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QBKV vs RBUF: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 QBKV can fall 0.2% before its buffer engages and RBUF 0.0%. AllianzIM U.S. Small Cap Buffer5 ETF - Jan and Innovator U.S. Small Cap 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.

0.2%
QBKV can fall this far before its buffer
0.0%
RBUF can fall this far before its buffer
7.6%
QBKV can still gain
4.5%
RBUF can still gain
QBKVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBKV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.8%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts of buffer+7.8% more to the cap−5.0% floor0% period start+7.8% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%Between buffer and capQBKV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.8%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts−5.0% floor0% start+7.8% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%

QBKV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +7.8%; Between buffer and cap.

RBUFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capRBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer+4.5% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+4.5% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%Between buffer and capRBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+4.5% capTODAY · IWM 0.0%

RBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.5%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · RBUF 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 →

Where each one stands today

QBKV resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; RBUF runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. QBKV can still gain 7.6% before its cap, RBUF 4.5%. A fall from here reaches QBKV’s buffer after 0.2% and RBUF’s after 0.0%. Both track IWM, 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
WindowQBKVRBUFQBKVRBUF
3 months−2.4%−0.2%+4.5 pts+6.7 pts
6 months+6.9%+5.7%−5.0 pts−6.2 pts
1 yearnot published+8.1%not published−8.0 pts

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

On the same fields

QBKV
AllianzIM U.S. Small Cap Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on IWM and caps the gain at 7.8%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
RBUF
Innovator U.S. Small Cap 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on IWM and caps the gain at 4.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer AllianzIM Innovator
Reference index IWM IWM
Buffer 5% 10%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +7.8% +4.5%
Can still gain 7.6% 4.5%
Fall before buffer 0.2% 0.0%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period 0.0% 0.0%
Fund return this period 0.0% 0.0%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.79%
Net assets $7m $102m

QBKV and RBUF on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

QBKV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.6% 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, IWM 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 IWM level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

RBUF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.5% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's IWM level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, QBKV or RBUF?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, QBKV can gain about 7.6% before its cap and RBUF about 4.5%, so QBKV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, QBKV or RBUF?
QBKV ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and RBUF on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, QBKV or RBUF?
QBKV charges 0.74% a year and RBUF charges 0.79%, so QBKV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
QBKV vs KOCTQBKV vs KJANQBKV vs QBKFRBUF vs KOCTRBUF vs KJANRBUF vs QBKF
iShares® Russell 2000 ETF →QBKV on its own →RBUF on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
QBKV filings on SEC EDGAR ↗AllianzIM page for QBKV ↗RBUF filings on SEC EDGAR ↗Innovator page for RBUF ↗

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, QBKV against RBUF, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbkv-vs-rbuf

Open data

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