MISLvsGCADETF Comparison
ETF 1
MISL
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF
VS
ETF 2
GCAD
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) and Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (GCAD) belong to the same industry segment: . MISL's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Business Services and Telecommunications. In contrast, GCAD's top sector exposures are Industrials, Non-Energy Materials and Sovereign. MISL is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.6%, versus 0.9% for GCAD. MISL is down -0.73% year-to-date (YTD) with -$610M in YTD flows. GCAD performs better with 6.88% YTD performance, and +$30M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of MISL and GCAD 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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MISL vs GCAD performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/14/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | MISL GCAD | -11.63%-13.46% | -9.40%-11.03% | -0.73%+6.88% | +7.52%+15.70% | +92.92%+111.17% | n/an/a |
| Flows | MISL GCAD | -$11M+$2M | -$45M+$12M | -$610M+$30M | +$452M+$31M | +$553M+$36M | -- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | MISL GCAD | +25.99%+19.88% | +25.83%+21.70% | +20.84%+19.34% | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown | MISL GCAD | -11.97%-14.11% | -16.91%-14.81% | -17.72%-16.22% | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown duration | MISL GCAD | 29d30d | 238d121d | 184d91d | n/an/a |
Trading data
MISL | GCAD | |
Last sale 9/15/2026 at 1:30 PM | $42.15 | $49.62 |
| Previous close 09/15/2026 | $42.44 | $49.95 |
| Consolidated volume 09/15/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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GCAD
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexMISL | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/15/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
MISL | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $42.15 | $49.62 |
| 1D performance | -0.68% | -0.66% |
| AuM | $702.20 M | $43.10 M |
| E/R | 0.6% | 0.9% |
Characteristics
MISL | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | First Trust | Gabelli Funds |
| Benchmark | Indxx US Aerospace and Defense Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 38 | 52 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | October 26, 2022 | January 3, 2023 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
MISL
USA
99.6%
Other
0.4%
GCAD
USA
95.02%
Other
4.98%
Sectors
MISL
Industrials
76.86%
Business Services
12.3%
Telecommunication.
9.92%
Other
0.92%
GCAD
Industrials
84.88%
Non-Energy Materi.
10.3%
Other
4.82%
Diversification
MISL
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
78.08%
GCAD
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
65.83%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
MISL
Palantir Technologies, Inc.
10.79%
RTX Corp.
8.52%
The Boeing Co.
7.61%
GE Aerospace
7.55%
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
7.25%
Lockheed Martin Corp.
4.30%
Northrop Grumman Corp.
4.11%
General Dynamics Corp.
4.05%
Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
3.97%
HEICO Corp.
3.93%
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
3.66%
TransDigm Group, Inc.
3.59%
Rocket Lab Corp.
3.54%
AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
2.67%
Curtiss-Wright Corp.
2.54%
GCAD
Albany International Corp.
6.96%
Moog, Inc.
6.28%
The Boeing Co.
5.43%
Hexcel Corp.
4.81%
Ducommun, Inc.
4.80%
RTX Corp.
4.78%
Honeywell Aerospace, Inc.
4.68%
Lockheed Martin Corp.
4.58%
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
4.46%
Textron, Inc.
3.76%
Northrop Grumman Corp.
3.74%
Mercury Systems, Inc.
3.15%
Crane Co.
3.01%
Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
2.75%
General Dynamics Corp.
2.64%
Frequently asked questions about MISL and GCAD
How have the MISL and GCAD ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 14, 2026, MISL is down -0.73% year-to-date (YTD), while GCAD has returned 6.88%. That puts GCAD better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: MISL or GCAD?
Year-to-date, the MISL ETF saw -$610M in flows, compared to +$30M for GCAD.
Which ETF is more volatile: MISL or GCAD?
Over the past year, MISL had a volatility of 25.83%, while GCAD experienced 21.7%.
Which ETF is bigger: MISL or GCAD?
As of September 14, 2026, MISL holds $702.20 M in assets under management (AUM), while GCAD manages $43.10 M.
What sectors do the MISL and GCAD ETFs invest in?
MISL leans toward sectors like Industrials, Business Services and Telecommunications. Meanwhile, GCAD focuses on Industrials and Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the MISL ETF and GCAD ETF?
MISL top holdings include Palantir Technologies, Inc., RTX Corp. and The Boeing Co.. GCAD holds in its top three: Albany International Corp., Moog, Inc. and The Boeing Co..
Which ETF is more diversified: MISL or GCAD?
MISL holds 38 securities with 78.08% of its assets in the top 15. GCAD has 53 securities and a top 15 weight of 65.83%.
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Latest news about MISL & GCAD
Tony's ETF Buyers Guide: Aerospace & Defense ETFs
January 15, 2024
GCAD
Israel-Hamas War, Part 1: Implications for Aerospace & Defense ETFs
November 2, 2023
GCAD
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