CPNS vs QBQV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 CPNS can fall 0.7% before its buffer engages and QBQV 0.2%, and QBQV resets 243 days sooner. Calamos Nasdaq-100 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - September and AllianzIM Growth-100 Buffer5 ETF - Jan.

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.

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. CPNS 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.

They do not reset together. QBQV has 92 days of its period left and CPNS has 335, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

QBQV resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; CPNS runs to Sep 1, 2027, 335 days. A fall from here reaches CPNS’s buffer after 0.7% 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
WindowCPNSQBQVCPNSQBQV
3 months+1.6%+1.4%−0.6 pts−0.7 pts
6 months+4.9%+7.8%−22.0 pts−19.1 pts
1 year+6.0%not published−17.8 ptsnot published

CPNS 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

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
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 Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 1, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 335 92
Starting cap +8.7% +7.6%
Can still gain not published 7.4%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 0.2%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +4.5% 0.0%
Fund return this period +0.6% 0.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.74%
Net assets $24m $54m

CPNS and QBQV 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.

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, CPNS or QBQV?
CPNS ends its outcome period on Sep 1, 2027 and QBQV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPNS or QBQV?
CPNS charges 0.69% a year and QBQV charges 0.74%, so CPNS is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

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