Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF (GCAD) belongs to the Aerospace & Defense category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GCAD. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GCAD
GCAD charges 0.00% annually. No ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | 0.35% | 4.28M | Feb 2026 | GCAD vs XDEF | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 0.35% | — | Oct 2024 | GCAD vs NATO | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.35% | 7.23B | Sep 2011 | GCAD vs XAR | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.38% | 14.21B | May 2006 | GCAD vs ITA | |
| WisdomTree Global Defense Fund | 0.45% | 5.54M | Sep 2025 | GCAD vs WDGF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GCAD
GCAD has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 57. No ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category have higher risk-adjusted ranks; the top alternatives shown here go as high as 54.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Space ETF | 54 | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | GCAD vs UFO | |
| ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF | 40 | 717.30M | Mar 2021 | GCAD vs ARKX | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 40 | 7.23B | Sep 2011 | GCAD vs XAR | |
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 39 | 15.15M | Dec 2024 | GCAD vs FOWF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 38 | 14.21B | May 2006 | GCAD vs ITA |
Top Performing GCAD Alternatives (YTD)
GCAD is at 17.90% YTD. There is 1 ETF in the Aerospace & Defense category with a higher YTD return, going as high as 24.53%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Space ETF | 24.53% | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | GCAD vs UFO | |
| Defiance Drone & Modern Warfare ETF | 16.35% | 173.78M | Sep 2025 | GCAD vs JEDI | |
| Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares | 15.64% | 427.18M | May 2017 | GCAD vs DFEN | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 14.20% | 7.23B | Sep 2011 | GCAD vs XAR | |
| ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF | 13.18% | 717.30M | Mar 2021 | GCAD vs ARKX |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GCAD
GCAD has 20.36% 1-year volatility. There are 2 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.45%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 14.45% | 15.15M | Dec 2024 | GCAD vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 20.15% | 8.26B | Oct 2005 | GCAD vs PPA | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 21.46% | — | Oct 2024 | GCAD vs NATO | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 21.90% | 14.21B | May 2006 | GCAD vs ITA | |
| iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | 22.10% | 4.08B | May 2025 | GCAD vs IDEF |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GCAD
GCAD has a 1-year max drawdown of -14.96%. There are 3 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -10.08%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | -10.08% | 15.15M | Dec 2024 | GCAD vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | -13.71% | 8.26B | Oct 2005 | GCAD vs PPA | |
| iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | -14.78% | 4.08B | May 2025 | GCAD vs IDEF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | -15.82% | 14.21B | May 2006 | GCAD vs ITA | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | -15.99% | — | Oct 2024 | GCAD vs NATO |
Other ETFs from Gabelli
The 6 most viewed Gabelli ETFs shown here include GABF, LOPP, GGTL and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $50M.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF | Financials Equities | 8 | -4.42% | 50.20M | May 2022 | GCAD vs GABF | |
| Gabelli Love Our Planet & People ETF | Mid Cap Blend Equities, ESG | 69 | 16.94% | 18.10M | Feb 2021 | GCAD vs LOPP | |
| Gabelli Global Technology Leaders ETF | Technology Equities | 76 | 23.84% | 7.50M | Jan 2022 | GCAD vs GGTL | |
| Gabelli Opportunities in Live and Sports ETF | Communications Equities | — | — | 12.55M | Jan 2026 | GCAD vs GOLS | |
| Keeley Dividend ETF | Mid Cap Blend Equities, Dividend | — | 12.99% | 7.20M | Dec 2025 | GCAD vs KDVD | |
| Gabelli High Income ETF | High Yield Bonds | — | 2.22% | 6.08M | Nov 2025 | GCAD vs GBHI |
Often Compared With GCAD
Investors most often compare GCAD with SHLD, WAR, XLG. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare GCAD with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GCAD with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GCAD with funds that move differently
Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GCAD.
Explore GCAD Diversifiers