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KJAN vs RBUF: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 KJAN can fall 9.7% before its buffer engages and RBUF 0.0%. Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Jan and Innovator U.S. Small Cap 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

9.7%
KJAN can fall this far before its buffer
0.0%
RBUF can fall this far before its buffer
6.1%
KJAN can still gain
4.5%
RBUF can still gain
KJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capKJAN: reference +12.9% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +17.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+12.9% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+17.3% capTODAY · IWM +12.9%Between buffer and capKJAN: reference +12.9% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +17.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts+12.9%−15.0% floor0% start+17.3% capTODAY · IWM +12.9%

KJAN: reference +12.9% since period start, fund +10.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +17.3%; Between buffer and cap.

RBUFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capRBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer−10.0% floor0% period start+4.5% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%Between buffer and capRBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+4.5% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%

RBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · KJAN 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 →

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

Where each one stands today

KJAN resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; RBUF runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. KJAN can still gain 6.1% before its cap, RBUF 4.5%. A fall from here reaches KJAN’s buffer after 9.7% and RBUF’s after 0.0%. Both track IWM, 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
WindowKJANRBUFKJANRBUF
3 months−0.2%−0.2%+6.8 pts+6.7 pts
6 months+8.8%+5.7%−3.1 pts−6.2 pts
1 year+12.9%+8.1%−3.2 pts−8.0 pts
3 years+48.3%not published−14.3 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

KJAN
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on IWM and caps the gain at 17.3%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
RBUF
Innovator U.S. Small Cap 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on IWM and caps the gain at 4.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index IWM IWM
Buffer 15% 10%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +17.3% +4.5%
Can still gain 6.1% 4.5%
Fall before buffer 9.7% 0.0%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +12.9% 0.0%
Fund return this period +10.0% 0.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $317m $102m

KJAN and RBUF on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

KJAN in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 9.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, IWM can fall 11.4% 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 IWM level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

RBUF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.5% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's IWM level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, KJAN or RBUF?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, KJAN can gain about 6.1% before its cap and RBUF about 4.5%, so KJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, KJAN or RBUF?
KJAN ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and RBUF on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, KJAN or RBUF?
KJAN charges 0.79% a year and RBUF charges 0.79%, so KJAN is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
KJAN vs QBKFKJAN vs QBKVKJAN vs CPRYRBUF vs KOCTRBUF vs QBKFRBUF vs QBKV
IWM →KJAN on its own →RBUF on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
KJAN and RBUF filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for KJAN ↗Innovator page for RBUF ↗

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, KJAN against RBUF, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/kjan-vs-rbuf

Open data

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