Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFS vs DLAG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DLAG can fall 1.8% before its buffer engages and DDFS 1.0%, and DLAG resets 11 days sooner.

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Net assets: $122m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Sep, and $20m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - August.

At a glance
1.0%
DDFS can fall this far before its buffer
1.8%
DLAG can fall this far before its buffer
9.4%
DDFS can still gain
11.6%
DLAG can still gain
DDFS Buffer working
Buffer workingDDFS: reference −0.1% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.5%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.14.9 of 15 pts of buffer left+10.5% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+10.5% capTODAY · SPY −0.1%Buffer workingDDFS: reference −0.1% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.5%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.14.9 pts−15.0% floor0% start+10.5% cap+10.5% more to the capTODAY · SPY −0.1%

DDFS: reference −0.1% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.5%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFS: reference −0.1% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.5%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DLAG Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDLAG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +13.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+13.4% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+13.5% cap+0.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.1%Between buffer and capDLAG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +13.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+13.4% to cap−10.0% floor0% start+13.5% cap+0.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.1%

DLAG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +13.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DLAG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +13.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDFS costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.7 points; DDFS is 6.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFS vs DLAG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFSDLAG
Return
Total return, 1 year+7.5%+10.2%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.0%0.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$121m$20m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFS vs DLAG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFSDLAGDDFSDLAG
3 months+1.1%+1.2%+1.5 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+2.9%+4.1%−1.6 pts−0.4 pts
1 year+7.5%+10.2%−6.1 pts−3.4 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFS Sep 2025 · DLAG Sep 2025+9.3%+10.7%−10.5 pts−4.3 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

DDFS Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Sep · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 10.5%, over a period ending Aug 31, 2027 DLAG FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - August · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 13.5%, over a period ending Aug 20, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 10%
Outcome period Aug 31, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 Aug 24, 2026 to Aug 20, 2027
Days left 300 289
Starting cap +10.5% +13.5%
Can still gain 9.4% 11.6%
Fall before buffer 1.0% 1.8%
Protection left, index points 14.9% of 15.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period −0.1% +0.1%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.9%
State today Buffer working Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDFS as of Nov 4, 2026 and DLAG as of Nov 3, 2026 $122m $20m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

Where each one stands today

DLAG resets first, on Aug 20, 2027, 289 days from now; DDFS runs to Aug 31, 2027, 300 days. DDFS can still gain 9.4% before its cap, DLAG 11.6%. A fall from here reaches DDFS’s buffer after 1.0% and DLAG’s after 1.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDFS

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 14.9% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 300 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DLAG

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 1.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.1% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 289 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 20, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFS or DLAG?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFS can gain about 9.4% before its cap and DLAG about 11.6%, so DLAG has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFS or DLAG?
DDFS ends its outcome period on Aug 31, 2027 and DLAG on Aug 20, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFS or DLAG?
DDFS charges 0.79% a year and DLAG charges 0.85%, so DDFS 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.

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ETFIQ, DDFS against DLAG, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfs-vs-dlag

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