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PJAN vs PQV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 PJAN can fall 8.0% before its buffer engages and PQV 0.1%. Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Jan and PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 5 ETF.

8.0%
PJAN can fall this far before its buffer
0.1%
PQV can fall this far before its buffer
3.4%
PJAN can still gain
4.9%
PQV can still gain
PJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPJAN: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+11.8% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+12.3% capTODAY · SPY +11.8%Between buffer and capPJAN: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+11.8%−15.0% floor0% start+12.3% capTODAY · SPY +11.8%

PJAN: reference +11.8% since period start, fund +8.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +12.3%; Between buffer and cap.

PQVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts of buffer+5.1% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capPQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

PQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · PJAN scores higherIf the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
0.2, the lowest in this set99.8, the highest

A percentile among the 293 buffer ETFs with a live outcome period. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All buffer ETFs ranked by it → How it is computed →

Where each one stands today

PJAN resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; PQV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. PJAN can still gain 3.4% before its cap, PQV 4.9%. A fall from here reaches PJAN’s buffer after 8.0% and PQV’s after 0.1%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowPJANPQVPJANPQV
3 months+2.4%+2.2%−0.1 pts−0.4 pts
6 months+9.7%not published−7.3 ptsnot published
1 year+10.8%not published−5.0 ptsnot published
3 years+45.8%not published−39.2 ptsnot published

PJAN and PQV over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

PJAN
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 12.3%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
PQV
PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 5 ETF · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 5.1%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Innovator PGIM
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 5%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +12.3% +5.1%
Can still gain 3.4% 4.9%
Fall before buffer 8.0% 0.1%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +11.8% 0.0%
Fund return this period +8.0% 0.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.50%
Net assets $1.4bn $2m

PJAN and PQV on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

PJAN in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.6% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

PQV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.9% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.1% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 5.0% of the 5.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PJAN or PQV?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, PJAN can gain about 3.4% before its cap and PQV about 4.9%, so PQV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PJAN or PQV?
PJAN ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and PQV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PJAN or PQV?
PJAN charges 0.79% a year and PQV charges 0.50%, so PQV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
PJAN vs UOCTPJAN vs XBJAPJAN vs XDECPJAN vs ZALTPQV vs AOCTPQV vs APOCPQV vs BALTPQV vs BOCT
SPY →PJAN on its own →PQV on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
PJAN filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for PJAN ↗PQV filings on SEC EDGAR ↗PGIM website ↗

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, PJAN against PQV, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pjan-vs-pqv

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.