UJUL vs. ZDEK

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

UJUL (Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July) and ZDEK (Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December) are both Defined Outcome funds from Innovator. UJUL is passively managed, while ZDEK is actively managed. Over the past year, UJUL returned 14.76% vs 9.11% for ZDEK. Their correlation of 0.88 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.79% expense ratio.

Performance

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December (ZDEK). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UJUL achieves a 4.62% return, which is significantly higher than ZDEK's 2.63% return.

UJUL

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: 1.17%
• YTD: 4.62%
• 6M: 5.11%
• 1Y: 14.76%
• 3Y*: 12.89%
• 5Y*: 8.54%
• 10Y*: —

ZDEK

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.78%
• YTD: 2.63%
• 6M: 2.86%
• 1Y: 9.11%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
UJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July	4.62%	12.34%	-1.13%
ZDEK Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December	2.63%	7.78%	-0.38%

Correlation

The correlation between UJUL and ZDEK is 0.88, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.88
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 3, 2024	0.88

The correlation between UJUL and ZDEK has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.88 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

UJUL vs. ZDEK — Risk / Return Rank

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

UJUL

UJUL Risk / Return Rank: 85
UJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
UJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 89
UJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 90
UJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
UJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 91

ZDEK

ZDEK Risk / Return Rank: 94
ZDEK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
ZDEK Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
ZDEK Omega Ratio Rank: 95
ZDEK Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
ZDEK Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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.

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December (ZDEK). 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.

	UJUL	ZDEK	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.63	3.31	-0.68
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.08	5.16	-1.09
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.57	1.72	-0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.73	6.07	-2.34
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	21.27	31.09	-9.82
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UJUL Sharpe Ratio is 2.63, which is comparable to the ZDEK Sharpe Ratio of 3.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UJUL and ZDEK, 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

	UJUL	ZDEK	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.63	3.31	-0.68
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.06	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.80	2.04	-1.23

Drawdowns

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UJUL drawdown since its inception was -14.11%, which is greater than ZDEK's maximum drawdown of -3.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UJUL and ZDEK.

Drawdown Indicators

	UJUL	ZDEK	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.11%	-3.40%	-10.71%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.98%	-1.51%	-2.47%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.38%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-11.38%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.01%	0.00%	-0.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.86%	-0.45%	-1.41%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.70%	0.29%	+0.41%

Volatility

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Volatility Comparison

Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) has a higher volatility of 0.37% compared to Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December (ZDEK) at 0.35%. This indicates that UJUL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZDEK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UJUL	ZDEK	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.37%	0.35%	+0.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.02%	1.64%	+2.38%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.63%	2.76%	+2.87%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	8.12%	3.31%	+4.81%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.94%	3.31%	+5.63%

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both UJUL and ZDEK have an expense ratio of 0.79%.

Dividends

UJUL vs. ZDEK - Dividend Comparison

Neither UJUL nor ZDEK has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
UJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	6.43%
ZDEK Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr December	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UJUL and ZDEK in my portfolio?

UJUL and ZDEK have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UJUL or ZDEK?

UJUL has higher volatility (0.37%) compared to ZDEK (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UJUL dropped -14.11% vs ZDEK's -3.40%.

Which ETF is better, UJUL or ZDEK?

On 1-year performance, UJUL leads with 14.76% vs 9.11% for ZDEK. Both ETFs have the same 0.79% expense ratio. 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, UJUL or ZDEK?

Over the 1-year period, UJUL has performed better with a 14.76% return vs 9.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UJUL or ZDEK?

UJUL and ZDEK have the same expense ratio: 0.79% per year.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UJUL or ZDEK?

UJUL and ZDEK have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ZDEK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.31 vs 2.63), 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.