Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF
$54.45−0.01 (−0.02%)
- 0.10%
- $1.1B
- +12.3%
- 0.00%
- 0.1M sh
- $54.37
- low $48.41high $54.47
The ETF.net BUFF Grade
A
Score 70 out of 100
- 4 of 18
Score 70 of 100 falls in the A band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.A82 out of 100Rank 1 of 18Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.B57 out of 100Rank 7 of 18Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.B61 out of 100Rank 6 of 18Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.B62 out of 100Rank 10 of 18Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.A79 out of 100Rank 3 of 18
Our read on BUFF
ATwelve buffer ETFs in one ticker. BUFF spreads across every monthly start date in Innovator's 15% Power Buffer lineup, so no single entry month sets your terms, and the wrapper charges 0.10%.
The fund seeks exposure to the FTSE Laddered Power Buffer Strategy Index, which equally allocates among 12 U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETFs. Those underlying ETFs seek U.S. equity upside subject to caps while buffering the first 15% of losses.
Why people hold it
- Wrapper fee of 0.10%, against a 0.79% median for its buffer peer group. That is a rare price tag in a category where costs usually take a real bite.
- Laddering across 12 monthly outcome periods kills start-date roulette: you hold sleeves at every stage of their year instead of one cap struck on one day.innovatoretfs.com
- Each underlying sleeve seeks US equity upside to a cap while buffering the first 15% of losses, referenced to the S&P 500 through SPY.innovatoretfs.com
- Running since 2016 and one of the strongest implementations in its buffer peer group, with an equity mandate that stays squarely in US large caps.
Worth knowing
- You own a ladder, not one clean 15% buffer. Each sleeve sits at a different point in its year, so protection at the portfolio level is always a blend.innovatoretfs.com
- The 0.10% is the wrapper only. The underlying Power Buffer ETFs carry their own fees; single-month versions such as PJUL and PJAN list 0.79%.
- Upside is capped by design. Buffers are paid for by giving up gains above the cap, and this is a price-return vehicle rather than an income one.
BUFF Holdings
- Stocks
- 13
- 84%
- PNOV
Sectors
- Technology40.1%
- Financials11.3%
- Communication9.9%
- Health Care9.4%
- Consumer Discretionary8.7%
- Industrials7.6%
- Consumer Staples4.4%
- Energy3.4%
- Utilities1.9%
- Real Estate1.7%
- Materials1.6%
Geography
- United States100.00%
BUFF Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
Not enough history yet.
BUFF$11,229
Returns run to the Oct 12, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | BUFF |
|---|---|
| Year to date | +9.2% |
| 1 month | +1.4% |
| 3 months | +2.8% |
| 1 year | +12.3% |
| 3 years | +12.9% |
| 5 years | +9.2% |
| 10 years | — |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | BUFF |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | +9.2% | |
| 2025 | +11.0% | |
| 2024 | +12.1% | |
| 2023 | +16.5% | |
| 2022 | −4.4% | |
| 2021 | +8.4% | |
| 2020 | −10.2% |
BUFF in the news
Week in Funds
ZOCT paid its cap, then reset at 9.43%
BUFF Dividends
- 0.00%
No distributions in the last 12 months.
Distribution history
BUFF Risk
- 5.9%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- 1.33
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −10.2%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 0.47
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
BUFF Cost
0.10%
BUFF0.10%
- The middle half of S&P 500 Laddered Buffer funds
- Median 0.25%
No S&P 500 Laddered Buffer fund charges less.
Other funds in S&P 500 Laddered Buffer
- ABUFRFT Vest Laddered Buffer ETFExpense ratio 0.10%1 year return +14.8%
- ABUFZFT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETFExpense ratio 0.10%1 year return +12.1%
- BBUFBInnovator Laddered Allocation Buffer ETFExpense ratio 0.10%1 year return +15.7%
- BBUFTFT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETFExpense ratio 0.20%1 year return +10.3%
- CPBFRPGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETFExpense ratio 0.50%1 year return +10.8%