Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PBJL vs ZJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 PBJL can fall 2.9% before its buffer engages and ZJUL 1.9%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $74m for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - July and $193m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr July.

At a glance
2.9%
PBJL can fall this far before its buffer
1.9%
ZJUL can fall this far before its buffer
9.2%
PBJL can still gain
6.4%
ZJUL can still gain
PBJL Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPBJL: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer+9.6% to cap−20.0% floor0% period start+12.3% cap+2.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +2.7%Between buffer and capPBJL: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts−20.0% floor0% start+12.3% cap+2.7% gain captured+9.6% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.7%

PBJL: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PBJL: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.4%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZJUL Full floor
Full floorZJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% period start+8.4% cap+2.6% gain captured+5.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%Full floorZJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+8.4% cap+2.6% gain captured+5.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%

ZJUL: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.7%; buffer Floor; cap +8.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PBJL costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.8 points; ZJUL is 2.6 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PBJL vs ZJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePBJLZJUL
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.5%+5.7%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer2.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.50%0.79%
Net assets$74m$193m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PBJL vs ZJUL: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPBJLZJULPBJLZJUL
3 months+0.8%+0.7%+1.2 pts+1.0 pts
6 months+3.5%+2.5%−0.9 pts−2.0 pts
1 year+8.5%+5.7%−5.0 pts−7.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PBJL May 2024 · ZJUL Jul 2024+28.0%+17.0%−20.2 pts−23.6 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

PBJL PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - July · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.3%, over a period ending Jun 30, 2027 ZJUL Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr July · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.4%, over a period ending Jun 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 20% 100%
Outcome period Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 Jun 30, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027
Days left 238 238
Starting cap +12.3% +8.4%
Can still gain 9.2% 6.4%
Fall before buffer 2.9% 1.9%
Protection left, index points 20.0% of 20.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +2.7% +2.6%
Fund return this period +2.4% +1.7%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.79%
Net assets $74m $193m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. ZJUL is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. PBJL 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

PBJL resets first, on Jun 30, 2027, 238 days from now; ZJUL runs to Jun 30, 2027, 238 days. PBJL can still gain 9.2% before its cap, ZJUL 6.4%. A fall from here reaches PBJL’s buffer after 2.9% and ZJUL’s after 1.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
PBJL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.2% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.6% 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. 238 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jun 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZJUL

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.9% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PBJL or ZJUL?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PBJL can gain about 9.2% before its cap and ZJUL about 6.4%, so PBJL has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PBJL or ZJUL?
PBJL ends its outcome period on Jun 30, 2027 and ZJUL on Jun 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PBJL or ZJUL?
PBJL charges 0.50% a year and ZJUL charges 0.79%, so PBJL 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, PBJL against ZJUL, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pbjl-vs-zjul

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