XBAP vs. USEP

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XBAP (Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April) and USEP (Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September) are both Defined Outcome funds from Innovator. XBAP is actively managed, while USEP is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XBAP returned 9.79%/yr vs 8.01%/yr for USEP. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.79% expense ratio.

Performance

XBAP vs. USEP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April (XBAP) and Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September (USEP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XBAP achieves a 8.03% return, which is significantly higher than USEP's 4.73% return.

XBAP

• 1D: -0.19%
• 1M: 1.69%
• YTD: 8.03%
• 6M: 9.02%
• 1Y: 15.64%
• 3Y*: 13.76%
• 5Y*: 9.79%
• 10Y*: —

USEP

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 1.65%
• YTD: 4.73%
• 6M: 5.26%
• 1Y: 14.66%
• 3Y*: 13.11%
• 5Y*: 8.01%
• 10Y*: —

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

XBAP vs. USEP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
XBAP Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April	8.03%	13.38%	11.55%	20.53%	-7.59%	7.48%
USEP Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September	4.73%	11.75%	12.39%	18.62%	-7.98%	3.71%

Correlation

The correlation between XBAP and USEP is 0.78, 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	0.78
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.81
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.84
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 5, 2021	0.84

The correlation between XBAP and USEP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.78 to 0.84 - a consistent structural relationship.

XBAP vs. USEP - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XBAP	USEP
Technology	35.7%	36.2%
Financial Services	11.6%	11.9%
Communication Services	11.3%	10.9%
Consumer Cyclical	10.2%	10.1%
Healthcare	8.5%	8.4%
Industrials	8.3%	8.1%
Consumer Defensive	4.9%	4.9%
Energy	3.5%	3.5%
Utilities	2.4%	2.3%
Real Estate	1.9%	1.9%
Basic Materials	1.8%	1.8%

Return for Risk

XBAP vs. USEP — Risk / Return Rank

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

XBAP

XBAP Risk / Return Rank: 98
XBAP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
XBAP Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
XBAP Omega Ratio Rank: 98
XBAP Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
XBAP Martin Ratio Rank: 98

USEP

USEP Risk / Return Rank: 84
USEP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
USEP Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
USEP Omega Ratio Rank: 88
USEP Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
USEP Martin Ratio Rank: 87

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.

XBAP vs. USEP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April (XBAP) and Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September (USEP). 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.

	XBAP	USEP	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.53	2.70	+1.83
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	8.79	3.98	+4.81
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.20	1.55	+0.65
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	16.10	3.66	+12.45
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	82.15	18.85	+63.30
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XBAP vs. USEP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XBAP Sharpe Ratio is 4.53, which is higher than the USEP Sharpe Ratio of 2.70. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBAP and USEP, 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

	XBAP	USEP	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.53	2.70	+1.83
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.99	1.09	-0.10
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.02	1.00	+0.01

Drawdowns

XBAP vs. USEP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XBAP drawdown since its inception was -14.57%, which is greater than USEP's maximum drawdown of -13.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XBAP and USEP.

Drawdown Indicators

	XBAP	USEP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.57%	-13.37%	-1.20%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.98%	-4.03%	+3.05%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-8.25%	-9.72%	+1.47%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.57%	-11.84%	-2.73%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.19%	-0.08%	-0.11%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.74%	-1.89%	+0.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.19%	0.78%	-0.59%

Volatility

XBAP vs. USEP - Volatility Comparison

Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April (XBAP) has a higher volatility of 0.68% compared to Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September (USEP) at 0.62%. This indicates that XBAP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than USEP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XBAP	USEP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.68%	0.62%	+0.06%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.53%	4.00%	-1.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.47%	5.47%	-2.00%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	9.96%	7.41%	+2.55%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	9.87%	8.06%	+1.81%

XBAP vs. USEP - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both XBAP and USEP have an expense ratio of 0.79%.

Dividends

XBAP vs. USEP - Dividend Comparison

Neither XBAP nor USEP has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
USEP Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - September	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.64%
XBAP Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - April	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XBAP and USEP in my portfolio?

XBAP and USEP have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XBAP or USEP?

XBAP has higher volatility (0.68%) compared to USEP (0.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XBAP dropped -14.57% vs USEP's -13.37%.

Which ETF is better, XBAP or USEP?

On 5-year performance, XBAP leads with 9.79% vs 8.01% for USEP. 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, XBAP or USEP?

Over the 5-year period, XBAP has performed better with a 9.79% return vs 8.01%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XBAP or USEP?

XBAP and USEP have the same expense ratio: 0.79% per year.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XBAP or USEP?

XBAP and USEP have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XBAP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.53 vs 2.70), 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.