Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFO vs OCTU: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 OCTU can fall 1.0% before its buffer engages and DDFO 0.7%.

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Net assets: $176m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Oct, and $60m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Oct.

At a glance
0.7%
DDFO can fall this far before its buffer
1.0%
OCTU can fall this far before its buffer
9.9%
DDFO can still gain
uncapped
OCTU can still gain
DDFO Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDFO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+10.2% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+10.7% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capDDFO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+10.7% cap+0.5% gain captured+10.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

DDFO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
OCTU No cap
No capOCTU: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period startno cap+0.5% gained, no capTODAY · SPY +0.5%No capOCTU: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% startno cap+0.5% gained, no capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

OCTU: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

OCTU costs 0.05 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 0.9 points; DDFO is 2.9 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFO vs OCTU: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFOOCTU
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.2%+9.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$173m$60m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFO vs OCTU: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFOOCTUDDFOOCTU
3 months+1.5%−1.1%+1.9 pts−0.7 pts
6 months+3.5%+2.8%−1.0 pts−1.7 pts
1 year+8.2%+9.1%−5.4 pts−4.5 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFO Oct 2025 · OCTU Oct 2024+8.5%+24.2%−6.2 pts−10.7 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

DDFO Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 10.7%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027 OCTU AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Oct · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and does not cap the gain, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 330 330
Starting cap +10.7% uncapped
Can still gain 9.9% uncapped
Fall before buffer 0.7% 1.0%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.3%
State today Open Uncapped
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.74%
Net assets, DDFO as of Nov 4, 2026 and OCTU as of Nov 3, 2026 $176m $60m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. OCTU is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDFO 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

DDFO resets first, on Sep 30, 2027, 330 days from now; OCTU runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. A fall from here reaches DDFO’s buffer after 0.7% and OCTU’s after 1.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDFO

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% 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. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

OCTU

This fund has no cap. It takes a share of any further rise in SPY. The fund's price can fall 1.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and new terms are set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, DDFO or OCTU?
DDFO ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and OCTU on Sep 30, 2027. New terms are set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFO or OCTU?
DDFO charges 0.79% a year and OCTU charges 0.74%, so OCTU 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.

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ETFIQ, DDFO against OCTU, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfo-vs-octu

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