{"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sqmx-vs-zalt","section":"compare","title":"SQMX vs ZALT: which one stands where? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SQMX can gain 2.6% before its cap and ZALT 3.6%. Each can fall 0.4% and 0.0% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","as_of":"Oct 1, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which has more room to gain, SQMX or ZALT?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, SQMX can gain about 2.6% before its cap and ZALT about 3.6%, so ZALT has more room left this period."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which resets first, SQMX or ZALT?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SQMX ends its outcome period on Dec 18, 2026 and ZALT on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which is cheaper, SQMX or ZALT?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SQMX charges 0.85% a year and ZALT charges 0.69%, so ZALT 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":"SQMX vs ZALT","item":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sqmx-vs-zalt"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"SQMX vs ZALT: which one stands where?","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SQMX can gain 2.6% before its cap and ZALT 3.6%. Each can fall 0.4% and 0.0% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sqmx-vs-zalt","dateModified":"2026-10-01","abstract":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SQMX can fall 0.4% before its buffer engages and ZALT 0.0%, and SQMX 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 SQMX and ZALT","description":"As of Oct 1, 2026 SQMX can gain 2.6% before its cap and ZALT 3.6%. Each can fall 0.4% and 0.0% before its buffer engages, on SPY.","dateModified":"2026-10-01","creator":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"},"isAccessibleForFree":true,"url":"https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/sqmx-vs-zalt","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":5765,"truncated":true,"content":"ETFIQ / Buffer ETFs / Head to head / SQMX vs ZALT \n ETFIQ etfiq.com \u00b7 independent ETF data \n\n Data as of Oct 1, 2026 .\n\n SQMX vs ZALT: which one stands where?\n\n As of Oct 1, 2026 SQMX can fall 0.4% before its buffer engages and ZALT 0.0%, and SQMX resets 13 days sooner.\n Copy this for sharing \n \n FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF and Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly.\n\n Download as PDF \n\n 0.4% SQMX can fall this far before its buffer \n 0.0% ZALT can fall this far before its buffer \n 2.6% SQMX can still gain \n 3.6% ZALT can still gain \n\n ETFIQ Downside Cover Score: SQMX","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/sqmx-vs-zalt","a":{"ticker":"SQMX","name":"FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF","issuer":"First Trust","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-09-30","verdict":"As of Sep 30, 2026, SQMX is between its buffer and cap, with SPY up 0.1% since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/sqmx","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"2.6%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Fall before the buffer","value":"0.4%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Protection left, index points","value":"12.5%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Days to reset","value":"79","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":null},{"label":"Net assets","value":"$57m","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.85%","as_of":"2026-09-30","source":"issuer page, Sep 30, 2026"}]},"b":{"ticker":"ZALT","name":"Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly","issuer":"Innovator","desk":"buffer","as_of":"2026-10-01","verdict":"As of Oct 1, 2026, ZALT is between its buffer and cap, with SPY flat since the period began.","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/zalt","key_facts":[{"label":"Can still gain","value":"3.6%","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":"$795m","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, as of Sep 30, 2026"},{"label":"Expense ratio","value":"0.69%","as_of":"2026-10-01","source":"issuer page, Oct 1, 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/sqmx-vs-zalt"}