Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

MARU vs ZMAR: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 MARU can fall 8.2% before its buffer engages and ZMAR 4.2%.

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Net assets: $35m on Nov 3, 2026 for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Mar, and $109m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr March.

At a glance
8.2%
MARU can fall this far before its buffer
4.2%
ZMAR can fall this far before its buffer
uncapped
MARU can still gain
2.3%
ZMAR can still gain
MARU No cap
No capMARU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period startno cap+11.8% gained, no capTODAY · SPY +11.8%No capMARU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% startno cap+11.8% gained, no capTODAY · SPY +11.8%

MARU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

MARU: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.1%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; No cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZMAR At its cap
At its capZMAR: reference +11.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer Floor; cap +6.7%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.7%full floor0% period start+6.7% capTODAY · SPY +11.7%At its capZMAR: reference +11.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer Floor; cap +6.7%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.7% cap+6.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +11.7%

ZMAR: reference +11.7% since period start, fund +3.8%; buffer Floor; cap +6.7%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

MARU costs 0.05 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.6 points; ZMAR is 3.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

MARU vs ZMAR: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureMARUZMAR
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.7%+6.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer10.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.74%0.79%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$35m$109m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: MARU vs ZMAR: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowMARUZMARMARUZMAR
3 months−1.2%+1.2%−0.8 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+2.5%+2.6%−2.0 pts−1.9 pts
1 year+8.7%+6.1%−4.9 pts−7.5 pts
Since launchMARU Mar 2025 · ZMAR Mar 2025+21.7%+11.0%−9.7 pts−20.3 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

MARU AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Mar · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and does not cap the gain, over a period ending Feb 28, 2027 ZMAR Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr March · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.7%, over a period ending Feb 28, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 100%
Outcome period Mar 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 Feb 28, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
Days left 116 116
Starting cap uncapped +6.7%
Can still gain uncapped 2.3%
Fall before buffer 8.2% 4.2%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +11.8% +11.7%
Fund return this period +8.1% +3.8%
State today Uncapped At cap
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.79%
Net assets, MARU as of Nov 3, 2026 and ZMAR as of Nov 4, 2026 $35m $109m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

ZMAR is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

MARU resets first, on Feb 28, 2027, 116 days from now; ZMAR runs to Feb 28, 2027, 116 days. A fall from here reaches MARU’s buffer after 8.2% and ZMAR’s after 4.2%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
MARU

This fund has no cap. It takes a share of any further rise in SPY. The fund's price can fall 8.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.5% 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. 116 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Feb 28, 2027 the period ends and new terms are set.

ZMAR

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.7% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 2.3% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 4.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. On Feb 28, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, MARU or ZMAR?
MARU ends its outcome period on Feb 28, 2027 and ZMAR on Feb 28, 2027. New terms are set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, MARU or ZMAR?
MARU charges 0.74% a year and ZMAR charges 0.79%, so MARU is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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Sources and dates

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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, MARU against ZMAR, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/maru-vs-zmar

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