ACII vs PBMY

ACII vs PBMY

Which is better, ACII or PBMY?

ACII has been ahead.

PBMY has a lower expense ratio. ACII led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: PBMYHigher Returns: ACII

MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricACIIPBMY
Expense Ratio0.79%0.50%Best
AUM$147M$39M
Dividend Yield8.44%0.07%
Holdings1814
YTD Return+7.34%Best+6.27%
1Y Return+10.33%Best+8.42%
Volatility (annualized)3.7%2.0%Best
Max Drawdown-2.3%-1.5%Best
$10,000 over 1.1 years$11,005Best$10,902
Fund FamilyInnovator ETFs TrustPGIM Investments
CategoryAlternativeAlternative
StyleOption WritingOption Writing
InceptionSep 24, 2025May 1, 2024

Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).

ACII vs PBMY growth

Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.

Compare ACII against instead:ACII vs SPYACII vs QQQACII vs VOOACII vs VTIPBMY against:PBMY vs VXUS

ACII vs PBMY Performance

Innovator Index Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACII) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and PGIM S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF - May (PBMY) is an ETF from PGIM Investments. Over the past year ACII returned +10.33% while PBMY returned +8.42%. Year to date, ACII is up 7.34% versus a gain of 6.27% for PBMY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

ACII has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 3.7% compared with 2.0% for PBMY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -2.3% for ACII and -1.5% for PBMY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ACII charges 0.79% per year while PBMY charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $50 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACII currently yields 8.44% against 0.07% for PBMY.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of ACII and PBMY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

ACIIPBMY

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ACII or PBMY?

ACII has an expense ratio of 0.79% while PBMY charges 0.50%. PBMY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ACII or PBMY?

Over the past year ACII returned +10.33% vs +8.42% for PBMY, so ACII leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ACII annualized +9.10% vs +8.17% for PBMY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ACII or PBMY?

ACII has been the more volatile fund at 3.7% annualized versus 2.0% for PBMY. Worst drawdown: ACII -2.3% vs PBMY -1.5%.

Should I hold both ACII and PBMY?

ACII and PBMY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, ACII or PBMY?

ACII yields 8.44% while PBMY yields 0.07%, so ACII currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is PBMY better than ACII?

PBMY has a lower expense ratio. ACII led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.