Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDEC vs DDTJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DDEC can fall 13.7% before its buffer engages and DDTJ 9.3%, and DDEC resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets: $437m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December, and $18m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Jan.

At a glance
13.7%
DDEC can fall this far before its buffer
9.3%
DDTJ can fall this far before its buffer
1.8%
DDEC can still gain
2.4%
DDTJ can still gain
DDEC At its cap
At its capDDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +9.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+12% gain captured−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+12.0% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +12.7%At its capDDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +9.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+12%−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+12.0% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +12.7%

DDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +9.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +9.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DDTJ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+12.4% gain captured−10.0% floor0% period start+12.8% cap+0.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%Between buffer and capDDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+12.4%−10.0% floor0% start+12.8% cap+0.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%

DDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDTJ costs 0.06 points a year less; DDEC is far larger, $437m against $18m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDEC vs DDTJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDECDDTJ
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.2%not published
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer15.7%11.0%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.79%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$437m$18m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDEC vs DDTJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDECDDTJDDECDDTJ
3 months+1.7%+1.4%+2.1 pts+1.8 pts
6 months+4.8%+4.8%+0.3 pts+0.3 pts
1 year+11.2%–−2.3 pts–
3 years+43.5%–−32.9 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DDEC Dec 2020 · DDTJ Jan 2026+62.0%+9.1%−46.5 pts−3.1 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. – means no data for this window. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

DDEC FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 12.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026 DDTJ Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.8%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 30% 10%
Outcome period Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 44 57
Starting cap +12.0% +12.8%
Can still gain 1.8% 2.4%
Fall before buffer 13.7% 9.3%
Protection left, index points 25.0% of 25.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +12.7% +12.4%
Fund return this period +9.1% +9.4%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.79%
Net assets, DDEC as of Nov 3, 2026 and DDTJ as of Nov 4, 2026 $437m $18m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

DDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 44 days from now; DDTJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. DDEC can still gain 1.8% before its cap, DDTJ 2.4%. A fall from here reaches DDEC’s buffer after 13.7% and DDTJ’s after 9.3%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDEC

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +12.0% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 15.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 25.0% of the 25.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 44 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DDTJ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDEC or DDTJ?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDEC can gain about 1.8% before its cap and DDTJ about 2.4%, so DDTJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDEC or DDTJ?
DDEC ends its outcome period on Dec 18, 2026 and DDTJ on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDEC or DDTJ?
DDEC charges 0.85% a year and DDTJ charges 0.79%, so DDTJ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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Sources and dates

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

How this is computed

ETFIQ calculates every number 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 number is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested.

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ETFIQ, DDEC against DDTJ, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-ddtj

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