NATOvsIDEFETF Comparison
ETF 1
NATO
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF
VS
ETF 2
IDEF
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) and iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) belong to the same industry segment: . NATO's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary. In contrast, IDEF's top sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Materials. NATO is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.55% for IDEF. NATO is up 1.12% year-to-date (YTD) with +$42M in YTD flows. IDEF performs better with 7.67% YTD performance, and +$3.68B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of NATO and IDEF 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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NATO vs IDEF performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/01/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | NATO IDEF | -3.78%-1.26% | -7.57%-3.27% | +1.12%+7.67% | +28.05%n/a | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Flows | NATO IDEF | -$3M+$218M | +$25M+$3.67B | +$42M+$3.68B | +$77M- | -- | -- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | NATO IDEF | +26.48%+26.10% | +18.69%n/a | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown | NATO IDEF | -14.82%-14.25% | -14.82%n/a | n/an/a | n/an/a |
| Max drawdown duration | NATO IDEF | 60d60d | 60dn/a | n/an/a | n/an/a |
Trading data
NATO | IDEF | |
Last sale 5/1/2026 at 1:30 PM | $38.46 | $33.35 |
| Previous close 04/29/2026 | $38.64 | $33.48 |
| Consolidated volume 04/29/2026 | ||
| 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
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IDEF
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexNATO | IDEF | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/1/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
NATO | IDEF | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $38.46 | $33.35 |
| 1D performance | -0.46% | -0.39% |
| AuM | $98.23 M | $3.54 B |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.55% |
Characteristics
NATO | IDEF | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Themes Management Company | iShares |
| Benchmark | Solactive Transatlantic Aerospace and Defense Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 59 | 94 |
| Asset class | - | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | October 10, 2024 | May 19, 2025 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
NATO
USA
66.36%
United Kingdom
11.02%
Other
22.62%
IDEF
USA
60.2%
Republic of Korea
9.11%
Other
30.69%
Sectors
NATO
Industrials
91.91%
Other
8.09%
IDEF
Industrials
76.34%
Information Techn.
7.73%
Other
15.94%
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Diversification
NATO
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
77.94%
IDEF
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
51.85%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
NATO
RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD
8.77%
GENERAL ELECTRIC
7.35%
BOEING U
6.88%
ROLLS-ROYCE HOLDINGS
5.90%
LOCKHEED MARTIN
5.89%
HONEYWELL INTL
5.50%
SAFRAN
5.27%
AIRBUS SE
5.14%
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
4.79%
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
4.44%
BAE SYSTEMS
4.24%
GENERAL DYNAMICS
3.77%
RHEINMETALL
3.70%
L3 HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES
3.18%
TRANSDIGM GROUP
3.12%
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%
Frequently asked questions about NATO and IDEF
How have the NATO and IDEF ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 1, 2026, NATO is up 1.12% year-to-date (YTD), while IDEF has returned 7.67%. That puts IDEF better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: NATO or IDEF?
Year-to-date, the NATO ETF saw +$42M in flows, compared to +$3.68B for IDEF.
Which ETF is bigger: NATO or IDEF?
As of May 1, 2026, NATO holds $98.23 M in assets under management (AUM), while IDEF manages $3.54 B.
What sectors do the NATO and IDEF ETFs invest in?
NATO leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, IDEF focuses on Industrials and Information Technology.
What are the top holdings of the NATO ETF and IDEF ETF?
NATO top holdings include RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD, GENERAL ELECTRIC and BOEING U. IDEF holds in its top three: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD, LOCKHEED MARTIN and PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES.
Which ETF is more diversified: NATO or IDEF?
NATO holds 76 securities with 77.94% of its assets in the top 15. IDEF has 110 securities and a top 15 weight of 51.85%.
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Latest news about NATO & IDEF
ETF Comparison: iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) Versus iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
April 8, 2026
IDEF
ETFs Reveal a Growing Gap in U.S. vs. EU Defense Stock Performance
March 5, 2025
NATO
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