Data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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Buffer ETFs

XBJA vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left

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As of Nov 4, 2026 XBJA can fall 9.3% before its buffer engages and ZJAN 5.0%.

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Net assets on Nov 4, 2026: $95m for Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Jan and $106m for Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr January.

At a glance
9.3%
XBJA can fall this far before its buffer
5.0%
ZJAN can fall this far before its buffer
1.6%
XBJA can still gain
1.2%
ZJAN can still gain
XBJA At its cap
At its capXBJA: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +11.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.9 pts of buffer+11.9% gain captured−9.0% floor0% period start+11.9% capTODAY · SPY +12.4%At its capXBJA: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +11.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.+11.9%−9.0% floor0% start+11.9% cap9 pts of bufferTODAY · SPY +12.4%

XBJA: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +11.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

XBJA: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +9.4%; buffer 0 to −9; cap +11.9%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.
ZJAN At its cap
At its capZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneath+6.5%full floor0% period start+6.5% capTODAY · SPY +12.4%At its capZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.full floor beneathfull floor0% start+6.5% cap+6.5% gain capturedTODAY · SPY +12.4%

ZJAN: reference +12.4% since period start, fund +4.6%; buffer Floor; cap +6.5%; At its cap. Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Data to Nov 4, 2026.

Pair scorecard

Both cost 0.79% a year; their one-year returns differ by 5.3 points; ZJAN is 1.1 times larger.

Points (pts) are percentage points.

XBJA vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
MeasureXBJAZJAN
Return
Total return, 1 year+11.1%+5.8%
Drawdown
Index fall to the buffer11.0%
Benchmark
What it tracksSPYSPY
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.79%0.79%
Net assets$95m$106m
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published

Method

Window by window

Window by window: XBJA vs ZJAN: Cap, Buffer & Days Left
Total returnGap to the reference's price return
WindowXBJAZJANXBJAZJAN
3 months+1.9%+1.2%+2.3 pts+1.6 pts
6 months+5.1%+2.6%+0.6 pts−1.9 pts
1 year+11.1%+5.8%−2.4 pts−7.8 pts
3 years+39.1%–−37.3 pts–
Since launchNot the same days: XBJA Jan 2022 · ZJAN Jan 2025+41.1%+11.6%−19.4 pts−19.6 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

XBJA Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 9% of loss on SPY and caps the gain at 11.9%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026 ZJAN Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr January · Absorbs the whole loss on SPY and caps the gain at 6.5%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Reference index SPY SPY
Buffer 9% 100%
Outcome period Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 57 57
Starting cap +11.9% +6.5%
Can still gain 1.6% 1.2%
Fall before buffer 9.3% 5.0%
Protection left, index points 9.0% of 9.0% 100.0% of 100.0%
Index return this period +12.4% +12.4%
Fund return this period +9.4% +4.6%
State today At cap At cap
Expense ratio 0.79% 0.79%
Net assets $95m $106m

As of Nov 4, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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

Both are already at their cap, so neither gains from more rise in the index before the period ends.

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

Where each one stands today

XBJA resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 57 days from now; ZJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 57 days. XBJA can still gain 1.6% before its cap, ZJAN 1.2%. A fall from here reaches XBJA’s buffer after 9.3% and ZJAN’s after 5.0%. Both track SPY, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

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About each fund
XBJA

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +11.9% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.6% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 9.3% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 11.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 9.0% of the 9.0% 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.

ZJAN

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +6.5% for the period on Nov 4, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 1.2% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 5.0% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. 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, XBJA or ZJAN?
From their prices on Nov 4, 2026, XBJA can gain about 1.6% before its cap and ZJAN about 1.2%, so XBJA has more room left this period.
Which resets first, XBJA or ZJAN?
XBJA ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and ZJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, XBJA or ZJAN?
XBJA and ZJAN 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, XBJA against ZJAN, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/xbja-vs-zjan

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