Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

GJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XJUL can fall 3.6% before its buffer engages and GJUL 3.4%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $408m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July and $42m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July.

At a glance
3.4%
GJUL can fall this far before its buffer
3.6%
XJUL can fall this far before its buffer
10.1%
GJUL can still gain
7.5%
XJUL can still gain
GJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capGJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+3.1%+10.7% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+13.8% capTODAY · SPY +3.1%Between buffer and capGJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+13.8% cap+3.1% gain captured+10.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

GJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

GJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+3.1%+8.3% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.4% capTODAY · SPY +3.1%Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.4% cap+3.1% gain captured+8.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

XJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; their one-year returns differ by 1.1 points; GJUL is 9.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

GJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureGJULXJUL
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.2%+9.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer3.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$408m$42m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: GJUL vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowGJULXJULGJULXJUL
3 months+0.7%+1.3%+1.1 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+4.6%+4.3%+0.1 pts−0.2 pts
1 year+10.2%+9.1%−3.4 pts−4.5 pts
3 years+47.9%+37.3%−28.5 pts−39.1 pts
Since launchGJUL Jul 2023 · XJUL Jul 2023+45.0%+36.2%−23.8 pts−32.7 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

GJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 13.8%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027 XJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.4%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027 Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027
Days left 254 254
Starting cap +13.8% +11.4%
Can still gain 10.1% 7.5%
Fall before buffer 3.4% 3.6%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +3.1% +3.1%
Fund return this period +2.6% +2.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $408m $42m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Both are First Trust funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

GJUL resets first, on Jul 16, 2027, 254 days from now; XJUL runs to Jul 16, 2027, 254 days. GJUL can still gain 10.1% before its cap, XJUL 7.5%. A fall from here reaches GJUL’s buffer after 3.4% and XJUL’s after 3.6%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
GJUL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.1% 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. 254 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jul 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XJUL

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 3.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, GJUL or XJUL?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, GJUL can gain about 10.1% before its cap and XJUL about 7.5%, so GJUL has more room left this period.
Which resets first, GJUL or XJUL?
GJUL ends its outcome period on Jul 16, 2027 and XJUL on Jul 16, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, GJUL or XJUL?
GJUL and XJUL both charge 0.85% a year, so neither 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, GJUL against XJUL, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/gjul-vs-xjul

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