Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

OCTM vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 SIXZ can fall 1.2% before its buffer engages and OCTM 1.2%, and SIXZ resets 168 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $42m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - October and $64m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - May.

At a glance
1.2%
OCTM can fall this far before its buffer
1.2%
SIXZ can fall this far before its buffer
7.0%
OCTM can still gain
7.0%
SIXZ can still gain
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.
SIXZ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+6.9% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+8.3% cap+1.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.5%Between buffer and capSIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−10.0% floor0% start+8.3% cap10 pts of buffer+1.5% gain captured+6.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.5%

SIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SIXZ: reference +1.5% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

SIXZ costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 5.1 points; SIXZ is 1.5 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

OCTM vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureOCTMSIXZ
Return
Total return, 1 year+6.3%+11.4%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%1.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$42m$64m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: OCTM vs SIXZ: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowOCTMSIXZOCTMSIXZ
3 months+1.6%+2.3%+1.9 pts+2.7 pts
6 months+3.1%+4.7%−1.4 pts+0.2 pts
1 year+6.3%+11.4%−7.3 pts−2.1 pts
Since launchNot the same days: OCTM Oct 2024 · SIXZ May 2024+13.2%+30.2%−18.1 pts−23.1 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

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 SIXZ AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - May · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.3%, over a period ending Apr 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 10%
Outcome period Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 15, 2027 Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Days left 345 177
Starting cap +8.3% +8.3%
Can still gain 7.0% 7.0%
Fall before buffer 1.2% 1.2%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +1.5%
Fund return this period +0.4% +0.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.74%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $42m $64m

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. SIXZ is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

They do not reset together. SIXZ has 177 days of its period left and OCTM has 345, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

SIXZ resets first, on Apr 30, 2027, 177 days from now; OCTM runs to Oct 15, 2027, 345 days. OCTM can still gain 7.0% before its cap, SIXZ 7.0%. A fall from here reaches OCTM’s buffer after 1.2% and SIXZ’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
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.

SIXZ

In index terms, SPY can fall 1.4% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 177 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Apr 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, OCTM or SIXZ?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, OCTM can gain about 7.0% before its cap and SIXZ about 7.0%, so the two have the same room left this period.
Which resets first, OCTM or SIXZ?
OCTM ends its outcome period on Oct 15, 2027 and SIXZ on Apr 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, OCTM or SIXZ?
OCTM charges 0.85% a year and SIXZ charges 0.74%, so SIXZ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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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, OCTM against SIXZ, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/octm-vs-sixz

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