Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

JULM vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XJUL can fall 3.6% before its buffer engages and JULM 2.2%.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $36m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - July and $42m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July.

At a glance
2.2%
JULM can fall this far before its buffer
3.6%
XJUL can fall this far before its buffer
5.1%
JULM can still gain
7.5%
XJUL can still gain
JULM Full floor
Full floorJULM: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +1.4%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% period start+7.3% cap+3.1% gain captured+4.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%Full floorJULM: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +1.4%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.3% cap+3.1% gain captured+4.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

JULM: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +1.4%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XJUL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+8.3% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.4% cap+3.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +3.1%Between buffer and capXJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.4% cap+3.1% gain captured+8.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +3.1%

XJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XJUL: reference +3.1% since period start, fund +2.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.4%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.85% a year; their one-year returns differ by 3.6 points; XJUL is 1.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

JULM vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureJULMXJUL
Return
Total return, 1 year+5.5%+9.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer3.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$36m$42m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: JULM vs XJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowJULMXJULJULMXJUL
3 months+0.6%+1.3%+1.0 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+2.4%+4.3%−2.1 pts−0.2 pts
1 year+5.5%+9.1%−8.1 pts−4.5 pts
3 years–+37.3%–−39.1 pts
Since launchNot the same days: JULM Jul 2024 · XJUL Jul 2023+15.8%+36.2%−26.7 pts−32.7 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

JULM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.3%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027 XJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - July · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.4%, over a period ending Jul 16, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 15%
Outcome period Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027 Jul 20, 2026 to Jul 16, 2027
Days left 254 254
Starting cap +7.3% +11.4%
Can still gain 5.1% 7.5%
Fall before buffer 2.2% 3.6%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +3.1% +3.1%
Fund return this period +1.4% +2.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $36m $42m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

JULM resets first, on Jul 16, 2027, 254 days from now; XJUL runs to Jul 16, 2027, 254 days. JULM can still gain 5.1% before its cap, XJUL 7.5%. A fall from here reaches JULM’s buffer after 2.2% and XJUL’s after 3.6%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
JULM

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 3.1% 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. 254 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jul 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XJUL

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 3.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, JULM or XJUL?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, JULM can gain about 5.1% before its cap and XJUL about 7.5%, so XJUL has more room left this period.
Which resets first, JULM or XJUL?
JULM ends its outcome period on Jul 16, 2027 and XJUL on Jul 16, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, JULM or XJUL?
JULM and XJUL both charge 0.85% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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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, JULM against XJUL, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/julm-vs-xjul

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