Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFO vs PBOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 PBOC can fall 1.2% before its buffer engages and DDFO 0.7%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $176m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Oct and $64m for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - October .

At a glance
0.7%
DDFO can fall this far before its buffer
1.2%
PBOC can fall this far before its buffer
9.9%
DDFO can still gain
11.6%
PBOC 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.
PBOC Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPBOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer+12.3% more to the cap−20.0% floor0% period start+12.8% cap+0.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capPBOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer−20.0% floor0% start+12.8% cap+0.6% gain captured+12.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PBOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PBOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PBOC costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.8 points; DDFO is 2.8 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFO vs PBOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFOPBOC
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.2%+10.0%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$176m$64m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFO vs PBOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFOPBOCDDFOPBOC
3 months+1.5%+1.9%+1.9 pts+2.3 pts
6 months+3.5%+4.7%−1.0 pts+0.2 pts
1 year+8.2%+10.0%−5.4 pts−3.5 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFO Oct 2025 · PBOC May 2024+8.5%+26.4%−6.2 pts−18.4 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

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 PBOC PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - October · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.8%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 20%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 330 330
Starting cap +10.7% +12.8%
Can still gain 9.9% 11.6%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 1.2%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 20.0% of 20.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.6%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $176m $64m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. PBOC 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; PBOC runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DDFO can still gain 9.9% before its cap, PBOC 11.6%. A fall from here reaches DDFO’s buffer after 0.7% and PBOC’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
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.

PBOC

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 11.6% 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: 20.0% of the 20.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFO or PBOC?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFO can gain about 9.9% before its cap and PBOC about 11.6%, so PBOC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFO or PBOC?
DDFO ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and PBOC on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFO or PBOC?
DDFO charges 0.79% a year and PBOC charges 0.50%, so PBOC 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, DDFO against PBOC, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfo-vs-pboc

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