Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

UNOV vs ZNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 UNOV can fall 5.7% before its buffer engages and ZNOV 0.4%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $112m for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Nov and $152m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr November.

At a glance
5.7%
UNOV can fall this far before its buffer
0.4%
ZNOV can fall this far before its buffer
13.6%
UNOV can still gain
8.3%
ZNOV can still gain
UNOV Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capUNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +14.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer+13% more to the cap−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+14.5% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+1.4% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +1.4%Between buffer and capUNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +14.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+14.5% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+1.4% gain captured+13% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.4%

UNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +14.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

UNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +14.5%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZNOV Full floor
Full floorZNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% period start+8.7% cap+1.4% gain captured+7.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.4%Full floorZNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+8.7% cap+1.4% gain captured+7.3% more to the capTODAY · SPY +1.4%

ZNOV: reference +1.4% since period start, fund +0.4%; buffer Floor; cap +8.7%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; their one-year returns differ by 4.8 points; ZNOV is 1.4 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

UNOV vs ZNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureUNOVZNOV
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.3%+6.5%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer6.3%1.4%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$112m$152m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Nov 8, 2024 to Oct 30, 2026 · 103 weekly returns · each against SPY
UNOV ZNOV
Return
Total return edge UNOV +19.8% +12.3%
Annualized edge UNOV +9.5% +6.0%
Price return edge UNOV +19.8% +12.3%
Risk
Volatility edge ZNOV 7.0% 3.0%
Max drawdown edge ZNOV −8.3% −3.1%
Downside capture 49.0% 17.0%
Beta 0.46 0.19
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge UNOV 0.76 0.63
Sortino edge UNOV 1.16 0.94
Treynor 0.115 0.100
Calmar edge ZNOV 1.15 1.97
Against the benchmark
Alpha +0.7% a year 0.0% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.69 −0.01
Information ratio −0.58 −0.68
Tracking error 8.0% 12.0%
Reading

From Nov 2024 to Oct 2026, UNOV returned more: +19.8% to +12.3%. ZNOV swung less: 3.0% to 7.0%. ZNOV fell less at its worst: −3.1% to −8.3%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
Open ↓
Risk and return: UNOV vs ZNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureUNOVZNOVSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+19.8%+12.3%UNOVPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+9.5%+6.0%UNOVTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+19.8%+12.3%UNOVPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility7.0%3.0%ZNOVSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation4.6%2.0%ZNOVLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−8.3%−3.1%ZNOVDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture38.3%15.2%100.0%UNOVShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture49.0%17.0%100.0%ZNOVShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.460.191.00ZNOV lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.960.871.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe0.760.63UNOVReturn above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino1.160.94UNOVReturn above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1150.1000.100UNOVReturn above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar1.151.97ZNOVAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+0.7% a year0.0% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.69−0.01Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−1.3% to +2.7%−1.5% to +1.5%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−0.58−0.68UNOVReturn against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error8.0%12.0%0.0%Not an edgeHow far weekly returns stray from the benchmark, annualized.

Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices and ETFIQ's distribution records, 103 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: UNOV vs ZNOV: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowUNOVZNOVUNOVZNOV
3 months+2.6%+1.9%+3.0 pts+2.3 pts
6 months+5.7%+3.6%+1.2 pts−0.9 pts
1 year+11.3%+6.5%−2.2 pts−7.0 pts
3 years+38.3%–−38.1 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: UNOV Nov 2019 · ZNOV Nov 2024+63.5%+13.4%−87.0 pts−20.9 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

UNOV Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Nov · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 35.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 14.5%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027 ZNOV Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr November · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 8.7%, over a period ending Oct 31, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 35% 100%
Outcome period Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027 Oct 31, 2026 to Oct 31, 2027
Days left 361 361
Starting cap +14.5% +8.7%
Can still gain 13.6% 8.3%
Fall before buffer 5.7% 0.4%
Protection left, index points 30.0% of 30.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +1.4% +1.4%
Fund return this period +0.7% +0.4%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $112m $152m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

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

Where each one stands today

UNOV resets first, on Oct 31, 2027, 361 days from now; ZNOV runs to Oct 31, 2027, 361 days. UNOV can still gain 13.6% before its cap, ZNOV 8.3%. A fall from here reaches UNOV’s buffer after 5.7% and ZNOV’s after 0.4%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

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About each fund
UNOV

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 13.6% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 5.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 6.3% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 30.0% of the 30.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 361 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Oct 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZNOV

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 8.3% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 1.4% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 100.0% of the 100.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, UNOV or ZNOV?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, UNOV can gain about 13.6% before its cap and ZNOV about 8.3%, so UNOV has more room left this period.
Which resets first, UNOV or ZNOV?
UNOV ends its outcome period on Oct 31, 2027 and ZNOV on Oct 31, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, UNOV or ZNOV?
UNOV and ZNOV both charge 0.79% a year, so neither is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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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.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, UNOV against ZNOV, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/unov-vs-znov

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