MAYM vs. LJUL

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

MAYM (FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May) and LJUL (Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July) are both Defined Outcome funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, MAYM returned 5.50% vs 5.69% for LJUL. Their 0.64 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. MAYM charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.79%/yr for LJUL.

Performance

MAYM vs. LJUL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May (MAYM) and Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July (LJUL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with MAYM having a 2.78% return and LJUL slightly lower at 2.76%.

MAYM

• 1D: 0.24%
• 1M: 0.59%
• 6M: 2.32%
• YTD: 2.78%
• 1Y: 5.50%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 5.79%

LJUL

• 1D: 0.17%
• 1M: 0.63%
• 6M: 2.39%
• YTD: 2.76%
• 1Y: 5.69%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 3.71%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
LJUL Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July	$33.59K	$50.57K	$41.89K
MAYM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May	$56.48K	$63.82K	$479.51K

MAYM vs. LJUL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
MAYM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May	2.78%	4.14%
LJUL Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July	2.76%	3.84%

Correlation

The correlation between MAYM and LJUL is 0.74, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.74
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 19, 2025	0.64

The correlation between MAYM and LJUL shifts across timeframes, from 0.64 (all time) to 0.74 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

MAYM vs. LJUL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

MAYM

MAYM Risk / Return Rank: 94
MAYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
MAYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
MAYM Omega Ratio Rank: 96
MAYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
MAYM Martin Ratio Rank: 96

LJUL

LJUL Risk / Return Rank: 98
LJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
LJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
LJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 98
LJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
LJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 98

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

MAYM vs. LJUL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May (MAYM) and Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July (LJUL). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	MAYM	LJUL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.68	3.62	-0.94
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.14	6.06	-1.91
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.63	1.90	-0.27
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.54	10.90	-6.36
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	23.81	55.21	-31.41

MAYM vs. LJUL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current MAYM Sharpe Ratio is 2.68, which is comparable to the LJUL Sharpe Ratio of 3.62. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of MAYM and LJUL, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

MAYM vs. LJUL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum MAYM drawdown since its inception was -1.22%, smaller than the maximum LJUL drawdown of -4.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MAYM and LJUL.

Drawdown Indicators

	MAYM	LJUL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-1.22%	-4.85%	+3.63%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.22%	-0.52%	-0.70%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.11%	-0.66%	+0.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.23%	0.10%	+0.13%

Volatility

MAYM vs. LJUL - Volatility Comparison

FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May (MAYM) has a higher volatility of 0.66% compared to Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July (LJUL) at 0.56%. This indicates that MAYM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than LJUL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	MAYM	LJUL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.66%	0.56%	+0.10%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.83%	1.16%	+0.67%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.07%	1.58%	+0.49%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.02%	4.20%	-2.18%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.02%	4.20%	-2.18%

MAYM vs. LJUL - Expense Ratio Comparison

MAYM has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than LJUL's 0.79% expense ratio.

Dividends

MAYM vs. LJUL - Dividend Comparison

MAYM has not paid dividends to shareholders, while LJUL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.21%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
LJUL Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July	5.21%	5.36%	2.78%
MAYM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - May	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both MAYM and LJUL in my portfolio?

MAYM and LJUL have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, MAYM or LJUL?

MAYM has higher volatility (0.66%) compared to LJUL (0.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MAYM dropped -1.22% vs LJUL's -4.85%.

Which ETF is better, MAYM or LJUL?

On 1-year performance, LJUL leads with 5.69% vs 5.50% for MAYM. On fees, LJUL is cheaper at 0.79% per year. On volatility, LJUL has been the lower-risk option at 0.56%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, MAYM or LJUL?

Over the 1-year period, LJUL has performed better with a 5.69% return vs 5.50%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, MAYM or LJUL?

LJUL is cheaper with a 0.79% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for MAYM.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, MAYM or LJUL?

LJUL has the higher dividend yield at 5.21%, compared with 0.00% for MAYM.

What is the main difference between MAYM and LJUL?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Innovator. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for MAYM and 0.79% for LJUL.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

LJUL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.62 vs 2.68), 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.