Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PMAU vs ZAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 PMAU can fall 1.8% before its buffer engages and ZAUG 1.5%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $6.5m for PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - August and $160m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr August.

At a glance
1.8%
PMAU can fall this far before its buffer
1.5%
ZAUG can fall this far before its buffer
6.0%
PMAU can still gain
6.7%
ZAUG can still gain
PMAU Full floor
Full floorPMAU: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; buffer Floor; cap +7.9%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% period start+7.9% cap+2.6% gain captured+5.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%Full floorPMAU: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; buffer Floor; cap +7.9%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+7.9% cap+2.6% gain captured+5.2% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.6%

PMAU: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; buffer Floor; cap +7.9%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZAUG Full floor
Full floorZAUG: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; 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 floorZAUG: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; 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%

ZAUG: reference +2.6% since period start, fund +1.3%; buffer Floor; cap +8.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PMAU costs 0.29 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 0.5 points; ZAUG is far larger, $160m against $6.5m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PMAU vs ZAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePMAUZAUG
Return
Total return, 1 year+6.2%+5.7%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer2.6%2.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.50%0.79%
Net assets$6.5m$160m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PMAU vs ZAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPMAUZAUGPMAUZAUG
3 months+0.7%+0.5%+1.1 pts+0.9 pts
6 months+2.8%+2.6%−1.7 pts−1.9 pts
1 year+6.2%+5.7%−7.4 pts−7.9 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PMAU Aug 2025 · ZAUG Aug 2024+8.3%+16.6%−15.0 pts−24.6 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

PMAU PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - August · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 7.9%, over a period ending Jul 31, 2027 ZAUG Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr August · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.4%, over a period ending Jul 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 100% 100%
Outcome period Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 Jul 31, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027
Days left 269 269
Starting cap +7.9% +8.4%
Can still gain 6.0% 6.7%
Fall before buffer 1.8% 1.5%
Protection left, index points 100.0% of 100.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +2.6% +2.6%
Fund return this period +1.3% +1.3%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.79%
Net assets $6.5m $160m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

Where each one stands today

PMAU resets first, on Jul 31, 2027, 269 days from now; ZAUG runs to Jul 31, 2027, 269 days. PMAU can still gain 6.0% before its cap, ZAUG 6.7%. A fall from here reaches PMAU’s buffer after 1.8% and ZAUG’s after 1.5%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
PMAU

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 1.8% 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: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 269 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Jul 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZAUG

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PMAU or ZAUG?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PMAU can gain about 6.0% before its cap and ZAUG about 6.7%, so ZAUG has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PMAU or ZAUG?
PMAU ends its outcome period on Jul 31, 2027 and ZAUG on Jul 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PMAU or ZAUG?
PMAU charges 0.50% a year and ZAUG charges 0.79%, so PMAU 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, PMAU against ZAUG, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pmau-vs-zaug

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