Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

FLJJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 FLJJ can fall 7.4% before its buffer engages and SQMX 1.0%, and SQMX resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $8.5m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity 6 Month Floor5 Jan/Jul ETF - Jan and $55m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF.

At a glance
7.4%
FLJJ can fall this far before its buffer
1.0%
SQMX can fall this far before its buffer
4.4%
FLJJ can still gain
2.0%
SQMX can still gain
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.
SQMX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12.5 pts of buffer−12.5% floor0% period start+3.0% cap+0.7% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capSQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−12.5% floor0% start+3.0% cap12.5 pts of buffer+0.7% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%

SQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

FLJJ costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 3.1 points; SQMX is 6.5 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

FLJJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureFLJJSQMX
Return
Total return, 1 year+9.9%+6.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer7.5%0.7%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.74%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$8.5m$55m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: FLJJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowFLJJSQMXFLJJSQMX
3 months+0.5%+1.2%+0.9 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+4.0%+3.3%−0.5 pts−1.2 pts
1 year+9.9%+6.8%−3.6 pts−6.8 pts
Since launchNot the same days: FLJJ Feb 2024 · SQMX Dec 2024+37.2%+13.7%−19.6 pts−15.2 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

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 SQMX FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 100% 12%
Outcome period Jul 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 57 44
Starting cap +7.0% +3.0%
Can still gain 4.4% 2.0%
Fall before buffer 7.4% 1.0%
Protection left, index points 95.0% of 95.0% 12.5% of 12.5%
Index return this period +2.7% +0.7%
Fund return this period +2.1% +0.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $8.5m $55m

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. SQMX 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

SQMX resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 44 days from now; FLJJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. FLJJ can still gain 4.4% before its cap, SQMX 2.0%. A fall from here reaches FLJJ’s buffer after 7.4% and SQMX’s after 1.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
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.

SQMX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 12.5% of the 12.5% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, FLJJ or SQMX?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, FLJJ can gain about 4.4% before its cap and SQMX about 2.0%, so FLJJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, FLJJ or SQMX?
FLJJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and SQMX on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, FLJJ or SQMX?
FLJJ charges 0.74% a year and SQMX charges 0.85%, so FLJJ 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

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

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