OCTH vs. PMDE

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

OCTH (Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October) and PMDE (PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December) are both exchange-traded funds - OCTH is a Options Trading fund actively managed by Innovator, while PMDE is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). OCTH is actively managed, while PMDE is passively managed. Their correlation of 0.80 suggests significant overlap in exposure. OCTH charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for PMDE.

Performance

OCTH vs. PMDE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October (OCTH) and PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December (PMDE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OCTH achieves a 3.26% return, which is significantly higher than PMDE's 2.51% return.

OCTH

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: 0.50%
• YTD: 3.26%
• 6M: 3.36%
• 1Y: 7.10%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PMDE

• 1D: -0.14%
• 1M: 0.14%
• YTD: 2.51%
• 6M: 2.53%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

OCTH vs. PMDE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
OCTH Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October	3.26%	0.86%
PMDE PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December	2.51%	0.44%

Correlation

The correlation between OCTH and PMDE is 0.80, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 1, 2025	0.80

Return for Risk

OCTH vs. PMDE — Risk / Return Rank

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

OCTH

OCTH Risk / Return Rank: 73
OCTH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 64
OCTH Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
OCTH Omega Ratio Rank: 79
OCTH Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
OCTH Martin Ratio Rank: 84

PMDE

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

OCTH vs. PMDE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October (OCTH) and PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December (PMDE). 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.

	OCTH	PMDE	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.91	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.90	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.12	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.48	—	—

Drawdowns

OCTH vs. PMDE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OCTH drawdown since its inception was -7.71%, which is greater than PMDE's maximum drawdown of -1.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OCTH and PMDE.

Drawdown Indicators

	OCTH	PMDE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-7.71%	-1.59%	-6.12%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.28%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.12%	-0.21%	+0.09%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.27%	-0.25%	-0.02%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.46%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	OCTH	PMDE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.69%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.92%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.73%	2.47%	+1.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.01%	2.47%	+3.54%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.01%	2.47%	+3.54%

OCTH vs. PMDE - Expense Ratio Comparison

OCTH has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than PMDE's 0.50% expense ratio.

Dividends

OCTH vs. PMDE - Dividend Comparison

OCTH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.28%, while PMDE has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
OCTH Innovator Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF - October	6.28%	6.33%	7.43%	1.93%
PMDE PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - December	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OCTH and PMDE in my portfolio?

OCTH and PMDE have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, OCTH or PMDE?

On fees, PMDE is cheaper at 0.50% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, OCTH or PMDE?

PMDE is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for OCTH.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OCTH or PMDE?

OCTH has the higher dividend yield at 6.28%, compared with 0.00% for PMDE.

What is the main difference between OCTH and PMDE?

OCTH is categorized as Options Trading, while PMDE is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: Innovator and PGIM. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for OCTH and 0.50% for PMDE.