Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 0.31: the stock has moved about 69% less than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 18, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerInnovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) trades at $34.65. Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) aims to replicate SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) returns while providing a 10% downside buffer over 3-month periods. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 18, 2026Analyst Coverage for ZALT: ZALT does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) Financial Services Profile
Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) offers investors buffered exposure to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), resetting every three months. With a 10% downside buffer, ZALT provides a unique risk-managed approach within the asset management sector, appealing to investors seeking downside protection.
What Is the Investment Thesis for ZALT?
ZALT presents a compelling option for investors seeking downside protection while participating in potential market gains. The ETF's 10% buffer resets quarterly, offering continuous risk management. With a beta of 0.31, ZALT exhibits lower volatility compared to the broader market, making it suitable for risk-averse investors. The fund's strategy of using flexible exchange options to achieve its buffered outcome differentiates it from traditional index-tracking ETFs. However, investors may want to evaluate the trade-off between downside protection and potential upside. The ETF's capped return limits participation in significant market rallies. The fund's expense ratio should also be considered relative to the benefits of downside protection. The absence of a dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
ZALT Key Highlights
Market Cap of $0.68 billion indicates a moderate size within the ETF market.
- Beta of 0.31 suggests lower volatility compared to the S&P 500.
- The ETF provides a 10% downside buffer over each 3-month outcome period.
- ZALT resets quarterly, offering continuous buffered exposure to the S&P 500.
- The ETF tracks the return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) to a cap.
Who Are ZALT's Competitors?
ZALT is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDMO FIDELITY MOMENTUM FACTOR ETF | $96.46 | +0.74% | $1.00B | — |
| GJUL FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July | $44.76 | +0.52% | $656M | — |
| LGH HCM Defender 500 Index ETF | $66.52 | +1.02% | $606M | — |
| NUKZ Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF | $60.84 | +0.73% | $467M | — |
| PFEB Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF | $44.22 | +0.29% | $776M | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1059.63 | -0.44% | $164B | 51 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $111.74 | -0.45% | $135B | 68 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.59 | -0.23% | $74.8B | 56 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are ZALT's Key Strengths?
Unique buffered strategy provides downside protection.
- Resets quarterly, offering continuous risk management.
- Lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 (beta of 0.31).
- Appeals to risk-averse investors.
What Are ZALT's Weaknesses?
Capped return limits participation in significant market rallies.
- Expense ratio may be higher than traditional index ETFs.
- Absence of dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors.
- Complex strategy may be difficult for some investors to understand.
What Are the Key Risks for ZALT?
Capped returns may limit participation in significant market rallies.
- Changes in market conditions may affect the performance of the buffer.
- Competition from other buffered ETFs and risk-managed strategies.
- Expense ratio may be higher than traditional index ETFs.
- Regulatory changes could impact the ETF industry.
What Are ZALT's Competitive Advantages?
- First-mover advantage in the buffered ETF market.
- Proprietary strategy for creating and managing buffered outcomes.
- Established brand reputation within the ETF industry.
What Does ZALT Do?
The Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide investors with exposure to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) while mitigating potential losses. Unlike traditional ETFs that directly track an index, ZALT employs a strategy that buffers against the first 10% of losses over a defined period. This is achieved through the use of flexible exchange options. The ETF resets its buffer every three months, allowing investors to maintain a continuous level of downside protection. Innovator ETFs, the fund's sponsor, focuses on structured outcome ETFs, aiming to provide defined risk and return profiles. ZALT is one of many ETFs in their buffer product lineup, offering various levels of downside protection and outcome periods. The fund's strategy is designed for investors seeking to participate in market gains while limiting potential losses, making it an appealing option for risk-averse investors or those concerned about market volatility. The ETF does not pay a dividend. As of 2026, ZALT continues to provide investors with a unique risk-managed approach to S&P 500 exposure.
What Products and Services Does ZALT Offer?
- Track the return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).
- Provide a 10% buffer against downside risk over each 3-month period.
- Reset the buffer every three months, offering continuous protection.
- Utilize flexible exchange options to achieve the buffered outcome.
- Offer investors a risk-managed approach to S&P 500 exposure.
- Caters to investors seeking to participate in market gains while limiting potential losses.
How Does ZALT Make Money?
- Earns management fees based on the assets under management (AUM).
- Generates revenue from the difference between the cost of creating and redeeming ETF shares.
- May engage in securities lending to generate additional income.
What Industry Does ZALT Operate In?
The asset management industry is characterized by a wide range of investment products, including ETFs, mutual funds, and hedge funds. ETFs have gained popularity due to their low cost, transparency, and flexibility. Within the ETF market, there is increasing demand for specialized products that offer specific risk and return profiles. ZALT operates within this niche, providing buffered exposure to the S&P 500. Competitors include other buffered ETFs and risk-managed investment strategies. The growth of the ETF market is driven by factors such as increasing investor awareness, technological advancements, and regulatory changes.
Who Are ZALT's Key Customers?
- Retail investors seeking downside protection.
- Financial advisors looking for risk-managed investment solutions.
- Institutional investors with a focus on capital preservation.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is an etf, not an operating company
MoonshotScore History
Recorded daily since 2026-08-23 · 41 snapshots
| 2026-08-23 | 47 |
| 2026-08-31 | 47 |
| 2026-09-08 | 47 |
| 2026-09-16 | 47 |
| 2026-09-24 | 47 |
| 2026-10-04 | 47 |
What changed?
The score has stayed at 47.
Over the same 30 days the stock moved +0.1%.
ZALT Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Unique buffered strategy provides downside protection.
- Resets quarterly, offering continuous risk management.
- Lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 (beta of 0.31).
- Appeals to risk-averse investors.
Bear Case
- Capped return limits participation in significant market rallies.
- Expense ratio may be higher than traditional index ETFs.
- Absence of dividend yield may deter income-seeking investors.
- Complex strategy may be difficult for some investors to understand.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
ZALT Latest News
No recent news available for ZALT.
ZALT Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for ZALT.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for ZALT.
ZALT MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for ZALT; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
What Investors Ask About Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) — Financials
What does Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF do?
Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF (ZALT) aims to provide investors with exposure to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) while mitigating potential losses. It employs a strategy that buffers against the first 10% of losses over a defined three-month period, using flexible exchange options.
What regulatory challenges does Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF face?
Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF, as an ETF, is subject to regulatory oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- The information provided is based on publicly available data and may be subject to change.