iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) Alternatives
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) 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 IDEF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.
Cheapest Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF charges 0.55% annually. Among ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among IDEF alternatives.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | 0.35% | Feb 19, 2026 | IDEF vs XDEF | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.35% | Sep 28, 2011 | IDEF vs XAR | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 0.35% | Oct 10, 2024 | IDEF vs NATO | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.42% | May 5, 2006 | IDEF vs ITA | |
| WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund | 0.45% | Sep 10, 2025 | IDEF vs WDAF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to IDEF
Among ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Space ETF | 96 | Apr 11, 2019 | IDEF vs UFO | |
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | 95 | Feb 5, 2025 | IDEF vs KDEF | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 94 | Jan 3, 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 92 | Sep 28, 2011 | IDEF vs XAR | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 92 | Oct 26, 2005 | IDEF vs PPA |
Top Performing IDEF Alternatives (YTD)
IDEF alternatives from the Aerospace & Defense category, sorted by year-to-date return.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF | 20.17% | Feb 5, 2025 | IDEF vs KDEF | |
| Procure Space ETF | 15.94% | Apr 11, 2019 | IDEF vs UFO | |
| WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund | 11.28% | Sep 10, 2025 | IDEF vs WDAF | |
| REX Drone ETF | 9.89% | Oct 29, 2025 | IDEF vs DRNZ | |
| WisdomTree Global Defense Fund | 7.15% | Sep 10, 2025 | IDEF vs WDGF |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF alternatives from the Aerospace & Defense category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 21.51% | Jan 3, 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| WisdomTree Global Defense Fund | 21.55% | Sep 10, 2025 | IDEF vs WDGF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 21.64% | Oct 26, 2005 | IDEF vs PPA | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 22.63% | Oct 10, 2024 | IDEF vs NATO | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 23.28% | May 5, 2006 | IDEF vs ITA |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF alternatives from the Aerospace & Defense category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | -13.71% | Oct 26, 2005 | IDEF vs PPA | |
| U.S. Global Technology and Aerospace & Defense ETF | -14.06% | Dec 30, 2024 | IDEF vs WAR | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | -14.96% | Jan 3, 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | -15.82% | May 5, 2006 | IDEF vs ITA | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | -15.99% | Oct 10, 2024 | IDEF vs NATO |
Other ETFs from iShares
Most popular iShares ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 0.86% | May 26, 2020 | IDEF vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 6 | -22.62% | Jan 5, 2024 | IDEF vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 65 | -4.38% | May 15, 2000 | IDEF vs IVV | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 12 | 0.17% | Jul 22, 2002 | IDEF vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 69 | 1.57% | Jun 10, 2014 | IDEF vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Precious Metals | 89 | 5.77% | Apr 21, 2006 | IDEF vs SLV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 92 | 9.20% | Jul 10, 2001 | IDEF vs SOXX | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 87 | 8.61% | Jan 21, 2005 | IDEF vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 69 | 0.93% | May 22, 2000 | IDEF vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 75 | -2.21% | Mar 26, 2008 | IDEF vs ACWI |
Often Compared With IDEF
What investors most often compare with IDEF, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare IDEF with Any Fund or Stock
Compare IDEF with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.