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 NOVP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

Share
Share on XDownload as PDF

As of Nov 4, 2026 NOVP can fall 1.5% before its buffer engages and DDFN 0.9%.

askIQ about this page

askIQ about DDFN and NOVP

Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $74m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Nov and $43m for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - November.

At a glance
0.9%
DDFN can fall this far before its buffer
1.5%
NOVP can fall this far before its buffer
10.1%
DDFN can still gain
14.8%
NOVP 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−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.
NOVP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capNOVP: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12 pts of buffer+14.9% more to the cap−12.0% floor0% period start+16.4% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%Between buffer and capNOVP: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12 pts+14.9% to cap−12.0% floor0% start+16.4% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%

NOVP: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

NOVP: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +1.0%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

NOVP costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.7 points; DDFN is 1.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFN vs NOVP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFNNOVP
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.2%+11.9%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$74m$43m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFN vs NOVP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFNNOVPDDFNNOVP
3 months+2.7%+0.9%+3.1 pts+1.2 pts
6 months+5.4%+4.7%+0.9 pts+0.2 pts
1 year+10.2%+11.9%−3.3 pts−1.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFN Nov 2025 · NOVP May 2024+9.7%+34.3%−2.5 pts−10.4 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 NOVP PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - November · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.4%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 12%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Nov 1, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027
Days left 361 361
Starting cap +11.1% +16.4%
Can still gain 10.1% 14.8%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 1.5%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 12.0% of 12.0%
Index return this period +1.4% +1.5%
Fund return this period +0.9% +1.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $74m $43m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. NOVP 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.

Where each one stands today

DDFN resets first, on Oct 31, 2027, 361 days from now; NOVP runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. DDFN can still gain 10.1% before its cap, NOVP 14.8%. A fall from here reaches DDFN’s buffer after 0.9% and NOVP’s after 1.5%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Alert

DDFN and NOVP 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.

NOVP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.8% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 12.0% of the 12.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFN or NOVP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFN can gain about 10.1% before its cap and NOVP about 14.8%, so NOVP has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFN or NOVP?
DDFN ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and NOVP on Oct 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFN or NOVP?
DDFN charges 0.79% a year and NOVP charges 0.50%, so NOVP is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where to next
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, DDFN against NOVP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfn-vs-novp

Open data →

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