IDEF vs. DUTY

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

IDEF (iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF) and DUTY (U.S. Defense ETF) are both Aerospace & Defense funds. IDEF is actively managed, while DUTY is passively managed. A 0.71 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IDEF charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for DUTY.

Performance

IDEF vs. DUTY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) and U.S. Defense ETF (DUTY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

IDEF

• 1D: -1.75%
• 1M: -2.59%
• 6M: -10.54%
• YTD: 2.12%
• 1Y: 11.84%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

DUTY

• 1D: -0.54%
• 1M: -0.39%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

IDEF vs. DUTY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF	-7.22%
DUTY U.S. Defense ETF	2.34%

Correlation

The correlation between IDEF and DUTY is 0.71, 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 Apr 8, 2026	0.71

IDEF vs. DUTY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IDEF	DUTY
Industrials	84.8%	51.0%
Technology	11.4%	49.0%
Basic Materials	1.6%	-
Energy	1.5%	-
Utilities	0.5%	-
Communication Services	0.2%	-
Financial Services	0.1%	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

IDEF vs. DUTY — Risk / Return Rank

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

IDEF

IDEF Risk / Return Rank: 20
IDEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
IDEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 20
IDEF Omega Ratio Rank: 19
IDEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 21
IDEF Martin Ratio Rank: 19

DUTY

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.

IDEF vs. DUTY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) and U.S. Defense ETF (DUTY). 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.

	IDEF	DUTY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.53	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.91	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.10	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.76	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.71	—	—

Drawdowns

IDEF vs. DUTY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IDEF drawdown since its inception was -15.69%, which is greater than DUTY's maximum drawdown of -13.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDEF and DUTY.

Drawdown Indicators

	IDEF	DUTY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.69%	-13.42%	-2.27%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.69%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-14.50%	-7.20%	-7.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.70%	-4.58%	-0.12%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.96%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IDEF	DUTY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.99%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.73%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.54%	26.99%	-4.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.68%	26.99%	-5.31%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.68%	26.99%	-5.31%

IDEF vs. DUTY - Expense Ratio Comparison

IDEF has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than DUTY's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

IDEF vs. DUTY - Dividend Comparison

IDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, while DUTY has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
DUTY U.S. Defense ETF	0.00%	0.00%
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF	0.34%	0.17%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IDEF and DUTY in my portfolio?

IDEF and DUTY have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IDEF or DUTY?

On fees, DUTY is cheaper at 0.45% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IDEF or DUTY?

DUTY is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for IDEF.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IDEF or DUTY?

IDEF has the higher dividend yield at 0.34%, compared with 0.00% for DUTY.

What is the main difference between IDEF and DUTY?

They also come from different issuers: iShares and Aura. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for IDEF and 0.45% for DUTY.