DDNQ vs NJAN: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 NJAN can fall 10.3% before its buffer engages and DDNQ 0.0%. Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Jan.

0.0%
DDNQ can fall this far before its buffer
10.3%
NJAN can fall this far before its buffer
5.7%
DDNQ can still gain
3.0%
NJAN can still gain
DDNQBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts+5.7% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+5.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%Between buffer and capDDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+5.7% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%

DDNQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.7%; Between buffer and cap.

NJANAt its cap
At its capNJAN: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +10.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.7%; At its cap.15 pts of buffer+14.7% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+14.7% capTODAY · QQQ +20.4%At its capNJAN: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +10.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.7%; At its cap.15 pts+14.7%−15.0% floor0% start+14.7% capTODAY · QQQ +20.4%

NJAN: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +10.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.7%; At its cap.

These are two different products. NJAN is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDNQ is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

NJAN is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

DDNQ resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; NJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. DDNQ can still gain 5.7% before its cap, NJAN 3.0%. A fall from here reaches DDNQ’s buffer after 0.0% and NJAN’s after 10.3%. Both track QQQ, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowDDNQNJANDDNQNJAN
3 months+1.7%+3.3%−0.5 pts+1.1 pts
6 months+5.7%+12.7%−21.1 pts−14.2 pts
1 yearnot published+14.1%not published−9.7 pts
3 yearsnot published+49.5%not published−60.4 pts

DDNQ and NJAN over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

DDNQ
Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 5.7%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
NJAN
Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 14.7%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 5% 15%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +5.7% +14.7%
Can still gain 5.7% 3.0%
Fall before buffer 0.0% 10.3%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +20.4%
Fund return this period 0.0% +10.7%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $25m $348m

DDNQ and NJAN on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

DDNQ in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.7% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

NJAN in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +14.7% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 3.0% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 10.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 17.0% 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 QQQ level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDNQ or NJAN?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDNQ can gain about 5.7% before its cap and NJAN about 3.0%, so DDNQ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDNQ or NJAN?
DDNQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and NJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDNQ or NJAN?
DDNQ charges 0.79% a year and NJAN charges 0.79%, so DDNQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, DDNQ against NJAN, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddnq-vs-njan

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.