KJAN vs. PJUL

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

KJAN (Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January) and PJUL (Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July) are both Defined Outcome funds from Innovator - KJAN tracks the iShares Russell 2000 ETF while PJUL tracks the Cboe S&P 500 Buffer Protect Index July. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, KJAN returned 7.75%/yr vs 10.46%/yr for PJUL. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.79% expense ratio.

Performance

KJAN vs. PJUL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January (KJAN) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July (PJUL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, KJAN achieves a 8.76% return, which is significantly higher than PJUL's 4.63% return.

KJAN

• 1D: 0.64%
• 1M: 1.62%
• YTD: 8.76%
• 6M: 7.62%
• 1Y: 22.71%
• 3Y*: 13.32%
• 5Y*: 7.75%
• 10Y*: —

PJUL

• 1D: -0.10%
• 1M: 1.12%
• YTD: 4.63%
• 6M: 5.28%
• 1Y: 15.34%
• 3Y*: 13.94%
• 5Y*: 10.46%
• 10Y*: —

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

KJAN vs. PJUL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
KJAN Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January	8.76%	10.90%	8.86%	14.71%	-7.69%	11.72%	8.73%
PJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July	4.63%	12.78%	13.76%	19.87%	-2.08%	7.20%	7.15%

Correlation

The correlation between KJAN and PJUL is 0.73, 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	0.73
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.71
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.77
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2020	0.76

The correlation between KJAN and PJUL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.

KJAN vs. PJUL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	KJAN	PJUL
Industrials	17.5%	8.1%
Technology	16.9%	36.2%
Healthcare	16.5%	8.4%
Financial Services	15.9%	11.9%
Consumer Cyclical	8.4%	10.1%
Real Estate	6.2%	1.9%
Energy	6.2%	3.5%
Basic Materials	4.8%	1.8%
Utilities	2.9%	2.3%
Communication Services	2.5%	10.9%
Consumer Defensive	2.4%	4.9%

Return for Risk

KJAN vs. PJUL — Risk / Return Rank

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

KJAN

KJAN Risk / Return Rank: 71
KJAN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
KJAN Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
KJAN Omega Ratio Rank: 64
KJAN Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
KJAN Martin Ratio Rank: 78

PJUL

PJUL Risk / Return Rank: 88
PJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
PJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
PJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 91
PJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
PJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 92

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.

KJAN vs. PJUL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January (KJAN) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July (PJUL). 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.

	KJAN	PJUL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.12	2.74	-0.62
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.10	4.13	-1.02
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.59	-0.21
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.21	4.23	-0.02
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.81	23.29	-8.48
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

KJAN vs. PJUL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current KJAN Sharpe Ratio is 2.12, which is comparable to the PJUL Sharpe Ratio of 2.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of KJAN and PJUL, 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

	KJAN	PJUL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.12	2.74	-0.62
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60	1.22	-0.62
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.55	0.89	-0.34

Drawdowns

KJAN vs. PJUL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum KJAN drawdown since its inception was -28.94%, which is greater than PJUL's maximum drawdown of -18.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KJAN and PJUL.

Drawdown Indicators

	KJAN	PJUL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-28.94%	-18.17%	-10.77%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.42%	-3.64%	-1.78%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.83%	-10.69%	-6.14%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.83%	-10.69%	-6.14%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.10%	+0.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.11%	-1.47%	-2.64%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.54%	0.66%	+0.88%

Volatility

KJAN vs. PJUL - Volatility Comparison

Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January (KJAN) has a higher volatility of 1.98% compared to Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July (PJUL) at 0.43%. This indicates that KJAN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PJUL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	KJAN	PJUL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.98%	0.43%	+1.55%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.01%	3.88%	+3.13%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.78%	5.63%	+5.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.03%	8.60%	+4.43%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.42%	10.02%	+5.40%

KJAN vs. PJUL - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both KJAN and PJUL have an expense ratio of 0.79%.

Dividends

KJAN vs. PJUL - Dividend Comparison

Neither KJAN nor PJUL has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
KJAN Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - January	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
PJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.82%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both KJAN and PJUL in my portfolio?

KJAN and PJUL have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, KJAN or PJUL?

KJAN has higher volatility (1.98%) compared to PJUL (0.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, KJAN dropped -28.94% vs PJUL's -18.17%.

Which ETF is better, KJAN or PJUL?

On 5-year performance, PJUL leads with 10.46% vs 7.75% for KJAN. Both ETFs have the same 0.79% expense ratio. On volatility, PJUL has been the lower-risk option at 0.43%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, KJAN or PJUL?

Over the 5-year period, PJUL has performed better with a 10.46% return vs 7.75%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, KJAN or PJUL?

KJAN and PJUL have the same expense ratio: 0.79% per year.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, KJAN or PJUL?

KJAN and PJUL have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

What is the main difference between KJAN and PJUL?

KJAN tracks iShares Russell 2000 ETF, while PJUL tracks Cboe S&P 500 Buffer Protect Index July.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PJUL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.74 vs 2.12), 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.