Which has more room to gain, DDNQ or QQBF?

From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDNQ can gain about 5.7% before its cap and QQBF about 2.3%, so DDNQ has more room left this period.

Which resets first, DDNQ or QQBF?

DDNQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and QQBF on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.

Which is cheaper, DDNQ or QQBF?

DDNQ charges 0.79% a year and QQBF charges 0.90%, so DDNQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

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DDNQ vs QQBF: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 QQBF can fall 0.9% before its buffer engages and DDNQ 0.0%, and QQBF resets 13 days sooner. Innovator Growth-100 Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF.

0.0%

DDNQ can fall this far before its buffer

0.9%

QQBF can fall this far before its buffer

5.7%

DDNQ can still gain

2.3%

QQBF can still gain

DDNQBetween buffer and cap

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

QQBFBetween buffer and cap

QQBF: reference +2.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +3.3%; Between buffer and cap.

These are two different products. QQBF 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.

Where each one stands today

QQBF resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; DDNQ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. DDNQ can still gain 5.7% before its cap, QQBF 2.3%. A fall from here reaches DDNQ’s buffer after 0.0% and QQBF’s after 0.9%. 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 return		Gap to the reference
Window	DDNQ	QQBF	DDNQ	QQBF
3 months	+1.7%	not published	−0.5 pts	not published
6 months	+5.7%	not published	−21.1 pts	not published

DDNQ and QQBF 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

QQBF

FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 3.3%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026

Issuer Innovator First Trust

Reference index QQQ QQQ

Buffer 5% 15%

Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026

Days left 92 79

Starting cap +5.7% +3.3%

Can still gain 5.7% 2.3%

Fall before buffer 0.0% 0.9%

Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 15.0% of 15.0%

Index return this period 0.0% +2.5%

Fund return this period 0.0% +0.7%

State today Open Open

Expense ratio 0.79% 0.90%

Net assets $25m $1m

DDNQ and QQBF 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.

QQBF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.3% 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 figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 2.5% 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 QQQ level. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDNQ or QQBF?: From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDNQ can gain about 5.7% before its cap and QQBF about 2.3%, so DDNQ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDNQ or QQBF?: DDNQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and QQBF on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDNQ or QQBF?: DDNQ charges 0.79% a year and QQBF charges 0.90%, so DDNQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

DDNQ vs QDEC DDNQ vs DQSE DDNQ vs NJAN DDNQ vs NOCT QQBF vs NJAN QQBF vs QBQF QQBF vs PQJA QQBF vs QBQV

QQQ →DDNQ on its own →QQBF on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →

Where these figures came from

DDNQ filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for DDNQ ↗First Trust page for QQBF ↗

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 QQBF, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddnq-vs-qqbf

Open data

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