Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFZ vs DMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DMAY can fall 8.7% before its buffer engages and DDFZ 2.7%, and DMAY resets 10 days sooner.

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Net assets: $145m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jun, and $390m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May.

At a glance
2.7%
DDFZ can fall this far before its buffer
8.7%
DMAY can fall this far before its buffer
7.8%
DDFZ can still gain
9.3%
DMAY can still gain
DDFZ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDFZ: reference +1.3% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+9.4% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+10.7% cap+1.3% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.3%Between buffer and capDDFZ: reference +1.3% since period start, fund +2.4%; 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+1.3% gain captured+9.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.3%

DDFZ: reference +1.3% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDFZ: reference +1.3% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DMAY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+3.7%+9.8% to cap−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+13.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +3.7%Between buffer and capDMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+13.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+3.7% gain captured+9.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

DMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.1%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDFZ costs 0.06 points a year less; DMAY is 2.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFZ vs DMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFZDMAY
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+8.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.3%8.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$144m$390m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFZ vs DMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFZDMAYDDFZDMAY
3 months+0.8%+0.5%+1.2 pts+0.9 pts
6 months–+3.2%–−1.3 pts
1 year–+8.3%–−5.2 pts
3 years–+40.5%–−35.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFZ Jun 2026 · DMAY May 2020+2.2%+56.5%+1.1 pts−103.4 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

DDFZ Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - Jun · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 10.7%, over a period ending May 31, 2027 DMAY FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 13.6%, over a period ending May 21, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 5% to 30%
Outcome period May 31, 2026 to May 31, 2027 May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027
Days left 208 198
Starting cap +10.7% +13.6%
Can still gain 7.8% 9.3%
Fall before buffer 2.7% 8.7%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 25.0% of 25.0%
Index return this period +1.3% +3.7%
Fund return this period +2.4% +3.1%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDFZ as of Nov 4, 2026 and DMAY as of Nov 3, 2026 $145m $390m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

DMAY resets first, on May 21, 2027, 198 days from now; DDFZ runs to May 31, 2027, 208 days. DDFZ can still gain 7.8% before its cap, DMAY 9.3%. A fall from here reaches DDFZ’s buffer after 2.7% and DMAY’s after 8.7%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDFZ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.8% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 1.3% 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. 208 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On May 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 8.4% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 25.0% of the 25.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 198 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On May 21, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDFZ or DMAY?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFZ can gain about 7.8% before its cap and DMAY about 9.3%, so DMAY has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFZ or DMAY?
DDFZ ends its outcome period on May 31, 2027 and DMAY on May 21, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFZ or DMAY?
DDFZ charges 0.79% a year and DMAY charges 0.85%, so DDFZ 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, DDFZ against DMAY, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfz-vs-dmay

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