Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

vsOpen in the appCompare their flowsaskIQ about these two fundsAsk the committee about these two funds
Buffer ETFs

GJAN vs ZFEB: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

Share
Share on XDownload as PDF

As of Nov 4, 2026 GJAN can fall 8.1% before its buffer engages and ZFEB 4.3%, and GJAN resets 16 days sooner.

askIQ about this page

askIQ about GJAN and ZFEB

Net assets: $433m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January, and $146m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr February.

At a glance
8.1%
GJAN can fall this far before its buffer
4.3%
ZFEB can fall this far before its buffer
2.8%
GJAN can still gain
1.8%
ZFEB can still gain
GJAN Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capGJAN: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +7.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+10.8% gained−15.0% floor0% period start+11.8% cap+1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +10.8%Between buffer and capGJAN: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +7.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.8% cap+10.8% gain captured+1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +10.8%

GJAN: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +7.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

GJAN: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +7.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZFEB At its cap
At its capZFEB: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer Floor; cap +6.4%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.4%full floor0% period start+6.4% capTODAY · SPY +10.8%At its capZFEB: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer Floor; cap +6.4%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.4% cap+6.4% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +10.8%

ZFEB: reference +10.8% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer Floor; cap +6.4%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

ZFEB costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.9 points; GJAN is 3.0 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

GJAN vs ZFEB: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureGJANZFEB
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.7%+5.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer9.8%9.7%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.79%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$433m$145m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Feb 14, 2025 to Oct 30, 2026 · 89 weekly returns · each against SPY
GJAN ZFEB
Return
Total return edge GJAN +17.2% +10.0%
Annualized edge GJAN +9.7% +5.7%
Price return edge GJAN +17.2% +10.0%
Risk
Volatility edge ZFEB 7.7% 2.5%
Max drawdown edge ZFEB −9.3% −2.9%
Downside capture 50.2% 15.9%
Beta 0.49 0.16
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge GJAN 0.73 0.65
Sortino edge GJAN (slight) 1.06 0.99
Treynor 0.114 0.105
Calmar edge ZFEB 1.04 2.02
Against the benchmark
Alpha +0.3% a year −0.1% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.21 −0.10
Information ratio −0.66 −0.72
Tracking error 7.9% 12.9%
Reading

From Feb 2025 to Oct 2026, GJAN returned more: +17.2% to +10.0%. ZFEB swung less: 2.5% to 7.7%. ZFEB fell less at its worst: −2.9% to −9.3%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
Open ↓
Risk and return: GJAN vs ZFEB: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureGJANZFEBSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+17.2%+10.0%GJANPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+9.7%+5.7%GJANTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+17.2%+10.0%GJANPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility7.7%2.5%ZFEBSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation5.3%1.7%ZFEBLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−9.3%−2.9%ZFEBDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture38.4%13.9%100.0%GJANShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture50.2%15.9%100.0%ZFEBShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.490.161.00ZFEB lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.950.901.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe0.730.65GJANReturn above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino1.060.99GJAN (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1140.1050.109GJAN (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar1.042.02ZFEBAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+0.3% a year−0.1% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.21−0.10Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−2.3% to +2.9%−1.3% to +1.1%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−0.66−0.72GJAN (slight)Return against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error7.9%12.9%0.0%Not an edgeHow far weekly returns stray from the benchmark, annualized.

Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices and ETFIQ's distribution records, 89 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: GJAN vs ZFEB: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowGJANZFEBGJANZFEB
3 months+1.6%+1.1%+2.0 pts+1.5 pts
6 months+4.4%+2.4%−0.1 pts−2.1 pts
1 year+10.7%+5.8%−2.8 pts−7.7 pts
3 years+41.9%–−34.5 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: GJAN Jan 2023 · ZFEB Feb 2025+52.7%+10.7%−38.7 pts−17.5 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

GJAN FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.8%, over a period ending Jan 15, 2027 ZFEB Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr February · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.4%, over a period ending Jan 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 100%
Outcome period Jan 20, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 Jan 31, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
Days left 72 88
Starting cap +11.8% +6.4%
Can still gain 2.8% 1.8%
Fall before buffer 8.1% 4.3%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +10.8% +10.8%
Fund return this period +7.9% +3.9%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.79%
Net assets, GJAN as of Nov 3, 2026 and ZFEB as of Nov 4, 2026 $433m $146m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

GJAN resets first, on Jan 15, 2027, 72 days from now; ZFEB runs to Jan 31, 2027, 88 days. GJAN can still gain 2.8% before its cap, ZFEB 1.8%. A fall from here reaches GJAN’s buffer after 8.1% and ZFEB’s after 4.3%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

The two-page PDF for this pair is coming. Save the comparison to follow its changes. Free. It needs an email sign-in, once.

Your saved page · Privacy.

Alert

GJAN and ZFEB flows, by email on Sundays.

One-click unsubscribe. See Privacy.

About each fund
GJAN

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.8% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 9.8% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 72 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jan 15, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZFEB

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.4% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 4.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 9.7% 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. 88 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jan 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, GJAN or ZFEB?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, GJAN can gain about 2.8% before its cap and ZFEB about 1.8%, so GJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, GJAN or ZFEB?
GJAN ends its outcome period on Jan 15, 2027 and ZFEB on Jan 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, GJAN or ZFEB?
GJAN charges 0.85% a year and ZFEB charges 0.79%, so ZFEB is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where to next
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, GJAN against ZFEB, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/gjan-vs-zfeb

Open data →

Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.