{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag","section":"compare","title":"NSEP vs QMAG: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 NSEP can gain 16.3% before its cap and QMAG 14.6%. Each can fall 1.9% and 3.1% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, NSEP or QMAG?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, NSEP can gain about 16.3% before its cap and QMAG about 14.6%, so NSEP has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, NSEP or QMAG?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"NSEP ends its outcome period on Aug 31, 2027 and QMAG on Aug 20, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, NSEP or QMAG?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"NSEP charges 0.79% a year and QMAG charges 0.90%, so NSEP is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buffer ETFs","item":"https://etfiq.com/buffer/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"NSEP vs QMAG","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"NSEP vs QMAG: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 NSEP can gain 16.3% before its cap and QMAG 14.6%. Each can fall 1.9% and 3.1% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 QMAG can fall 3.1% before its buffer engages and NSEP 1.9%, and QMAG resets 11 days sooner.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#website"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]}},{"@type":"Dataset","name":"ETFIQ comparison of NSEP and QMAG","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 NSEP can gain 16.3% before its cap and QMAG 14.6%. Each can fall 1.9% and 3.1% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag","license":"https://etfiq.com/standards/","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"inLanguage":"en","creativeWorkStatus":"Published","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://etfiq.com/data/funds.json"}],"variableMeasured":["Remaining cap","Fall before the buffer engages","Protection left in index points","Starting buffer","Outcome period","Reference index return","Fund return","Days remaining","Expense ratio"],"keywords":["exchange-traded funds","ETF","Buffer ETFs","fund data","SEC filings"]}],"characters":5790,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / NSEP vs QMAG \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n NSEP vs QMAG: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 QMAG can fall 3.1% before its buffer engages and NSEP 1.9%, and QMAG resets 11 days sooner.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Sep and FT Vest Nasdaq-100\u00ae Moderate Buffer ETF - August.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 1.9% NSEP can fall this far before its buffer \n 3.1% QMAG can fall this far before its buffer \n 16.3% NSEP can still gain \n 14.6% QMAG can still gain \n\n ETFIQ Downside Cover Score: NS","source":"ETFIQ, independent ETF data. Recomputed nightly from public filings and prices.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"license":"https://etfiq.com/license/","citation":"ETFIQ, as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag","a":{"ticker":"NSEP","name":"Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF - Sep","issuer":"Innovator","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-10-01","verdict":"As of Oct 1, 2026, NSEP is between its buffer and cap, with QQQ up 3.2% since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/nsep","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"16.3%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"1.9%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"15.0%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"335","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$84m","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.79%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, Oct 1, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"QMAG","name":"FT Vest Nasdaq-100\u00ae Moderate Buffer ETF - August","issuer":"First Trust","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, QMAG is between its buffer and cap, with QQQ up 3.7% since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/qmag","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"14.6%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"3.1%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"15.0%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"324","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$93m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.90%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"overlap_pct":null,"overlap_note":"ETFIQ does not publish a holdings overlap for this pair. Either the funds are not compared on holdings, or one book is incomplete.","full_text_at":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nsep-vs-qmag"}