IQ

Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

vsOpen in the appCompare their flowsaskIQ about these two fundsAsk the committee about these two funds
Buffer ETFs

DDFN vs DHDG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

Share
Share on XDownload as PDF

As of Nov 4, 2026 DHDG can fall 3.1% before its buffer engages and DDFN 0.9%, and DHDG resets 289 days sooner.

askIQ about this page

askIQ about DDFN and DHDG

Net assets: $74m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Nov, and $81m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF.

DDFN on its own →DHDG on its own →
At a glance
0.9%
DDFN can fall this far before its buffer
3.1%
DHDG can fall this far before its buffer
10.1%
DDFN can still gain
3.9%
DHDG can still gain
DDFN Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDFN: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9.7% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.1% cap+1.4% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.4%Between buffer and capDDFN: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% start+11.1% cap+1.4% gain captured+9.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.4%

DDFN: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFN: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DHDG Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDHDG: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer −2 to −15; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12.5 pts of buffer+4% to cap−15.0% floor−2.5% buffer start0% period start+4.5% capfirst 2.5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capDHDG: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer −2 to −15; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12.5 pts−15.0% floor−2.5% buffer start0% start+4.5% capfirst 2.5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain captured+4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

DHDG: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer −2 to −15; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DHDG: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer −2 to −15; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDFN costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.9 points; DHDG is 1.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFN vs DHDG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFNDHDG
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.2%+13.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.4%2.9%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$68m$81m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFN vs DHDG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFNDHDGDDFNDHDG
3 months+2.7%+1.3%+3.1 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+5.4%+5.6%+0.9 pts+1.1 pts
1 year+10.2%+13.1%−3.3 pts−0.5 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFN Nov 2025 · DHDG Oct 2024+9.7%+24.9%−2.5 pts−6.5 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

DDFN Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Nov · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.1%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027 DHDG FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF · Absorbs losses from 2.5% to 15.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 4.5%, over a period ending Jan 15, 2027
Issuer Innovator First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 2% to 15%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Oct 19, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027
Days left 361 72
Starting cap +11.1% +4.5%
Can still gain 10.1% 3.9%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 3.1%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 12.5% of 12.5%
Index return this period +1.4% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.9% +0.4%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDFN as of Nov 4, 2026 and DHDG as of Nov 3, 2026 $74m $81m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

They do not reset together. DHDG has 72 days of its period left and DDFN has 361, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

DHDG resets first, on Jan 15, 2027, 72 days from now; DDFN runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. DDFN can still gain 10.1% before its cap, DHDG 3.9%. A fall from here reaches DDFN’s buffer after 0.9% and DHDG’s after 3.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Alert

DDFN and DHDG flows, by email on Sundays.

One-click unsubscribe. See Privacy.

About each fund
DDFN

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 1.4% 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. 361 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DHDG

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.9% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 12.5% of the 12.5% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 72 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jan 15, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFN or DHDG?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFN can gain about 10.1% before its cap and DHDG about 3.9%, so DDFN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFN or DHDG?
DDFN ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and DHDG on Jan 15, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFN or DHDG?
DDFN charges 0.79% a year and DHDG charges 0.85%, so DDFN is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
DDFN vs DDTNDDFN vs DOCTDDFN vs NOVPDDFN vs BNOVDHDG vs DDFFDHDG vs CPSFDHDG vs BNOVDHDG vs BFEB
Where to next
SPY →All buffer ETFs ranked by the Downside Cover Score →How the scores are computed →DDFN on its own →DHDG on its own →Method →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
DDFN filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
Innovator page for DDFN ↗
DHDG filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
First Trust page for DHDG ↗

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, DDFN against DHDG, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfn-vs-dhdg

Open data →

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