Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

FAPR vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 FAPR can fall 6.7% before its buffer engages and ZMAY 3.1%, and FAPR resets 14 days sooner.

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Net assets: $1.3bn on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April, and $64m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May.

At a glance
6.7%
FAPR can fall this far before its buffer
3.1%
ZMAY can fall this far before its buffer
7.5%
FAPR can still gain
4.0%
ZMAY can still gain
FAPR Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capFAPR: reference +8.0% since period start, fund +6.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +15.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+8% gained−10.0% floor0% period start+15.2% cap+7.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +8.0%Between buffer and capFAPR: reference +8.0% since period start, fund +6.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +15.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.+8%−10.0% floor0% start+15.2% cap10 pts of buffer+7.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +8.0%

FAPR: reference +8.0% since period start, fund +6.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +15.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

FAPR: reference +8.0% since period start, fund +6.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +15.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZMAY Full floor
Full floorZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.7%full floor0% period start+7.3% cap+0.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%Full floorZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.3% cap+6.7% gain captured+0.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%

ZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

ZMAY costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 5.2 points; FAPR is far larger, $1.3bn against $64m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

FAPR vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureFAPRZMAY
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.3%+5.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer7.4%6.2%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.79%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$1.3bn$64m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: FAPR vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowFAPRZMAYFAPRZMAY
3 months+1.1%+1.0%+1.5 pts+1.3 pts
6 months+4.6%+2.2%+0.1 pts−2.3 pts
1 year+10.3%+5.1%−3.3 pts−8.5 pts
3 years+47.3%–−29.1 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: FAPR Apr 2021 · ZMAY May 2025+60.4%+8.9%−24.3 pts−28.4 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

FAPR FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.2%, over a period ending Apr 16, 2027 ZMAY Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.3%, over a period ending Apr 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 100%
Outcome period Apr 20, 2026 to Apr 16, 2027 Apr 30, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Days left 163 177
Starting cap +15.2% +7.3%
Can still gain 7.5% 4.0%
Fall before buffer 6.7% 3.1%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +8.0% +6.7%
Fund return this period +6.3% +2.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.79%
Net assets, FAPR as of Nov 3, 2026 and ZMAY as of Nov 4, 2026 $1.3bn $64m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Where each one stands today

FAPR resets first, on Apr 16, 2027, 163 days from now; ZMAY runs to Apr 30, 2027, 177 days. FAPR can still gain 7.5% before its cap, ZMAY 4.0%. A fall from here reaches FAPR’s buffer after 6.7% and ZMAY’s after 3.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
FAPR

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 6.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 7.4% 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. 163 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Apr 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 6.2% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 177 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Apr 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, FAPR or ZMAY?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, FAPR can gain about 7.5% before its cap and ZMAY about 4.0%, so FAPR has more room left this period.
Which resets first, FAPR or ZMAY?
FAPR ends its outcome period on Apr 16, 2027 and ZMAY on Apr 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, FAPR or ZMAY?
FAPR charges 0.85% a year and ZMAY charges 0.79%, so ZMAY 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, FAPR against ZMAY, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/fapr-vs-zmay

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