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Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DOCT vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DOCT can fall 6.2% before its buffer engages and XOCT 1.3%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $421m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October and $38m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October.

DOCT on its own →XOCT on its own →
At a glance
6.2%
DOCT can fall this far before its buffer
1.3%
XOCT can fall this far before its buffer
12.9%
DOCT can still gain
10.1%
XOCT can still gain
DOCT Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+13.7% more to the cap−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+14.2% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capDOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+14.2% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain captured+13.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

DOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.3%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XOCT Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.5% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capXOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.5% cap+0.5% gain captured+11% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

XOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; their one-year returns differ by 1.1 points; DOCT is 11.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DOCT vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDOCTXOCT
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.6%+9.5%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer5.4%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$421m$38m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DOCT vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDOCTXOCTDOCTXOCT
3 months+2.1%+1.9%+2.5 pts+2.3 pts
6 months+5.2%+4.4%+0.7 pts−0.1 pts
1 year+10.6%+9.5%−2.9 pts−4.0 pts
3 years+39.2%+31.7%−37.2 pts−44.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: DOCT Aug 2020 · XOCT Oct 2023+284.8%+34.4%+157.9 pts−47.9 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

DOCT FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 14.2%, over a period ending Oct 15, 2027 XOCT FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.5%, over a period ending Oct 15, 2027
Issuer First Trust First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 30% 15%
Outcome period Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 15, 2027 Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 15, 2027
Days left 345 345
Starting cap +14.2% +11.5%
Can still gain 12.9% 10.1%
Fall before buffer 6.2% 1.3%
Protection left, index points 25.0% of 25.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.3% +0.5%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $421m $38m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

DOCT resets first, on Oct 15, 2027, 345 days from now; XOCT runs to Oct 15, 2027, 345 days. DOCT can still gain 12.9% before its cap, XOCT 10.1%. A fall from here reaches DOCT’s buffer after 6.2% and XOCT’s after 1.3%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 12.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 6.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 5.4% 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. 345 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 15, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% 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, DOCT or XOCT?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DOCT can gain about 12.9% before its cap and XOCT about 10.1%, so DOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DOCT or XOCT?
DOCT ends its outcome period on Oct 15, 2027 and XOCT on Oct 15, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DOCT or XOCT?
DOCT and XOCT both charge 0.85% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
DOCT vs CPSNDOCT vs PBNVDOCT vs OCTMDOCT vs NVBUXOCT vs FOCTXOCT vs GOCTXOCT vs PNOVXOCT vs ZNOV
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 →DOCT on its own →XOCT on its own →Method →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
DOCT and XOCT filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
First Trust page for DOCT ↗
First Trust page for XOCT ↗

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, DOCT against XOCT, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/doct-vs-xoct

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