CPSD vs QBSV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 CPSD can fall 5.0% before its buffer engages and QBSV 0.2%, and CPSD resets 31 days sooner. Calamos S&P 500 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December and AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan.

CPSDAt its cap
At its capCPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% period start+6.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.1%At its capCPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor−0.5% buffer start0% start+6.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.1%

CPSD: reference +12.1% since period start, fund +4.7%; buffer −1 to floor; cap +6.1%; At its cap.

QBSVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% period start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capQBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

QBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.

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

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

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

Where each one stands today

CPSD resets first, on Dec 1, 2026, 61 days from now; QBSV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. A fall from here reaches CPSD’s buffer after 5.0% and QBSV’s after 0.2%. Both track SPY, 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
WindowCPSDQBSVCPSDQBSV
3 months+1.6%+2.2%−0.9 pts−0.3 pts
6 months+4.5%+8.2%−12.5 pts−8.8 pts
1 year+6.3%not published−9.4 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

CPSD
Calamos S&P 500 ® Structured Alt Protection ETF - December · Absorbs losses from 0.5% to 100.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 6.1%, over a period ending Dec 1, 2026
QBSV
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 5.1%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Calamos AllianzIM
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 1% 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 +6.1% +5.1%
Can still gain not published 4.9%
Fall before buffer 5.0% 0.2%
Protection left, index points 99.5% of 99.5% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +12.1% 0.0%
Fund return this period +4.7% 0.0%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.69% 0.64%
Net assets $46m $27m

CPSD and QBSV on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

CPSD in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.1% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.3% 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 SPY level. 61 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 1, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

QBSV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.9% 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, SPY 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 SPY 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, CPSD or QBSV?
CPSD ends its outcome period on Dec 1, 2026 and QBSV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, CPSD or QBSV?
CPSD charges 0.69% a year and QBSV charges 0.64%, so QBSV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, CPSD against QBSV, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/cpsd-vs-qbsv

Open data

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