How Buffer ETFs Work: Caps and Resets
A 15% cap and 9% buffer, seen from three entry pointsranking ·
2026-08-12 · 21×4
SPY calendar-year price return against a 15% cap and 9% bufferranking ·
2026-08-12 · 12×3
Remaining buffer and remaining cap by entry pointranking ·
2026-08-12 · 11×3
Compounding the index against the buffered payoff, net of a 0.79% feeranking ·
2026-08-12 · 12×3
A 15% cap and 9% buffer, seen from three entry points
A 15% cap and 9% buffer, seen from three entry points
| index_return_pct | bought_at_reset_pct | bought_after_drop_pct | bought_after_rally_pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| -30 | -21 | -18.6 | -24 |
| -27 | -18 | -15.5 | -21.2 |
| -24 | -15 | -12.4 | -18.3 |
| -21 | -12 | -9.3 | -15.4 |
| -18 | -9 | -6.2 | -12.5 |
| -15 | -6 | -3.1 | -9.6 |
| -12 | -3 | 0 | -6.7 |
| -9 | 0 | 3.1 | -3.8 |
| -6 | 0 | 3.1 | -3.8 |
| -3 | 0 | 3.1 | -3.8 |
| 0 | 0 | 3.1 | -3.8 |
| 3 | 3 | 6.2 | -1 |
| 6 | 6 | 9.3 | 1.9 |
| 9 | 9 | 12.4 | 4.8 |
| 12 | 12 | 15.5 | 7.7 |
| 15 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| 18 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| 21 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| 24 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| 27 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
| 30 | 15 | 18.6 | 10.6 |
the exact SQL behind every number
SELECT
index_return_pct,
round(fund_nav - 100, 1) AS bought_at_reset_pct,
round((fund_nav / 97.0 - 1) * 100, 1) AS bought_after_drop_pct,
round((fund_nav / 104.0 - 1) * 100, 1) AS bought_after_rally_pct
FROM
(
SELECT
index_return_pct,
100 + multiIf(index_return_pct > 15.0, 15.0,
index_return_pct >= 0.0, index_return_pct,
index_return_pct >= -9.0, 0.0,
index_return_pct + 9.0) AS fund_nav
FROM
(
SELECT toFloat64(arrayJoin(range(21))) * 3 - 30 AS index_return_pct
)
)
ORDER BY index_return_pct
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