Data as of .
DECU vs DLNV: which one stands where?
As of Sep 21, 2026 DLNV can fall 11.0% before its buffer engages and DECU 9.2%, and DLNV resets 11 days sooner.
These are two different products. DLNV is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. DECU 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
DLNV resets first, on Nov 20, 2026, 60 days from now; DECU runs to Nov 30, 2026, 71 days. A fall from here reaches DECU’s buffer after 9.2% and DLNV’s after 11.0%. 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
| Window | Total return | Gap to the reference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DECU | DLNV | DECU | DLNV | |
| 3 months | +0.8% | +2.5% | −1.5 pts | +0.2 pts |
| 6 months | +11.0% | +10.6% | −7.0 pts | −7.4 pts |
| 1 year | +10.3% | not published | −6.3 pts | not published |
| DECU AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Dec Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and does not cap the gain, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026 | DLNV FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - November Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.0%, over a period ending Nov 20, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | AllianzIM | First Trust |
| Reference index | SPY | SPY |
| Buffer | 15% | 10% |
| Outcome period | Dec 1, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026 | Nov 24, 2025 to Nov 20, 2026 |
| Days left | 71 | 60 |
| Starting cap | uncapped | +14.0% |
| Can still gain | uncapped | 1.5% |
| Fall before buffer | 9.2% | 11.0% |
| Protection left, index points | 15.0% of 15.0% | 10.0% of 10.0% |
| Index return this period | +13.3% | +17.4% |
| Fund return this period | +9.2% | +11.5% |
| State today | Uncapped | At cap |
| Expense ratio | 0.74% | 0.85% |
| Net assets | $52m | $20m |
DECU in plain words
This fund has no cap. It takes a share of any further rise in SPY. The fund's price can fall 9.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 71 days remained on Sep 21, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.
DLNV in plain words
SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +14.0% for the period on Sep 21, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 11.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 14.8% 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. 60 days remained on Sep 21, 2026. On Nov 20, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Which resets first, DECU or DLNV?
- DECU ends its outcome period on Nov 30, 2026 and DLNV on Nov 20, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
- Which is cheaper, DECU or DLNV?
- DECU charges 0.74% a year and DLNV charges 0.85%, so DECU is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, DECU against DLNV, data as of Sep 21, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/decu-vs-dlnv Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.