Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

NVBW vs OCTM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 NVBW can fall 1.4% before its buffer engages and OCTM 1.2%, and OCTM resets 16 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $101m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer20 ETF - Nov and $42m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - October.

At a glance
1.4%
NVBW can fall this far before its buffer
1.2%
OCTM can fall this far before its buffer
11.2%
NVBW can still gain
7.0%
OCTM can still gain
NVBW Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capNVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer+11.2% to cap−20.0% floor0% period start+12.7% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%Between buffer and capNVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts−20.0% floor0% start+12.7% cap+1.5% gain captured+11.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.5%

NVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

NVBW: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.7%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
OCTM Full floor
Full floorOCTM: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+7.8% to capfull floor0% period start+8.3% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Full floorOCTM: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+8.3% cap+0.5% gain captured+7.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

OCTM: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

NVBW costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.9 points; NVBW is 2.4 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

NVBW vs OCTM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureNVBWOCTM
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.2%+6.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.4%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.74%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$101m$42m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: NVBW vs OCTM: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowNVBWOCTMNVBWOCTM
3 months+2.7%+1.6%+3.1 pts+1.9 pts
6 months+5.8%+3.1%+1.3 pts−1.4 pts
1 year+11.2%+6.3%−2.4 pts−7.3 pts
3 years+35.7%–−40.7 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: NVBW Nov 2022 · OCTM Oct 2024+48.2%+13.2%−51.2 pts−18.1 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

NVBW AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer20 ETF - Nov · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.7%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027 OCTM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - October · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.3%, over a period ending Oct 15, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 20% 100%
Outcome period Nov 1, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 15, 2027
Days left 361 345
Starting cap +12.7% +8.3%
Can still gain 11.2% 7.0%
Fall before buffer 1.4% 1.2%
Protection left, index points 20.0% of 20.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +1.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.7% +0.4%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $101m $42m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Where each one stands today

OCTM resets first, on Oct 15, 2027, 345 days from now; NVBW runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. NVBW can still gain 11.2% before its cap, OCTM 7.0%. A fall from here reaches NVBW’s buffer after 1.4% and OCTM’s after 1.2%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
NVBW

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 11.2% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 1.4% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 20.0% of the 20.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 361 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

OCTM

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% 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. 345 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 15, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, NVBW or OCTM?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, NVBW can gain about 11.2% before its cap and OCTM about 7.0%, so NVBW has more room left this period.
Which resets first, NVBW or OCTM?
NVBW ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and OCTM on Oct 15, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, NVBW or OCTM?
NVBW charges 0.74% a year and OCTM charges 0.85%, so NVBW is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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Sources and dates

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, NVBW against OCTM, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/nvbw-vs-octm

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