FOWF vs. XDEF

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

FOWF (Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF) and XDEF (Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FOWF is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare Index, while XDEF is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index. Both are passively managed. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FOWF charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for XDEF.

Performance

FOWF vs. XDEF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF (FOWF) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

FOWF

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 0.03%
• 6M: 2.36%
• YTD: 9.53%
• 1Y: 16.06%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XDEF

• 1D: -2.61%
• 1M: -3.50%
• 6M: -99.27%
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

FOWF vs. XDEF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
FOWF Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF	9.53%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	-99.18%

Correlation

The correlation between FOWF and XDEF is 0.70, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2026	0.70

Return for Risk

FOWF vs. XDEF — Risk / Return Rank

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

FOWF

FOWF Risk / Return Rank: 38
FOWF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
FOWF Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
FOWF Omega Ratio Rank: 35
FOWF Calmar Ratio Rank: 39
FOWF Martin Ratio Rank: 38

XDEF

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

FOWF vs. XDEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF (FOWF) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF). 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.

	FOWF	XDEF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.10	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.71	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.19	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.60	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.82	—	—

Drawdowns

FOWF vs. XDEF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FOWF drawdown since its inception was -12.29%, smaller than the maximum XDEF drawdown of -99.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FOWF and XDEF.

Drawdown Indicators

	FOWF	XDEF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-12.29%	-99.30%	+87.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.08%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.73%	-99.27%	+96.54%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.15%	-75.63%	+73.48%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.34%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	FOWF	XDEF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.51%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.96%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.64%	141.11%	-126.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.92%	141.11%	-124.19%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.92%	141.11%	-124.19%

FOWF vs. XDEF - Expense Ratio Comparison

FOWF has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than XDEF's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

FOWF vs. XDEF - Dividend Comparison

FOWF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.76%, less than XDEF's 1.54% yield.

Position	TTM	2025
FOWF Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF	0.76%	0.79%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	1.54%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FOWF and XDEF in my portfolio?

FOWF and XDEF have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, FOWF or XDEF?

On fees, XDEF is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, FOWF or XDEF?

XDEF is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for FOWF.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, FOWF or XDEF?

XDEF has the higher dividend yield at 1.54%, compared with 0.76% for FOWF.

What is the main difference between FOWF and XDEF?

FOWF is categorized as Industrials Equities, while XDEF is Aerospace & Defense. FOWF tracks Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare Index, while XDEF tracks STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and Xtrackers. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for FOWF and 0.35% for XDEF.