Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PNOV vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XOCT can fall 1.3% before its buffer engages and PNOV 0.9%, and XOCT resets 16 days sooner.

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Net assets: $857m on Nov 4, 2026 for Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Nov, and $38m on Nov 3, 2026 for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October.

At a glance
0.9%
PNOV can fall this far before its buffer
1.3%
XOCT can fall this far before its buffer
14.3%
PNOV can still gain
10.1%
XOCT can still gain
PNOV Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+13.9% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+15.3% cap+1.4% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.4%Between buffer and capPNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts+13.9% to cap−15.0% floor0% start+15.3% cap+1.4% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.4%

PNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XOCT Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.5% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capXOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+11.5% cap+0.5% gain captured+11% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

XOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.5%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PNOV costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.0 points; PNOV is far larger, $834m against $38m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PNOV vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePNOVXOCT
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.5%+9.5%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer1.4%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$834m$38m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PNOV vs XOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPNOVXOCTPNOVXOCT
3 months+1.9%+1.9%+2.3 pts+2.3 pts
6 months+5.3%+4.4%+0.8 pts−0.1 pts
1 year+11.5%+9.5%−2.0 pts−4.0 pts
3 years+39.4%+31.7%−37.0 pts−44.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PNOV Nov 2019 · XOCT Oct 2023+79.5%+34.4%−71.0 pts−47.9 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

PNOV Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Nov · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.3%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027 XOCT FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.5%, over a period ending Oct 15, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Oct 19, 2026 to Oct 15, 2027
Days left 361 345
Starting cap +15.3% +11.5%
Can still gain 14.3% 10.1%
Fall before buffer 0.9% 1.3%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +1.4% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.9% +0.5%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.85%
Net assets, PNOV as of Nov 4, 2026 and XOCT as of Nov 3, 2026 $857m $38m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

XOCT resets first, on Oct 15, 2027, 345 days from now; PNOV runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. PNOV can still gain 14.3% before its cap, XOCT 10.1%. A fall from here reaches PNOV’s buffer after 0.9% and XOCT’s after 1.3%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
PNOV

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 1.4% 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. 361 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

XOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. 345 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 15, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PNOV or XOCT?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PNOV can gain about 14.3% before its cap and XOCT about 10.1%, so PNOV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PNOV or XOCT?
PNOV ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and XOCT on Oct 15, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PNOV or XOCT?
PNOV charges 0.79% a year and XOCT charges 0.85%, so PNOV 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, PNOV against XOCT, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pnov-vs-xoct

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Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.