IQ

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 XBOC: 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 XBOC 0.9%, and DDSQ resets 273 days sooner.

askIQ about this page

askIQ about DDSQ and XBOC

Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $114m for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 5 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and $60m for Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Oct.

DDSQ on its own →XBOC on its own →
At a glance
0.9%
DDSQ can fall this far before its buffer
0.9%
XBOC can fall this far before its buffer
2.6%
DDSQ can still gain
12.7%
XBOC 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−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.
XBOC Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXBOC: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +13.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts of buffer+13.2% more to the cap−9.0% floor0% period start+13.7% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capXBOC: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +13.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts+13.2% to cap−9.0% floor0% start+13.7% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%

XBOC: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +13.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XBOC: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +13.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; DDSQ is 1.9 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDSQ vs XBOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDSQXBOC
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+11.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$114m$60m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDSQ vs XBOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDSQXBOCDDSQXBOC
3 months+1.0%+1.8%+1.4 pts+2.2 pts
6 months+4.0%+4.9%−0.5 pts+0.4 pts
1 year–+11.4%–−2.1 pts
3 years–+37.8%–−38.6 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDSQ Jan 2026 · XBOC Oct 2021+12.9%+51.6%+0.7 pts−25.0 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 XBOC Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 13.7%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% 9%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 57 330
Starting cap +3.5% +13.7%
Can still gain 2.6% 12.7%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 0.9%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 9.0% of 9.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $114m $60m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. XBOC 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 XBOC 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; XBOC runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DDSQ can still gain 2.6% before its cap, XBOC 12.7%. A fall from here reaches DDSQ’s buffer after 0.9% and XBOC’s after 0.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Alert

DDSQ and XBOC 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.

XBOC

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 12.7% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 9.0% of the 9.0% 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 XBOC?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDSQ can gain about 2.6% before its cap and XBOC about 12.7%, so XBOC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDSQ or XBOC?
DDSQ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and XBOC on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDSQ or XBOC?
DDSQ and XBOC both charge 0.79% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
DDSQ vs PBOCDDSQ vs AIOODDSQ vs PBJADDSQ vs QBSFXBOC vs XSEPXBOC vs EALTXBOC vs QBSFXBOC vs ZOCT
Where to next
SPY →All buffer ETFs ranked by the Downside Cover Score →How the scores are computed →DDSQ on its own →XBOC on its own →Method →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
DDSQ and XBOC filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
Innovator page for DDSQ ↗
Innovator page for XBOC ↗

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 XBOC, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddsq-vs-xboc

Open data →

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