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EBUF vs TDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 TDEC can fall 13.7% before its buffer engages and EBUF 0.0%, and TDEC resets 13 days sooner. Innovator Emerging Markets 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly and FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December.

0.0%
EBUF can fall this far before its buffer
13.7%
TDEC can fall this far before its buffer
5.9%
EBUF can still gain
3.5%
TDEC can still gain
EBUFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capEBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +5.9%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer+5.9% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+5.9% capTODAY · EEM 0.0%Between buffer and capEBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +5.9%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+5.9% capTODAY · EEM 0.0%

EBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +5.9%; Between buffer and cap.

TDECAt its cap
At its capTDEC: reference +24.3% since period start, fund +14.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +19.8%; At its cap.10 pts of buffer+19.8% gain captured−10.0% floor0% period start+19.8% capTODAY · EEM +24.3%At its capTDEC: reference +24.3% since period start, fund +14.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +19.8%; At its cap.10 pts+19.8% gained−10.0% floor0% start+19.8% capTODAY · EEM +24.3%

TDEC: reference +24.3% since period start, fund +14.8%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +19.8%; At its cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · EBUF scores higherIf the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
0.2, the lowest in this set99.8, the highest

A percentile among the 293 buffer ETFs with a live outcome period. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All buffer ETFs ranked by it → How it is computed →

TDEC is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

TDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; EBUF runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. EBUF can still gain 5.9% before its cap, TDEC 3.5%. A fall from here reaches EBUF’s buffer after 0.0% and TDEC’s after 13.7%. Both track EEM, 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 returnGap to the reference
WindowEBUFTDECEBUFTDEC
3 months+1.0%+4.8%+0.5 pts+4.4 pts
6 months+6.7%+11.6%−10.6 pts−5.7 pts
1 year+12.8%+17.0%−14.7 pts−10.5 pts

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

On the same fields

EBUF
Innovator Emerging Markets 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on EEM and caps the gain at 5.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
TDEC
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on EEM and caps the gain at 19.8%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer Innovator First Trust
Reference index EEM EEM
Buffer 10% 10%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 92 79
Starting cap +5.9% +19.8%
Can still gain 5.9% 3.5%
Fall before buffer 0.0% 13.7%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +24.3%
Fund return this period 0.0% +14.8%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.89% 0.95%
Net assets $40m $16m

EBUF and TDEC on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

EBUF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.9% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EEM level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

TDEC in plain words

EEM had already risen past this fund's cap of +19.8% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 3.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EEM can fall 19.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, EBUF or TDEC?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, EBUF can gain about 5.9% before its cap and TDEC about 3.5%, so EBUF has more room left this period.
Which resets first, EBUF or TDEC?
EBUF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and TDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, EBUF or TDEC?
EBUF charges 0.89% a year and TDEC charges 0.95%, so EBUF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
EBUF vs EJANEBUF vs EOCTEBUF vs TSEPTDEC vs EJAN
EEM →EBUF on its own →TDEC on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
EBUF filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for EBUF ↗TDEC filings on SEC EDGAR ↗First Trust page for TDEC ↗

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, EBUF against TDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ebuf-vs-tdec

Open data

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