{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec","section":"compare","title":"QBUF vs QDEC: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 QBUF can gain 4.7% before its cap and QDEC 3.5%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.6% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, QBUF or QDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, QBUF can gain about 4.7% before its cap and QDEC about 3.5%, so QBUF has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, QBUF or QDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"QBUF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and QDEC on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, QBUF or QDEC?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"QBUF charges 0.79% a year and QDEC charges 0.90%, so QBUF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buffer ETFs","item":"https://etfiq.com/buffer/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"QBUF vs QDEC","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"QBUF vs QDEC: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 QBUF can gain 4.7% before its cap and QDEC 3.5%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.6% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 QDEC can fall 12.6% before its buffer engages and QBUF 0.0%, and QDEC resets 13 days sooner.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#website"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]}},{"@type":"Dataset","name":"ETFIQ comparison of QBUF and QDEC","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 QBUF can gain 4.7% before its cap and QDEC 3.5%. Each can fall 0.0% and 12.6% before its buffer engages, on QQQ.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec","license":"https://etfiq.com/standards/","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"inLanguage":"en","creativeWorkStatus":"Published","distribution":[{"@type":"DataDownload","encodingFormat":"application/json","contentUrl":"https://etfiq.com/data/funds.json"}],"variableMeasured":["Remaining cap","Fall before the buffer engages","Protection left in index points","Starting buffer","Outcome period","Reference index return","Fund return","Days remaining","Expense ratio"],"keywords":["exchange-traded funds","ETF","Buffer ETFs","fund data","SEC filings"]}],"characters":5868,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / QBUF vs QDEC \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n QBUF vs QDEC: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 QDEC can fall 12.6% before its buffer engages and QBUF 0.0%, and QDEC resets 13 days sooner.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n Innovator Nasdaq-100\u00ae 10 Buffer ETF\u2122 - Quarterly and FT Vest Nasdaq-100\u00ae Buffer ETF - December.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 0.0% QBUF can fall this far before its buffer \n 12.6% QDEC can fall this far before its buffer \n 4.7% QBUF can still gain \n 3.5% QDEC can still gain \n\n ETFIQ Downside Cover Score: QBUF","source":"ETFIQ, independent ETF data. Recomputed nightly from public filings and prices.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"license":"https://etfiq.com/license/","citation":"ETFIQ, as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec","a":{"ticker":"QBUF","name":"Innovator Nasdaq-100\u00ae 10 Buffer ETF\u2122 - Quarterly","issuer":"Innovator","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-10-01","verdict":"As of Oct 1, 2026, QBUF is between its buffer and cap, with QQQ flat since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/qbuf","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"4.7%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.0%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"10.0%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"92","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$187m","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.79%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, Oct 1, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"QDEC","name":"FT Vest Nasdaq-100\u00ae Buffer ETF - December","issuer":"First Trust","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, QDEC has reached its cap.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/qdec","key_facts":[{"label":"Past the cap, price drift left","value":"3.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"12.6%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"10.0%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"79","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$691m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.90%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"overlap_pct":null,"overlap_note":"ETFIQ does not publish a holdings overlap for this pair. Either the funds are not compared on holdings, or one book is incomplete.","full_text_at":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qbuf-vs-qdec"}