Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDTJ vs DECM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DDTJ can fall 9.3% before its buffer engages and DECM 5.8%, and DECM resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets: $18m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Jan, and $35m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - December.

At a glance
9.3%
DDTJ can fall this far before its buffer
5.8%
DECM can fall this far before its buffer
2.4%
DDTJ can still gain
0.8%
DECM can still gain
DDTJ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+12.4% gained−10.0% floor0% period start+12.8% cap+0.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%Between buffer and capDDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−10.0% floor0% start+12.8% cap10 pts of buffer+12.4% gain captured+0.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.4%

DDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDTJ: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
DECM At its cap
At its capDECM: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +5.3%; buffer 0 to −51; cap +7.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.50.6 pts of buffer+7%−50.6% floor0% period start+7.0% capTODAY · SPY +12.7%At its capDECM: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +5.3%; buffer 0 to −51; cap +7.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.50.6 pts of buffer−50.6% floor0% start+7.0% cap+7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.7%

DECM: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +5.3%; buffer 0 to −51; cap +7.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DECM: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +5.3%; buffer 0 to −51; cap +7.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDTJ costs 0.06 points a year less; DECM is 1.9 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDTJ vs DECM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDTJDECM
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer11.0%11.2%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$18m$35m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDTJ vs DECM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDTJDECMDDTJDECM
3 months+1.4%+1.3%+1.8 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+4.8%+3.0%+0.3 pts−1.5 pts
1 year–+6.4%–−7.2 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDTJ Jan 2026 · DECM Dec 2024+9.1%+11.9%−3.1 pts−17.0 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

DDTJ Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.8%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026 DECM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 51% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 51%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 57 44
Starting cap +12.8% +7.0%
Can still gain 2.4% 0.8%
Fall before buffer 9.3% 5.8%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 50.6% of 50.6%
Index return this period +12.4% +12.7%
Fund return this period +9.4% +5.3%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDTJ as of Nov 4, 2026 and DECM as of Nov 3, 2026 $18m $35m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. DECM is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDTJ is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

DECM is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

DECM resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 44 days from now; DDTJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. DDTJ can still gain 2.4% before its cap, DECM 0.8%. A fall from here reaches DDTJ’s buffer after 9.3% and DECM’s after 5.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDTJ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.0% 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. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

DECM

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +7.0% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 5.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.2% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 50.6% of the 50.6% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 44 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDTJ or DECM?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDTJ can gain about 2.4% before its cap and DECM about 0.8%, so DDTJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDTJ or DECM?
DDTJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and DECM on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDTJ or DECM?
DDTJ charges 0.79% a year and DECM charges 0.85%, so DDTJ 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, DDTJ against DECM, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddtj-vs-decm

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