KDEF vs. DUTY

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

KDEF (PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF) and DUTY (U.S. Defense ETF) are both Aerospace & Defense funds - KDEF tracks the The Korea Defence Industry Index while DUTY tracks the Solactive U.S. Defense Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. KDEF charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for DUTY.

Performance

KDEF vs. DUTY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) and U.S. Defense ETF (DUTY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

KDEF

• 1D: 1.01%
• 1M: -26.57%
• 6M: -32.11%
• YTD: -12.28%
• 1Y: -1.81%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

DUTY

• 1D: -1.36%
• 1M: -0.80%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

KDEF vs. DUTY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
KDEF PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF	-33.50%
DUTY U.S. Defense ETF	2.13%

Correlation

The correlation between KDEF and DUTY is 0.29, 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 Apr 8, 2026	0.29

KDEF vs. DUTY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	KDEF	DUTY
Industrials	87.8%	51.0%
Consumer Cyclical	6.6%	-
Healthcare	2.9%	-
Technology	2.7%	49.0%
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

KDEF vs. DUTY — Risk / Return Rank

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

KDEF

KDEF Risk / Return Rank: 10
KDEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9
KDEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 11
KDEF Omega Ratio Rank: 10
KDEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 9
KDEF Martin Ratio Rank: 9

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.

KDEF vs. DUTY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) 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.

	KDEF	DUTY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.04	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.29	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.03	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.04	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.12	—	—

Drawdowns

KDEF vs. DUTY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum KDEF drawdown since its inception was -42.23%, which is greater than DUTY's maximum drawdown of -13.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KDEF and DUTY.

Drawdown Indicators

	KDEF	DUTY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-42.23%	-13.42%	-28.81%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-42.23%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-41.65%	-7.39%	-34.26%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.65%	-4.65%	-4.00%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	15.13%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	KDEF	DUTY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	16.56%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	39.99%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	48.14%	27.11%	+21.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	48.43%	27.11%	+21.32%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	48.43%	27.11%	+21.32%

KDEF vs. DUTY - Expense Ratio Comparison

KDEF has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than DUTY's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

KDEF vs. DUTY - Dividend Comparison

KDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.83%, while DUTY has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
DUTY U.S. Defense ETF	0.00%	0.00%
KDEF PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF	7.83%	5.06%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both KDEF and DUTY in my portfolio?

KDEF and DUTY have a correlation of 0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, KDEF 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, KDEF or DUTY?

DUTY is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for KDEF.

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

KDEF has the higher dividend yield at 7.83%, compared with 0.00% for DUTY.

What is the main difference between KDEF and DUTY?

KDEF tracks The Korea Defence Industry Index, while DUTY tracks Solactive U.S. Defense Index. They also come from different issuers: PLUS and Aura. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for KDEF and 0.45% for DUTY.