KDEF vs. WDGF

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) and WisdomTree Global Defense Fund (WDGF).

KDEF and WDGF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. KDEF is a passively managed fund by PLUS that tracks the performance of the The Korea Defence Industry Index. It was launched on Feb 5, 2025. WDGF is a passively managed fund by WisdomTree that tracks the performance of the WisdomTree Global Defense Index. It was launched on Sep 10, 2025. Both KDEF and WDGF are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

KDEF vs. WDGF - Performance Comparison

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

KDEF vs. WDGF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
KDEF PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF	28.95%	-5.14%
WDGF WisdomTree Global Defense Fund	11.17%	-0.25%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, KDEF achieves a 28.95% return, which is significantly higher than WDGF's 11.17% return.

KDEF

• 1D: 7.31%
• 1M: -10.76%
• YTD: 28.95%
• 6M: 18.95%
• 1Y: 131.94%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

WDGF

• 1D: 3.75%
• 1M: -5.19%
• YTD: 11.17%
• 6M: 5.45%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

KDEF vs. WDGF - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

KDEF

PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF

WDGF

WisdomTree Global Defense Fund

Return for Risk

KDEF vs. WDGF — Risk / Return Rank

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

KDEF

KDEF Risk / Return Rank: 95
KDEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
KDEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
KDEF Omega Ratio Rank: 91
KDEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
KDEF Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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. WDGF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

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

	KDEF	WDGF	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.99	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.36	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.41	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.13	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	17.01	—	—
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

	KDEF	WDGF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.99	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	3.19	0.95	+2.24

Correlation

The correlation between KDEF and WDGF is 0.60, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

KDEF vs. WDGF - Dividend Comparison

KDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.51%, more than WDGF's 0.04% yield.

	TTM	2025
KDEF PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF	4.51%	5.06%
WDGF WisdomTree Global Defense Fund	0.04%	0.05%

Drawdowns

KDEF vs. WDGF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum KDEF drawdown since its inception was -22.51%, which is greater than WDGF's maximum drawdown of -13.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KDEF and WDGF.

Drawdown Indicators

	KDEF	WDGF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.51%	-13.29%	-9.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.51%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-12.41%	-5.88%	-6.53%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.85%	-4.47%	-1.38%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.11%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	KDEF	WDGF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	20.74%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	33.63%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	44.45%	22.05%	+22.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	45.67%	22.05%	+23.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	45.67%	22.05%	+23.62%