Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

FDEC vs FLJJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 FDEC can fall 10.4% before its buffer engages and FLJJ 7.4%, and FDEC resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $1.3bn for FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December and $8.5m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity 6 Month Floor5 Jan/Jul ETF - Jan.

At a glance
10.4%
FDEC can fall this far before its buffer
7.4%
FLJJ can fall this far before its buffer
3.0%
FDEC can still gain
4.4%
FLJJ can still gain
FDEC Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capFDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +10.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts+12.7% gained−10.0% floor0% period start+14.8% cap+2.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.7%Between buffer and capFDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +10.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.+12.7%−10.0% floor0% start+14.8% cap10 pts of buffer+2.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +12.7%

FDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +10.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

FDEC: reference +12.7% since period start, fund +10.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +14.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
FLJJ Full floor
Full floorFLJJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.1%; buffer −5 to floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+7.0% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+2.7% gain captured+4.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.7%Full floorFLJJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.1%; buffer −5 to floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+7.0% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+2.7% gain captured+4.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.7%

FLJJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.1%; buffer −5 to floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

FLJJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.1%; buffer −5 to floor; cap +7.0%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

FLJJ costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 3.6 points; FDEC is far larger, $1.3bn against $8.5m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

FDEC vs FLJJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureFDECFLJJ
Return
Total return, 1 year+13.5%+9.9%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer11.2%7.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$1.3bn$8.5m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: FDEC vs FLJJ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowFDECFLJJFDECFLJJ
3 months+1.5%+0.5%+1.9 pts+0.9 pts
6 months+5.1%+4.0%+0.6 pts−0.5 pts
1 year+13.5%+9.9%−0.1 pts−3.6 pts
3 years+58.0%–−18.4 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: FDEC Dec 2020 · FLJJ Feb 2024+86.5%+37.2%−21.9 pts−19.6 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

FDEC FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.8%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026 FLJJ AllianzIM U.S. Equity 6 Month Floor5 Jan/Jul ETF - Jan · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 100.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 7.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 5% to 100%
Outcome period Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026 Jul 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 44 57
Starting cap +14.8% +7.0%
Can still gain 3.0% 4.4%
Fall before buffer 10.4% 7.4%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 95.0% of 95.0%
Index return this period +12.7% +2.7%
Fund return this period +10.6% +2.1%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $1.3bn $8.5m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

FDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 44 days from now; FLJJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. FDEC can still gain 3.0% before its cap, FLJJ 4.4%. A fall from here reaches FDEC’s buffer after 10.4% and FLJJ’s after 7.4%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
FDEC

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 10.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.2% 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. 44 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

FLJJ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 7.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 7.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 95.0% of the 95.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, FDEC or FLJJ?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, FDEC can gain about 3.0% before its cap and FLJJ about 4.4%, so FLJJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, FDEC or FLJJ?
FDEC ends its outcome period on Dec 18, 2026 and FLJJ on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, FDEC or FLJJ?
FDEC charges 0.85% a year and FLJJ charges 0.74%, so FLJJ 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.

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ETFIQ, FDEC against FLJJ, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/fdec-vs-fljj

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