JULJ vs. BUFF

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

JULJ (Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July) and BUFF (Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - JULJ is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Innovator, while BUFF is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the Refinitiv Laddered Power Buffer Strategy Index. JULJ is actively managed, while BUFF is passively managed. Over the past year, JULJ returned 5.56% vs 14.36% for BUFF. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. JULJ charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.89%/yr for BUFF.

Performance

JULJ vs. BUFF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) and Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, JULJ achieves a 1.82% return, which is significantly lower than BUFF's 5.42% return.

JULJ

• 1D: -0.02%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 1.82%
• 6M: 2.32%
• 1Y: 5.56%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BUFF

• 1D: -0.27%
• 1M: 1.68%
• YTD: 5.42%
• 6M: 5.90%
• 1Y: 14.36%
• 3Y*: 12.47%
• 5Y*: 8.71%
• 10Y*: —

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

JULJ vs. BUFF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
JULJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July	1.82%	5.91%	6.17%	3.54%
BUFF Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF	5.42%	11.02%	12.05%	5.61%

Correlation

The correlation between JULJ and BUFF is 0.64, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.64
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 5, 2023	0.67

The correlation between JULJ and BUFF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.64 to 0.67 - a consistent structural relationship.

JULJ vs. BUFF - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	JULJ	BUFF
Technology	33.6%	36.2%
Financial Services	12.4%	11.9%
Communication Services	10.5%	10.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.0%	10.1%
Healthcare	9.5%	8.4%
Industrials	8.5%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	5.3%	4.9%
Energy	4.0%	3.5%
Utilities	2.5%	2.3%
Real Estate	2.0%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.9%	1.8%

Return for Risk

JULJ vs. BUFF — Risk / Return Rank

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

JULJ

JULJ Risk / Return Rank: 96
JULJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
JULJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
JULJ Omega Ratio Rank: 97
JULJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
JULJ Martin Ratio Rank: 97

BUFF

BUFF Risk / Return Rank: 86
BUFF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
BUFF Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
BUFF Omega Ratio Rank: 89
BUFF Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
BUFF Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

JULJ vs. BUFF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) and Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF). 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.

	JULJ	BUFF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.62	2.80	+0.82
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	6.05	4.24	+1.81
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.88	1.58	+0.29
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	9.21	4.02	+5.18
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	47.78	21.50	+26.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

JULJ vs. BUFF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current JULJ Sharpe Ratio is 3.62, which is comparable to the BUFF Sharpe Ratio of 2.80. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of JULJ and BUFF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	JULJ	BUFF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.62	2.80	+0.82
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.04	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.96	0.49	+1.47

Drawdowns

JULJ vs. BUFF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum JULJ drawdown since its inception was -3.62%, smaller than the maximum BUFF drawdown of -46.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JULJ and BUFF.

Drawdown Indicators

	JULJ	BUFF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-3.62%	-46.23%	+42.61%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.61%	-3.58%	+2.97%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-10.24%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-10.24%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.02%	-0.27%	+0.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.10%	-6.18%	+6.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.12%	0.67%	-0.55%

Volatility

JULJ vs. BUFF - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) is 0.17%, while Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) has a volatility of 1.02%. This indicates that JULJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BUFF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	JULJ	BUFF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.17%	1.02%	-0.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.94%	3.83%	-2.89%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.54%	5.15%	-3.61%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.08%	8.41%	-5.33%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.08%	17.67%	-14.59%

JULJ vs. BUFF - Expense Ratio Comparison

JULJ has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFF's 0.89% expense ratio.

Dividends

JULJ vs. BUFF - Dividend Comparison

JULJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.66%, while BUFF has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	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%
JULJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July	5.66%	5.76%	5.96%	3.21%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both JULJ and BUFF in my portfolio?

JULJ and BUFF have a correlation of 0.64, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, JULJ or BUFF?

BUFF has higher volatility (1.02%) compared to JULJ (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, JULJ dropped -3.62% vs BUFF's -46.23%.

Which ETF is better, JULJ or BUFF?

On 1-year performance, BUFF leads with 14.36% vs 5.56% for JULJ. On fees, JULJ is cheaper at 0.79% per year. On volatility, JULJ has been the lower-risk option at 0.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, JULJ or BUFF?

Over the 1-year period, BUFF has performed better with a 14.36% return vs 5.56%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, JULJ or BUFF?

JULJ is cheaper with a 0.79% expense ratio, compared with 0.89% for BUFF.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, JULJ or BUFF?

JULJ has the higher dividend yield at 5.66%, compared with 0.00% for BUFF.

What is the main difference between JULJ and BUFF?

JULJ is categorized as Options Trading, while BUFF is Defined Outcome. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for JULJ and 0.89% for BUFF.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

JULJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.62 vs 2.80), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.