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IJAN vs YDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 YDEC can fall 7.3% before its buffer engages and IJAN 6.5%, and YDEC resets 13 days sooner. Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Jan and FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December.

6.5%
IJAN can fall this far before its buffer
7.3%
YDEC can fall this far before its buffer
6.5%
IJAN can still gain
4.9%
YDEC can still gain
IJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capIJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.2% gain captured+5.6% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+13.8% capTODAY · EFA +8.2%Between buffer and capIJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.2%−15.0% floor0% start+13.8% capTODAY · EFA +8.2%

IJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; 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 · IJAN 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; IJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. IJAN can still gain 6.5% before its cap, YDEC 4.9%. A fall from here reaches IJAN’s buffer after 6.5% 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
WindowIJANYDECIJANYDEC
3 months+1.3%+1.4%+0.5 pts+0.5 pts
6 months+5.3%+5.0%−1.7 pts−2.0 pts
1 year+9.2%+8.5%−5.9 pts−6.6 pts
3 years+37.9%+32.7%−27.8 pts−33.0 pts

IJAN 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

IJAN
Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on EFA and caps the gain at 13.8%, 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 15% 15%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 92 79
Starting cap +13.8% +13.0%
Can still gain 6.5% 4.9%
Fall before buffer 6.5% 7.3%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +8.2% +8.8%
Fund return this period +6.2% +6.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.90%
Net assets $232m $166m

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

IJAN in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 6.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EFA can fall 7.6% 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 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. 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, IJAN or YDEC?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, IJAN can gain about 6.5% before its cap and YDEC about 4.9%, so IJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, IJAN or YDEC?
IJAN 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, IJAN or YDEC?
IJAN charges 0.85% a year and YDEC charges 0.90%, so IJAN is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
IJAN vs QBIFIJAN vs QBIVIJAN vs JANIIJAN vs IBUFYDEC vs IBUFYDEC vs QBIFYDEC vs QBIVYDEC vs JANI
EFA →IJAN on its own →YDEC on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
IJAN filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for IJAN ↗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, IJAN against YDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ijan-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.