GCADvsITAETF Comparison
VS
ETF 2
ITA
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (GCAD) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is part of the segment. GCAD's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Communication Services. In contrast, ITA's top sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. GCAD is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.9%, versus 0.38% for ITA. GCAD is up 10.68% year-to-date (YTD) with +$12M in YTD flows. ITA performs worse with 0.59% YTD performance, and +$581M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of GCAD and ITA below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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GCAD vs ITA performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 04/22/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | GCAD ITA | +1.85%-3.06% | -3.14%-7.47% | +10.68%+0.59% | +59.88%+41.81% | +115.61%+90.98% | n/a+112.14% |
| Flows | GCAD ITA | +$794K+$407M | +$10M-$185M | +$12M+$581M | +$16M+$4.35B | +$19M+$2.96B | -+$5.54B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | GCAD ITA | +24.31%+26.64% | +18.20%+20.10% | +18.19%+19.19% | n/a+20.00% |
| Max drawdown | GCAD ITA | -14.81%-15.79% | -14.81%-15.79% | -16.22%-15.79% | n/a-18.75% |
| Max drawdown duration | GCAD ITA | 51d53d | 51d53d | 91d53d | n/a227d |
Trading data
GCAD | ITA | |
Last sale 4/24/2026 at 1:30 PM | $50.34 | $215.80 |
| Previous close 04/23/2026 | $51.10 | $219.11 |
| Consolidated volume 04/23/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of March 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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GCAD
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexGCAD | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 4/24/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
GCAD | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $50.34 | $215.80 |
| 1D performance | -1.49% | -1.51% |
| AuM | $28.22 M | $13.40 B |
| E/R | 0.9% | 0.38% |
Characteristics
GCAD | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | Gabelli Funds | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index |
| N° of holdings | 38 | 36 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 3, 2023 | May 1, 2006 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
GCAD
USA
87.87%
Other
12.13%
ITA
USA
97.87%
Other
2.13%
Sectors
GCAD
Industrials
85.62%
Other
14.38%
ITA
Industrials
90.12%
Other
9.88%
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Diversification
GCAD
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
63.19%
ITA
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
85.18%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
GCAD
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL
5.94%
BOEING U
5.92%
LOCKHEED MARTIN
5.83%
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
5.79%
MOOG
5.30%
HEXCEL
4.58%
TEXTRON
4.58%
HONEYWELL INTL
4.21%
DUCOMMUN
3.86%
L3 HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES
3.60%
MERCURY SYSTEMS INC
2.90%
GENERAL DYNAMICS
2.87%
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
2.77%
CURTISS WRIGHT
2.72%
ASTRONICS
2.33%
ITA
GENERAL ELECTRIC
19.03%
RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD
16.55%
BOEING U
8.91%
GENERAL DYNAMICS
4.77%
L3 HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES
4.66%
LOCKHEED MARTIN
4.58%
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
4.58%
TRANSDIGM GROUP
4.53%
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
4.50%
AXON ENTERPRISE INC
2.83%
US7731211089
2.55%
KYG3730V1059
2.12%
CURTISS WRIGHT
2.12%
WOODWARD
1.80%
ATI INC
1.67%
Frequently asked questions about GCAD and ITA
How have the GCAD and ITA ETFs performed in 2026?
As of April 22, 2026, GCAD is up 10.68% year-to-date (YTD), while ITA has returned 0.59%. That puts GCAD better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: GCAD or ITA?
Year-to-date, the GCAD ETF saw +$12M in flows, compared to +$581M for ITA.
Which ETF is more volatile: GCAD or ITA?
Over the past year, GCAD had a volatility of 18.2%, while ITA experienced 20.1%.
Which ETF is bigger: GCAD or ITA?
As of April 22, 2026, GCAD holds $28.22 M in assets under management (AUM), while ITA manages $13.40 B.
What sectors do the GCAD and ITA ETFs invest in?
GCAD leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, ITA focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the GCAD ETF and ITA ETF?
GCAD top holdings include ALBANY INTERNATIONAL, BOEING U and LOCKHEED MARTIN. ITA holds in its top three: GENERAL ELECTRIC, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U.
Which ETF is more diversified: GCAD or ITA?
GCAD holds 40 securities with 63.19% of its assets in the top 15. ITA has 45 securities and a top 15 weight of 85.18%.
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