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IBUF vs YDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 YDEC can fall 7.3% before its buffer engages and IBUF 0.0%, and YDEC resets 13 days sooner. Innovator International Developed 10 Buffer ETF™ - Quarterly and FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December.

0.0%
IBUF can fall this far before its buffer
7.3%
YDEC can fall this far before its buffer
4.0%
IBUF can still gain
4.9%
YDEC can still gain
IBUFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capIBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer+4% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+4.0% capTODAY · EFA 0.0%Between buffer and capIBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+4.0% capTODAY · EFA 0.0%

IBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.

YDECBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capYDEC: reference +8.8% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.0%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.8% gain captured+4.2% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+13.0% capTODAY · EFA +8.8%Between buffer and capYDEC: reference +8.8% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.0%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.8%−15.0% floor0% start+13.0% capTODAY · EFA +8.8%

YDEC: reference +8.8% since period start, fund +6.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.0%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · YDEC scores higherIf the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
0.2, the lowest in this set99.8, the highest

A percentile among the 293 buffer ETFs with a live outcome period. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All buffer ETFs ranked by it → How it is computed →

Where each one stands today

YDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; IBUF runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. IBUF can still gain 4.0% before its cap, YDEC 4.9%. A fall from here reaches IBUF’s buffer after 0.0% and YDEC’s after 7.3%. Both track EFA, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowIBUFYDECIBUFYDEC
3 months−0.1%+1.4%−0.9 pts+0.5 pts
6 months+5.5%+5.0%−1.6 pts−2.0 pts
1 year+10.2%+8.5%−4.9 pts−6.6 pts
3 yearsnot published+32.7%not published−33.0 pts

IBUF and YDEC over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

IBUF
Innovator International Developed 10 Buffer ETF™ - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on EFA and caps the gain at 4.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
YDEC
FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on EFA and caps the gain at 13.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer Innovator First Trust
Reference index EFA EFA
Buffer 10% 15%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 92 79
Starting cap +4.0% +13.0%
Can still gain 4.0% 4.9%
Fall before buffer 0.0% 7.3%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +8.8%
Fund return this period 0.0% +6.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.90%
Net assets $114m $166m

IBUF and YDEC on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

IBUF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.0% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

YDEC in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 7.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EFA can fall 8.1% 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 EFA level. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, IBUF or YDEC?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, IBUF can gain about 4.0% before its cap and YDEC about 4.9%, so YDEC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, IBUF or YDEC?
IBUF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and YDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, IBUF or YDEC?
IBUF charges 0.85% a year and YDEC charges 0.90%, so IBUF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
IBUF vs QBIVIBUF vs YSEPIBUF vs IJANIBUF vs IOCTYDEC vs IJANYDEC vs JANIYDEC vs QBIFYDEC vs QBIV
EFA →IBUF on its own →YDEC on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
IBUF filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for IBUF ↗YDEC filings on SEC EDGAR ↗First Trust page for YDEC ↗

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, IBUF against YDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ibuf-vs-ydec

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.