Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

vsOpen in the appCompare their flowsaskIQ about these two fundsAsk the committee about these two funds
Buffer ETFs

DDSQ vs PQX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

Share
Share on XDownload as PDF

As of Nov 4, 2026 DDSQ can fall 0.9% before its buffer engages and PQX 0.8%.

askIQ about this page

askIQ about DDSQ and PQX

Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $114m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and $8.7m for PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF.

At a glance
0.9%
DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
0.8%
PQX can fall this far before its buffer
2.6%
DDSQ can still gain
2.7%
PQX can still gain
DDSQ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDSQ: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.5 pts of buffer+3% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+3.5% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capDDSQ: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.5 pts−5.0% floor0% start+3.5% cap+0.5% gain captured+3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

DDSQ: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDSQ: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
PQX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+2.9% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+3.5% cap+0.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capPQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer−10.0% floor0% start+3.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PQX costs 0.29 points a year less; DDSQ is 13.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDSQ vs PQX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDSQPQX
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.50%
Net assets$114m$8.7m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDSQ vs PQX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDSQPQXDDSQPQX
3 months+1.0%+0.9%+1.4 pts+1.3 pts
6 months+4.0%–−0.5 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DDSQ Jan 2026 · PQX Jul 2026+12.9%+2.5%+0.7 pts−0.3 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

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 PQX PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% 10%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 57 57
Starting cap +3.5% +3.5%
Can still gain 2.6% 2.7%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 0.8%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.6%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.6%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $114m $8.7m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. PQX 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

DDSQ resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; PQX runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. DDSQ can still gain 2.6% before its cap, PQX 2.7%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 0.9% and PQX’s after 0.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Alert

DDSQ and PQX flows, by email on Sundays.

One-click unsubscribe. See Privacy.

About each fund
DDSQ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.6% 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 number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

PQX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDSQ or PQX?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 2.6% before its cap and PQX about 2.7%, so PQX has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or PQX?
DDSQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and PQX on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or PQX?
DDSQ charges 0.79% a year and PQX charges 0.50%, so PQX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where to next
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, DDSQ against PQX, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-pqx

Open data →

Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.