AJAN vs PAUG
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr to January 2028 vs Innovator US Equity Power Buffer ETF - August
Which is better, AJAN or PAUG?
PAUG has been ahead.
PAUG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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
| Metric | AJAN | PAUG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79%Tie | 0.79%Tie |
| AUM | $42M | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 15 | 18 |
| YTD Return | +2.93% | +8.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.37% | +10.79%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.7%Best | 5.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.1%Best | -10.4% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $11,800 | $14,147Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Option Writing | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 2, 2024 | Aug 1, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.8 years).
AJAN vs PAUG 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
AJAN vs PAUG Performance
Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr to January 2028 (AJAN) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Innovator US Equity Power Buffer ETF - August (PAUG) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year AJAN returned +4.37% while PAUG returned +10.79%. Year to date, AJAN is up 2.93% versus a gain of 8.30% for PAUG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PAUG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 5.7% compared with 2.7% for AJAN. 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 -4.1% for AJAN and -10.4% for PAUG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AJAN charges 0.79% per year while PAUG charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $79 annually. On income, AJAN currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for PAUG.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AJAN and PAUG you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AJAN or PAUG?
AJAN has an expense ratio of 0.79% while PAUG charges 0.79%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, AJAN or PAUG?
Over the past year AJAN returned +4.37% vs +10.79% for PAUG, so PAUG leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AJAN or PAUG?
PAUG has been the more volatile fund at 5.7% annualized versus 2.7% for AJAN. Worst drawdown: AJAN -4.1% vs PAUG -10.4%.
Should I hold both AJAN and PAUG?
AJAN and PAUG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AJAN or PAUG?
AJAN yields 0.00% while PAUG yields 0.00%, so PAUG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PAUG better than AJAN?
PAUG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.