Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DNOV vs XNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DNOV can fall 15.6% before its buffer engages and XNOV 9.9%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $410m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November and $25m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - November.

At a glance
15.6%
DNOV can fall this far before its buffer
9.9%
XNOV can fall this far before its buffer
0.5%
DNOV can still gain
0.2%
XNOV can still gain
DNOV At its cap
At its capDNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +11.6%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+12.9% gain captured−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+12.9% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +16.3%At its capDNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +11.6%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+12.9%−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+12.9% capfirst 5 pts are yours to loseTODAY · SPY +16.3%

DNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +11.6%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +11.6%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +12.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XNOV At its cap
At its capXNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11.1% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+11.1% capTODAY · SPY +16.3%At its capXNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts+11.1%−15.0% floor0% start+11.1% capTODAY · SPY +16.3%

XNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XNOV: reference +16.3% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; their one-year returns differ by 1.9 points; DNOV is 16.4 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DNOV vs XNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDNOVXNOV
Return
Total return, 1 year+12.2%+10.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer18.3%14.0%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$410m$25m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DNOV vs XNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDNOVXNOVDNOVXNOV
3 months+2.1%+1.7%+2.5 pts+2.1 pts
6 months+5.0%+4.2%+0.5 pts−0.3 pts
1 year+12.2%+10.3%−1.4 pts−3.3 pts
3 years+47.4%–−29.0 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DNOV Nov 2019 · XNOV Nov 2023+74.1%+32.5%−71.6 pts−36.4 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

DNOV FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 12.9%, over a period ending Nov 20, 2026 XNOV FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - November · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.1%, over a period ending Nov 20, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 30% 15%
Outcome period Nov 24, 2025 to Nov 20, 2026 Nov 24, 2025 to Nov 20, 2026
Days left 16 16
Starting cap +12.9% +11.1%
Can still gain 0.5% 0.2%
Fall before buffer 15.6% 9.9%
Protection left, index points 25.0% of 25.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +16.3% +16.3%
Fund return this period +11.6% +10.0%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $410m $25m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

DNOV resets first, on Nov 20, 2026, 16 days from now; XNOV runs to Nov 20, 2026, 16 days. DNOV can still gain 0.5% before its cap, XNOV 0.2%. A fall from here reaches DNOV’s buffer after 15.6% and XNOV’s after 9.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DNOV

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +12.9% 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 15.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 18.3% 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. 16 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Nov 20, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XNOV

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +11.1% 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 0.2% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 9.9% 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: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DNOV or XNOV?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DNOV can gain about 0.5% before its cap and XNOV about 0.2%, so DNOV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DNOV or XNOV?
DNOV ends its outcome period on Nov 20, 2026 and XNOV on Nov 20, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DNOV or XNOV?
DNOV and XNOV 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, DNOV against XNOV, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/dnov-vs-xnov

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