XDEF vs. ITA
XDEF (Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF) and ITA (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF) are both Aerospace & Defense funds - XDEF tracks the STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index while ITA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. Both are passively managed. Their 0.68 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. XDEF charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for ITA.
Performance
XDEF vs. ITA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
XDEF
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 1.13%
- 6M
- -99.17%
- YTD
- —
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- —
ITA
- 1D
- 0.64%
- 1M
- -3.44%
- 6M
- 3.27%
- YTD
- 11.78%
- 1Y
- 23.04%
- 3Y*
- 27.67%
- 5Y*
- 18.23%
- 10Y*
- 15.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.82%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $175.85M | $163.51M | $181.04M | |
| $25.38K | $19.51K | $30.56K |
XDEF vs. ITA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | |
|---|---|
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | -99.10% |
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 11.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between XDEF and ITA is 0.68, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2026 | 0.68 |
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Return for Risk
XDEF vs. ITA — Risk / Return Rank
XDEF
Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.
ITA
XDEF vs. ITA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). 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.
| XDEF | ITA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | — | 1.18 | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | — | 1.43 | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | — | 3.61 | — |
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Drawdowns
XDEF vs. ITA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XDEF drawdown since its inception was -99.30%, which is greater than ITA's maximum drawdown of -59.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XDEF and ITA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XDEF | ITA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.30% | -59.72% | -39.58% |
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 DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -99.21% | -4.43% | -94.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -77.91% | -9.42% | -68.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | — | 6.25% | — |
Volatility
XDEF vs. ITA - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| XDEF | ITA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | — | 7.29% | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | — | 18.29% | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 134.34% | 22.49% | +111.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 134.34% | 20.25% | +114.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 134.34% | 23.29% | +111.05% |
XDEF vs. ITA - Expense Ratio Comparison
XDEF has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is lower than ITA's 0.38% expense ratio.
Dividends
XDEF vs. ITA - Dividend Comparison
XDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.41%, more than ITA's 0.44% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.44% | 0.55% | 0.85% | 0.93% | 0.95% | 0.82% | 1.07% | 1.54% | 1.13% | 0.91% | 1.07% | 1.04% |
XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | 1.41% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XDEF and ITA have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, XDEF is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XDEF is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for ITA.
XDEF has the higher dividend yield at 1.41%, compared with 0.44% for ITA.
XDEF tracks STOXX Europe Total Market Defence, Space and Cybersecurity Innovation 50-25 Index, while ITA tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for XDEF and 0.38% for ITA.
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