PAUG vs. PSEP
Compare and contrast key facts about Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - August (PAUG) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September (PSEP).
PAUG and PSEP are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. PAUG is a passively managed fund by Innovator that tracks the performance of the Cboe S&P 500 15% Buffer Protect August Series Index. It was launched on Aug 1, 2019. PSEP is a passively managed fund by Innovator that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Aug 30, 2019. Both PAUG and PSEP are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
PAUG vs. PSEP - Performance Comparison
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PAUG vs. PSEP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PAUG Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - August | -1.23% | 12.34% | 15.37% | 17.71% | -6.85% | 7.58% | 9.82% | 5.12% |
PSEP Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September | -1.51% | 11.85% | 12.44% | 18.84% | -3.74% | 8.85% | 8.48% | 4.62% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PAUG achieves a -1.23% return, which is significantly higher than PSEP's -1.51% return.
PAUG
- 1D
- 1.71%
- 1M
- -1.97%
- YTD
- -1.23%
- 6M
- 0.59%
- 1Y
- 13.08%
- 3Y*
- 13.14%
- 5Y*
- 8.07%
- 10Y*
- —
PSEP
- 1D
- 1.60%
- 1M
- -2.14%
- YTD
- -1.51%
- 6M
- 0.26%
- 1Y
- 12.11%
- 3Y*
- 11.96%
- 5Y*
- 8.31%
- 10Y*
- —
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PAUG vs. PSEP - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both PAUG and PSEP have an expense ratio of 0.79%.
Return for Risk
PAUG vs. PSEP — Risk / Return Rank
PAUG
PSEP
PAUG vs. PSEP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - August (PAUG) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September (PSEP). 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.
| PAUG | PSEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.30 | 1.26 | +0.04 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.94 | 1.89 | +0.05 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.31 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 1.84 | +0.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.86 | 9.93 | +0.93 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PAUG | PSEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.26 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.94 | 0.97 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.80 | 0.87 | -0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between PAUG and PSEP is 0.90, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
PAUG vs. PSEP - Dividend Comparison
Neither PAUG nor PSEP has paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PAUG Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - August | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.33% |
PSEP Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
PAUG vs. PSEP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PAUG drawdown since its inception was -17.88%, roughly equal to the maximum PSEP drawdown of -17.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PAUG and PSEP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PAUG | PSEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.88% | -17.90% | +0.02% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.15% | -6.73% | -0.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.76% | -9.92% | -1.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.31% | -2.55% | +0.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.85% | -1.60% | -0.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.24% | 1.25% | -0.01% |
Volatility
PAUG vs. PSEP - Volatility Comparison
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - August (PAUG) and Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September (PSEP) have volatilities of 2.92% and 2.93%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PAUG | PSEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.92% | 2.93% | -0.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.41% | 4.63% | -0.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.14% | 9.66% | +0.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.67% | 8.59% | +0.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.71% | 10.23% | +0.48% |