Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

PQX vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 ZOCT can fall 0.8% before its buffer engages and PQX 0.8%, and PQX resets 273 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $8.7m for PGIM S&P 500 Quarterly Buffer 10 ETF and $227m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr October.

At a glance
0.8%
PQX can fall this far before its buffer
0.8%
ZOCT can fall this far before its buffer
2.7%
PQX can still gain
8.5%
ZOCT can still gain
PQX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capPQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer−10.0% floor0% period start+3.5% cap+0.6% gain captured+2.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%Between buffer and capPQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.−10.0% floor0% start+3.5% cap10 pts of buffer+0.6% gain captured+2.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.6%

PQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

PQX: reference +0.6% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +3.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZOCT Full floor
Full floorZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+8.9% to capfull floor0% period start+9.4% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Full floorZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+9.4% cap+0.5% gain captured+8.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

ZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

PQX costs 0.29 points a year less; ZOCT is far larger, $227m against $8.7m.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

PQX vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasurePQXZOCT
Return
Total return, 1 yearnot published+6.2%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.50%0.79%
Net assets$8.7m$227m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: PQX vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowPQXZOCTPQXZOCT
3 months+0.9%+1.7%+1.3 pts+2.1 pts
6 months–+3.4%–−1.1 pts
1 year–+6.2%–−7.3 pts
Since launchNot the same days: PQX Jul 2026 · ZOCT Oct 2024+2.5%+12.8%−0.3 pts−22.0 pts

Each fund's gap is to its reference's price return, dividends left out: the basis the outcome period uses. – means no data for this window. Open this comparison in the app →

Side by side

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 ZOCT Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr October · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.4%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 100%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 57 330
Starting cap +3.5% +9.4%
Can still gain 2.7% 8.5%
Fall before buffer 0.8% 0.8%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +0.6% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.50% 0.79%
Net assets $8.7m $227m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. ZOCT 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.

They do not reset together. PQX has 57 days of its period left and ZOCT has 330, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

PQX resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; ZOCT runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. PQX can still gain 2.7% before its cap, ZOCT 8.5%. A fall from here reaches PQX’s buffer after 0.8% and ZOCT’s after 0.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
PQX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.8% 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. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 8.5% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, PQX or ZOCT?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, PQX can gain about 2.7% before its cap and ZOCT about 8.5%, so ZOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, PQX or ZOCT?
PQX ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and ZOCT on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, PQX or ZOCT?
PQX charges 0.50% a year and ZOCT charges 0.79%, so PQX 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, PQX against ZOCT, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/pqx-vs-zoct

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