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 a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF charges 0.55% annually. There are 11 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.35% | 6.22B | Sep 2011 | IDEF vs XAR | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 0.35% | — | Oct 2024 | IDEF vs NATO | |
| Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | 0.35% | 4.24M | Feb 2026 | IDEF vs XDEF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.38% | 14.23B | May 2006 | IDEF vs ITA | |
| U.S. Defense ETF | 0.45% | 2.95M | Apr 2026 | IDEF vs DUTY |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 20. There are 8 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 53.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 53 | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| Procure Space ETF | 43 | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | IDEF vs UFO | |
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 38 | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | IDEF vs FOWF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 37 | 14.23B | May 2006 | IDEF vs ITA | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 35 | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | IDEF vs PPA |
Top Performing IDEF Alternatives (YTD)
IDEF is at 2.12% YTD. There are 11 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 17.90%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Space ETF | 17.90% | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | IDEF vs UFO | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 16.21% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| Truth Social American Security & Defense ETF | 14.93% | 12.67M | Dec 2025 | IDEF vs TSSD | |
| Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares | 13.04% | 390.92M | May 2017 | IDEF vs DFEN | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 9.63% | 14.23B | May 2006 | IDEF vs ITA |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF has 22.54% 1-year volatility. There are 5 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.64%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 14.64% | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | IDEF vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 20.48% | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | IDEF vs PPA | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 20.66% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 21.81% | — | Oct 2024 | IDEF vs NATO | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 22.10% | 14.23B | May 2006 | IDEF vs ITA |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to IDEF
IDEF has a 1-year max drawdown of -15.69%. 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% | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | IDEF vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | -13.71% | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | IDEF vs PPA | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | -14.96% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | IDEF vs GCAD | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | -15.82% | 14.23B | May 2006 | IDEF vs ITA | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | -15.99% | — | Oct 2024 | IDEF vs NATO |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, SOXX and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $894B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.92% | 97.69B | May 2020 | IDEF vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 1 | -29.06% | 46.82B | Jan 2024 | IDEF vs IBIT | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 93 | 84.03% | 47.60B | Jul 2001 | IDEF vs SOXX | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 66 | 10.46% | 894.38B | May 2000 | IDEF vs IVV | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 13 | -1.48% | 42.18B | Jul 2002 | IDEF vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 86 | 12.23% | 42.05B | Jun 2014 | IDEF vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 27 | -19.03% | 28.37B | Apr 2006 | IDEF vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -7.29% | 60.94B | Jan 2005 | IDEF vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 69 | 19.72% | 83.34B | May 2000 | IDEF vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 63 | 10.93% | 33.36B | Mar 2008 | IDEF vs ACWI |
Often Compared With IDEF
Investors most often compare IDEF with SHLD, EUAD, MQQQ. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, 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.
Pair IDEF with funds that move differently
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to IDEF.
Explore IDEF Diversifiers