XARvsGCADETF Comparison
ETF 1
XAR
State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF
VS
ETF 2
GCAD
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF
State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) and Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (GCAD) belong to the same industry segment: . XAR's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Non-Energy Materials and Technology. In contrast, GCAD's top sector exposures are Industrials, Non-Energy Materials and Telecommunications. XAR is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.9% for GCAD. XAR is up 12.94% year-to-date (YTD) with +$862M in YTD flows. GCAD performs better with 21.55% YTD performance, and +$27M 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.
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XAR vs GCAD performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 07/28/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAR GCAD | -1.85%+1.58% | +6.62%+11.99% | +12.94%+21.55% | +24.19%+32.80% | +124.86%+126.45% | +117.66%n/a |
| Flows | XAR GCAD | -$113M+$2M | -$126M+$15M | +$862M+$27M | +$1.20B+$30M | +$2.02B+$33M | +$2.34B- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XAR GCAD | +31.41%+24.84% | +28.16%+20.71% | +23.65%+18.98% | +23.63%n/a |
| Max drawdown | XAR GCAD | -10.71%-6.68% | -17.03%-14.81% | -19.74%-16.22% | -28.28%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | XAR GCAD | 22d22d | 190d121d | 109d91d | 853dn/a |
Trading data
XAR | GCAD | |
Last sale 7/29/2026 at 4:26 PM | $259.02 | $54.26 |
| Previous close 07/28/2026 | $271.92 | $56.52 |
| Consolidated volume 07/28/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of June 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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GCAD
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexXAR | 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 7/29/2026 at 4:26 PM
Live
Closed
XAR | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $259.02 | $54.26 |
| 1D performance | -4.74% | -3.99% |
| AuM | $6.09 B | $46.20 M |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.9% |
Characteristics
XAR | GCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | State Street Investment Management | Gabelli Funds |
| Benchmark | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 47 | 48 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 28, 2011 | January 3, 2023 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
XAR
USA
98.62%
Other
1.38%
GCAD
USA
86.94%
Other
13.06%
Sectors
XAR
Industrials
93.67%
Other
6.33%
GCAD
Industrials
79.4%
Non-Energy Materi.
10.44%
Other
10.15%
Diversification
XAR
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
44.3%
GCAD
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
62.26%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of June 30, 2026
XAR
VSE Corp.
3.40%
Axon Enterprise, Inc.
3.22%
StandardAero, Inc.
3.11%
FTAI Aviation Ltd.
3.08%
Carpenter Technology Corp.
3.04%
GE Aerospace
3.02%
Woodward, Inc.
2.98%
HEICO Corp.
2.86%
Moog, Inc.
2.86%
TransDigm Group, Inc.
2.83%
Hexcel Corp.
2.81%
Karman Holdings, Inc.
2.80%
Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
2.77%
ATI, Inc.
2.77%
RTX Corp.
2.75%
GCAD
Albany International Corp.
6.82%
Moog, Inc.
6.15%
The Boeing Co.
5.24%
Ducommun, Inc.
4.86%
Hexcel Corp.
4.48%
RTX Corp.
4.18%
Lockheed Martin Corp.
4.07%
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
4.03%
Mercury Systems, Inc.
3.95%
Textron, Inc.
3.88%
Northrop Grumman Corp.
3.55%
Crane Co.
3.01%
US912797UF28
3.01%
Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
2.59%
Curtiss-Wright Corp.
2.44%
Frequently asked questions about XAR and GCAD
How have the XAR and GCAD ETFs performed in 2026?
As of July 28, 2026, XAR is up 12.94% year-to-date (YTD), while GCAD has returned 21.55%. 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 +$862M in flows, compared to +$27M for GCAD.
Which ETF is more volatile: XAR or GCAD?
Over the past year, XAR had a volatility of 28.16%, while GCAD experienced 20.71%.
Which ETF is bigger: XAR or GCAD?
As of July 28, 2026, XAR holds $6.09 B in assets under management (AUM), while GCAD manages $46.20 M.
What sectors do the XAR and GCAD ETFs invest in?
XAR leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, GCAD focuses on Industrials and Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the XAR ETF and GCAD ETF?
XAR top holdings include VSE Corp., Axon Enterprise, Inc. and StandardAero, Inc.. GCAD holds in its top three: Albany International Corp., Moog, Inc. and The Boeing Co..
Which ETF is more diversified: XAR or GCAD?
XAR holds 48 securities with 44.3% of its assets in the top 15. GCAD has 54 securities and a top 15 weight of 62.26%.
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