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Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DJUL can fall 8.0% before its buffer engages and XJUL 3.6%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $491m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July and $42m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July.

DJUL on its own →XJUL on its own →
At a glance
8.0%
DJUL can fall this far before its buffer
3.6%
XJUL can fall this far before its buffer
10.2%
DJUL can still gain
7.5%
XJUL can still gain
DJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+3.1%+10.4% to cap−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+13.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +3.1%Between buffer and capDJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+13.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+3.1% gain captured+10.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

DJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +13.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+3.1%+8.3% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.4% capTODAY · SPY +3.1%Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.4% cap+3.1% gain captured+8.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

XJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; their one-year returns differ by 0.7 points; DJUL is 11.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDJULXJUL
Return
Total return, 1 year+9.8%+9.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer7.9%3.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$491m$42m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDJULXJULDJULXJUL
3 months+0.6%+1.3%+1.0 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+4.3%+4.3%−0.2 pts−0.2 pts
1 year+9.8%+9.1%−3.8 pts−4.5 pts
3 years+50.1%+37.3%−26.3 pts−39.1 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DJUL Jul 2020 · XJUL Jul 2023+69.5%+36.2%−66.9 pts−32.7 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

DJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 13.6%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027 XJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.4%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027
Issuer First Trust First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 30% 15%
Outcome period Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027 Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027
Days left 254 254
Starting cap +13.6% +11.4%
Can still gain 10.2% 7.5%
Fall before buffer 8.0% 3.6%
Protection left, index points 25.0% of 25.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +3.1% +3.1%
Fund return this period +2.3% +2.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $491m $42m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

DJUL resets first, on Jul 16, 2027, 254 days from now; XJUL runs to Jul 16, 2027, 254 days. DJUL can still gain 10.2% before its cap, XJUL 7.5%. A fall from here reaches DJUL’s buffer after 8.0% and XJUL’s after 3.6%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DJUL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.2% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 7.9% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 25.0% of the 25.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 254 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jul 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XJUL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.1% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DJUL or XJUL?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DJUL can gain about 10.2% before its cap and XJUL about 7.5%, so DJUL has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DJUL or XJUL?
DJUL ends its outcome period on Jul 16, 2027 and XJUL on Jul 16, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DJUL or XJUL?
DJUL and XJUL both charge 0.85% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
DJUL vs PBAUDJUL vs AUGPDJUL vs JULMDJUL vs AUGUXJUL vs GJULXJUL vs PAUGXJUL vs FJULXJUL vs ZAUG
Where to next
State Street® SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust →All buffer ETFs ranked by the Downside Cover Score →How the scores are computed →DJUL on its own →XJUL on its own →Method →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
DJUL and XJUL filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
First Trust page for DJUL ↗
First Trust page for XJUL ↗

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, DJUL against XJUL, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/djul-vs-xjul

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