{"url":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf","section":"learn","title":"What is the cap on a buffer ETF? | ETFIQ","description":"As of Nov 4, 2026, the median buffer ETF with a stated cap can gain up to 13.8% over its outcome period, across 401 funds. Updated every trading night.","as_of":"Nov 4, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf#article","headline":"What is the cap on a buffer ETF?","description":"As of Nov 4, 2026, the median buffer ETF with a stated cap can gain up to 13.8% over its outcome period, across 401 funds.","url":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf","mainEntityOfPage":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf","dateModified":"2026-11-04","datePublished":"2026-11-04","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ETFIQ Research","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ETFIQ Research","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"about":"What is the cap on a buffer ETF?","inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf#questions","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the cap per year?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It is for the fund\u2019s outcome period, which is usually one year but can be one quarter."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does the cap change?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The stated cap is set at the start of the period. The cap left depends on today\u2019s price."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where do I see a fund\u2019s cap?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On its page, with the issuer\u2019s terms and a band drawing."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Learn","item":"https://etfiq.com/learn/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What is the cap on a buffer ETF?","item":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"What is the cap on a buffer ETF?","description":"As of Nov 4, 2026, the median buffer ETF with a stated cap can gain up to 13.8% over its outcome period, across 401 funds. Updated every trading night.","url":"https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf","dateModified":"2026-11-04","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".lede",".faq"]},"publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"}}],"characters":1994,"truncated":false,"content":"ETFIQ / Learn / What is the cap on a buffer ETF? \n \n What is the cap on a buffer ETF?\n Data as of Nov 4, 2026. Rebuilt every trading night.\n As of Nov 4, 2026, the median buffer ETF with a stated cap can gain up to 13.8% over its outcome period, across 401 funds.\n \n In plain words\n A buffer ETF uses options to absorb the first part of an index fall over a set period. In return it limits its gain: that limit is the cap, and past it the fund stops rising. \n The median cap across 401 funds is 13.8% for the outcome period. It is set when the period starts and moves with the fund\u2019s price after that, so ETFIQ shows the cap left, net of fees, as of today. Of the funds, 294 are standard buffers, 89 floor, 32 dual and 16 accelerated. Deeper protection or a higher multiple means a lower cap.\n Questions\n Is the cap per year? It is for the fund\u2019s outcome period, which is usually one year but can be one quarter.\n Does the cap change? The stated cap is set at the start of the period. The cap left depends on today\u2019s price.\n Where do I see a fund\u2019s cap? On its page, with the issuer\u2019s terms and a band drawing.\n Where to next\n Buffer ETFs Buffer ladder builder Screener: filter every ETF What is an ETF? How much does a buffer ETF cost? What is a buffer ETF outcome period? All ETF explainers How ETFIQ computes these numbers \n Cite this page. ETFIQ, What is the cap on a buffer ETF?, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf Free to use with attribution for data ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms. The underlying files are at Open data .\n Other forms Plain ETFIQ, What is the cap on a buffer ETF?, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf APA ETFIQ. (Nov 4, 2026). What is the cap on a buffer ETF?. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf Markdown [What is the cap on a buffer ETF? (ETFIQ, Nov 4, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf)","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/","license_text":"Data ETFIQ computes is free to use with attribution: ETFIQ (etfiq.com). Issuer data stays under its owner's terms.","citation":"ETFIQ, What is the cap on a buffer ETF?, data as of Nov 4, 2026. https://etfiq.com/learn/what-is-the-cap-on-a-buffer-etf"}