Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

UOCT vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 UOCT can fall 5.7% before its buffer engages and ZOCT 0.8%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $271m for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Oct and $227m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr October.

At a glance
5.7%
UOCT can fall this far before its buffer
0.8%
ZOCT can fall this far before its buffer
14.4%
UOCT can still gain
8.5%
ZOCT can still gain
UOCT Between buffer and cap
Between buffer and capUOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer+14.8% more to the cap−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% period start+15.3% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Between buffer and capUOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.30 pts of buffer−35.0% floor−5.0% buffer start0% start+15.3% capfirst 5 pts are yours to lose+0.5% gain captured+14.8% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

UOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

UOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.7%; buffer −5 to −35; cap +15.3%; Between buffer and cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZOCT Full floor
Full floorZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+8.9% to capfull floor0% period start+9.4% cap+0.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +0.5%Full floorZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; Full floor. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+9.4% cap+0.5% gain captured+8.9% more to the capTODAY · SPY +0.5%

ZOCT: reference +0.5% since period start, fund +0.8%; buffer Floor; cap +9.4%; 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 4.1 points; UOCT is 1.2 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

UOCT vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureUOCTZOCT
Return
Total return, 1 year+10.3%+6.2%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer5.5%0.5%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$271m$227m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Risk and return

Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 30, 2026 · 107 weekly returns · each against SPY
UOCT ZOCT
Return
Total return edge UOCT +20.9% +12.4%
Annualized edge UOCT +9.7% +5.8%
Price return edge UOCT +20.9% +12.4%
Risk
Volatility edge ZOCT 6.9% 2.8%
Max drawdown edge ZOCT −8.3% −3.1%
Downside capture 47.4% 17.1%
Beta 0.45 0.18
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe edge UOCT 0.79 0.60
Sortino edge UOCT 1.22 0.91
Treynor 0.121 0.094
Calmar edge ZOCT 1.17 1.89
Against the benchmark
Alpha +0.5% a year −0.3% a year
Alpha t-stat 0.40 −0.47
Information ratio −0.67 −0.77
Tracking error 8.4% 12.3%
Reading

From Oct 2024 to Oct 2026, UOCT returned more: +20.9% to +12.4%. ZOCT swung less: 2.8% to 6.9%. ZOCT fell less at its worst: −3.1% to −8.3%.

Full scorecard

19 measures, with how each is measured
Open ↓
Risk and return: UOCT vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureUOCTZOCTSPYEdgeHow it is measured
Return
Total return+20.9%+12.4%UOCTPrice change plus distributions, reinvested.
Annualized+9.7%+5.8%UOCTTotal return as a yearly rate.
Price return+20.9%+12.4%UOCTPrice change alone, distributions left out.
Risk
Volatility6.9%2.8%ZOCTSpread of weekly returns, annualized. Lower is steadier.
Downside deviation4.5%1.8%ZOCTLike volatility, counting only weeks below the Treasury bill rate.
Max drawdown−8.3%−3.1%ZOCTDeepest fall from a high to the low after it.
Upside capture36.3%14.5%100.0%UOCTShare of its benchmark's rise caught in the weeks it rose.
Downside capture47.4%17.1%100.0%ZOCTShare of its benchmark's fall taken in the weeks it fell. Lower is better.
Beta0.450.181.00ZOCT lowerHow far it moves for each 1% its benchmark moves.
R squared0.940.901.00Not an edgeShare of its weekly moves its benchmark explains.
Risk-adjusted
Sharpe0.790.60UOCTReturn above Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
Sortino1.220.91UOCTReturn above Treasury bills per unit of downside deviation.
Treynor0.1210.0940.111UOCTReturn above Treasury bills per unit of beta.
Calmar1.171.89ZOCTAnnualized return divided by the max drawdown.
Against the benchmark
BenchmarkSPYSPYSPYThe ETF each fund is measured against.
Alpha+0.5% a year−0.3% a year0.0%Not significantYearly return beyond what its beta to the benchmark predicts.
Alpha t-stat0.40−0.47Not an edgeHow sure the alpha is. Below 2, it could be chance.
Alpha range−1.8% to +2.8%−1.6% to +1.0%Both include zeroThe 95% range for the yearly alpha.
Information ratio−0.67−0.77UOCTReturn against its benchmark per unit of tracking error.
Tracking error8.4%12.3%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, 107 weekly returns. Cash rate: the 13-week Treasury bill.

Window by window

Window by window: UOCT vs ZOCT: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowUOCTZOCTUOCTZOCT
3 months+1.9%+1.7%+2.3 pts+2.1 pts
6 months+5.1%+3.4%+0.6 pts−1.1 pts
1 year+10.3%+6.2%−3.3 pts−7.3 pts
3 years+37.9%–−38.5 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: UOCT Oct 2018 · ZOCT Oct 2024+77.5%+12.8%−85.4 pts−22.0 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

UOCT Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Oct · Absorbs losses from 5.0% to 35.0% on SPY and caps the gain at 15.3%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027 ZOCT Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr October · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 9.4%, over a period ending Sep 30, 2027
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 5% to 35% 100%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 Sep 30, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Days left 330 330
Starting cap +15.3% +9.4%
Can still gain 14.4% 8.5%
Fall before buffer 5.7% 0.8%
Protection left, index points 30.0% of 30.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +0.5% +0.5%
Fund return this period +0.7% +0.8%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $271m $227m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

These are two different products. ZOCT is a floor fund, which caps how far a holder can fall. UOCT 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

UOCT resets first, on Sep 30, 2027, 330 days from now; ZOCT runs to Sep 30, 2027, 330 days. UOCT can still gain 14.4% before its cap, ZOCT 8.5%. A fall from here reaches UOCT’s buffer after 5.7% and ZOCT’s after 0.8%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Client brief:

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About each fund
UOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.4% 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 5.5% 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. 330 days remained on Nov 4, 2026. On Sep 30, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

ZOCT

From its price on Nov 4, 2026, the fund can gain about 8.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.8% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 0.5% 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, UOCT or ZOCT?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, UOCT can gain about 14.4% before its cap and ZOCT about 8.5%, so UOCT has more room left this period.
Which resets first, UOCT or ZOCT?
UOCT ends its outcome period on Sep 30, 2027 and ZOCT on Sep 30, 2027. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, UOCT or ZOCT?
UOCT and ZOCT 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, UOCT against ZOCT, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/uoct-vs-zoct

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