{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/smax-vs-sten","section":"compare","title":"SMAX vs STEN: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SMAX can gain 9.3% before its cap and STEN 18.8%. Each can fall 0.5% and 0.5% before its buffer engages, on IVV.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, SMAX or STEN?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, SMAX can gain about 9.3% before its cap and STEN about 18.8%, so STEN has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, SMAX or STEN?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SMAX ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and STEN on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, SMAX or STEN?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SMAX charges 0.50% a year and STEN charges 0.50%, so SMAX 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":"SMAX vs STEN","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/smax-vs-sten"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"SMAX vs STEN: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SMAX can gain 9.3% before its cap and STEN 18.8%. Each can fall 0.5% and 0.5% before its buffer engages, on IVV.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/smax-vs-sten","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SMAX can fall 0.5% before its buffer engages and STEN 0.5%.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#website"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]}},{"@type":"Dataset","name":"ETFIQ comparison of SMAX and STEN","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SMAX can gain 9.3% before its cap and STEN 18.8%. Each can fall 0.5% and 0.5% before its buffer engages, on IVV.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/smax-vs-sten","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":5339,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / SMAX vs STEN \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n SMAX vs STEN: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 SMAX can fall 0.5% before its buffer engages and STEN 0.5%.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF and iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Sep ETF.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 0.5% SMAX can fall this far before its buffer \n 0.5% STEN can fall this far before its buffer \n 9.3% SMAX can still gain \n 18.8% STEN can still gain \n\n SMAX Full floor [SMAX: reference 0.0% since period start, fund \u00b7; buffer \u22120","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/smax-vs-sten","a":{"ticker":"SMAX","name":"iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF","issuer":"iShares","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, SMAX is between its buffer and cap, with IVV flat from 765.85, where both were set.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/smax","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"9.3%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"99.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"365","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$90m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"the issuer\u2019s own daily fund list, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.50%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"STEN","name":"iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Sep ETF","issuer":"iShares","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, STEN is between its buffer and cap, with IVV flat from 765.85, where both were set.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/sten","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"18.8%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"9.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"365","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$39m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"the issuer\u2019s own daily fund list, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.50%","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/smax-vs-sten"}