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Data as of .

DDSQ vs SIXO: which one stands where?

As of Sep 21, 2026 SIXO can fall 8.0% before its buffer engages and DDSQ 3.0%, and DDSQ resets 1 days sooner.

Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Apr.

3.0%DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
8.0%SIXO can fall this far before its buffer
0.5%DDSQ can still gain
0.1%SIXO can still gain
DDSQAt its cap
5 pts+3.6%−5.0% floor0% period start+3.6% capTODAY · SPY +3.6%−5.0% floor0% start+3.6% capTODAY · SPY +3.6%
SIXOAt its cap
10 pts of buffer+8.7% gain captured−10.0% floor0% period start+8.7% capTODAY · SPY +19.0%10 pts+8.7%−10.0% floor0% start+8.7% capTODAY · SPY +19.0%

These are two different products. SIXO 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 Sep 30, 2026, 9 days from now; SIXO runs to Sep 30, 2026, 10 days. DDSQ can still gain 0.5% before its cap, SIXO 0.1%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 3.0% and SIXO’s after 8.0%. 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

DDSQ and SIXO over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowTotal returnGap to the reference
DDSQSIXODDSQSIXO
3 months+2.2%+2.1%−0.1 pts−0.1 pts
6 months+12.9%+8.0%−5.1 pts−10.0 pts
1 yearnot published+8.0%not published−8.6 pts
3 yearsnot published+30.1%not published−48.3 pts
Open the live comparison on ETFIQ
DDSQ and SIXO on the same fields, as of Sep 21, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
DDSQ
Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly
Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.6%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2026
SIXO
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Apr
Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.7%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2026
IssuerInnovatorAllianzIM
Reference indexSPYSPY
Buffer5%10%
Outcome periodJun 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026Apr 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026
Days left910
Starting cap+3.6%+8.7%
Can still gain0.5%0.1%
Fall before buffer3.0%8.0%
Protection left, index points5.0% of 5.0%10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period+3.6%+19.0%
Fund return this period+2.9%+8.2%
State todayAt capAt cap
Expense ratio0.79%0.74%
Net assets$90m$119m

DDSQ in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +3.6% for the period on Sep 21, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 3.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.5% 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. 9 days remained on Sep 21, 2026. On Sep 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

SIXO in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +8.7% for the period on Sep 21, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.1% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 8.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 16.0% 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. 10 days remained on Sep 21, 2026.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDSQ or SIXO?
From their prices on Sep 21, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 0.5% before its cap and SIXO about 0.1%, so DDSQ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or SIXO?
DDSQ ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2026 and SIXO on Sep 30, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or SIXO?
DDSQ charges 0.79% a year and SIXO charges 0.74%, so SIXO 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.

DDSQ against SIXO, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 21, 2026. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, DDSQ against SIXO, data as of Sep 21, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-sixo Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How every figure is computed · Standards and sources