Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PBSE vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XAUG can fall 1.9% before its buffer engages and PBSE 1.2%, and XAUG resets 11 days sooner.

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Net assets: $50m on Nov 4, 2026 for PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - September , and $26m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August.

At a glance
1.2%
PBSE can fall this far before its buffer
1.9%
XAUG can fall this far before its buffer
11.1%
PBSE can still gain
9.1%
XAUG can still gain
PBSE Buffer working
Buffer workingPBSE: reference 0.0% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 of 20 pts of buffer left+12.3% more to the cap−20.0% floor0% period start+12.3% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Buffer workingPBSE: reference 0.0% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.20 of 20 pts left−20.0% floor0% start+12.3% cap+12.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

PBSE: reference 0.0% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PBSE: reference 0.0% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −20; cap +12.3%; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XAUG Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.1% cap+0.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.1%Between buffer and capXAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.1% cap+0.1% gain captured+11% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.1%

XAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PBSE costs 0.35 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 0.2 points; PBSE is 1.9 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PBSE vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePBSEXAUG
Return
Total return, 1 year+8.5%+8.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.0%0.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.50%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$50m$26m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PBSE vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPBSEXAUGPBSEXAUG
3 months+1.0%+1.3%+1.4 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+3.5%+3.4%−1.0 pts−1.1 pts
1 year+8.5%+8.3%−5.0 pts−5.3 pts
3 years–+32.7%–−43.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PBSE May 2024 · XAUG Aug 2023+25.5%+33.9%−19.2 pts−40.6 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

PBSE PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - September · Absorbs the first 20% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.3%, over a period ending Aug 31, 2027 XAUG FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.1%, over a period ending Aug 20, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 20% 15%
Outcome period Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 Aug 24, 2026 to Aug 20, 2027
Days left 300 289
Starting cap +12.3% +11.1%
Can still gain 11.1% 9.1%
Fall before buffer 1.2% 1.9%
Protection left, index points 20.0% of 20.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +0.1%
Fund return this period +0.7% +1.1%
State today Buffer working Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.85%
Net assets, PBSE as of Nov 4, 2026 and XAUG as of Nov 3, 2026 $50m $26m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

XAUG resets first, on Aug 20, 2027, 289 days from now; PBSE runs to Aug 31, 2027, 300 days. PBSE can still gain 11.1% before its cap, XAUG 9.1%. A fall from here reaches PBSE’s buffer after 1.2% and XAUG’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
PBSE

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 11.1% 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 0.0% 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. 300 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XAUG

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.1% 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. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.1% 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. 289 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 20, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PBSE or XAUG?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PBSE can gain about 11.1% before its cap and XAUG about 9.1%, so PBSE has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PBSE or XAUG?
PBSE ends its outcome period on Aug 31, 2027 and XAUG on Aug 20, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PBSE or XAUG?
PBSE charges 0.50% a year and XAUG charges 0.85%, so PBSE 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, PBSE against XAUG, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pbse-vs-xaug

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