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Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - January (DDFJ) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 6, 2026

The Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - January is a defined-outcome ETF that uses FLEX options on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust over an annual January outcome period. The fund is designed to pursue limited positive returns in rising markets and certain declining markets while providing a 15% buffer against losses beyond the inverse performance threshold, before fees and expenses.

Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - January (DDFJ) belongs to the Defined Outcome category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with DDFJ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to DDFJ

DDFJ charges 0.79% annually. There are 89 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
JANB
Aptus January Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDFJ vs JANB
APRB
Aptus April Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDFJ vs APRB
JULB
Aptus July Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDFJ vs JULB
OCTB
Aptus October Buffer ETF0.25%—Oct 2025DDFJ vs OCTB
FBUF
Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF0.48%—Apr 2024DDFJ vs FBUF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DDFJ

Among 220 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 99.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
99
—Mar 2025DDFJ vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
99
—Mar 2025DDFJ vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
98
18.90MApr 2025DDFJ vs CPSP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
98
—Apr 2025DDFJ vs APXM
ZAPR
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr...
98
—Apr 2025DDFJ vs ZAPR

Top Performing DDFJ Alternatives (YTD)

Among 275 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 14.63%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
NVDO
Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly...
14.63%
—Aug 2025DDFJ vs NVDO
QMAR
FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March
11.34%
557.94MMar 2021DDFJ vs QMAR
KFEB
Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa...
10.58%
—Jan 2025DDFJ vs KFEB
PQAP
PGIM Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF - April
10.55%
7.34MDec 2024DDFJ vs PQAP
KAPR
Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April
10.16%
214.88MMar 2020DDFJ vs KAPR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DDFJ

DDFJ has 5.83% 1-year volatility. There are 129 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.07%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April1.07%—Apr 2025DDFJ vs APXM
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April1.17%—Mar 2025DDFJ vs PMAP
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May1.18%—Apr 2025DDFJ vs PMMY
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF1.42%—Mar 2025DDFJ vs MMAX
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...1.43%18.90MApr 2025DDFJ vs CPSP

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DDFJ

Among 220 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -0.34%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
PMAP
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.34%
—Mar 2025DDFJ vs PMAP
MMAX
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
-0.35%
—Mar 2025DDFJ vs MMAX
PMMY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May
-0.36%
—Apr 2025DDFJ vs PMMY
CPSP
Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap...
-0.37%
18.90MApr 2025DDFJ vs CPSP
APXM
FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April
-0.38%
—Apr 2025DDFJ vs APXM

Other ETFs from Innovator

The 10 most viewed Innovator ETFs shown here include BALT, FFTY, BUFF and span 5 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
BALT
Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETFDefined Outcome
93
1.97%
2.46BJun 2021DDFJ vs BALT
FFTY
Innovator IBD 50 ETFLarge Cap Growth Equities
26
12.41%
89.40MApr 2015DDFJ vs FFTY
BUFF
Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETFDefined Outcome
87
4.75%
869.87MOct 2016DDFJ vs BUFF
SFLR
Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETFOptions Trading
58
3.59%
2.00BNov 2022DDFJ vs SFLR
LOUP
Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETFTechnology Equities
63
21.20%
219.47MJul 2018DDFJ vs LOUP
PJAN
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - JanuaryDefined Outcome
81
4.53%
1.52BJan 2019DDFJ vs PJAN
BAPR
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - AprilDefined Outcome
96
9.90%
401.85MMar 2019DDFJ vs BAPR
PJUL
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - JulyDefined Outcome
90
4.31%
1.00BAug 2018DDFJ vs PJUL
QFLR
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETFNasdaq-100, Options Trading
62
2.95%
527.81MJan 2024DDFJ vs QFLR
POCT
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF OctoberDefined Outcome
76
4.58%
1.02BSep 2018DDFJ vs POCT

Often Compared With DDFJ

Investors most often compare DDFJ with QB, TMAR, ZMAY. These 4 comparison targets span 3 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
QB
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETFDefined Outcome, Nasdaq-100—
6.95%
2.34MJun 2025DDFJ vs QB
TMAR
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - MarchDefined Outcome
85
10.14%
—Mar 2025DDFJ vs TMAR
ZMAY
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr MayDefined Outcome
97
1.80%
—May 2025DDFJ vs ZMAY
BOUT
Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETFMid Cap Growth Equities
41
24.63%
15.73MSep 2018DDFJ vs BOUT

Compare DDFJ with Any Fund or Stock

Compare DDFJ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair DDFJ with funds that move differently

Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF - January alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DDFJ.

Explore DDFJ Diversifiers