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QBUF vs. QQQE
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

QBUF vs. QQQE

Last updated Apr 15, 2026

QBUF (Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly) and QQQE (Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares) are both Nasdaq-100 funds — QBUF tracks the Invesco QQQ Trust while QQQE tracks the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, QBUF returned 15.34% vs 24.62% for QQQE. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. QBUF charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for QQQE.

Performance

QBUF vs. QQQE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly (QBUF) and Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QBUF achieves a 2.70% return, which is significantly higher than QQQE's 1.34% return.

QBUF

1D
0.43%
1M
3.06%
YTD
2.70%
6M
5.01%
1Y
15.34%
3Y*
—
5Y*
—
10Y*
—

QQQE

1D
0.89%
1M
3.74%
YTD
1.34%
6M
2.36%
1Y
24.62%
3Y*
14.02%
5Y*
6.57%
10Y*
13.81%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

QBUF vs. QQQE - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024
QBUF
Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly		2.70%11.08%5.92%
QQQE
Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares		1.34%14.58%1.92%

Correlation

The correlation between QBUF and QQQE is 0.74, 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

0.74

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 2, 2024

0.79

The correlation between QBUF and QQQE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.79 — a consistent structural relationship.

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly

Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares

Often compared with QBUF:
QBUF vs. QCJLQBUF vs. QQQMQBUF vs. NAPRQBUF vs. QQQYQBUF vs. QYLDQBUF vs. HQU.TOQBUF vs. IQQQ
Often compared with QQQE:
QQQE vs. QQQQQQE vs. QQQMQQQE vs. QQEWQQQE vs. TQQQQQQE vs. SPYGQQQE vs. VOOQQQE vs. SPY

Return for Risk

QBUF vs. QQQE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
QBUF
QBUF Risk / Return Rank: 8181
Overall Rank
QBUF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7171
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QBUF Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
QBUF Omega Ratio Rank: 8080
Omega Ratio Rank
QBUF Calmar Ratio Rank: 9191
Calmar Ratio Rank
QBUF Martin Ratio Rank: 9090
Martin Ratio Rank
QQQE
QQQE Risk / Return Rank: 3939
Overall Rank
QQQE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3434
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QQQE Sortino Ratio Rank: 3434
Sortino Ratio Rank
QQQE Omega Ratio Rank: 3232
Omega Ratio Rank
QQQE Calmar Ratio Rank: 4949
Calmar Ratio Rank
QQQE Martin Ratio Rank: 4646
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

QBUF vs. QQQE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly (QBUF) and Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE). 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.

QBUFQQQEDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

2.51

1.64

+0.87

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

3.51

2.35

+1.16

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.52

1.29

+0.23

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

6.55

2.91

+3.64

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

24.52

9.95

+14.57

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QBUF vs. QQQE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QBUF Sharpe Ratio is 2.51, which is higher than the QQQE Sharpe Ratio of 1.64. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QBUF and QQQE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

QBUFQQQEDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.51

1.64

+0.87

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

—

0.32

—

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.67

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

1.28

0.70

+0.58

Drawdowns

QBUF vs. QQQE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QBUF drawdown since its inception was -8.84%, smaller than the maximum QQQE drawdown of -32.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QBUF and QQQE.

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Drawdown Indicators

QBUFQQQEDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-8.84%

-32.14%

+23.30%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-2.67%

-9.41%

+6.74%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-32.14%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-32.14%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-2.38%

+2.38%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-0.89%

-5.21%

+4.32%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.71%

2.75%

-2.04%

Volatility

QBUF vs. QQQE - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly (QBUF) is 1.58%, while Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE) has a volatility of 5.66%. This indicates that QBUF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QQQE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

QBUFQQQEDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

1.58%

5.66%

-4.08%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

4.64%

10.92%

-6.28%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

6.24%

15.13%

-8.89%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.78%

20.35%

-11.57%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

8.78%

20.72%

-11.94%

QBUF vs. QQQE - Expense Ratio Comparison

QBUF has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQE's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

QBUF vs. QQQE - Dividend Comparison

QBUF has not paid dividends to shareholders, while QQQE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.61%.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
QBUF
Innovator Nasdaq-100 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
QQQE
Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares		0.61%0.52%0.86%0.79%0.98%3.83%0.54%0.74%0.80%0.65%1.17%0.57%