PQJA vs QBQV: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 PQJA can fall 11.5% before its buffer engages and QBQV 0.2%. PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - January and AllianzIM Growth-100 Buffer5 ETF - Jan.

11.5%
PQJA can fall this far before its buffer
0.2%
QBQV can fall this far before its buffer
3.5%
PQJA can still gain
7.4%
QBQV can still gain
PQJAAt its cap
At its capPQJA: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.9%; At its cap.12 pts of buffer+16.9% gain captured−12.0% floor0% period start+16.9% capTODAY · QQQ +20.4%At its capPQJA: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.9%; At its cap.12 pts+16.9% gained−12.0% floor0% start+16.9% capTODAY · QQQ +20.4%

PQJA: reference +20.4% since period start, fund +12.5%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +16.9%; At its cap.

QBQVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts+7.6% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+7.6% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%Between buffer and capQBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+7.6% capTODAY · QQQ 0.0%

QBQV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.6%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · PQJA 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 →

PQJA is already at its cap, so more rise in the index adds nothing to it before the period ends.

Where each one stands today

PQJA resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; QBQV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. PQJA can still gain 3.5% before its cap, QBQV 7.4%. A fall from here reaches PQJA’s buffer after 11.5% and QBQV’s after 0.2%. Both track QQQ, 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
WindowPQJAQBQVPQJAQBQV
3 months+3.8%+1.4%+1.7 pts−0.7 pts
6 months+15.1%+7.8%−11.8 pts−19.1 pts
1 year+16.8%not published−7.0 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

PQJA
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - January · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 16.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
QBQV
AllianzIM Growth-100 Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 7.6%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer PGIM AllianzIM
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 12% 5%
Outcome period Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +16.9% +7.6%
Can still gain 3.5% 7.4%
Fall before buffer 11.5% 0.2%
Protection left, index points 12.0% of 12.0% 5.0% of 5.0%
Index return this period +20.4% 0.0%
Fund return this period +12.5% 0.0%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.74%
Net assets $34m $54m

PQJA and QBQV on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

PQJA in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +16.9% for the period on Oct 1, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 3.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 11.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 17.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 12.0% of the 12.0% buffer still sits below today's QQQ level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

QBQV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.2% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ 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 QQQ level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PQJA or QBQV?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, PQJA can gain about 3.5% before its cap and QBQV about 7.4%, so QBQV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PQJA or QBQV?
PQJA ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and QBQV on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PQJA or QBQV?
PQJA charges 0.50% a year and QBQV charges 0.74%, so PQJA is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, PQJA against QBQV, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pqja-vs-qbqv

Open data

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