Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PAPR vs XBAP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XBAP can fall 10.0% before its buffer engages and PAPR 9.0%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $963m for Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Apr and $129m for Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Apr.

At a glance
9.0%
PAPR can fall this far before its buffer
10.0%
XBAP can fall this far before its buffer
3.8%
PAPR can still gain
3.6%
XBAP can still gain
PAPR At its cap
At its capPAPR: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+14% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+14.0% capTODAY · SPY +17.9%At its capPAPR: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts+14% gained−15.0% floor0% start+14.0% capTODAY · SPY +17.9%

PAPR: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PAPR: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +9.3%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +14.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XBAP At its cap
At its capXBAP: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +10.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +15.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts of buffer+15% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+15.0% capTODAY · SPY +17.9%At its capXBAP: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +10.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +15.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts+15% gained−9.0% floor0% start+15.0% capTODAY · SPY +17.9%

XBAP: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +10.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +15.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XBAP: reference +17.9% since period start, fund +10.5%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +15.0%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; their one-year returns differ by 0.9 points; PAPR is 7.5 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PAPR vs XBAP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePAPRXBAP
Return
Total return, 1 year+13.0%+13.9%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer15.2%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$963m$129m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Apr 9, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026 · 290 weekly returns · each against SPY
PAPR XBAP
Return
Total return edge XBAP +55.4% +66.6%
Annualized edge XBAP +8.2% +9.6%
Price return edge XBAP +55.4% +66.6%
Risk
Volatility edge PAPR 7.3% 9.0%
Max drawdown edge PAPR −10.7% −14.4%
Downside capture 47.2% 52.8%
Beta 0.44 0.53
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge XBAP (slight) 0.63 0.67
Sortino edge XBAP (slight) 0.93 1.00
Treynor 0.105 0.114
Calmar edge PAPR 0.77 0.67
Against the benchmark
Alpha +0.2% a year +0.8% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.24 0.53
Information ratio −0.58 −0.48
Tracking error 9.1% 8.2%
Reading

From Apr 2021 to Oct 2026, XBAP returned more: +66.6% to +55.4%. PAPR swung less: 7.3% to 9.0%. PAPR fell less at its worst: −10.7% to −14.4%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
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Risk and return: PAPR vs XBAP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePAPRXBAPSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+55.4%+66.6%XBAPPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+8.2%+9.6%XBAPTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+55.4%+66.6%XBAPPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility7.3%9.0%PAPRSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation5.0%6.0%PAPRLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−10.7%−14.4%PAPRDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture33.5%39.6%100.0%XBAPShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture47.2%52.8%100.0%PAPRShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.440.531.00PAPR lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.890.851.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe0.630.67XBAP (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino0.931.00XBAP (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1050.1140.099XBAP (slight)Return above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar0.770.67PAPRAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+0.2% a year+0.8% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.240.53Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−1.8% to +2.3%−2.1% to +3.7%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−0.58−0.48XBAPReturn against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error9.1%8.2%0.0%Not an edgeHow far weekly returns stray from the benchmark, annualized.

Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices and ETFIQ's distribution records, 290 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: PAPR vs XBAP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPAPRXBAPPAPRXBAP
3 months+1.7%+1.7%+2.1 pts+2.1 pts
6 months+4.3%+4.8%−0.2 pts+0.3 pts
1 year+13.0%+13.9%−0.6 pts+0.3 pts
3 years+40.5%+47.5%−35.9 pts−28.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PAPR Apr 2019 · XBAP Apr 2021+77.7%+69.5%−90.6 pts−21.9 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

PAPR Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Apr · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 14.0%, over a period ending Mar 31, 2027 XBAP Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Apr · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.0%, over a period ending Mar 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 9%
Outcome period Mar 31, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 Mar 31, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027
Days left 147 147
Starting cap +14.0% +15.0%
Can still gain 3.8% 3.6%
Fall before buffer 9.0% 10.0%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 9.0% of 9.0%
Index return this period +17.9% +17.9%
Fund return this period +9.3% +10.5%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $963m $129m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

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

Where each one stands today

PAPR resets first, on Mar 31, 2027, 147 days from now; XBAP runs to Mar 31, 2027, 147 days. PAPR can still gain 3.8% before its cap, XBAP 3.6%. A fall from here reaches PAPR’s buffer after 9.0% and XBAP’s after 10.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

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About each fund
PAPR

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +14.0% 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 3.8% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 9.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 15.2% 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. 147 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Mar 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XBAP

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +15.0% 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 3.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 10.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. Protection left, in index points: 9.0% of the 9.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PAPR or XBAP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PAPR can gain about 3.8% before its cap and XBAP about 3.6%, so PAPR has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PAPR or XBAP?
PAPR ends its outcome period on Mar 31, 2027 and XBAP on Mar 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PAPR or XBAP?
PAPR and XBAP both charge 0.79% a year, so neither 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, PAPR against XBAP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/papr-vs-xbap

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Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.