{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx","section":"compare","title":"DDEC vs PQX: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can gain 2.8% before its cap and PQX 3.3%. Each can fall 12.9% and 0.1% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, DDEC or PQX?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDEC can gain about 2.8% before its cap and PQX about 3.3%, so PQX has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, DDEC or PQX?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"DDEC ends its outcome period on Dec 18, 2026 and PQX on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, DDEC or PQX?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"DDEC charges 0.85% a year and PQX charges 0.50%, so PQX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buffer ETFs","item":"https://etfiq.com/buffer/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"DDEC vs PQX","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"DDEC vs PQX: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can gain 2.8% before its cap and PQX 3.3%. Each can fall 12.9% and 0.1% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can fall 12.9% before its buffer engages and PQX 0.1%, and DDEC resets 13 days sooner.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#website"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]}},{"@type":"Dataset","name":"ETFIQ comparison of DDEC and PQX","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can gain 2.8% before its cap and PQX 3.3%. Each can fall 12.9% and 0.1% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx","license":"https://etfiq.com/standards/","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"inLanguage":"en","creativeWorkStatus":"Published","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://etfiq.com/data/funds.json"}],"variableMeasured":["Remaining cap","Fall before the buffer engages","Protection left in index points","Starting buffer","Outcome period","Reference index return","Fund return","Days remaining","Expense ratio"],"keywords":["exchange-traded funds","ETF","Buffer ETFs","fund data","SEC filings"]}],"characters":6154,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / DDEC vs PQX \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n DDEC vs PQX: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 DDEC can fall 12.9% before its buffer engages and PQX 0.1%, and DDEC resets 13 days sooner.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December and PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 12.9% DDEC can fall this far before its buffer \n 0.1% PQX can fall this far before its buffer \n 2.8% DDEC can still gain \n 3.3% PQX can still gain \n\n ETFIQ Downside Cover Score: PQX scores highe","source":"ETFIQ, independent ETF data. Recomputed nightly from public filings and prices.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"license":"https://etfiq.com/license/","citation":"ETFIQ, as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx","a":{"ticker":"DDEC","name":"FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December","issuer":"First Trust","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, DDEC has reached its cap.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/ddec","key_facts":[{"label":"Past the cap, price drift left","value":"2.8%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"12.9%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"25.0%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"79","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$428m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.85%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"PQX","name":"PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF","issuer":"PGIM","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, PQX is between its buffer and cap, with SPY flat since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/pqx","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"3.3%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.1%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"10.0%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"92","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$5m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.50%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer data, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"overlap_pct":null,"overlap_note":"ETFIQ does not publish a holdings overlap for this pair. Either the funds are not compared on holdings, or one book is incomplete.","full_text_at":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddec-vs-pqx"}