Keep tabs on your favorite ETFs with a personalized weekly tracker. Create a Watchlist now →
XARvsGCADETF Comparison
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (GCAD) is part of the segment. XAR's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. In contrast, GCAD's top sector exposures are Industrials, Materials XAR is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.9% for GCAD. XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD) with +$898M in YTD flows. GCAD performs better with 15.77% YTD performance, and +$10M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XAR 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.
XAR vs GCAD performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAR GCAD | +3.90%+1.18% | +16.25%+18.70% | +15.19%+15.77% | +76.15%+63.45% | +147.29%+127.36% | +128.62%n/a |
| Flows | XAR GCAD | +$358M+$2M | +$950M+$10M | +$898M+$10M | +$1.55B+$14M | +$2.05B+$17M | +$2.24B- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XAR GCAD | +30.70%+20.39% | +27.13%+20.46% | +21.61%+17.71% | +22.54%n/a |
| Max drawdown | XAR GCAD | -11.13%-4.59% | -14.79%-13.68% | -19.74%-16.22% | -32.38%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | XAR GCAD | 51d8d | 31d37d | 109d91d | 904dn/a |
XAR | GCAD | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $277.45 | $53.38 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $277.95 | $53.83 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
XAR | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
XAR | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $277.45 | $53.38 |
| 1D performance | -0.18% | -0.84% |
| AuM | $6.30 B | $27.37 M |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.9% |
XAR | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | SPDR | Gabelli Funds |
| Benchmark | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 35 | 37 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 28, 2011 | January 3, 2023 |
| 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 XAR and GCAD ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD), while GCAD has returned 15.77%. That puts GCAD better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XAR or GCAD?
Year-to-date, the XAR ETF saw +$898M in flows, compared to +$10M for GCAD.
Which ETF is more volatile: XAR or GCAD?
Over the past year, XAR had a volatility of 27.13%, while GCAD experienced 20.46%.
Which ETF is bigger: XAR or GCAD?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR holds $6.30 B in assets under management (AUM), while GCAD manages $27.37 M.
What sectors do the XAR and GCAD ETFs invest in?
XAR leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, GCAD focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the XAR ETF and GCAD ETF?
XAR top holdings include US4859241048, US7731211089 and LOCKHEED MARTIN. GCAD holds in its top three: BOEING U, LOCKHEED MARTIN and NORTHROP GRUMMAN.
Which ETF is more diversified: XAR or GCAD?
XAR holds 40 securities with 54.75% of its assets in the top 15. GCAD has 39 securities and a top 15 weight of 62.4%.
The Trump Pump: ETF Winners from the 2024 Presidential Election
The Trump Pump: ETF Winners from the 2024 Presidential Election
The Trump Trade: Which ETFs Stand to Benefit Most from a Second Donald Trump Presidency?
Tony's ETF Buyers Guide: Aerospace & Defense ETFs
Calamos Investments Powers the Next Phase of the Autocallable Revolution
Join J.P. Morgan’s Bram Kaplan, Head of Americas Equity Derivatives Strategy and Matt Kaufman from Calamos Investments as they dive into the growing global opportunity in autocallable income—an increasingly dominant strategy within structured products, now available through ETFs.
Accepted for 1 CE Credit
