Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

DSEP vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 DSEP can fall 6.5% before its buffer engages and OCTP 1.1%, and DSEP resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets: $429m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September, and $52m on Nov 4, 2026 for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - October.

At a glance
6.5%
DSEP can fall this far before its buffer
1.1%
OCTP can fall this far before its buffer
12.9%
DSEP can still gain
15.1%
OCTP can still gain
DSEP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capDSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer+13.9% more to the cap−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+14.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capDSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.25 pts of buffer−30.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+14.6% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.7% gain captured+13.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%

DSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

DSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −30; cap +14.6%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
OCTP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capOCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12 pts of buffer+15.8% more to the cap−12.0% floor0% period start+16.3% cap+0.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capOCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12 pts−12.0% floor0% start+16.3% cap+0.6% gain captured+15.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

OCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

OCTP: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

OCTP costs 0.35 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.5 points; DSEP is 8.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

DSEP vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureDSEPOCTP
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.5%+13.0%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer5.6%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.50%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$429m$52m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published
ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · DSEP scores higher If the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
IQ Buffer Score69DSEP57.5OCTP

How much of a bear-market fall the buffer would absorb from today's level, ranked against 292 buffer ETFs on stocks with a live outcome period. 100 is best. How it is computed

0.3, the lowest in this set 99.7, the highest

Today's position against one 20% fall; it ignores smaller falls, and stock buffers are never ranked against bond or commodity ones. All buffer ETFs ranked by it →

Method

Window by window

Window by window: DSEP vs OCTP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowDSEPOCTPDSEPOCTP
3 months+1.7%+2.4%+2.1 pts+2.8 pts
6 months+5.0%+6.2%+0.5 pts+1.7 pts
1 year+10.5%+13.0%−3.1 pts−0.6 pts
3 years+42.5%–−33.9 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: DSEP Sep 2020 · OCTP May 2024+65.4%+34.7%−69.1 pts−10.1 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

DSEP FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 30.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 14.6%, over a period ending Sep 17, 2027 OCTP PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 12 ETF - October · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 16.3%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 30% 12%
Outcome period Sep 21, 2026 to Sep 17, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 317 330
Starting cap +14.6% +16.3%
Can still gain 12.9% 15.1%
Fall before buffer 6.5% 1.1%
Protection left, index points 25.0% of 25.0% 12.0% of 12.0%
Index return this period +0.7% +0.6%
Fund return this period +0.7% +0.6%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.50%
Net assets, DSEP as of Nov 3, 2026 and OCTP as of Nov 4, 2026 $429m $52m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

Where each one stands today

DSEP resets first, on Sep 17, 2027, 317 days from now; OCTP runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. DSEP can still gain 12.9% before its cap, OCTP 15.1%. A fall from here reaches DSEP’s buffer after 6.5% and OCTP’s after 1.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
DSEP

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 6.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 5.6% 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. 317 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

OCTP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 15.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.1% 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: 12.0% of the 12.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, DSEP or OCTP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, DSEP can gain about 12.9% before its cap and OCTP about 15.1%, so OCTP has more room left this period.
Which resets first, DSEP or OCTP?
DSEP ends its outcome period on Sep 17, 2027 and OCTP on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, DSEP or OCTP?
DSEP charges 0.85% a year and OCTP charges 0.50%, so OCTP is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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Sources and dates

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

How this is computed

It is a place in a set, not a rating or a recommendation.

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, DSEP against OCTP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/dsep-vs-octp

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