Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFN vs NVBW: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 NVBW can fall 1.4% before its buffer engages and DDFN 0.9%.

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Net assets: $74m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Nov, and $101m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer20 ETF - Nov.

At a glance
0.9%
DDFN can fall this far before its buffer
1.4%
NVBW can fall this far before its buffer
10.1%
DDFN can still gain
11.2%
NVBW 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.
NVBW Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capNVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer+11.2% more to the cap−20.0% floor0% period start+12.7% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%Between buffer and capNVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer−20.0% floor0% start+12.7% cap+1.5% gain captured+11.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.5%

NVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

NVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

NVBW costs 0.05 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.0 point; NVBW is 1.5 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFN vs NVBW: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFNNVBW
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.2%+11.2%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$68m$101m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFN vs NVBW: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFNNVBWDDFNNVBW
3 months+2.7%+2.7%+3.1 pts+3.1 pts
6 months+5.4%+5.8%+0.9 pts+1.3 pts
1 year+10.2%+11.2%−3.3 pts−2.4 pts
3 years–+35.7%–−40.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFN Nov 2025 · NVBW Nov 2022+9.7%+48.2%−2.5 pts−51.2 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

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 NVBW AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer20 ETF - Nov · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.7%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 20%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Nov 1, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027
Days left 361 361
Starting cap +11.1% +12.7%
Can still gain 10.1% 11.2%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 1.4%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 20.0% of 20.0%
Index return this period +1.4% +1.5%
Fund return this period +0.9% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.74%
Net assets, DDFN as of Nov 4, 2026 and NVBW as of Nov 3, 2026 $74m $101m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. NVBW 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; NVBW runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. DDFN can still gain 10.1% before its cap, NVBW 11.2%. A fall from here reaches DDFN’s buffer after 0.9% and NVBW’s after 1.4%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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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.

NVBW

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 11.2% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 20.0% of the 20.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFN or NVBW?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFN can gain about 10.1% before its cap and NVBW about 11.2%, so NVBW has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFN or NVBW?
DDFN ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and NVBW on Oct 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFN or NVBW?
DDFN charges 0.79% a year and NVBW charges 0.74%, so NVBW 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.

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

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