Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

SIXJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 SIXJ can fall 3.0% before its buffer engages and SQMX 1.0%, and SQMX resets 13 days sooner.

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Net assets on Nov 3, 2026: $148m for AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Jan and $55m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF.

At a glance
3.0%
SIXJ can fall this far before its buffer
1.0%
SQMX can fall this far before its buffer
5.0%
SIXJ can still gain
2.0%
SQMX can still gain
SIXJ Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSIXJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts of buffer+2.7%+5.5% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+8.2% capTODAY · SPY +2.7%Between buffer and capSIXJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+8.2% cap+2.7% gain captured+5.5% more to the capTODAY · SPY +2.7%

SIXJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SIXJ: reference +2.7% since period start, fund +2.7%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +8.2%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
SQMX Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capSQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12.5 pts of buffer−12.5% floor0% period start+3.0% cap+0.7% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%Between buffer and capSQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.12.5 pts−12.5% floor0% start+3.0% cap+0.7% gain captured+2.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.7%

SQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

SQMX: reference +0.7% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer 0 to −12; cap +3.0%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

SIXJ costs 0.11 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.9 points; SIXJ is 2.7 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

SIXJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureSIXJSQMX
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.7%+6.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer2.6%0.7%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.74%0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026$148m$55m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published
ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · SQMX scores higher If the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
IQ Buffer Score38.7SIXJ63SQMX

How much of a bear-market fall the buffer would absorb from today's level, ranked against 292 buffer ETFs on stocks with a live outcome period. 100 is best. How it is computed

0.3, the lowest in this set 99.7, the highest

Today's position against one 20% fall; it ignores smaller falls, and stock buffers are never ranked against bond or commodity ones. All buffer ETFs ranked by it →

Method

Window by window

Window by window: SIXJ vs SQMX: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowSIXJSQMXSIXJSQMX
3 months+0.8%+1.2%+1.2 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+4.7%+3.3%+0.2 pts−1.2 pts
1 year+11.7%+6.8%−1.8 pts−6.8 pts
3 years+51.3%–−25.1 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: SIXJ Jan 2022 · SQMX Dec 2024+48.9%+13.7%−11.7 pts−15.2 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

SIXJ AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer10 ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.2%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026 SQMX FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF · Absorbs the first 12% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 3.0%, over a period ending Dec 18, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 10% 12%
Outcome period Jul 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026
Days left 57 44
Starting cap +8.2% +3.0%
Can still gain 5.0% 2.0%
Fall before buffer 3.0% 1.0%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 12.5% of 12.5%
Index return this period +2.7% +0.7%
Fund return this period +2.7% +0.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.74% 0.85%
Net assets, as of Nov 3, 2026 $148m $55m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

Where each one stands today

SQMX resets first, on Dec 18, 2026, 44 days from now; SIXJ runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. SIXJ can still gain 5.0% before its cap, SQMX 2.0%. A fall from here reaches SIXJ’s buffer after 3.0% and SQMX’s after 1.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
SIXJ

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 5.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 3.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 2.6% 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 SPY level. 57 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

SQMX

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 2.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 1.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 12.5% of the 12.5% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 44 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, SIXJ or SQMX?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, SIXJ can gain about 5.0% before its cap and SQMX about 2.0%, so SIXJ has more room left this period.
Which resets first, SIXJ or SQMX?
SIXJ ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and SQMX on Dec 18, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, SIXJ or SQMX?
SIXJ charges 0.74% a year and SQMX charges 0.85%, so SIXJ 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

It is a place in a set, not a rating or a recommendation.

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, SIXJ against SQMX, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sixj-vs-sqmx

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