Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFD vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DDFD can fall 8.2% before its buffer engages and ZDEK 6.0%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $95m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Dec and $105m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December.

At a glance
8.2%
DDFD can fall this far before its buffer
6.0%
ZDEK can fall this far before its buffer
0.6%
DDFD can still gain
0.5%
ZDEK can still gain
DDFD At its cap
At its capDDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9.6% gained−15.0% floor0% period start+9.6% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%At its capDDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+9.6% cap+9.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.2%

DDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFD: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.6%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZDEK At its cap
At its capZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.8%full floor0% period start+6.8% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%At its capZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.8% cap+6.8% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.2%

ZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; ZDEK is 1.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFD vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFDZDEK
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer10.8%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$95m$105m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFD vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFDZDEKDDFDZDEK
3 months+1.6%+1.4%+1.9 pts+1.8 pts
6 months+3.9%+3.0%−0.6 pts−1.5 pts
1 year–+6.4%–−7.2 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFD Dec 2025 · ZDEK Dec 2024+7.9%+12.8%−4.8 pts−14.2 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

DDFD Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Dec · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.6%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026 ZDEK Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.8%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 100%
Outcome period Nov 30, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026 Nov 30, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026
Days left 26 26
Starting cap +9.6% +6.8%
Can still gain 0.6% 0.5%
Fall before buffer 8.2% 6.0%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +12.2% +12.2%
Fund return this period +8.1% +5.5%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $95m $105m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

DDFD resets first, on Nov 30, 2026, 26 days from now; ZDEK runs to Nov 30, 2026, 26 days. DDFD can still gain 0.6% before its cap, ZDEK 0.5%. A fall from here reaches DDFD’s buffer after 8.2% and ZDEK’s after 6.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDFD

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +9.6% 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 0.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 8.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.8% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 26 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZDEK

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.8% 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 0.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 6.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFD or ZDEK?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFD can gain about 0.6% before its cap and ZDEK about 0.5%, so DDFD has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFD or ZDEK?
DDFD ends its outcome period on Nov 30, 2026 and ZDEK on Nov 30, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFD or ZDEK?
DDFD and ZDEK both charge 0.79% a year, so neither 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, DDFD against ZDEK, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfd-vs-zdek

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