Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFL vs PJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DDFL can fall 2.8% before its buffer engages and PJUL 2.7%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $160m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jul and $1.3bn for Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Jul.

At a glance
2.8%
DDFL can fall this far before its buffer
2.7%
PJUL can fall this far before its buffer
7.8%
DDFL can still gain
10.9%
PJUL can still gain
DDFL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDFL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+2.6%+8.3% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+10.9% capTODAY · SPY +2.6%Between buffer and capDDFL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+10.9% cap+2.6% gain captured+8.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%

DDFL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
PJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+2.6%+11.3% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+14.0% capTODAY · SPY +2.6%Between buffer and capPJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+14.0% cap+2.6% gain captured+11.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%

PJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +2.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; their one-year returns differ by 2.0 points; PJUL is 8.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFL vs PJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFLPJUL
Return
Total return, 1 year+7.3%+9.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer2.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$160m$1.3bn
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Jul 11, 2025 to Oct 30, 2026 · 68 weekly returns · each against SPY
DDFL PJUL
Return
Total return edge PJUL +9.6% +12.5%
Annualized edge PJUL +7.3% +9.4%
Price return edge PJUL +9.6% +12.5%
Risk
Volatility edge DDFL 2.9% 4.7%
Max drawdown edge DDFL −1.4% −3.3%
Downside capture 19.7% 40.5%
Beta 0.21 0.37
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge Tie 1.10 1.11
Sortino edge DDFL (slight) 1.99 1.92
Treynor 0.151 0.142
Calmar edge DDFL 5.18 2.87
Against the benchmark
Alpha +0.5% a year +0.6% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.39 0.34
Information ratio −1.01 −0.96
Tracking error 9.3% 7.5%
Reading

From Jul 2025 to Oct 2026, PJUL returned more: +12.5% to +9.6%. DDFL swung less: 2.9% to 4.7%. DDFL fell less at its worst: −1.4% to −3.3%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
Open ↓
Risk and return: DDFL vs PJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFLPJULSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+9.6%+12.5%PJULPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+7.3%+9.4%PJULTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+9.6%+12.5%PJULPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility2.9%4.7%DDFLSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation1.6%2.7%DDFLLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−1.4%−3.3%DDFLDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture20.2%34.3%100.0%PJULShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture19.7%40.5%100.0%DDFLShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.210.371.00DDFL lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.710.821.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe1.101.11TieReturn above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino1.991.92DDFL (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1510.1420.125DDFL (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar5.182.87DDFLAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+0.5% a year+0.6% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.390.34Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−2.2% to +3.3%−2.9% to +4.2%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−1.01−0.96PJUL (slight)Return against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error9.3%7.5%0.0%Not an edgeHow far weekly returns stray from the benchmark, annualized.

Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices and ETFIQ's distribution records, 68 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: DDFL vs PJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFLPJULDDFLPJUL
3 months+1.1%+0.6%+1.5 pts+1.0 pts
6 months+3.5%+3.9%−1.0 pts−0.6 pts
1 year+7.3%+9.3%−6.2 pts−4.2 pts
3 years–+46.5%–−29.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFL Jul 2025 · PJUL Aug 2018+10.8%+100.8%−13.3 pts−67.8 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

DDFL Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jul · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 10.9%, over a period ending Jun 30, 2027 PJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Jul · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.0%, over a period ending Jun 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Jun 30, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 Jun 30, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027
Days left 238 238
Starting cap +10.9% +14.0%
Can still gain 7.8% 10.9%
Fall before buffer 2.8% 2.7%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +2.6% +2.6%
Fund return this period +2.6% +2.5%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $160m $1.3bn

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

DDFL resets first, on Jun 30, 2027, 238 days from now; PJUL runs to Jun 30, 2027, 238 days. DDFL can still gain 7.8% before its cap, PJUL 10.9%. A fall from here reaches DDFL’s buffer after 2.8% and PJUL’s after 2.7%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

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About each fund
DDFL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.8% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.6% 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. 238 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jun 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

PJUL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFL or PJUL?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFL can gain about 7.8% before its cap and PJUL about 10.9%, so PJUL has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFL or PJUL?
DDFL ends its outcome period on Jun 30, 2027 and PJUL on Jun 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFL or PJUL?
DDFL and PJUL both charge 0.79% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, DDFL against PJUL, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfl-vs-pjul

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Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.