Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDFZ vs FMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 FMAY can fall 4.5% before its buffer engages and DDFZ 2.7%, and FMAY 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 $1.5bn on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - May.

At a glance
2.7%
DDFZ can fall this far before its buffer
4.5%
FMAY can fall this far before its buffer
7.8%
DDFZ can still gain
12.0%
FMAY 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% more to the 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.
FMAY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capFMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+3.7%+13.4% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+17.1% capTODAY · SPY +3.7%Between buffer and capFMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+17.1% cap+3.7% gain captured+13.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

FMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

FMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +17.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDFZ costs 0.06 points a year less; FMAY is 10.4 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDFZ vs FMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDFZFMAY
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+9.9%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.3%3.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$144m$1.5bn
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDFZ vs FMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDFZFMAYDDFZFMAY
3 months+0.8%+0.5%+1.2 pts+0.9 pts
6 months–+3.8%–−0.7 pts
1 year–+9.9%–−3.6 pts
3 years–+48.5%–−27.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDFZ Jun 2026 · FMAY May 2020+2.2%+85.5%+1.1 pts−74.4 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 FMAY FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 17.1%, over a period ending May 21, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 10%
Outcome period May 31, 2026 to May 31, 2027 May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027
Days left 208 198
Starting cap +10.7% +17.1%
Can still gain 7.8% 12.0%
Fall before buffer 2.7% 4.5%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +1.3% +3.7%
Fund return this period +2.4% +3.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDFZ as of Nov 4, 2026 and FMAY as of Nov 3, 2026 $145m $1.5bn

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. FMAY 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

FMAY 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, FMAY 12.0%. A fall from here reaches DDFZ’s buffer after 2.7% and FMAY’s after 4.5%. 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.

FMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 12.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 4.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.6% 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. 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 FMAY?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDFZ can gain about 7.8% before its cap and FMAY about 12.0%, so FMAY has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDFZ or FMAY?
DDFZ ends its outcome period on May 31, 2027 and FMAY on May 21, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDFZ or FMAY?
DDFZ charges 0.79% a year and FMAY 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, DDFZ against FMAY, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddfz-vs-fmay

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