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IDEFvsMISLETF Comparison
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) is part of the segment. IDEF's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Materials. In contrast, MISL's top sector exposures are Industrials, Communication Services and Information Technology. IDEF is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.55%, versus 0.6% for MISL. IDEF is up 12.59% year-to-date (YTD) with +$854M in YTD flows. MISL performs worse with 9.66% YTD performance, and +$75M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IDEF and MISL below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
IDEF vs MISL performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IDEF MISL | +0.11%-2.77% | +13.87%+12.69% | +12.59%+9.66% | n/a+59.31% | n/a+117.84% | n/an/a |
| Flows | IDEF MISL | +$839M+$60M | +$854M+$415M | +$854M+$75M | -+$1.17B | -+$1.26B | -- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IDEF MISL | +22.98%+27.04% | n/a+22.97% | n/a+18.41% | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown | IDEF MISL | -7.18%-7.78% | n/a-11.76% | n/a-17.72% | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown duration | IDEF MISL | 39d53d | n/a30d | n/a184d | n/an/a |
IDEF | MISL | |
Last sale 3/16/2026 at 1:30 PM | $35.31 | $47.63 |
| Previous close 03/13/2026 | $34.63 | $46.87 |
| Consolidated volume 03/13/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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IDEF | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
IDEF | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $35.31 | $47.63 |
| 1D performance | +1.96% | +1.62% |
| AuM | $900.40 M | $1.49 B |
| E/R | 0.55% | 0.6% |
IDEF | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | First Trust |
| Benchmark | - | Indxx US Aerospace and Defense Index |
| N° of holdings | 98 | 31 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 19, 2025 | October 26, 2022 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the IDEF and MISL ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 13, 2026, IDEF is up 12.59% year-to-date (YTD), while MISL has returned 9.66%. That puts IDEF better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IDEF or MISL?
Year-to-date, the IDEF ETF saw +$854M in flows, compared to +$75M for MISL.
Which ETF is bigger: IDEF or MISL?
As of March 13, 2026, IDEF holds $900.40 M in assets under management (AUM), while MISL manages $1.49 B.
What sectors do the IDEF and MISL ETFs invest in?
IDEF leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, MISL focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the IDEF ETF and MISL ETF?
IDEF top holdings include RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD, GENERAL DYNAMICS and NORTHROP GRUMMAN. MISL holds in its top three: LOCKHEED MARTIN, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U.
Which ETF is more diversified: IDEF or MISL?
IDEF holds 113 securities with 48.99% of its assets in the top 15. MISL has 37 securities and a top 15 weight of 78%.
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