Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

GMAY vs XMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XMAY can fall 4.6% before its buffer engages and GMAY 4.3%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $366m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - May and $19m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - May.

At a glance
4.3%
GMAY can fall this far before its buffer
4.6%
XMAY can fall this far before its buffer
9.1%
GMAY can still gain
6.1%
XMAY can still gain
GMAY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capGMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+3.7%+10.1% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+13.8% capTODAY · SPY +3.7%Between buffer and capGMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.6%; 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+3.7% gain captured+10.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

GMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

GMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XMAY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+3.7%+7.3% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.0% capTODAY · SPY +3.7%Between buffer and capXMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.0% cap+3.7% gain captured+7.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.7%

XMAY: reference +3.7% since period start, fund +3.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.0%; 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 0.8 points; GMAY is 19.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

GMAY vs XMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureGMAYXMAY
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.8%+8.0%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer3.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$366m$19m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: GMAY vs XMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowGMAYXMAYGMAYXMAY
3 months+0.7%+1.3%+1.1 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+3.6%+3.9%−0.9 pts−0.6 pts
1 year+8.8%+8.0%−4.8 pts−5.5 pts
3 years+41.2%–−35.2 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: GMAY May 2023 · XMAY May 2024+46.1%+25.1%−37.0 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

GMAY FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 13.8%, over a period ending May 21, 2027 XMAY FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - May · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.0%, over a period ending May 21, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027 May 18, 2026 to May 21, 2027
Days left 198 198
Starting cap +13.8% +11.0%
Can still gain 9.1% 6.1%
Fall before buffer 4.3% 4.6%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +3.7% +3.7%
Fund return this period +3.6% +3.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $366m $19m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

GMAY resets first, on May 21, 2027, 198 days from now; XMAY runs to May 21, 2027, 198 days. GMAY can still gain 9.1% before its cap, XMAY 6.1%. A fall from here reaches GMAY’s buffer after 4.3% and XMAY’s after 4.6%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
GMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.1% more before it reaches its cap. 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 3.6% 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. 198 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On May 21, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 4.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, GMAY or XMAY?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, GMAY can gain about 9.1% before its cap and XMAY about 6.1%, so GMAY has more room left this period.
Which resets first, GMAY or XMAY?
GMAY ends its outcome period on May 21, 2027 and XMAY on May 21, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, GMAY or XMAY?
GMAY and XMAY 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, GMAY against XMAY, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/gmay-vs-xmay

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