Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFO vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DDFO can fall 0.7% before its buffer engages and PQXX 0.6%, and PQXX resets 273 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $176m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Oct and $3.6m for PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 20 ETF.

At a glance
0.7%
DDFO can fall this far before its buffer
0.6%
PQXX can fall this far before its buffer
9.9%
DDFO can still gain
1.9%
PQXX 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.
PQXX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer−20.0% floor0% period start+2.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capPQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer−20.0% floor0% start+2.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PQXX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +2.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PQXX costs 0.29 points a year less; DDFO is far larger, $176m against $3.6m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFO vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFOPQXX
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.2%not published
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$176m$3.6m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFO vs PQXX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFOPQXXDDFOPQXX
3 months+1.5%+1.4%+1.9 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+3.5%–−1.0 pts–
1 year+8.2%–−5.4 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DDFO Oct 2025 · PQXX Jul 2026+8.5%+2.4%−6.2 pts−0.4 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

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 PQXX PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 20 ETF · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 2.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 20%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 330 57
Starting cap +10.7% +2.5%
Can still gain 9.9% 1.9%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 0.6%
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% +0.5%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $176m $3.6m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. PQXX 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.

They do not reset together. PQXX has 57 days of its period left and DDFO has 330, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

PQXX resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; DDFO runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DDFO can still gain 9.9% before its cap, PQXX 1.9%. A fall from here reaches DDFO’s buffer after 0.7% and PQXX’s after 0.6%. 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.

PQXX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 1.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.6% 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. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFO or PQXX?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFO can gain about 9.9% before its cap and PQXX about 1.9%, so DDFO has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFO or PQXX?
DDFO ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and PQXX on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFO or PQXX?
DDFO charges 0.79% a year and PQXX charges 0.50%, so PQXX 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

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

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