Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFN vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 SIXZ can fall 1.2% before its buffer engages and DDFN 0.9%, and SIXZ resets 184 days sooner.

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Net assets: $74m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Nov, and $64m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - May.

At a glance
0.9%
DDFN can fall this far before its buffer
1.2%
SIXZ can fall this far before its buffer
10.1%
DDFN can still gain
7.0%
SIXZ 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.
SIXZ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+6.9% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+8.3% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%Between buffer and capSIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+8.3% cap+1.5% gain captured+6.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.5%

SIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

SIXZ costs 0.05 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.2 points; DDFN is 1.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFN vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFNSIXZ
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.2%+11.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$68m$64m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFN vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFNSIXZDDFNSIXZ
3 months+2.7%+2.3%+3.1 pts+2.7 pts
6 months+5.4%+4.7%+0.9 pts+0.2 pts
1 year+10.2%+11.4%−3.3 pts−2.1 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFN Nov 2025 · SIXZ May 2024+9.7%+30.2%−2.5 pts−23.1 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 SIXZ AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - May · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.3%, over a period ending Apr 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 10%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Days left 361 177
Starting cap +11.1% +8.3%
Can still gain 10.1% 7.0%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 1.2%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +1.4% +1.5%
Fund return this period +0.9% +0.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.74%
Net assets, DDFN as of Nov 4, 2026 and SIXZ as of Nov 3, 2026 $74m $64m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. SIXZ 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. SIXZ has 177 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

SIXZ resets first, on Apr 30, 2027, 177 days from now; DDFN runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. DDFN can still gain 10.1% before its cap, SIXZ 7.0%. A fall from here reaches DDFN’s buffer after 0.9% and SIXZ’s after 1.2%. 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.

SIXZ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 177 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Apr 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFN or SIXZ?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFN can gain about 10.1% before its cap and SIXZ about 7.0%, so DDFN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFN or SIXZ?
DDFN ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and SIXZ on Apr 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFN or SIXZ?
DDFN charges 0.79% a year and SIXZ charges 0.74%, so SIXZ 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

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

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