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MISLvsXLIETF Comparison
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) is part of the US Industrials segment. MISL's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Communication Services and Information Technology. In contrast, XLI's top sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology MISL is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.6%, versus 0.08% for XLI. MISL is up 10.63% year-to-date (YTD) with +$80M in YTD flows. XLI performs worse with 6.17% YTD performance, and +$1.39B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of MISL and XLI below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
MISL vs XLI performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | MISL XLI | -0.68%-5.50% | +12.92%+5.24% | +10.63%+6.17% | +60.57%+29.61% | +119.75%+75.05% | n/a+82.08% |
| Flows | MISL XLI | +$74M-$170M | +$1.01B+$1.61B | +$80M+$1.39B | +$1.17B+$3.23B | +$1.27B+$5.05B | --$259M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | MISL XLI | +27.01%+16.94% | +22.94%+19.26% | +18.41%+16.00% | n/a+17.20% |
| Max drawdown | MISL XLI | -7.46%-7.99% | -11.76%-13.44% | -17.72%-18.43% | n/a-21.70% |
| Max drawdown duration | MISL XLI | 52d11d | 30d37d | 184d165d | n/a526d |
MISL | XLI | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $46.87 | $164.65 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $47.29 | $165.24 |
| Consolidated volume 03/12/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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MISL | XLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
MISL | XLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $46.87 | $164.65 |
| 1D performance | -0.89% | -0.36% |
| AuM | $1.51 B | $28.50 B |
| E/R | 0.6% | 0.08% |
MISL | XLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | SPDR |
| Benchmark | Indxx US Aerospace and Defense Index | S&P Industrial Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 31 | 78 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | October 26, 2022 | December 16, 1998 |
| 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 MISL and XLI ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, MISL is up 10.63% year-to-date (YTD), while XLI has returned 6.17%. That puts MISL better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: MISL or XLI?
Year-to-date, the MISL ETF saw +$80M in flows, compared to +$1.39B for XLI.
Which ETF is more volatile: MISL or XLI?
Over the past year, MISL had a volatility of 22.94%, while XLI experienced 19.26%.
Which ETF is bigger: MISL or XLI?
As of March 12, 2026, MISL holds $1.51 B in assets under management (AUM), while XLI manages $28.50 B.
What sectors do the MISL and XLI ETFs invest in?
MISL leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, XLI focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the MISL ETF and XLI ETF?
MISL top holdings include LOCKHEED MARTIN, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U. XLI holds in its top three: GENERAL ELECTRIC, CATERPILLAR and RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD.
Which ETF is more diversified: MISL or XLI?
MISL holds 37 securities with 78% of its assets in the top 15. XLI has 80 securities and a top 15 weight of 49.8%.
Investing in Sector ETFs: Energy, Industrials, & Materials
Tony's ETF Buyer's Guide: Sector ETFs (Vanguard versus State Street SPDR)
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