ITA vs. WDAF

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

ITA (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF) and WDAF (WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund) are both Aerospace & Defense funds - ITA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index while WDAF tracks the WisdomTree Asia Defense Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ITA charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for WDAF.

Performance

ITA vs. WDAF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund (WDAF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ITA achieves a 7.93% return, which is significantly lower than WDAF's 11.85% return.

ITA

• 1D: 2.97%
• 1M: 7.52%
• YTD: 7.93%
• 6M: 13.22%
• 1Y: 29.24%
• 3Y*: 28.46%
• 5Y*: 16.61%
• 10Y*: 15.05%

WDAF

• 1D: -1.56%
• 1M: -13.31%
• YTD: 11.85%
• 6M: 16.15%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

ITA vs. WDAF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF	7.93%	8.06%
WDAF WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund	11.85%	-7.62%

Correlation

The correlation between ITA and WDAF is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2025	0.43

Return for Risk

ITA vs. WDAF — Risk / Return Rank

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

ITA

ITA Risk / Return Rank: 38
ITA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
ITA Sortino Ratio Rank: 40
ITA Omega Ratio Rank: 38
ITA Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
ITA Martin Ratio Rank: 34

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.

ITA vs. WDAF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund (WDAF). 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.

	ITA	WDAF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.40	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.02	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.86	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.02	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ITA	WDAF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.40	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.83	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.65	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.51	0.15	+0.37

Drawdowns

ITA vs. WDAF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ITA drawdown since its inception was -59.72%, which is greater than WDAF's maximum drawdown of -18.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ITA and WDAF.

Drawdown Indicators

	ITA	WDAF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-59.72%	-18.21%	-41.51%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.82%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.82%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-18.72%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-51.00%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.53%	-16.06%	+8.53%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.46%	-6.09%	-3.37%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.84%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	ITA	WDAF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.76%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.68%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	21.05%	32.10%	-11.05%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.06%	32.10%	-12.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.16%	32.10%	-8.94%

ITA vs. WDAF - Expense Ratio Comparison

ITA has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is lower than WDAF's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

ITA vs. WDAF - Dividend Comparison

ITA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.46%, more than WDAF's 0.12% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.46%	0.55%	0.85%	0.93%	0.95%	0.82%	1.07%	1.54%	1.13%	0.91%	1.07%	1.04%
WDAF WisdomTree Asia Defense Fund	0.12%	0.13%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ITA and WDAF in my portfolio?

ITA and WDAF have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ITA or WDAF?

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, ITA or WDAF?

ITA is cheaper with a 0.38% expense ratio, compared with 0.45% for WDAF.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, ITA or WDAF?

ITA has the higher dividend yield at 0.46%, compared with 0.12% for WDAF.

What is the main difference between ITA and WDAF?

ITA tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index, while WDAF tracks WisdomTree Asia Defense Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for ITA and 0.45% for WDAF.