CPNS vs NOCT: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 CPNS can fall 0.7% before its buffer engages and NOCT 0.0%, and CPNS resets 30 days sooner. Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - September and Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Oct.

CPNSFull floor
Full floorCPNS: reference +4.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor.full floor beneathfull floor0.0% buffer start0% period start+8.7% capTODAY · QQQ +4.5%Full floorCPNS: reference +4.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor.full floor beneathfull floor0.0% buffer start0% start+8.7% capTODAY · QQQ +4.5%

CPNS: reference +4.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer −0 to floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor.

NOCTBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capNOCT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +18.7%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts+18.7% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+18.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%Between buffer and capNOCT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +18.7%; Between buffer and cap.−15.0% floor0% start+18.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%

NOCT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +18.7%; Between buffer and cap.

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

They do not reset together. CPNS has 335 days of its period left and NOCT has 365, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

CPNS resets first, on Sep 1, 2027, 335 days from now; NOCT runs to Sep 30, 2027, 365 days. A fall from here reaches CPNS’s buffer after 0.7% and NOCT’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
WindowCPNSNOCTCPNSNOCT
3 months+1.6%+3.5%−0.6 pts+1.3 pts
6 months+4.9%+13.5%−22.0 pts−13.3 pts
1 year+6.0%+13.5%−17.8 pts−10.3 pts
3 yearsnot published+51.7%not published−58.3 pts

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

On the same fields

CPNS
Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - September · Absorbs losses from 0.0% to 100.0% on QQQ and caps the gain at 8.7%, over a period ending Sep 1, 2027
NOCT
Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 18.7%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Issuer Calamos Innovator
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 0% to 100% 15%
Outcome period Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 1, 2027 Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 335 365
Starting cap +8.7% +18.7%
Can still gain not published 18.7%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 0.0%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +4.5% 0.0%
Fund return this period +0.6% 0.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.79%
Net assets $24m $229m

CPNS and NOCT on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

CPNS in plain words

The fund's price can fall 0.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 4.4% 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. 335 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Sep 1, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

NOCT in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 18.7% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 365 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, CPNS or NOCT?
CPNS ends its outcome period on Sep 1, 2027 and NOCT on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPNS or NOCT?
CPNS charges 0.69% a year and NOCT charges 0.79%, so CPNS is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, CPNS against NOCT, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/cpns-vs-noct

Open data

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