IDEF vs. IBIT
IDEF (iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IDEF is a Aerospace & Defense fund actively managed by iShares, while IBIT is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. IDEF is actively managed, while IBIT is passively managed. Over the past year, IDEF returned 13.32% vs -44.50% for IBIT. Their 0.44 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. IDEF charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IBIT.
Performance
IDEF vs. IBIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IDEF achieves a 5.28% return, which is significantly higher than IBIT's -28.22% return.
IDEF
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- -1.85%
- 6M
- -6.23%
- YTD
- 5.28%
- 1Y
- 13.32%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 22.90%
IBIT
- 1D
- -2.89%
- 1M
- 2.21%
- 6M
- -24.95%
- YTD
- -28.22%
- 1Y
- -44.50%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 10.01%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.30B | $1.34B | $1.68B | |
| $16.78M | $18.59M | $29.23M |
IDEF vs. IBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | 5.28% | 21.50% |
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | -28.22% | -18.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between IDEF and IBIT is 0.48, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.48 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 21, 2025 | 0.44 |
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Return for Risk
IDEF vs. IBIT — Risk / Return Rank
IDEF
IBIT
IDEF vs. IBIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). 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 | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 0.83 | +0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.80 | -0.87 | +1.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.65 | -1.34 | +2.99 |
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Drawdowns
IDEF vs. IBIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IDEF drawdown since its inception was -15.78%, smaller than the maximum IBIT drawdown of -53.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDEF and IBIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IDEF | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.78% | -53.30% | +37.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.78% | -53.30% | +37.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.86% | -50.01% | +38.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.11% | -18.24% | +13.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.67% | 34.66% | -26.99% |
Volatility
IDEF vs. IBIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) is 7.10%, while iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a volatility of 9.21%. This indicates that IDEF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IBIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IDEF | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.10% | 9.21% | -2.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.86% | 33.74% | -14.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.81% | 44.46% | -21.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.65% | 49.60% | -27.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.65% | 49.60% | -27.95% |
IDEF vs. IBIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
IDEF has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIT's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
IDEF vs. IBIT - Dividend Comparison
IDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.33%, while IBIT has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | 0.33% | 0.17% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IDEF and IBIT have a correlation of 0.48, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBIT has higher volatility (9.21%) compared to IDEF (7.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IDEF dropped -15.78% vs IBIT's -53.30%.
On 1-year performance, IDEF leads with 13.32% vs -44.50% for IBIT. On fees, IBIT is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, IDEF has been the lower-risk option at 7.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IDEF has performed better with a 13.32% return vs -44.50%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIT is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for IDEF.
IDEF has the higher dividend yield at 0.33%, compared with 0.00% for IBIT.
IDEF is categorized as Aerospace & Defense, while IBIT is Cryptocurrency. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for IDEF and 0.25% for IBIT.
IDEF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.56 vs -1.04), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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