BUFF vs. POCT

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October (POCT).

BUFF and POCT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. BUFF is a passively managed fund by Innovator that tracks the performance of the Refinitiv Laddered Power Buffer Strategy Index. It was launched on Oct 20, 2016. POCT is a passively managed fund by Innovator that tracks the performance of the Cboe S&P 500 15% Buffer Protect October Series Index. It was launched on Sep 28, 2018. Both BUFF and POCT are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

BUFF vs. POCT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October (POCT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

BUFF vs. POCT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
BUFF Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF	-0.90%	11.02%	12.05%	16.51%	-4.44%	8.37%	-12.08%	32.32%	-5.35%
POCT Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October	-1.84%	11.00%	9.54%	20.12%	-1.26%	9.46%	10.40%	12.80%	-7.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BUFF achieves a -0.90% return, which is significantly higher than POCT's -1.84% return.

BUFF

• 1D: 1.46%
• 1M: -1.89%
• YTD: -0.90%
• 6M: 1.13%
• 1Y: 12.07%
• 3Y*: 11.21%
• 5Y*: 7.68%
• 10Y*: —

POCT

• 1D: 1.72%
• 1M: -2.33%
• YTD: -1.84%
• 6M: 0.02%
• 1Y: 10.97%
• 3Y*: 10.87%
• 5Y*: 8.58%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BUFF vs. POCT - Expense Ratio Comparison

BUFF has a 0.89% expense ratio, which is higher than POCT's 0.79% expense ratio.

BUFF

Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF

POCT

Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October

Return for Risk

BUFF vs. POCT — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BUFF

BUFF Risk / Return Rank: 77
BUFF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
BUFF Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
BUFF Omega Ratio Rank: 83
BUFF Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
BUFF Martin Ratio Rank: 86

POCT

POCT Risk / Return Rank: 68
POCT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 62
POCT Sortino Ratio Rank: 64
POCT Omega Ratio Rank: 71
POCT Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
POCT Martin Ratio Rank: 79

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BUFF vs. POCT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October (POCT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	BUFF	POCT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.23	1.06	+0.17
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.84	1.61	+0.24
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.26	+0.06
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.72	1.58	+0.14
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.71	8.51	+1.21
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BUFF vs. POCT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BUFF Sharpe Ratio is 1.23, which is comparable to the POCT Sharpe Ratio of 1.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BUFF and POCT, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BUFF	POCT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.23	1.06	+0.17
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.92	1.09	-0.17
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.46	0.79	-0.33

Correlation

The correlation between BUFF and POCT is 0.79, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

BUFF vs. POCT - Dividend Comparison

Neither BUFF nor POCT has paid dividends to shareholders.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
BUFF Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	1.78%	1.26%	1.74%	1.55%	0.18%
POCT Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	2.21%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

BUFF vs. POCT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BUFF drawdown since its inception was -46.23%, which is greater than POCT's maximum drawdown of -18.80%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BUFF and POCT.

Drawdown Indicators

	BUFF	POCT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-46.23%	-18.80%	-27.43%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.15%	-7.20%	+0.05%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.24%	-10.22%	-0.02%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.18%	-2.75%	+0.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.29%	-1.53%	-4.76%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.27%	1.33%	-0.06%

Volatility

BUFF vs. POCT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) is 2.61%, while Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF October (POCT) has a volatility of 3.28%. This indicates that BUFF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than POCT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BUFF	POCT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.61%	3.28%	-0.67%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.05%	5.13%	-1.08%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	9.82%	10.35%	-0.53%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	8.40%	7.90%	+0.50%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.83%	10.31%	+7.52%