Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

GSEP vs PMOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 GSEP can fall 1.7% before its buffer engages and PMOC 1.2%, and GSEP resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets: $366m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September, and $7.2m on Nov 4, 2026 for PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - October.

At a glance
1.7%
GSEP can fall this far before its buffer
1.2%
PMOC can fall this far before its buffer
12.3%
GSEP can still gain
7.5%
PMOC can still gain
GSEP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capGSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+13.4% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+14.1% cap+0.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capGSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+14.1% cap+0.7% gain captured+13.4% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%

GSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

GSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
PMOC Full floor
Full floorPMOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+8.1% to capfull floor0% period start+8.7% cap+0.6% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.6%Full floorPMOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+8.7% cap+0.6% gain captured+8.1% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PMOC: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PMOC costs 0.35 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.5 points; GSEP is far larger, $366m against $7.2m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

GSEP vs PMOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureGSEPPMOC
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.9%+6.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.6%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.50%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$366m$7.2m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: GSEP vs PMOC: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowGSEPPMOCGSEPPMOC
3 months+1.9%+1.6%+2.3 pts+1.9 pts
6 months+4.9%+3.3%+0.4 pts−1.2 pts
1 year+10.9%+6.4%−2.7 pts−7.1 pts
3 years+41.6%–−34.8 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: GSEP Sep 2023 · PMOC Oct 2025+40.3%+6.5%−32.6 pts−8.2 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

GSEP FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September · Absorbs the first 0% to 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.1%, over a period ending Sep 17, 2027 PMOC PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - October · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.7%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 0% to 15% 100%
Outcome period Sep 21, 2026 to Sep 17, 2027 Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 317 330
Starting cap +14.1% +8.7%
Can still gain 12.3% 7.5%
Fall before buffer 1.7% 1.2%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +0.7% +0.6%
Fund return this period +0.8% +0.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.50%
Net assets, GSEP as of Nov 3, 2026 and PMOC as of Nov 4, 2026 $366m $7.2m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

GSEP resets first, on Sep 17, 2027, 317 days from now; PMOC runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. GSEP can still gain 12.3% before its cap, PMOC 7.5%. A fall from here reaches GSEP’s buffer after 1.7% and PMOC’s after 1.2%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
GSEP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 12.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.6% 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. 317 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

PMOC

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 1.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% 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. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, GSEP or PMOC?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, GSEP can gain about 12.3% before its cap and PMOC about 7.5%, so GSEP has more room left this period.
Which resets first, GSEP or PMOC?
GSEP ends its outcome period on Sep 17, 2027 and PMOC on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, GSEP or PMOC?
GSEP charges 0.85% a year and PMOC charges 0.50%, so PMOC 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, GSEP against PMOC, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/gsep-vs-pmoc

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