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QBSF vs SIXJ: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 SIXJ can fall 2.5% before its buffer engages and QBSF 0.2%. AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 ETF - Jan and AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Jan.

0.2%
QBSF can fall this far before its buffer
2.5%
SIXJ can fall this far before its buffer
2.7%
QBSF can still gain
5.5%
SIXJ can still gain
QBSFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period start+2.9% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capQBSF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% start+2.9% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

QBSF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap.

SIXJBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSIXJ: reference +2.1% since period start, fund +2.2%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer+2.1%+6% more to the cap−10.0% floor0% period start+8.2% capTODAY · SPY +2.1%Between buffer and capSIXJ: reference +2.1% since period start, fund +2.2%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+8.2% capTODAY · SPY +2.1%

SIXJ: reference +2.1% since period start, fund +2.2%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · QBSF 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 →

Both are AllianzIM funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

QBSF resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; SIXJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. QBSF can still gain 2.7% before its cap, SIXJ 5.5%. A fall from here reaches QBSF’s buffer after 0.2% and SIXJ’s after 2.5%. 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
WindowQBSFSIXJQBSFSIXJ
3 months+1.9%+2.3%−0.6 pts−0.2 pts
6 months+4.8%+10.4%−12.2 pts−6.6 pts
1 year+7.2%+11.9%−8.5 pts−3.8 pts
3 yearsnot published+52.0%not published−33.0 pts

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

On the same fields

QBSF
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 2.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
SIXJ
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.2%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer AllianzIM AllianzIM
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 10%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Jul 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +2.9% +8.2%
Can still gain 2.7% 5.5%
Fall before buffer 0.2% 2.5%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 10.0% of 10.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +2.1%
Fund return this period 0.0% +2.2%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.64% 0.74%
Net assets $62m $152m

QBSF and SIXJ on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

QBSF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.7% 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, SPY can fall 0.0% 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. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

SIXJ in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.1% 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.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, QBSF or SIXJ?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, QBSF can gain about 2.7% before its cap and SIXJ about 5.5%, so SIXJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, QBSF or SIXJ?
QBSF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and SIXJ on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, QBSF or SIXJ?
QBSF charges 0.64% a year and SIXJ charges 0.74%, so QBSF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
QBSF vs DDFOQBSF vs DDSQQBSF vs DDTJQBSF vs DDTOSIXJ vs DDFJSIXJ vs DDSQSIXJ vs DDTJSIXJ vs DECM
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust →QBSF on its own →SIXJ on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
QBSF and SIXJ filings on SEC EDGAR ↗AllianzIM page for QBSF ↗AllianzIM page for SIXJ ↗

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, QBSF against SIXJ, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbsf-vs-sixj

Open data

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