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QDEC vs QQBF: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 QDEC can fall 12.6% before its buffer engages and QQBF 0.9%. FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Buffer ETF - December and FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF.

12.6%
QDEC can fall this far before its buffer
0.9%
QQBF can fall this far before its buffer
3.5%
QDEC can still gain
2.3%
QQBF can still gain
QDECAt its cap
At its capQDEC: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +13.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +18.2%; At its cap.10 pts of buffer+18.2% gain captured−10.0% floor0% period start+18.2% capTODAY · QQQ +19.9%At its capQDEC: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +13.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +18.2%; At its cap.10 pts+18.2% gained−10.0% floor0% start+18.2% capTODAY · QQQ +19.9%

QDEC: reference +19.9% since period start, fund +13.3%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +18.2%; At its cap.

QQBFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capQQBF: reference +2.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +3.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+2.5%−15.0% floor0% period start+3.3% capTODAY · QQQ +2.5%Between buffer and capQQBF: reference +2.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +3.3%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts−15.0% floor0% start+3.3% capTODAY · QQQ +2.5%

QQBF: reference +2.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +3.3%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · QQBF 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 →

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

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

Where each one stands today

QDEC resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 79 days from now; QQBF runs to Dec 18, 2026, 79 days. QDEC can still gain 3.5% before its cap, QQBF 2.3%. A fall from here reaches QDEC’s buffer after 12.6% and QQBF’s after 0.9%. Both track QQQ, 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
WindowQDECQQBFQDECQQBF
3 months+3.9%not published+1.8 ptsnot published
6 months+16.8%not published−10.1 ptsnot published
1 year+18.6%not published−5.2 ptsnot published
3 years+63.0%not published−46.9 ptsnot published

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

On the same fields

QDEC
FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Buffer ETF - December · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 18.2%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
QQBF
FT Vest Nasdaq-100® Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on QQQ and caps the gain at 3.3%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Issuer First Trust First Trust
Reference index QQQ QQQ
Buffer 10% 15%
Outcome period Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 18, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 79 79
Starting cap +18.2% +3.3%
Can still gain 3.5% 2.3%
Fall before buffer 12.6% 0.9%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period +19.9% +2.5%
Fund return this period +13.3% +0.7%
State today At cap Open
Expense ratio 0.90% 0.90%
Net assets $691m $1m

QDEC and QQBF on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

QDEC in plain words

QQQ had already risen past this fund's cap of +18.2% 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 3.5% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 12.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 16.6% 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 QQQ level. 79 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

QQBF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, QQQ can fall 2.5% 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 QQQ level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, QDEC or QQBF?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, QDEC can gain about 3.5% before its cap and QQBF about 2.3%, so QDEC has more room left this period.
Which resets first, QDEC or QQBF?
QDEC ends its outcome period on Dec 18, 2026 and QQBF on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, QDEC or QQBF?
QDEC charges 0.90% a year and QQBF charges 0.90%, so QDEC is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
QDEC vs QBUFQDEC vs QBQFQDEC vs QBQVQDEC vs CPNQQQBF vs QBUFQQBF vs PQJAQQBF vs QBQFQQBF vs QBQV
Invesco QQQ Trust →QDEC on its own →QQBF on its own →How every figure is computed →Standards and sources →
Where these figures came from
QDEC filings on SEC EDGAR ↗First Trust page for QDEC ↗First Trust page for QQBF ↗

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, QDEC against QQBF, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/qdec-vs-qqbf

Open data

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