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XARvsITAETF Comparison
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is part of the segment. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. XAR is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.38% for ITA. XAR is up 15.37% year-to-date (YTD) with +$870M in YTD flows. ITA performs worse with 11.62% YTD performance, and +$2.06B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XAR and ITA 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 ITA performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAR ITA | +2.14%+2.81% | +19.18%+17.17% | +15.37%+11.62% | +76.84%+62.80% | +145.27%+117.42% | +133.51%+146.95% |
| Flows | XAR ITA | +$351M+$1.01B | +$917M+$2.30B | +$870M+$2.06B | +$1.52B+$5.76B | +$2.02B+$4.56B | +$2.21B+$7.04B |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XAR ITA | +30.98%+23.09% | +27.13%+22.68% | +21.61%+18.52% | +22.56%+19.66% |
| Max drawdown | XAR ITA | -11.13%-7.32% | -14.79%-15.22% | -19.74%-15.22% | -32.38%-18.75% |
| Max drawdown duration | XAR ITA | 50d39d | 31d37d | 109d37d | 904d227d |
XAR | ITA | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $277.45 | $238.68 |
| Previous close 03/10/2026 | $277.95 | $239.72 |
| Consolidated volume 03/10/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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XAR | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
XAR | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $277.45 | $238.68 |
| 1D performance | -0.18% | -0.43% |
| AuM | $6.28 B | $16.40 B |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.38% |
XAR | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | SPDR | iShares |
| Benchmark | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index |
| N° of holdings | 35 | 35 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 28, 2011 | May 1, 2006 |
| 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 ITA ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 10, 2026, XAR is up 15.37% year-to-date (YTD), while ITA has returned 11.62%. That puts XAR better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XAR or ITA?
Year-to-date, the XAR ETF saw +$870M in flows, compared to +$2.06B for ITA.
Which ETF is more volatile: XAR or ITA?
Over the past year, XAR had a volatility of 27.13%, while ITA experienced 22.68%.
Which ETF is bigger: XAR or ITA?
As of March 10, 2026, XAR holds $6.28 B in assets under management (AUM), while ITA manages $16.40 B.
What sectors do the XAR and ITA ETFs invest in?
XAR leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, ITA focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the XAR ETF and ITA ETF?
XAR top holdings include US4859241048, US7731211089 and LOCKHEED MARTIN. ITA holds in its top three: GENERAL ELECTRIC, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U.
Which ETF is more diversified: XAR or ITA?
XAR holds 40 securities with 54.75% of its assets in the top 15. ITA has 42 securities and a top 15 weight of 85.29%.
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