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LJAN Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - January

Buffer with income on SPY, paying monthly

Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, LJAN paid 4.9% in cash and still finished 12.3 points behind SPY.

Innovator · Income ETFs · data as of

Key facts

4.9%Cash paid, 1 year, on its starting price
+5.3%Total return, 1 year
−12.3 ptsAgainst SPY
4.8%Latest payout, annualized

Method

ETFIQ Return Stability Score

40.7joint 112th of 161

LJAN paid 4.9% in cash and its price rose 0.2%, so the payout came out of returns rather than principal.

Was the payout funded by returns, or by your own capital?

Against its benchmark
MLPD −38.1 ptsMDST −30.2 ptsSLTY −29.1 ptsBLOX −27.8 ptsEIPI −27.8 ptsYQQQ −27.6 ptsULTY −23.3 ptsGDXY −22.0 ptsHIGH −20.8 ptsTOPW −18.6 ptsTDVI −18.3 ptsYMAX −18.1 ptsHISF −17.3 ptsACKY −17.2 ptsWEEI −16.9 ptsNDIV −16.6 ptsLQDW −16.2 ptsOARK −15.8 ptsFDND −15.5 ptsTCAL −15.0 ptsQRMI −14.8 ptsSDVD −14.8 ptsLFGY −14.5 ptsSLJY −14.5 ptsSCLZ −14.1 ptsYFYA −13.9 ptsQUSA −13.5 ptsHYGW −13.0 ptsJULH −13.0 ptsXLRI −13.0 ptsMAGY −12.9 ptsYYY −12.7 ptsXLKI −12.6 ptsJULJ −12.4 ptsLJUL −12.4 ptsJANJ −12.3 ptsFGSI −12.2 ptsLOCT −12.1 ptsRNTY −12.1 ptsAIPI −12.0 ptsIWMY −12.0 ptsOCTJ −11.9 ptsHIPS −11.7 ptsJUCY −11.6 ptsXLEI −11.6 ptsAPRJ −11.3 ptsLAPR −11.3 ptsXISE −11.3 ptsXIJN −11.1 ptsCVRD −11.0 ptsJANH −11.0 ptsAPRH −10.9 ptsXBTY −10.7 ptsXIDE −10.7 ptsOCTH −10.6 ptsJEPI −10.3 ptsXIMR −10.1 ptsSRHR −9.7 ptsXRMI −8.7 ptsVEGA −8.3 ptsBUYW −8.2 ptsIAUI −7.9 ptsBAGY −7.7 ptsXV −7.5 ptsKHPI −7.3 ptsYBTC −7.3 ptsFTHI −7.0 ptsYLDE −6.8 ptsIGLD −6.1 ptsQQQI −6.1 ptsRDVI −6.0 ptsSPIN −5.9 ptsFEPI −5.8 ptsIWMW −5.8 ptsTYLG −5.7 ptsBITY −5.6 ptsSPUT −5.4 ptsWTPI −5.2 ptsPAPI −4.7 ptsXLVI −4.7 ptsETCO −4.3 ptsJEPQ −4.1 ptsCAIE −4.0 ptsFTKI −3.9 ptsGPTY −3.7 ptsIQQQ −3.7 ptsGIAX −3.4 ptsBIGY −3.3 ptsISPY −3.1 ptsRYLD −3.1 ptsWEEL −2.9 ptsYMAG −2.9 ptsRDTY −2.6 ptsXLBI −2.5 ptsNBOS −1.8 ptsRYLG −1.8 ptsSPYI −1.7 ptsFTQI −1.6 ptsKNG −1.6 ptsTSPY −1.6 ptsTHTA −1.5 ptsQQQY −1.3 ptsRDTE −1.3 ptsDIVO −1.2 ptsSIXH −1.2 ptsXYLD −1.2 ptsDFII −1.1 ptsGPIQ −1.1 ptsQDTY −1.1 ptsXYLG −1.1 ptsXDTE −0.9 ptsQDTE −0.7 ptsQYLD −0.7 ptsXLII −0.7 ptsXPAY −0.7 ptsEGGY −0.6 ptsJOYT −0.6 ptsSDTY −0.6 ptsWDTE −0.4 ptsBTCC −0.3 ptsQYLG −0.3 ptsGPIX 0.0 ptsDJIA +0.1 ptsDYLG +0.3 ptsIWMI +0.3 ptsKGLD +0.3 ptsXLFI +0.3 ptsIVVW +0.4 ptsLTTI +0.5 ptsLQTI +0.6 ptsPBP +0.6 ptsHYTI +0.9 ptsTDAQ +0.9 ptsCSHI +1.3 ptsBALI +1.4 ptsYETH +1.5 ptsHYBL +1.6 ptsXLUI +1.6 ptsCHPY +1.9 ptsBTCI +2.1 ptsSOXY +2.3 ptsITWO +2.5 ptsDOGG +2.7 ptsCEPI +2.9 ptsXLYI +2.9 ptsYBIT +2.9 ptsTLTP +3.4 ptsDUBS +4.0 ptsSEPI +4.7 ptsXLCI +5.2 ptsIDVO +5.4 ptsTLTW +5.4 ptsBCCC +6.3 ptsOMAH +6.5 ptsIDUB +6.9 ptsXLSI +8.8 ptsUSOY +10.5 ptsBUCK +10.9 ptsKLIP +20.9 ptsNVYY +24.6 ptsLJAN −12.3 ptsLJAN −12.3 pts−38.1 pts+24.6 pts

22.7% of the 161 sit at or below LJAN on this measure.

What happened to the principal
ETCO −75.0%XBTY −74.7%YETH −67.4%YBTC −61.4%BTCC −59.9%YBIT −58.9%BAGY −58.0%SLTY −54.4%ULTY −53.3%NVYY −52.4%BITY −51.9%BCCC −49.4%BTCI −46.9%DFII −44.8%LFGY −43.0%YMAX −41.0%BLOX −38.8%TOPW −36.6%OARK −33.3%KLIP −32.8%GDXY −32.5%YMAG −27.1%YQQQ −26.3%MAGY −25.8%IWMY −23.1%CEPI −21.0%RDTY −19.9%RDTE −19.4%QDTE −18.5%EGGY −15.1%TLTP −14.5%XLYI −14.1%LTTI −13.8%ACKY −13.7%WDTE −13.7%QQQY −13.0%QDTY −12.8%XDTE −12.8%AIPI −12.2%QUSA −11.8%LQTI −10.4%TLTW −10.3%SDTY −9.9%GIAX −9.8%XLUI −9.5%HIGH −9.3%LQDW −9.3%TCAL −9.0%FEPI −8.5%XV −8.4%IGLD −8.1%XLRI −8.0%XLCI −7.9%FDND −7.6%YYY −7.5%XLSI −7.3%RNTY −6.5%HYTI −6.3%GPTY −6.0%OMAH −6.0%XLBI −5.7%HYGW −5.6%IWMW −5.3%HIPS −5.2%XPAY −4.9%HISF −4.7%QRMI −4.2%USOY −4.0%XLFI −3.8%FGSI −3.2%BUCK −2.5%HYBL −2.5%JUCY −2.3%XRMI −2.3%MLPD −1.7%CAIE −1.6%IAUI −1.6%YFYA −1.6%IVVW −1.4%CVRD −1.3%JEPI −1.1%KNG −0.9%XIJN −0.7%JULJ −0.6%WTPI −0.5%CSHI −0.4%JULH −0.3%LJUL −0.2%XISE 0.0%JANH +0.1%JANJ +0.1%LAPR +0.1%LOCT +0.1%OCTJ +0.2%XLII +0.2%APRJ +0.3%OCTH +0.3%XIDE +0.3%XIMR +0.4%APRH +0.5%TSPY +0.6%KHPI +0.7%BIGY +0.8%WEEL +0.9%SRHR +1.0%FTHI +1.1%QQQI +1.5%XLVI +2.1%SPYI +2.6%QYLG +2.8%YLDE +2.8%BUYW +2.9%SDVD +3.0%XYLG +3.4%KGLD +3.8%THTA +3.9%DJIA +4.2%FTKI +4.3%SCLZ +4.4%PAPI +4.5%RYLD +4.7%XLKI +5.0%PBP +5.1%IWMI +5.3%DYLG +5.4%TDAQ +5.9%XYLD +5.9%JEPQ +6.0%SPIN +6.1%NBOS +6.5%SPUT +6.5%RYLG +7.1%GPIX +7.9%FTQI +8.0%DOGG +8.2%ISPY +8.4%QYLD +8.4%DIVO +8.9%MDST +9.3%VEGA +9.4%BALI +9.5%GPIQ +9.8%SLJY +11.0%RDVI +11.7%TDVI +11.7%IQQQ +12.3%SEPI +13.8%XLEI +13.8%SIXH +14.1%ITWO +14.3%EIPI +14.6%JOYT +16.1%IDVO +16.4%DUBS +18.9%WEEI +18.9%IDUB +19.0%TYLG +21.2%NDIV +22.9%CHPY +24.9%SOXY +68.6%LJAN +0.2%LJAN +0.2%−75.0%+68.6%

58.7% of the 161 sit at or below LJAN on this measure.

Weighted evenly, those two positions are what the score combines, across the 161 income ETFs writing on an index or proxy. Neither spread above is the score: a fund can sit further right on one and score lower. A position in this set, not a rating: it moves when the set moves, and it is not a figure to average against another desk's.

What the score is computed from
What it measuresThis fundIts percentileWeight
against its benchmark−12.3 pts22.750%
what happened to the principal+0.2%58.750%

All income ETFs ranked by this score · How it is computed

What a holder got

LJAN against SPYLJAN returned +5.3% with distributions reinvested against +17.5% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, a gap of −12.3 pts. Of that, 4.9% arrived as cash rather than price.+5.3%LJAN total return+17.5%S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy4.9% of it arrived as cash

Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, LJAN returned +5.3% with distributions reinvested and S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy returned +17.5%, so a holder came out behind it by 12.2 points. The lighter segment is the 4.9% that arrived as cash rather than as price.

Method

Period by period

LJAN over each window to Sep 11, 2026. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation. Source: ETFIQ.
WindowCash paidPriceTotal returnSPYAhead or behind
3 months1.2%+0.2%+1.4%+3.3%−1.9 pts
6 months2.5%+1.8%+4.3%+16.0%−11.7 pts
1 year4.9%+0.2%+5.3%+17.5%−12.3 pts
Since launch13.9%+0.9%+16.0%+66.6%−50.6 pts

Method

When LJAN pays

LJAN pays monthly. The last distribution was $0.1 a share, which went ex on Aug 31, 2026, with payment about 2 days later. The next has not been declared. On its own cadence of about 31 days the ex-date falls near Oct 1, 2026; that date is an ETFIQ projection, not the issuer’s.

Expected distributions for LJAN. Where the basis is a projection, ETFIQ has carried the fund’s own spacing forward from its last ex-date and held the amount at the last one paid; neither is an issuer statement. Source: ETFIQ.
Ex-datePay dateAmountBasis
Oct 1, 2026Oct 5, 2026$0.1ETFIQ projection from the fund’s own cadence
Every distribution ETFIQ holds for LJAN (13, most recent first)
Cash distributions per share for LJAN. Source: ETFIQ from Tiingo end-of-day distributions.
Ex-dateAmount
Aug 31, 2026$0.1
Jul 31, 2026$0.1
Jun 30, 2026$0.1
May 29, 2026$0.1
Apr 30, 2026$0.1
Mar 31, 2026$0.1
Feb 27, 2026$0.1
Jan 30, 2026$0.1
Dec 31, 2025$0.104
Nov 28, 2025$0.104
Oct 31, 2025$0.104
Sep 30, 2025$0.104
Aug 29, 2025$0.104

Every income ETF going ex-dividend in the next fortnight

Method

In plain words

Since it launched on Jan 2, 2024, LJAN has returned +16.0% with distributions reinvested, against +66.6% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, and has paid out 13.9% of its starting value in cash along the way. It pays monthly, and at its current price the latest distribution annualizes to 4.8%. No Rule 19a-1 notice has been published for this fund, so there is no issuer estimate of how much of its distributions was a return of capital.

LJAN (Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - January), income ETFs fields as of Sep 11, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
Strategybuffer with income
BenchmarkS&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy (proxy)
Paysmonthly
Net assets (issuer page, as of Sep 11, 2026)$12m
Latest payout, annualized (ETFIQ)4.8%
Expense ratio (485BPOS XBRL, Feb 27, 2026)0.79%
Cash paid, last 12 months, over today’s price (ETFIQ)4.9%
LaunchedJan 2, 2024
Paysmonthly
Typical gap between ex-dates31 days
Typical wait from ex-date to payment2 days
Last paid, per share$0.1 ex Aug 31, 2026
Sum of the last 12 distributions$1.2161

Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation from exchange prices and cash distributions (Tiingo end-of-day), total return with distributions reinvested. Return of capital is the issuer’s estimate. How these figures are computed

Questions people ask

How much has LJAN paid over the last year?
Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, LJAN paid 4.9% of its starting price in cash distributions, while the price rose 0.2%.
Is LJAN ahead of SPY?
Over the year to Sep 11, 2026, with every distribution reinvested, LJAN returned +5.3% against +17.5% for S&P 500 (SPY), used as a default proxy, so a holder was behind it by 12.2 points.
How often does LJAN pay, and how much?
LJAN pays monthly. The latest distribution annualizes to 4.8% at its price on Sep 11, 2026, which is not a promise; the next one can differ.
When does LJAN next pay a distribution?
LJAN pays monthly. The last distribution went ex on Aug 31, 2026 at $0.1 a share. The next is not declared; on a cadence of about 31 days the ex-date falls near Oct 1, 2026, which is an ETFIQ projection. Payment usually follows the ex-date by 2 days.
What does LJAN cost?
The prospectus expense ratio is 0.79% a year.

The words on this page

Total return
What a holder actually ended up with: price change plus every distribution, reinvested. The only figure that answers whether you came out ahead.
Cash paid
Distributions over the window as a share of what the fund cost at the start. A measure of cash delivered, not of return: a fund can pay a great deal and still lose money.
Ahead or behind
The fund’s total return minus the benchmark’s over exactly the same days, in percentage points. Both sides reinvest.
Return of capital
The issuer’s own estimate, in a Rule 19a-1 notice, of how much of a distribution was your own money returned. An estimate and a tax characterization, not a measure of erosion.
Covered call
Selling call options on shares the fund holds. It collects a premium and gives up the gains above the strike, which is why these funds pay well and lag a rising market.

Every term used here, defined in full on the income ETFs vocabulary page.

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

Funds near this one

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LJAN payout bar, ETFIQ

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<p><a href="https://etfiq.com/funds/ljan">LJAN payout bar, updated daily by ETFIQ</a></p>

Where LJAN is written about

LJAN, Income ETFs, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 11, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. ETFIQ is an independent publisher, is not a fund issuer, broker-dealer or investment adviser, and makes no recommendations.
Use this data, or open the live card

Open LJAN live on ETFIQ, where the figures refresh with the data.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, LJAN, income ETFs, data as of Sep 11, 2026. https://etfiq.com/funds/ljan Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

How these figures are computed · Standards and sources