Which has more room to gain, DDSQ or FDEC?

From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 3.5% before its cap and FDEC about 3.9%, so FDEC has more room left this period.

Which resets first, DDSQ or FDEC?

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

Which is cheaper, DDSQ or FDEC?

DDSQ charges 0.79% a year and FDEC charges 0.85%, so DDSQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Share on X Download as PDF Open live

DDSQ vs FDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 FDEC can fall 9.6% before its buffer engages and DDSQ 0.0%, and FDEC resets 13 days sooner. Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December.

0.0%

DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer

9.6%

FDEC can fall this far before its buffer

3.5%

DDSQ can still gain

3.9%

FDEC can still gain

DDSQBetween buffer and cap

DDSQ: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap.

FDECBetween buffer and cap

FDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +9.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap.

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

FDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; DDSQ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. DDSQ can still gain 3.5% before its cap, FDEC 3.9%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 0.0% and FDEC’s after 9.6%. Both track SPY, 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	DDSQ	FDEC	DDSQ	FDEC
3 months	+2.0%	+2.9%	−0.5 pts	+0.4 pts
6 months	+7.0%	+12.0%	−9.9 pts	−5.0 pts
1 year	not published	+13.8%	not published	−1.9 pts
3 years	not published	+59.2%	not published	−25.8 pts

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

On the same fields

DDSQ

Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

FDEC

FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.8%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026

Issuer Innovator First Trust

Reference index SPY SPY

Buffer 5% 10%

Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026

Days left 92 79

Starting cap +3.5% +14.8%

Can still gain 3.5% 3.9%

Fall before buffer 0.0% 9.6%

Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 10.0% of 10.0%

Index return this period 0.0% +12.0%

Fund return this period 0.0% +9.6%

State today Open Open

Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%

Net assets $92m $1.3bn

DDSQ and FDEC on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

DDSQ in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.5% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

FDEC in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.7% 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. 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, DDSQ or FDEC?: From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 3.5% before its cap and FDEC about 3.9%, so FDEC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or FDEC?: DDSQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and FDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or FDEC?: DDSQ charges 0.79% a year and FDEC charges 0.85%, so DDSQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

DDSQ vs PJAN DDSQ vs PMJA DDSQ vs PMOC DDSQ vs POCT FDEC vs ZALT FDEC vs EALT FDEC vs FLJJ FDEC vs GDEC

SPY →DDSQ on its own →FDEC on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →

Where these figures came from

DDSQ filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for DDSQ ↗FDEC filings on SEC EDGAR ↗First Trust page for FDEC ↗

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, DDSQ against FDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-fdec

Open data

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