OCTJ vs. PBAP

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

OCTJ (Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October) and PBAP (PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April) are both Options Trading funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, OCTJ returned 5.85% vs 13.68% for PBAP. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. OCTJ charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for PBAP.

Performance

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October (OCTJ) and PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April (PBAP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, OCTJ achieves a 2.31% return, which is significantly lower than PBAP's 6.83% return.

OCTJ

• 1D: 0.17%
• 1M: 0.52%
• YTD: 2.31%
• 6M: 3.04%
• 1Y: 5.85%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

PBAP

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 1.19%
• YTD: 6.83%
• 6M: 7.73%
• 1Y: 13.68%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
OCTJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October	2.31%	5.70%	3.94%
PBAP PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April	6.83%	6.34%	8.88%

Correlation

The correlation between OCTJ and PBAP is 0.53, 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	0.53
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 2, 2024	0.56

The correlation between OCTJ and PBAP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.53 to 0.56 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

OCTJ vs. PBAP — Risk / Return Rank

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

OCTJ

OCTJ Risk / Return Rank: 80
OCTJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
OCTJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
OCTJ Omega Ratio Rank: 80
OCTJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
OCTJ Martin Ratio Rank: 93

PBAP

PBAP Risk / Return Rank: 98
PBAP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
PBAP Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
PBAP Omega Ratio Rank: 98
PBAP Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
PBAP Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October (OCTJ) and PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April (PBAP). 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.

	OCTJ	PBAP	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.24	4.41	-2.17
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.50	7.56	-4.06
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.49	2.20	-0.71
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.89	11.84	-6.95
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	24.90	85.46	-60.56
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current OCTJ Sharpe Ratio is 2.24, which is lower than the PBAP Sharpe Ratio of 4.41. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of OCTJ and PBAP, 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

	OCTJ	PBAP	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.24	4.41	-2.17
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.47	1.46	+0.01

Drawdowns

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum OCTJ drawdown since its inception was -5.35%, smaller than the maximum PBAP drawdown of -9.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OCTJ and PBAP.

Drawdown Indicators

	OCTJ	PBAP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-5.35%	-9.70%	+4.35%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.25%	-1.17%	-0.08%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.16%	-0.79%	+0.63%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.24%	0.16%	+0.08%

Volatility

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October (OCTJ) is 0.52%, while PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April (PBAP) has a volatility of 0.59%. This indicates that OCTJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PBAP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	OCTJ	PBAP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.52%	0.59%	-0.07%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.96%	1.99%	-0.03%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.63%	3.11%	-0.48%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.23%	7.11%	-2.88%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.23%	7.11%	-2.88%

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Expense Ratio Comparison

OCTJ has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than PBAP's 0.50% expense ratio.

Dividends

OCTJ vs. PBAP - Dividend Comparison

OCTJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.20%, while PBAP has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
OCTJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - October	5.20%	5.23%	6.27%	1.64%
PBAP PGIM US Large-Cap Buffer 20 ETF - April	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both OCTJ and PBAP in my portfolio?

OCTJ and PBAP have a correlation of 0.53, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, OCTJ or PBAP?

PBAP has higher volatility (0.59%) compared to OCTJ (0.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OCTJ dropped -5.35% vs PBAP's -9.70%.

Which ETF is better, OCTJ or PBAP?

On 1-year performance, PBAP leads with 13.68% vs 5.85% for OCTJ. On fees, PBAP is cheaper at 0.50% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, OCTJ or PBAP?

Over the 1-year period, PBAP has performed better with a 13.68% return vs 5.85%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, OCTJ or PBAP?

PBAP is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for OCTJ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, OCTJ or PBAP?

OCTJ has the higher dividend yield at 5.20%, compared with 0.00% for PBAP.

What is the main difference between OCTJ and PBAP?

They also come from different issuers: Innovator and PGIM. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for OCTJ and 0.50% for PBAP.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PBAP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.41 vs 2.24), 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.