QQQ, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowCPNQQMNVCPNQQMNV
3 months+1.9%+3.4%−1.6 pts−0.1 pts
6 months+4.7%+10.5%−18.3 pts−12.4 pts
1 year+6.6%+16.0%−16.4 pts−7.0 pts

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

On the same fields

CPNQ
Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December · Absorbs the whole loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 7.1%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026
QMNV
FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Moderate Buffer ETF - November · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 16.4%, over a period ending Nov 20, 2026
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 100% 15%
Outcome period Dec 1, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026 Nov 24, 2025 to Nov 20, 2026
Days left 52 42
Starting cap +7.1% +16.4%
Can still gain not published 0.8%
Fall before buffer 5.8% 13.4%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +21.7% +27.3%
Fund return this period +5.6% +14.5%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.90%
Net assets $20m $45m

As of Oct 9, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

CPNQ in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +7.1% for the period on Oct 9, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's price can fall 5.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 17.9% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 52 days remained on Oct 9, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

QMNV in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +16.4% for the period on Oct 9, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 21.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 42 days remained on Oct 9, 2026. On Nov 20, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, CPNQ or QMNV?
CPNQ ends its outcome period on Nov 30, 2026 and QMNV on Nov 20, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPNQ or QMNV?
CPNQ charges 0.69% a year and QMNV charges 0.90%, so CPNQ 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 page

ETFIQ, CPNQ against QMNV, data as of Oct 9, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/cpnq-vs-qmnv

Open data

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