ARMR.AX vs. ITA

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

ARMR.AX (Betashares Global Defence ETF) and ITA (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF) are both Aerospace & Defense funds - ARMR.AX tracks the VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index while ITA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, ARMR.AX returned -3.36% vs 14.56% for ITA. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ARMR.AX charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for ITA.

Performance

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a A$10,000 investment in Betashares Global Defence ETF (ARMR.AX) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

ARMR.AX is traded in AUD, while ITA is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the ITA values have been converted to AUD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ARMR.AX achieves a -6.62% return, which is significantly lower than ITA's 5.24% return.

ARMR.AX

• 1D: 0.45%
• 1M: -3.73%
• 6M: -19.26%
• YTD: -6.62%
• 1Y: -3.36%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

ITA

• 1D: 0.23%
• 1M: 0.72%
• 6M: -5.39%
• YTD: 5.24%
• 1Y: 14.56%
• 3Y*: 26.70%
• 5Y*: 19.94%
• 10Y*: 16.03%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
ARMR.AX Betashares Global Defence ETF	-6.62%	47.73%	12.11%
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF	5.24%	37.85%	7.15%

Correlation

The correlation between ARMR.AX and ITA is 0.07, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.07
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 4, 2024	0.03

Return for Risk

ARMR.AX vs. ITA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ARMR.AX

ARMR.AX Risk / Return Rank: 8
ARMR.AX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8
ARMR.AX Sortino Ratio Rank: 8
ARMR.AX Omega Ratio Rank: 8
ARMR.AX Calmar Ratio Rank: 8
ARMR.AX Martin Ratio Rank: 8

ITA

ITA Risk / Return Rank: 34
ITA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
ITA Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
ITA Omega Ratio Rank: 33
ITA Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
ITA Martin Ratio Rank: 32

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Betashares Global Defence ETF (ARMR.AX) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	ARMR.AX	ITA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.08	0.73	-0.81
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.05	1.16	-1.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	1.13	-0.13
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.09	0.81	-0.90
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.18	1.85	-2.03

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ARMR.AX Sharpe Ratio is -0.08, which is lower than the ITA Sharpe Ratio of 0.73. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ARMR.AX and ITA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ARMR.AX drawdown since its inception was -22.93%, smaller than the maximum ITA drawdown of -43.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARMR.AX and ITA.

Drawdown Indicators

	ARMR.AX	ITA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.93%	-43.53%	+20.60%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.93%	-17.96%	-4.97%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-17.96%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-17.96%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-43.53%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-20.43%	-7.17%	-13.26%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.62%	-11.69%	+6.07%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	10.96%	7.88%	+3.08%

Volatility

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Volatility Comparison

Betashares Global Defence ETF (ARMR.AX) has a higher volatility of 8.91% compared to iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) at 5.53%. This indicates that ARMR.AX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ITA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ARMR.AX	ITA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.91%	5.53%	+3.38%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	19.25%	16.03%	+3.22%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	23.85%	20.08%	+3.77%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.54%	18.83%	+4.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.54%	21.75%	+1.79%

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Expense Ratio Comparison

ARMR.AX has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than ITA's 0.38% expense ratio.

Dividends

ARMR.AX vs. ITA - Dividend Comparison

ARMR.AX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.08%, more than ITA's 0.45% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ARMR.AX Betashares Global Defence ETF	2.08%	2.18%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.45%	0.55%	0.85%	0.93%	0.95%	0.82%	1.07%	1.54%	1.13%	0.91%	1.07%	1.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ARMR.AX and ITA in my portfolio?

ARMR.AX and ITA have a correlation of 0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ARMR.AX or ITA?

On fees, ITA is cheaper at 0.38% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ARMR.AX or ITA?

ITA is cheaper with a 0.38% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for ARMR.AX.

What is the main difference between ARMR.AX and ITA?

ARMR.AX tracks VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index, while ITA tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. They also come from different issuers: BetaShares and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for ARMR.AX and 0.38% for ITA.