IDEFvsITAETF Comparison
ETF 1
IDEF
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF
VS
ETF 2
ITA
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) belong to the same industry segment: . IDEF's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Materials. In contrast, ITA's top sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. IDEF is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.55%, versus 0.38% for ITA. IDEF is up 4.76% year-to-date (YTD) with +$3.78B in YTD flows. ITA performs worse with 4.24% YTD performance, and +$416M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IDEF 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.
Find out how industry players manage ETF portfolios. Discover our library of Model portfolios
IDEF vs ITA performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/20/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IDEF ITA | -7.06%-3.54% | -9.95%-8.20% | +4.76%+4.24% | +29.27%+29.64% | n/a+102.47% | n/a+121.45% |
| Flows | IDEF ITA | +$154M+$46M | +$3.74B-$841M | +$3.78B+$416M | +$3.82B+$4.02B | -+$2.81B | -+$5.42B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IDEF ITA | +24.60%+27.69% | +19.95%+20.89% | n/a+19.45% | n/a+20.11% |
| Max drawdown | IDEF ITA | -14.25%-15.79% | -14.25%-15.79% | n/a-15.79% | n/a-18.75% |
| Max drawdown duration | IDEF ITA | 79d79d | 79d79d | n/a79d | n/a227d |
Trading data
IDEF | ITA | |
Last sale 5/21/2026 at 4:30 PM | $32.28 | $221.46 |
| Previous close 05/20/2026 | $32.38 | $223.28 |
| Consolidated volume 05/20/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of April 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
Create an account to view replication metrics
Join for free
IDEF
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexIDEF | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
Advertisement
Main metrics
Last update 5/21/2026 at 4:30 PM
Live
Closed
IDEF | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $32.28 | $221.46 |
| 1D performance | -0.32% | -0.82% |
| AuM | $3.55 B | $13.71 B |
| E/R | 0.55% | 0.38% |
Advertisement
Exposure
Countries
IDEF
USA
60.2%
Republic of Korea
9.11%
Other
30.69%
ITA
USA
97.87%
Other
2.13%
Sectors
IDEF
Industrials
76.34%
Information Techn.
7.73%
Other
15.94%
ITA
Industrials
90.12%
Other
9.88%
Advertisement
Diversification
IDEF
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
51.85%
ITA
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
85.18%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
IDEF
RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD
10.08%
LOCKHEED MARTIN
6.02%
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES
4.76%
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
4.76%
GENERAL DYNAMICS
4.43%
RHEINMETALL
2.87%
ROLLS-ROYCE HOLDINGS
2.70%
MITSUBISHI HVY
2.50%
BOEING U
2.37%
BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC
2.20%
BAE SYSTEMS
2.19%
US7731211089
2.07%
KRATOS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SOLS
1.78%
AU000000DRO2
1.59%
CAMECO
1.55%
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 IDEF and ITA
How have the IDEF and ITA ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 20, 2026, IDEF is up 4.76% year-to-date (YTD), while ITA has returned 4.24%. That puts IDEF better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IDEF or ITA?
Year-to-date, the IDEF ETF saw +$3.78B in flows, compared to +$416M for ITA.
Which ETF is more volatile: IDEF or ITA?
Over the past year, IDEF had a volatility of 19.95%, while ITA experienced 20.89%.
Which ETF is bigger: IDEF or ITA?
As of May 20, 2026, IDEF holds $3.55 B in assets under management (AUM), while ITA manages $13.71 B.
What sectors do the IDEF and ITA ETFs invest in?
IDEF leans toward sectors like Industrials and Information Technology. Meanwhile, ITA focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the IDEF ETF and ITA ETF?
IDEF top holdings include RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD, LOCKHEED MARTIN and PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES. ITA holds in its top three: GENERAL ELECTRIC, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U.
Which ETF is more diversified: IDEF or ITA?
IDEF holds 110 securities with 51.85% of its assets in the top 15. ITA has 45 securities and a top 15 weight of 85.18%.
Advertisement
Latest news about IDEF & ITA
ETF Comparison: iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) Versus iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
April 8, 2026
IDEF
ITA
Advertisement
The Trump Pump: ETF Winners from the 2024 Presidential Election
November 6, 2024
ITA
The Trump Pump: ETF Winners from the 2024 Presidential Election
November 6, 2024
ITA
The Trump Trade: Which ETFs Stand to Benefit Most from a Second Donald Trump Presidency?
July 26, 2024
ITA
Notable ETF Filings Recap: April 2024
May 2, 2024
ITA
Advertisement
