Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDSQ vs QBSF: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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

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Net assets: $114m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly, and $68m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 ETF - Jan.

At a glance
0.9%
DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
0.8%
QBSF can fall this far before its buffer
2.6%
DDSQ can still gain
2.1%
QBSF 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.
QBSF Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period start+2.9% cap+0.5% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capQBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% start+2.9% cap+0.5% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

QBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

QBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

QBSF costs 0.15 points a year less; DDSQ is 1.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDSQ vs QBSF: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDSQQBSF
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.9%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.64%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$113m$68m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDSQ vs QBSF: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDSQQBSFDDSQQBSF
3 months+1.0%+1.2%+1.4 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+4.0%+3.2%−0.5 pts−1.3 pts
1 year–+6.9%–−6.6 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDSQ Jan 2026 · QBSF Jul 2025+12.9%+10.1%+0.7 pts−14.0 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 QBSF AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 2.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% 15%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 57 57
Starting cap +3.5% +2.9%
Can still gain 2.6% 2.1%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 0.8%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.6%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.64%
Net assets, DDSQ as of Nov 4, 2026 and QBSF as of Nov 3, 2026 $114m $68m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. QBSF 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; QBSF runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. DDSQ can still gain 2.6% before its cap, QBSF 2.1%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 0.9% and QBSF’s after 0.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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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.

QBSF

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.1% 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: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDSQ or QBSF?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 2.6% before its cap and QBSF about 2.1%, so DDSQ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or QBSF?
DDSQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and QBSF on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or QBSF?
DDSQ charges 0.79% a year and QBSF charges 0.64%, so QBSF 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, DDSQ against QBSF, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-qbsf

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