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Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFO vs QBSV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 QBSV can fall 0.9% before its buffer engages and DDFO 0.7%, and QBSV resets 273 days sooner.

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Net assets: $176m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Oct, and $28m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan.

DDFO on its own →QBSV on its own →
At a glance
0.7%
DDFO can fall this far before its buffer
0.9%
QBSV can fall this far before its buffer
9.9%
DDFO can still gain
4.2%
QBSV 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 of buffer−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.
QBSV Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSV: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.5 pts of buffer+4.6% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+5.1% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capQBSV: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−5.0% floor0% start+5.1% cap5 pts of buffer+0.5% gain captured+4.6% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

QBSV: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

QBSV: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

QBSV costs 0.15 points a year less; DDFO is 6.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFO vs QBSV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFOQBSV
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%0.64%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$173m$28m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFO vs QBSV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFOQBSVDDFOQBSV
3 months+1.5%+0.5%+1.9 pts+0.9 pts
6 months+3.5%+3.9%−1.0 pts−0.6 pts
1 year+8.2%–−5.4 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DDFO Oct 2025 · QBSV Apr 2026+8.5%+8.6%−6.2 pts−8.5 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 QBSV AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 5.1%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Innovator AllianzIM
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 5%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 330 57
Starting cap +10.7% +5.1%
Can still gain 9.9% 4.2%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 0.9%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.64%
Net assets, DDFO as of Nov 4, 2026 and QBSV as of Nov 3, 2026 $176m $28m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. QBSV 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. QBSV 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

QBSV 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, QBSV 4.2%. A fall from here reaches DDFO’s buffer after 0.7% and QBSV’s after 0.9%. 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.

QBSV

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.2% 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. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% 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 QBSV?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFO can gain about 9.9% before its cap and QBSV about 4.2%, so DDFO has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFO or QBSV?
DDFO ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and QBSV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFO or QBSV?
DDFO charges 0.79% a year and QBSV charges 0.64%, so QBSV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
DDFO vs QBSFDDFO vs UOCTDDFO vs BOCTDDFO vs GSEPQBSV vs EALTQBSV vs ZOCTQBSV vs OCTTQBSV vs SIXO
Where to next
SPY →All buffer ETFs ranked by the Downside Cover Score →How the scores are computed →DDFO on its own →QBSV on its own →Method →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
DDFO filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
Innovator page for DDFO ↗
QBSV filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
AllianzIM page for QBSV ↗

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 QBSV, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfo-vs-qbsv

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