IDEF vs. XDEF

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF).

IDEF and XDEF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IDEF is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on May 19, 2025. XDEF is a passively managed fund by Xtrackers that tracks the performance of the STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index. It was launched on Feb 19, 2026.

Performance

IDEF vs. XDEF - Performance Comparison

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

IDEF vs. XDEF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF	3.39%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	-99.14%

Returns By Period

IDEF

• 1D: 4.15%
• 1M: -8.78%
• YTD: 6.20%
• 6M: 3.09%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XDEF

• 1D: 5.06%
• 1M: -8.83%
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

IDEF vs. XDEF - Expense Ratio Comparison

IDEF has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than XDEF's 0.35% expense ratio.

IDEF

iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF

XDEF

Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF

Return for Risk

IDEF vs. XDEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

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

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

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	IDEF	XDEF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.85	-0.49	+2.34

Correlation

The correlation between IDEF and XDEF is 0.72, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

IDEF vs. XDEF - Dividend Comparison

IDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.16%, while XDEF has not paid dividends to shareholders.

	TTM	2025
IDEF iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF	0.16%	0.17%
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

IDEF vs. XDEF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IDEF drawdown since its inception was -14.63%, smaller than the maximum XDEF drawdown of -99.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDEF and XDEF.

Drawdown Indicators

	IDEF	XDEF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.63%	-99.27%	+84.64%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.08%	-99.23%	+88.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.88%	-49.34%	+46.46%

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IDEF	XDEF	Difference
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.00%	205.45%	-185.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.00%	205.45%	-185.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.00%	205.45%	-185.45%