Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFJ vs TJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 TJAN can fall 13.3% before its buffer engages and DDFJ 7.1%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $70m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jan and $32m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Jan 2027.

At a glance
7.1%
DDFJ can fall this far before its buffer
13.3%
TJAN can fall this far before its buffer
1.3%
DDFJ can still gain
0.8%
TJAN can still gain
DDFJ At its cap
At its capDDFJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9% gained−15.0% floor0% period start+9.0% capTODAY · SPY +12.4%At its capDDFJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+9.0% cap+9% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.4%

DDFJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +9.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
TJAN At its cap
At its capTJAN: reference +30.8% since period start, fund +13.4%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+15.9% gain capturedfull floor0% period start+15.9% capTODAY · SPY +30.8%At its capTJAN: reference +30.8% since period start, fund +13.4%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+15.9%full floor0% start+15.9% capTODAY · SPY +30.8%

TJAN: reference +30.8% since period start, fund +13.4%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; DDFJ is 2.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFJ vs TJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFJTJAN
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer11.0%23.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$70m$32m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFJ vs TJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFJTJANDDFJTJAN
3 months+1.3%+1.2%+1.7 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+3.6%+3.0%−0.9 pts−1.5 pts
1 year–+6.3%–−7.3 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFJ Jan 2026 · TJAN Jan 2025+6.4%+13.1%−5.8 pts−18.1 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

DDFJ Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026 TJAN Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Jan 2027 · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 100%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 57 57
Starting cap +9.0% +15.9%
Can still gain 1.3% 0.8%
Fall before buffer 7.1% 13.3%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +12.4% +30.8%
Fund return this period +6.9% +13.4%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $70m $32m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. TJAN is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDFJ 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

DDFJ resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; TJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. DDFJ can still gain 1.3% before its cap, TJAN 0.8%. A fall from here reaches DDFJ’s buffer after 7.1% and TJAN’s after 13.3%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDFJ

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +9.0% 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 1.3% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 7.1% 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: 15.0% of the 15.0% 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.

TJAN

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +15.9% 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 0.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 23.5% 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 SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFJ or TJAN?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFJ can gain about 1.3% before its cap and TJAN about 0.8%, so DDFJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFJ or TJAN?
DDFJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and TJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFJ or TJAN?
DDFJ and TJAN 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, DDFJ against TJAN, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfj-vs-tjan

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