Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DDTO vs FSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 FSEP can fall 1.5% before its buffer engages and DDTO 0.7%, and FSEP resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets: $38m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Oct, and $1.4bn on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September.

At a glance
0.7%
DDTO can fall this far before its buffer
1.5%
FSEP can fall this far before its buffer
14.1%
DDTO can still gain
15.1%
FSEP can still gain
DDTO Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDDTO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+14.3% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+14.8% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capDDTO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+14.3% to cap−10.0% floor0% start+14.8% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%

DDTO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DDTO: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
FSEP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capFSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +16.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+16% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+16.7% cap+0.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capFSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +16.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+16% to cap−10.0% floor0% start+16.7% cap+0.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.7%

FSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +16.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

DDTO costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.2 points; FSEP is far larger, $1.4bn against $37m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DDTO vs FSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDDTOFSEP
Return
Total return, 1 year+12.0%+13.2%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%0.7%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$37m$1.4bn
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DDTO vs FSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDDTOFSEPDDTOFSEP
3 months+2.0%+2.2%+2.4 pts+2.6 pts
6 months+5.3%+6.1%+0.8 pts+1.6 pts
1 year+12.0%+13.2%−1.6 pts−0.4 pts
3 years–+52.7%–−23.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DDTO Oct 2025 · FSEP Sep 2020+12.0%+94.7%−2.7 pts−39.8 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

DDTO Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.8%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027 FSEP FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.7%, over a period ending Sep 17, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 10%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Sep 21, 2026 to Sep 17, 2027
Days left 330 317
Starting cap +14.8% +16.7%
Can still gain 14.1% 15.1%
Fall before buffer 0.7% 1.5%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.7%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, DDTO as of Nov 4, 2026 and FSEP as of Nov 3, 2026 $38m $1.4bn

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. FSEP is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DDTO 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

FSEP resets first, on Sep 17, 2027, 317 days from now; DDTO runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DDTO can still gain 14.1% before its cap, FSEP 15.1%. A fall from here reaches DDTO’s buffer after 0.7% and FSEP’s after 1.5%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DDTO

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.7% 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: 10.0% of the 10.0% 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.

FSEP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 15.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. 317 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DDTO or FSEP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DDTO can gain about 14.1% before its cap and FSEP about 15.1%, so FSEP has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DDTO or FSEP?
DDTO ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and FSEP on Sep 17, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DDTO or FSEP?
DDTO charges 0.79% a year and FSEP charges 0.85%, so DDTO is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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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, DDTO against FSEP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ddto-vs-fsep

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