PQX vs TJAN: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 TJAN can fall 12.8% before its buffer engages and PQX 0.1%. PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Jan 2027.

0.1%
PQX can fall this far before its buffer
12.8%
TJAN can fall this far before its buffer
3.3%
PQX can still gain
1.4%
TJAN can still gain
PQXBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQX: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% period start+3.5% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capPQX: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap.−10.0% floor0% start+3.5% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

PQX: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap.

TJANAt its cap
At its capTJAN: reference +30.1% since period start, fund +12.8%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap.full floor beneath+15.9%full floor0% period start+15.9% capTODAY · SPY +30.1%At its capTJAN: reference +30.1% since period start, fund +12.8%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+15.9% capTODAY · SPY +30.1%

TJAN: reference +30.1% since period start, fund +12.8%; buffer Floor; cap +15.9%; At its cap.

These are two different products. TJAN is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. PQX is a buffer fund, which absorbs the first part of a fall and leaves everything below it with the holder.

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

Where each one stands today

PQX resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; TJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. PQX can still gain 3.3% before its cap, TJAN 1.4%. A fall from here reaches PQX’s buffer after 0.1% and TJAN’s after 12.8%. 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
WindowPQXTJANPQXTJAN
3 months+2.1%+1.7%−0.5 pts−0.8 pts
6 monthsnot published+5.4%not published−11.6 pts
1 yearnot published+5.9%not published−9.8 pts

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

On the same fields

PQX
PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
TJAN
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - Jan 2027 · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 15.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer PGIM Innovator
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 100%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +3.5% +15.9%
Can still gain 3.3% 1.4%
Fall before buffer 0.1% 12.8%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +30.1%
Fund return this period 0.0% +12.8%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.79%
Net assets $5m $32m

PQX and TJAN on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

PQX in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 3.3% 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: 10.0% of the 10.0% 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.

TJAN in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +15.9% 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 1.4% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 12.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 23.1% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PQX or TJAN?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, PQX can gain about 3.3% before its cap and TJAN about 1.4%, so PQX has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PQX or TJAN?
PQX ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and TJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PQX or TJAN?
PQX charges 0.50% a year and TJAN charges 0.79%, so PQX is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from

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, PQX against TJAN, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pqx-vs-tjan

Open data

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