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XARvsMISLETF Comparison
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) is part of the segment. XAR's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. In contrast, MISL's top sector exposures are Industrials, Communication Services and Information Technology. XAR is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.6% for MISL. XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD) with +$898M in YTD flows. MISL performs worse with 13.74% YTD performance, and +$75M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XAR and MISL 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 MISL performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAR MISL | +3.90%+0.19% | +16.25%+17.53% | +15.19%+13.74% | +76.15%+64.00% | +147.29%+124.44% | +128.62%n/a |
| Flows | XAR MISL | +$358M+$78M | +$950M+$1.12B | +$898M+$75M | +$1.55B+$1.17B | +$2.05B+$1.26B | +$2.24B- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XAR MISL | +30.70%+26.68% | +27.13%+22.80% | +21.61%+18.37% | +22.54%n/a |
| Max drawdown | XAR MISL | -11.13%-7.46% | -14.79%-11.76% | -19.74%-17.72% | -32.38%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | XAR MISL | 51d50d | 31d30d | 109d184d | 904dn/a |
XAR | MISL | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $277.45 | $48.46 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $277.95 | $48.61 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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XAR | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
XAR | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $277.45 | $48.46 |
| 1D performance | -0.18% | -0.31% |
| AuM | $6.30 B | $1.55 B |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.6% |
XAR | MISL | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | SPDR | First Trust |
| Benchmark | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | Indxx US Aerospace and Defense Index |
| N° of holdings | 35 | 31 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 28, 2011 | October 26, 2022 |
| 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 MISL ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD), while MISL has returned 13.74%. That puts XAR better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XAR or MISL?
Year-to-date, the XAR ETF saw +$898M in flows, compared to +$75M for MISL.
Which ETF is more volatile: XAR or MISL?
Over the past year, XAR had a volatility of 27.13%, while MISL experienced 22.8%.
Which ETF is bigger: XAR or MISL?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR holds $6.30 B in assets under management (AUM), while MISL manages $1.55 B.
What sectors do the XAR and MISL ETFs invest in?
XAR leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, MISL focuses on Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the XAR ETF and MISL ETF?
XAR top holdings include US4859241048, US7731211089 and LOCKHEED MARTIN. MISL holds in its top three: LOCKHEED MARTIN, RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORD and BOEING U.
Which ETF is more diversified: XAR or MISL?
XAR holds 40 securities with 54.75% of its assets in the top 15. MISL has 37 securities and a top 15 weight of 78%.
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