Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

SEPU vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XAUG can fall 1.9% before its buffer engages and SEPU 0.6%, and XAUG resets 11 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $164m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Sep and $26m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August.

At a glance
0.6%
SEPU can fall this far before its buffer
1.9%
XAUG can fall this far before its buffer
uncapped
SEPU can still gain
9.1%
XAUG can still gain
SEPU Buffer working
Buffer workingSEPU: reference 0.0% since period start, fund −0.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 of 15 pts of buffer left−15.0% floor0% period startno capTODAY · SPY 0.0%Buffer workingSEPU: reference 0.0% since period start, fund −0.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts−15.0% floor0% startno capTODAY · SPY 0.0%

SEPU: reference 0.0% since period start, fund −0.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SEPU: reference 0.0% since period start, fund −0.2%; buffer 0 to −15; no cap; Buffer working. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
XAUG Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capXAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11% more to the cap−15.0% floor0% period start+11.1% cap+0.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.1%Between buffer and capXAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.15 pts of buffer+11% to cap−15.0% floor0% start+11.1% cap+0.1% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.1%

XAUG: reference +0.1% since period start, fund +1.1%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +11.1%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

SEPU costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 1.6 points; SEPU is 6.3 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

SEPU vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureSEPUXAUG
Return
Total return, 1 year+9.9%+8.3%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer0.0%0.1%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.74%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$164m$26m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: SEPU vs XAUG: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowSEPUXAUGSEPUXAUG
3 months−0.9%+1.3%−0.6 pts+1.7 pts
6 months+3.3%+3.4%−1.2 pts−1.1 pts
1 year+9.9%+8.3%−3.7 pts−5.3 pts
3 years–+32.7%–−43.7 pts
Since launchNot the same days: SEPU Sep 2024 · XAUG Aug 2023+28.5%+33.9%−10.4 pts−40.6 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

SEPU AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETF - Sep · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and does not cap the gain, over a period ending Aug 31, 2027 XAUG FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.1%, over a period ending Aug 20, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 15% 15%
Outcome period Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 Aug 24, 2026 to Aug 20, 2027
Days left 300 289
Starting cap uncapped +11.1%
Can still gain uncapped 9.1%
Fall before buffer 0.6% 1.9%
Protection left, index points 15.0% of 15.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +0.1%
Fund return this period −0.2% +1.1%
State today Buffer working Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $164m $26m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Where each one stands today

XAUG resets first, on Aug 20, 2027, 289 days from now; SEPU runs to Aug 31, 2027, 300 days. A fall from here reaches SEPU’s buffer after 0.6% and XAUG’s after 1.9%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
SEPU

This fund has no cap. It takes a share of any further rise in SPY. The fund's price can fall 0.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. 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. 300 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 31, 2027 the period ends and new terms are set.

XAUG

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 9.1% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.1% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. 289 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Aug 20, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which resets first, SEPU or XAUG?
SEPU ends its outcome period on Aug 31, 2027 and XAUG on Aug 20, 2027. New terms are set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, SEPU or XAUG?
SEPU charges 0.74% a year and XAUG charges 0.85%, so SEPU is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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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.

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ETFIQ, SEPU against XAUG, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sepu-vs-xaug

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