Which has more room to gain, DDTJ or EALT?

From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDTJ can gain about 3.3% before its cap and EALT about 7.0%, so EALT has more room left this period.

Which resets first, DDTJ or EALT?

DDTJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and EALT on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.

Which is cheaper, DDTJ or EALT?

DDTJ charges 0.79% a year and EALT charges 0.69%, so EALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

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DDTJ vs EALT: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 DDTJ can fall 8.5% before its buffer engages and EALT 5.0%. Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Jan and Innovator U.S. Equity 5 to 15 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

8.5%

DDTJ can fall this far before its buffer

5.0%

EALT can fall this far before its buffer

3.3%

DDTJ can still gain

7.0%

EALT can still gain

DDTJBetween buffer and cap

DDTJ: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +12.8%; Between buffer and cap.

EALTBetween buffer and cap

EALT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer −5 to −15; cap +7.0%; Between buffer and cap.

These are two different products. EALT 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.

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

Where each one stands today

DDTJ resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; EALT runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. DDTJ can still gain 3.3% before its cap, EALT 7.0%. A fall from here reaches DDTJ’s buffer after 8.5% and EALT’s after 5.0%. 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

	Total return		Gap to the reference
Window	DDTJ	EALT	DDTJ	EALT
3 months	+2.7%	+2.1%	+0.2 pts	−0.4 pts
6 months	+10.4%	+8.3%	−6.5 pts	−8.7 pts
1 year	not published	+5.8%	not published	−9.9 pts

DDTJ and EALT over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

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

EALT

Innovator U.S. Equity 5 to 15 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 15.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 7.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

Issuer Innovator Innovator

Reference index SPY SPY

Buffer 10% 5% to 15%

Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026

Days left 92 92

Starting cap +12.8% +7.0%

Can still gain 3.3% 7.0%

Fall before buffer 8.5% 5.0%

Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 10.0% of 10.0%

Index return this period +11.8% 0.0%

Fund return this period +8.6% 0.0%

State today Open Open

Expense ratio 0.79% 0.69%

Net assets $18m $181m

DDTJ and EALT on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

DDTJ in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.6% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

EALT in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 5.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDTJ or EALT?: From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, DDTJ can gain about 3.3% before its cap and EALT about 7.0%, so EALT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDTJ or EALT?: DDTJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and EALT on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDTJ or EALT?: DDTJ charges 0.79% a year and EALT charges 0.69%, so EALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

DDTJ vs SIXJ DDTJ vs SQMX DDTJ vs TJAN DDTJ vs UJAN EALT vs DSEP EALT vs FSEP EALT vs GSEP EALT vs JANU

SPY →DDTJ on its own →EALT on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →

Where these figures came from

DDTJ and EALT filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for DDTJ ↗Innovator page for EALT ↗

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, DDTJ against EALT, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddtj-vs-ealt

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.