Which has more room to gain, EALT or XBJA?

From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, EALT can gain about 7.0% before its cap and XBJA about 2.6%, so EALT has more room left this period.

Which resets first, EALT or XBJA?

EALT ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and XBJA on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.

Which is cheaper, EALT or XBJA?

EALT charges 0.69% a year and XBJA charges 0.79%, so EALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

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EALT vs XBJA: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 XBJA can fall 8.4% before its buffer engages and EALT 5.0%. Innovator U.S. Equity 5 to 15 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Jan.

5.0%

EALT can fall this far before its buffer

8.4%

XBJA can fall this far before its buffer

7.0%

EALT can still gain

2.6%

XBJA can still gain

EALTBetween buffer and cap

EALT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer −5 to −15; cap +7.0%; Between buffer and cap.

XBJABetween buffer and cap

XBJA: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +11.9%; Between buffer and cap.

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

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

Where each one stands today

EALT resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; XBJA runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. EALT can still gain 7.0% before its cap, XBJA 2.6%. A fall from here reaches EALT’s buffer after 5.0% and XBJA’s after 8.4%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

	Total return		Gap to the reference
Window	EALT	XBJA	EALT	XBJA
3 months	+2.1%	+2.7%	−0.4 pts	+0.2 pts
6 months	+8.3%	+10.2%	−8.7 pts	−6.8 pts
1 year	+5.8%	+10.9%	−9.9 pts	−4.8 pts
3 years	not published	+40.1%	not published	−44.9 pts

EALT and XBJA over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

EALT

Innovator U.S. Equity 5 to 15 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 15.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 7.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

XBJA

Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

Issuer Innovator Innovator

Reference index SPY SPY

Buffer 5% to 15% 9%

Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026

Days left 92 92

Starting cap +7.0% +11.9%

Can still gain 7.0% 2.6%

Fall before buffer 5.0% 8.4%

Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 9.0% of 9.0%

Index return this period 0.0% +11.8%

Fund return this period 0.0% +8.5%

State today Open Open

Expense ratio 0.69% 0.79%

Net assets $181m $94m

EALT and XBJA on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

EALT in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 5.0% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XBJA in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.6% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.6% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 9.0% of the 9.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, EALT or XBJA?: From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, EALT can gain about 7.0% before its cap and XBJA about 2.6%, so EALT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, EALT or XBJA?: EALT ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and XBJA on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, EALT or XBJA?: EALT charges 0.69% a year and XBJA charges 0.79%, so EALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

EALT vs UJAN EALT vs XSEP EALT vs ZALT EALT vs ZJAN XBJA vs XDEC XBJA vs ZALT XBJA vs ZJAN XBJA vs AIOO

SPY →EALT on its own →XBJA on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →

Where these figures came from

EALT and XBJA filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for EALT ↗Innovator page for XBJA ↗

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, EALT against XBJA, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ealt-vs-xbja

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.