Which has more room to gain, JAJL or ZALT?

From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, JAJL can gain about 2.7% before its cap and ZALT about 3.6%, so ZALT has more room left this period.

Which resets first, JAJL or ZALT?

JAJL ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and ZALT on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.

Which is cheaper, JAJL or ZALT?

JAJL charges 0.79% a year and ZALT charges 0.69%, so ZALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Share on X Download as PDF Open live

JAJL vs ZALT: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 JAJL can fall 1.4% before its buffer engages and ZALT 0.0%. Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 6 Mo Jan/Jul and Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

1.4%

JAJL can fall this far before its buffer

0.0%

ZALT can fall this far before its buffer

2.7%

JAJL can still gain

3.6%

ZALT can still gain

JAJLFull floor

JAJL: reference +2.1% since period start, fund +1.2%; buffer Floor; cap +4.1%; Full floor.

ZALTBetween buffer and cap

ZALT: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.6%; Between buffer and cap.

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

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

Where each one stands today

JAJL resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; ZALT runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. JAJL can still gain 2.7% before its cap, ZALT 3.6%. A fall from here reaches JAJL’s buffer after 1.4% and ZALT’s after 0.0%. Both track SPY, 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 return		Gap to the reference
Window	JAJL	ZALT	JAJL	ZALT
3 months	+1.1%	+2.0%	−1.4 pts	−0.5 pts
6 months	+4.0%	+5.9%	−13.0 pts	−11.1 pts
1 year	+5.6%	+8.3%	−10.1 pts	−7.4 pts

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

On the same fields

JAJL

Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 6 Mo Jan/Jul · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 4.1%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

ZALT

Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.6%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026

Issuer Innovator Innovator

Reference index SPY SPY

Buffer 100% 10%

Outcome period Jun 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026

Days left 92 92

Starting cap +4.1% +3.6%

Can still gain 2.7% 3.6%

Fall before buffer 1.4% 0.0%

Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 10.0% of 10.0%

Index return this period +2.1% 0.0%

Fund return this period +1.2% 0.0%

State today Open Open

Expense ratio 0.79% 0.69%

Net assets $301m $795m

JAJL and ZALT on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

JAJL in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.1% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZALT in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.6% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, JAJL or ZALT?: From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, JAJL can gain about 2.7% before its cap and ZALT about 3.6%, so ZALT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, JAJL or ZALT?: JAJL ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and ZALT on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, JAJL or ZALT?: JAJL charges 0.79% a year and ZALT charges 0.69%, so ZALT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

JAJL vs SIXJ JAJL vs SQMX JAJL vs TJAN JAJL vs UJAN ZALT vs BALT ZALT vs CPST ZALT vs OCTP ZALT vs OCTT

SPY →JAJL on its own →ZALT on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →

Where these figures came from

JAJL and ZALT filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for JAJL ↗Innovator page for ZALT ↗

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, JAJL against ZALT, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/jajl-vs-zalt

Open data

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