Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

QBSF vs XSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XSEP can fall 1.7% before its buffer engages and QBSF 0.8%, and QBSF resets 260 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $68m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 ETF - Jan and $99m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September.

At a glance
0.8%
QBSF can fall this far before its buffer
1.7%
XSEP can fall this far before its buffer
2.1%
QBSF can still gain
9.4%
XSEP can still gain
QBSF Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% period start+2.9% cap+0.5% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capQBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% start+2.9% cap+0.5% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

QBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

QBSF: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.6%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +2.9%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XSEP Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+10.5% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.2% cap+0.7% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capXSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer−15.0% floor0% start+11.2% cap+0.7% gain captured+10.5% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%

XSEP: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.9%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

QBSF costs 0.21 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.4 points; XSEP is 1.5 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

QBSF vs XSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureQBSFXSEP
Return
Total return, 1 year+6.9%+9.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.5%0.6%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.64%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$68m$99m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: QBSF vs XSEP: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowQBSFXSEPQBSFXSEP
3 months+1.2%+1.6%+1.6 pts+1.9 pts
6 months+3.2%+4.1%−1.3 pts−0.4 pts
1 year+6.9%+9.3%−6.6 pts−4.3 pts
3 years–+32.5%–−44.0 pts
Since launchNot the same days: QBSF Jul 2025 · XSEP Sep 2022+10.1%+51.6%−14.0 pts−53.3 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

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 XSEP FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September · Absorbs the first 0% to 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.2%, over a period ending Sep 17, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 0% to 15%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 to Sep 17, 2027
Days left 57 317
Starting cap +2.9% +11.2%
Can still gain 2.1% 9.4%
Fall before buffer 0.8% 1.7%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.7%
Fund return this period +0.6% +0.9%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.64% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $68m $99m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. XSEP is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. QBSF 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. QBSF has 57 days of its period left and XSEP has 317, so the two are not the same bet on the same months.

Where each one stands today

QBSF resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; XSEP runs to Sep 17, 2027, 317 days. QBSF can still gain 2.1% before its cap, XSEP 9.4%. A fall from here reaches QBSF’s buffer after 0.8% and XSEP’s after 1.7%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
QBSF

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.1% 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: 15.0% of the 15.0% 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.

XSEP

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.4% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.6% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. 317 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, QBSF or XSEP?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, QBSF can gain about 2.1% before its cap and XSEP about 9.4%, so XSEP has more room left this period.
Which resets first, QBSF or XSEP?
QBSF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and XSEP on Sep 17, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, QBSF or XSEP?
QBSF charges 0.64% a year and XSEP charges 0.85%, so QBSF 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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, QBSF against XSEP, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbsf-vs-xsep

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Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms.