JANU vs PQXV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 JANU can fall 8.3% before its buffer engages and PQXV 0.1%. AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Jan and PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 15 ETF.

8.3%
JANU can fall this far before its buffer
0.1%
PQXV can fall this far before its buffer
uncapped
JANU can still gain
2.7%
PQXV can still gain
JANUNo cap
No capJANU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap.15 pts of buffer+11.8% gained, no cap−15.0% floor0% period startno capTODAY · SPY +11.8%No capJANU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap.15 pts−15.0% floor0% startno capTODAY · SPY +11.8%

JANU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap.

PQXVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQXV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period start+2.8% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capPQXV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+2.8% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

PQXV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.8%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · PQXV 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

JANU resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; PQXV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. A fall from here reaches JANU’s buffer after 8.3% and PQXV’s after 0.1%. 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 returnGap to the reference
WindowJANUPQXVJANUPQXV
3 months+1.4%+2.1%−1.1 pts−0.4 pts
6 months+11.0%not published−5.9 ptsnot published
1 year+10.2%not published−5.5 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

JANU
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and does not cap the gain, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
PQXV
PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 15 ETF · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 2.8%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer AllianzIM PGIM
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap uncapped +2.8%
Can still gain uncapped 2.7%
Fall before buffer 8.3% 0.1%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +11.8% 0.0%
Fund return this period +8.2% 0.0%
State today Uncapped Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.50%
Net assets $78m $3m

JANU and PQXV on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

JANU in plain words

This fund has no cap. It takes a share of any further rise in SPY. The fund's price can fall 8.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.6% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

PQXV 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 0.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, JANU or PQXV?
JANU ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and PQXV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, JANU or PQXV?
JANU charges 0.74% a year and PQXV charges 0.50%, so PQXV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, JANU against PQXV, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/janu-vs-pqxv

Open data

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