Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDSQ vs UOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 UOCT can fall 5.7% before its buffer engages and DDSQ 0.9%, and DDSQ resets 273 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $114m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and $271m for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Oct.

At a glance
0.9%
DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
5.7%
UOCT can fall this far before its buffer
2.6%
DDSQ can still gain
14.4%
UOCT 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−5.0% floor0% period start+3.5% cap+0.5% gain captured+3% more to the capTODAY · 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.−5.0% floor0% start+3.5% cap5 pts of buffer+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.
UOCT Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capUOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer+14.8% more to the cap−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+15.3% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capUOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+15.3% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain captured+14.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

UOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

UOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; UOCT is 2.4 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDSQ vs UOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDSQUOCT
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+10.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%5.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$114m$271m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDSQ vs UOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDSQUOCTDDSQUOCT
3 months+1.0%+1.9%+1.4 pts+2.3 pts
6 months+4.0%+5.1%−0.5 pts+0.6 pts
1 year–+10.3%–−3.3 pts
3 years–+37.9%–−38.5 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDSQ Jan 2026 · UOCT Oct 2018+12.9%+77.5%+0.7 pts−85.4 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 UOCT Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 35.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 15.3%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% 5% to 35%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 57 330
Starting cap +3.5% +15.3%
Can still gain 2.6% 14.4%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 5.7%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 30.0% of 30.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $114m $271m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. UOCT 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.

They do not reset together. DDSQ has 57 days of its period left and UOCT has 330, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

DDSQ resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; UOCT runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DDSQ can still gain 2.6% before its cap, UOCT 14.4%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 0.9% and UOCT’s after 5.7%. 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.

UOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 5.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 5.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 30.0% of the 30.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDSQ or UOCT?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 2.6% before its cap and UOCT about 14.4%, so UOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or UOCT?
DDSQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and UOCT on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or UOCT?
DDSQ and UOCT both charge 0.79% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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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 UOCT, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-uoct

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