QBSV vs XDEC: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 XDEC can fall 7.7% before its buffer engages and QBSV 0.2%, and XDEC resets 13 days sooner. AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan and FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - December.

0.2%
QBSV can fall this far before its buffer
7.7%
XDEC can fall this far before its buffer
4.9%
QBSV can still gain
1.7%
XDEC can still gain
QBSVBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.5 pts of buffer+5.1% to cap−5.0% floor0% period start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Between buffer and capQBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.−5.0% floor0% start+5.1% capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

QBSV: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −5; cap +5.1%; Between buffer and cap.

XDECAt its cap
At its capXDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +7.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.1%; At its cap.15 pts of buffer+10.1% gain captured−15.0% floor0% period start+10.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%At its capXDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +7.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.1%; At its cap.15 pts of buffer+10.1%−15.0% floor0% start+10.1% capTODAY · SPY +12.0%

XDEC: reference +12.0% since period start, fund +7.4%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +10.1%; At its cap.

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

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

Where each one stands today

XDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; QBSV runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. QBSV can still gain 4.9% before its cap, XDEC 1.7%. A fall from here reaches QBSV’s buffer after 0.2% and XDEC’s after 7.7%. 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
WindowQBSVXDECQBSVXDEC
3 months+2.2%+2.4%−0.3 pts−0.2 pts
6 months+8.2%+8.2%−8.8 pts−8.8 pts
1 yearnot published+9.3%not published−6.5 pts
3 yearsnot published+33.2%not published−51.8 pts

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

On the same fields

QBSV
AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer5 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 5% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 5.1%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
XDEC
FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 10.1%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer AllianzIM First Trust
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% 15%
Outcome period Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 92 79
Starting cap +5.1% +10.1%
Can still gain 4.9% 1.7%
Fall before buffer 0.2% 7.7%
Protection left, index points 5.0% of 5.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +12.0%
Fund return this period 0.0% +7.4%
State today Open At cap
Expense ratio 0.64% 0.85%
Net assets $27m $208m

QBSV and XDEC on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

QBSV in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.9% 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: 5.0% of the 5.0% 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.

XDEC in plain words

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +10.1% 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 1.7% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 7.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 10.7% 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. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, QBSV or XDEC?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, QBSV can gain about 4.9% before its cap and XDEC about 1.7%, so QBSV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, QBSV or XDEC?
QBSV ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and XDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, QBSV or XDEC?
QBSV charges 0.64% a year and XDEC charges 0.85%, so QBSV is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Cite this page

ETFIQ, QBSV against XDEC, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbsv-vs-xdec

Open data

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