Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DLNV vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DLNV can fall 11.8% before its buffer engages and ZDEK 6.0%, and DLNV resets 10 days sooner.

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Net assets: $20m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - November, and $105m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December.

At a glance
11.8%
DLNV can fall this far before its buffer
6.0%
ZDEK can fall this far before its buffer
0.6%
DLNV can still gain
0.5%
ZDEK can still gain
DLNV At its cap
At its capDLNV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+14% gain captured−10.0% floor0% period start+14.0% capTODAY · SPY +16.3%At its capDLNV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.+14%−10.0% floor0% start+14.0% cap10 pts of bufferTODAY · SPY +16.3%

DLNV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DLNV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZDEK At its cap
At its capZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.8%full floor0% period start+6.8% capTODAY · SPY +12.2%At its capZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.8% cap+6.8% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.2%

ZDEK: reference +12.2% since period start, fund +5.5%; buffer Floor; cap +6.8%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

ZDEK costs 0.06 points a year less; ZDEK is 5.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DLNV vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDLNVZDEK
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer14.0%10.8%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.79%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$20m$104m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DLNV vs ZDEK: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDLNVZDEKDLNVZDEK
3 months+2.0%+1.4%+2.4 pts+1.8 pts
6 months+5.1%+3.0%+0.6 pts−1.5 pts
1 year–+6.4%–−7.2 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DLNV Nov 2025 · ZDEK Dec 2024+11.3%+12.8%−3.3 pts−14.2 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

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 ZDEK Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.8%, over a period ending Nov 30, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 100%
Outcome period Nov 24, 2025 to Nov 20, 2026 Nov 30, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026
Days left 16 26
Starting cap +14.0% +6.8%
Can still gain 0.6% 0.5%
Fall before buffer 11.8% 6.0%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +16.3% +12.2%
Fund return this period +12.5% +5.5%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.79%
Net assets, DLNV as of Nov 3, 2026 and ZDEK as of Nov 4, 2026 $20m $105m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

DLNV resets first, on Nov 20, 2026, 16 days from now; ZDEK runs to Nov 30, 2026, 26 days. DLNV can still gain 0.6% before its cap, ZDEK 0.5%. A fall from here reaches DLNV’s buffer after 11.8% and ZDEK’s after 6.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DLNV

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +14.0% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 11.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 14.0% 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. 16 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Nov 20, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZDEK

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.8% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 0.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 6.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.8% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 26 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DLNV or ZDEK?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DLNV can gain about 0.6% before its cap and ZDEK about 0.5%, so DLNV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DLNV or ZDEK?
DLNV ends its outcome period on Nov 20, 2026 and ZDEK on Nov 30, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DLNV or ZDEK?
DLNV charges 0.85% a year and ZDEK charges 0.79%, so ZDEK 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, DLNV against ZDEK, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/dlnv-vs-zdek

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