Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DLMY vs MAYM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DLMY can fall 4.5% before its buffer engages and MAYM 2.6%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $12m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - May and $39m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May.

At a glance
4.5%
DLMY can fall this far before its buffer
2.6%
MAYM can fall this far before its buffer
9.0%
DLMY can still gain
4.3%
MAYM can still gain
DLMY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDLMY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+3.7%+10.4% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+14.1% capTODAY · SPY +3.7%Between buffer and capDLMY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−10.0% floor0% start+14.1% cap10 pts of buffer+3.7% gain captured+10.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

DLMY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DLMY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
MAYM Full floor
Full floorMAYM: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +1.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+3.7%full floor0% period start+7.0% cap+3.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%Full floorMAYM: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +1.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.0% cap+3.7% gain captured+3.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

MAYM: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +1.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; MAYM is 3.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DLMY vs MAYM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDLMYMAYM
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+4.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer3.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$12m$39m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DLMY vs MAYM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDLMYMAYMDLMYMAYM
3 months+0.8%+0.8%+1.2 pts+1.1 pts
6 months–+1.9%–−2.6 pts
1 year–+4.8%–−8.8 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DLMY May 2026 · MAYM May 2025+3.6%+8.0%−0.2 pts−20.9 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

DLMY FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.1%, over a period ending May 21, 2027 MAYM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.0%, over a period ending May 21, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 100%
Outcome period May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027 May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027
Days left 198 198
Starting cap +14.1% +7.0%
Can still gain 9.0% 4.3%
Fall before buffer 4.5% 2.6%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +3.7% +3.7%
Fund return this period +3.9% +1.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $12m $39m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

DLMY resets first, on May 21, 2027, 198 days from now; MAYM runs to May 21, 2027, 198 days. DLMY can still gain 9.0% before its cap, MAYM 4.3%. A fall from here reaches DLMY’s buffer after 4.5% and MAYM’s after 2.6%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DLMY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 4.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.6% 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. 198 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On May 21, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

MAYM

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DLMY or MAYM?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DLMY can gain about 9.0% before its cap and MAYM about 4.3%, so DLMY has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DLMY or MAYM?
DLMY ends its outcome period on May 21, 2027 and MAYM on May 21, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DLMY or MAYM?
DLMY and MAYM both charge 0.85% a year, so neither 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.

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ETFIQ, DLMY against MAYM, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/dlmy-vs-maym

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