Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PBMY vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 PBMY can fall 4.8% before its buffer engages and ZMAY 3.1%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $40m for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - May and $64m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May.

At a glance
4.8%
PBMY can fall this far before its buffer
3.1%
ZMAY can fall this far before its buffer
6.0%
PBMY can still gain
4.0%
ZMAY can still gain
PBMY Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPBMY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +11.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts of buffer+6.7%−20.0% floor0% period start+11.3% cap+4.6% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%Between buffer and capPBMY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +11.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 pts−20.0% floor0% start+11.3% cap+6.7% gain captured+4.6% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%

PBMY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +11.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PBMY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +4.5%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +11.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZMAY Full floor
Full floorZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.7%full floor0% period start+7.3% cap+0.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%Full floorZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.3% cap+6.7% gain captured+0.7% more to the capTODAY · SPY +6.7%

ZMAY: reference +6.7% since period start, fund +2.8%; buffer Floor; cap +7.3%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PBMY costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 3.2 points; ZMAY is 1.6 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PBMY vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePBMYZMAY
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.3%+5.1%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer6.3%6.2%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.50%0.79%
Net assets$40m$64m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PBMY vs ZMAY: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPBMYZMAYPBMYZMAY
3 months+1.3%+1.0%+1.7 pts+1.3 pts
6 months+3.8%+2.2%−0.7 pts−2.3 pts
1 year+8.3%+5.1%−5.3 pts−8.5 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PBMY May 2024 · ZMAY May 2025+28.3%+8.9%−25.0 pts−28.4 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

PBMY PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - May · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.3%, over a period ending Apr 30, 2027 ZMAY Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr May · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.3%, over a period ending Apr 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 20% 100%
Outcome period May 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027 Apr 30, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Days left 177 177
Starting cap +11.3% +7.3%
Can still gain 6.0% 4.0%
Fall before buffer 4.8% 3.1%
Protection left, index points 20.0% of 20.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +6.7% +6.7%
Fund return this period +4.5% +2.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.79%
Net assets $40m $64m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

PBMY resets first, on Apr 30, 2027, 177 days from now; ZMAY runs to Apr 30, 2027, 177 days. PBMY can still gain 6.0% before its cap, ZMAY 4.0%. A fall from here reaches PBMY’s buffer after 4.8% and ZMAY’s after 3.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
PBMY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 4.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 6.3% 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. 177 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Apr 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZMAY

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 6.2% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PBMY or ZMAY?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PBMY can gain about 6.0% before its cap and ZMAY about 4.0%, so PBMY has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PBMY or ZMAY?
PBMY ends its outcome period on Apr 30, 2027 and ZMAY on Apr 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PBMY or ZMAY?
PBMY charges 0.50% a year and ZMAY charges 0.79%, so PBMY 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, PBMY against ZMAY, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pbmy-vs-zmay

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