XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XDWI.L (Xtrackers MSCI World Industrials UCITS ETF 1C) and DFNS.L (VanEck Defense UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XDWI.L is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the MSCI World/Materials NR USD, while DFNS.L is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the MarketVector™ Global Defense Industry Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, XDWI.L returned 21.49%/yr vs 42.94%/yr for DFNS.L. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XDWI.L charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.55%/yr for DFNS.L.

Performance

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Xtrackers MSCI World Industrials UCITS ETF 1C (XDWI.L) and VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (DFNS.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XDWI.L achieves a 11.24% return, which is significantly higher than DFNS.L's 3.39% return.

XDWI.L

• 1D: 0.07%
• 1M: 0.47%
• YTD: 11.24%
• 6M: 12.95%
• 1Y: 21.87%
• 3Y*: 21.49%
• 5Y*: 11.45%
• 10Y*: 12.32%

DFNS.L

• 1D: 0.49%
• 1M: -4.34%
• YTD: 3.39%
• 6M: 6.74%
• 1Y: 16.14%
• 3Y*: 42.94%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
XDWI.L Xtrackers MSCI World Industrials UCITS ETF 1C	11.24%	25.51%	13.06%	18.11%
DFNS.L VanEck Defense UCITS ETF	3.39%	68.21%	43.74%	25.73%

Correlation

The correlation between XDWI.L and DFNS.L is 0.51, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.51
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.61
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 6, 2023	0.61

The correlation between XDWI.L and DFNS.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.51 (1 year) to 0.61 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

XDWI.L

XDWI.L Risk / Return Rank: 42
XDWI.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 39
XDWI.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 43
XDWI.L Omega Ratio Rank: 40
XDWI.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 40
XDWI.L Martin Ratio Rank: 46

DFNS.L

DFNS.L Risk / Return Rank: 20
DFNS.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
DFNS.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 21
DFNS.L Omega Ratio Rank: 20
DFNS.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
DFNS.L Martin Ratio Rank: 20

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.

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers MSCI World Industrials UCITS ETF 1C (XDWI.L) and VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (DFNS.L). 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.

	XDWI.L	DFNS.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.38	0.64	+0.73
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.14	1.08	+1.06
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.12	+0.13
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.93	0.85	+1.08
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.36	2.12	+5.23
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XDWI.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.38, which is higher than the DFNS.L Sharpe Ratio of 0.64. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XDWI.L and DFNS.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XDWI.L	DFNS.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.38	0.64	+0.73
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.67	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.69	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.71	2.02	-1.31

Drawdowns

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XDWI.L drawdown since its inception was -38.92%, which is greater than DFNS.L's maximum drawdown of -18.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XDWI.L and DFNS.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	XDWI.L	DFNS.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.92%	-18.72%	-20.20%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.28%	-18.72%	+7.44%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.25%	-18.72%	+3.47%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.26%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-38.92%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.23%	-15.44%	+13.21%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.38%	-3.40%	-1.98%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.97%	7.56%	-4.59%

Volatility

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Xtrackers MSCI World Industrials UCITS ETF 1C (XDWI.L) is 5.38%, while VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (DFNS.L) has a volatility of 8.10%. This indicates that XDWI.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFNS.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XDWI.L	DFNS.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.38%	8.10%	-2.72%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.31%	19.53%	-6.22%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.83%	24.86%	-9.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.11%	21.55%	-4.44%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.77%	21.55%	-3.78%

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

XDWI.L has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than DFNS.L's 0.55% expense ratio.

Dividends

XDWI.L vs. DFNS.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither XDWI.L nor DFNS.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XDWI.L and DFNS.L in my portfolio?

XDWI.L and DFNS.L have a correlation of 0.51, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XDWI.L or DFNS.L?

On fees, XDWI.L is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XDWI.L or DFNS.L?

XDWI.L is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for DFNS.L.

What is the main difference between XDWI.L and DFNS.L?

XDWI.L is categorized as Industrials Equities, while DFNS.L is Aerospace & Defense. XDWI.L tracks MSCI World/Materials NR USD, while DFNS.L tracks MarketVector™ Global Defense Industry Index. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for XDWI.L and 0.55% for DFNS.L.