XAR vs. SHLD
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) and Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD).
XAR and SHLD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XAR is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry. It was launched on Sep 28, 2011. SHLD is a passively managed fund by Global X that tracks the performance of the Global X Defense Tech Index - Benchmark TR Net. It was launched on Sep 11, 2023. Both XAR and SHLD 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
XAR vs. SHLD - Performance Comparison
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XAR vs. SHLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 7.80% | 46.15% | 23.32% | 17.17% |
SHLD Global X Defense Tech ETF | 13.41% | 74.16% | 35.03% | 12.89% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XAR achieves a 7.80% return, which is significantly lower than SHLD's 13.41% return.
XAR
- 1D
- 2.35%
- 1M
- -10.28%
- YTD
- 7.80%
- 6M
- 10.02%
- 1Y
- 61.14%
- 3Y*
- 31.26%
- 5Y*
- 16.10%
- 10Y*
- 18.34%
SHLD
- 1D
- 3.73%
- 1M
- -4.67%
- YTD
- 13.41%
- 6M
- 5.02%
- 1Y
- 56.65%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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XAR vs. SHLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
XAR has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than SHLD's 0.50% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
XAR vs. SHLD — Risk / Return Rank
XAR
SHLD
XAR vs. SHLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) and Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD). 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.
| XAR | SHLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.17 | 2.22 | -0.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.84 | 2.89 | -0.05 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.38 | -0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.62 | 3.90 | -0.28 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.65 | 11.34 | +1.31 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| XAR | SHLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.17 | 2.22 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.84 | 2.62 | -1.78 |
Correlation
The correlation between XAR and SHLD is 0.73, 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
XAR vs. SHLD - Dividend Comparison
XAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, less than SHLD's 0.48% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.34% | 0.40% | 0.66% | 0.54% | 0.50% | 0.83% | 0.63% | 0.75% | 1.19% | 0.76% | 1.09% | 2.31% |
SHLD Global X Defense Tech ETF | 0.48% | 0.55% | 0.53% | 0.26% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
XAR vs. SHLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XAR drawdown since its inception was -46.37%, which is greater than SHLD's maximum drawdown of -15.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XAR and SHLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XAR | SHLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.37% | -15.06% | -31.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.22% | -15.06% | -2.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.40% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.37% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.16% | -5.82% | -5.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.76% | -2.58% | -4.18% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.93% | 5.18% | -0.25% |
Volatility
XAR vs. SHLD - Volatility Comparison
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) has a higher volatility of 10.57% compared to Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) at 9.74%. This indicates that XAR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SHLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XAR | SHLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.57% | 9.74% | +0.83% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.39% | 18.64% | +2.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 28.34% | 25.64% | +2.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.93% | 20.81% | +2.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.35% | 20.81% | +3.54% |