Best Defense ETFs

A Defense ETF is an Exchange Traded Fund, or basket of stocks, whose holdings are the shares of companies that manufacture aircraft, aircraft parts, weapons, radar equipment, and other items related to the defense industry. Defense Stock ETFs allow investors to hold and trade a wide range of Defense stocks.

Compare up to 20 ETFs

Defense ETFs

Comparison Ideas AI ETFs Bank and Financials ETFs BioTech ETFs Bitcoin ETFs Blackrock ETFs BND vs. AGG (Total Bond Market)Bond ETFs Cannabis ETFs China ETFs Commercial Real Estate ETFs Commodities ETFs Copper ETFs Country ETFs - Americas Country ETFs - Asia & Pacific Country ETFs - Europe Country ETFs - Middle East & Africa Crypto ETFs Currencies ETFs Defense ETFs Ethereum ETFs EV ETFs Factor ETFs - Investment Style Factor ETFs - Qualitative Style Fixed Income ETFs - U.S. Government & Agencies Fixed Income Factor ETFs - U.S. Corporate Credit Fixed Income Factor ETFs - U.S. Treasury Duration GLD vs. IAU (Gold ETFs)Gold ETFs Gold Miners ETFs Growth Stocks ETFs Healthcare ETFs High Dividend Yield ETFs International Credit ETFs JEPI vs. JEPQ (JPMorgan Income Battle)Nasdaq-100 Index ETFs QQQ vs SPY QQQ vs. QQQM (Invesco Nasdaq 100 Battle)QQQ vs. XLK (Nasdaq 100 vs. Tech Sector)Real Estate ETFs Regional Banks ETFs S&P 500 Index ETFs S&P 500 Sector ETFs SCHD vs. JEPI (Growth vs. Monthly Income)SCHD vs. VYM (Schwab vs. Vanguard High Yield)Silver ETFs Size and Value ETFs SOXX vs. SMH (Semiconductor ETFs)SPY vs. VOO (S&P 500 ETF Battle)SPY vs. VOO vs. IVV (S&P 500 Giants)U.S Industries ETF Vanguard ETFs VIG vs. DGRO (Dividend Growth Battle)VOO vs. VTI (Vanguard S&P 500 vs. Total Market)VUG vs. SCHG (Vanguard vs. Schwab Growth VXUS vs. IXUS (Total International)VXUS vs. VEU (Vanguard International Battle)

RESET ALL

SHLD

ITA

XAR

ARKX

DFEN

Defense ETFs

Clear All

Compared Stocks: 5 / 10

Comparison Results

Symbol	ETF Name	Price	% Change	AUM	Expense Ratio	Dividend Yield	1 Year %
SHLD	Global X Defense Tech ETF	$76.18	-0.96%	$7.05B	0.50%	0.46%	+93.95%
ITA	iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF	$233.38	-0.72%	$14.87B	0.38%	0.69%	+51.64%
XAR	SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF	$280.01	-1.12%	$5.99B	0.35%	0.34%	+61.91%
ARKX	ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF	$33.06	-2.04%	$1.07B	0.75%	―	+62.18%
DFEN	Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares	$80.62	-2.42%	$504.53M	0.95%	6.88%	+151.66%

Popular ETFs Pairs

BND vs. AGG (Total Bond Market)GLD vs. IAU (Gold ETFs)JEPI vs. JEPQ (JPMorgan Income Battle)QQQ vs. QQQM (Invesco Nasdaq 100 Battle)QQQ vs. XLK (Nasdaq 100 vs. Tech Sector)SCHD vs. JEPI (Growth vs. Monthly Income)SCHD vs. VYM (Schwab vs. Vanguard High Yield)SOXX vs. SMH (Semiconductor ETFs)SPY vs. VOO vs. IVV (S&P 500 Giants)VIG vs. DGRO (Dividend Growth Battle)VOO vs. VTI (Vanguard S&P 500 vs. Total Market)VUG vs. SCHG (Vanguard vs. Schwab Growth VXUS vs. IXUS (Total International)VXUS vs. VEU (Vanguard International Battle)

Top 10 Popular Investment Themes

Vanguard ETFs Bitcoin ETFs Gold ETFs AI ETFs Bond ETFs Crypto ETFs Blackrock ETFs Silver ETFs Ethereum ETFs Healthcare ETFs

Performance Comparison

SHLD

Global X Defense Tech ETF

76.18

36.74

93.15%

ITA

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF

233.38

79.34

51.51%

XAR

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

280.01

105.91

60.83%

ARKX

ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF

33.06

12.25

58.87%

DFEN

Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares

80.62

50.91

171.36%

Defense ETFs Latest News

Compare up to 20 ETFs

Defense ETFs

RESET ALL

SHLD

ITA

XAR

ARKX

DFEN

Defense ETFs

Clear All

Compared Stocks: 5 / 10

3 Defense ETFs Set to Gain in 2026

Defense stocks are back in the spotlight as global military spending rises and geopolitical risks remain high. For investors who want exposure without picking individual stocks, defense-focused ETFs provide a

6d ago

Investors Flock to the Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) after U.S. Capture of Maduro

Investors are flocking to the Global X Defense Tech ETF ($SHLD) as the world becomes more uncertain in 2026. This fund doesn’t just own companies that make tanks and planes.

15d ago

LMT

SHLD

AVGO, JOBY, ACHR, PLTR: Cathie Wood Buys Chips & Flying Taxi Stocks, Dumps Palantir

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs (exchange-traded funds) made notable portfolio moves on Thursday, January 8, as revealed in daily fund disclosures. The trades underscore ARK’s ongoing emphasis on disruptive innovation in biotech,

18d ago

ACHR

ARKW

Cathie Wood Capitalizes the Surge in Iridium and Biotech Stocks

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs (exchange-traded funds) made notable portfolio adjustments on Wednesday, December 10, as revealed in daily fund disclosures. These moves reflect Wood’s strategic reshuffle of holdings toward

2M ago

TER

ADPT

Cathie Wood Dumps Tesla Stock, Doubles Down on Coinbase and Deere

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs (exchange-traded funds) made several notable portfolio adjustments on Wednesday, November 26, as revealed in daily fund disclosures. The prominent hedge fund manager sold a substantial portion of

2M ago

ARKK

Looking for Exposure to Archer Aviation Stock (ACHR) ahead of Q3 Earnings? Here’s How to Buy Without the Risk

Archer Aviation ($ACHR) is set to report its Q3 earnings on November 6. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startup has made headlines with high-profile partnerships and patent acquisitions, which

3M ago

ATI

RTX

‘Buy Rocket Lab Stock (RKLB),’ Says Top Baird Analyst, Assigns Street-High Price Target After 172% YTD Rally

Rocket Lab ($RKLB) stock has rallied 172% year-to-date, reflecting investors’ optimism about the space tech company’s growth prospects. On Wednesday, top Baird analyst Peter Arment initiated a Buy rating on

3M ago

ARKX

RKLB

Cathie Wood Boosts Stakes in Intellia and L3Harris, Cuts Kratos Holdings

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs (exchange-traded funds) made notable portfolio adjustments on Monday, September 29, according to daily fund disclosures. The ace hedge fund manager accumulated shares of biotech company Intellia Therapeutics ($NTLA) and

4M ago

HON

Palantir Stock (PLTR) Tumbles 17% From Record High; Here’s How to Buy the Dip Without the Risk

AI software firm Palantir Technologies ($PLTR) has seen its stock drop for six straight sessions, wiping out $73 billion in market value. Palantir’s decline came amid a broader market pullback

5M ago

CRM

Cathie Wood Buys Archer Aviation (ACHR) and Pony AI Stocks, Sells Kratos Defense

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs (exchange-traded funds) made interesting multi-million-dollar trades on Tuesday, August 12, according to the funds’ daily disclosures. Wood purchased $3.15 million worth of stock in the eVTOL company Archer

6M ago

ACHR

AMZN

Read the latest stock news and analysis from the TipRanks news team.

See All News >

The Ultimate ETF Comparison Tool: Analyze Fees, Performance & HoldingsChoosing the right ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) can be difficult with thousands of options available. The TipRanks ETF Comparison Tool allows you to evaluate funds side-by-side to find the best fit for your portfolio. Whether you are deciding between S&P 500 giants like VOO vs. SPY or hunting for high-yield income funds like SCHD vs. JEPI, our tool breaks down the critical data points that matter most.5 Key Metrics to Look for When Comparing ETFs

Expense Ratio (Fees): This is the cost to own the fund. Over 10-20 years, a difference of just 0.10% can cost you thousands of dollars in lost returns. Use our tool to find the lowest-cost option (e.g., comparing QQQ vs. QQQM).

Dividend Yield & History: For income investors, yield is king. Compare the 'Trailing 12-Month Yield' and check the payout frequency (monthly vs. quarterly).

TipRanks ETF Smart Score: Unlike other tools that only look backwards, TipRanks analyzes the Analyst Ratings of the underlying stocks inside the ETF. A Smart Score of 8, 9, or 10 indicates the ETF’s holdings have a strong probability of outperforming the market.

AUM (Assets Under Management): Higher AUM generally means better liquidity and tighter spreads, which is crucial for active traders.

Holdings Overlap: Are you buying the same stocks twice? Use our analysis to see if two ETFs hold the same top companies (like Microsoft, Nvidia, or Apple) to avoid over-concentration risk.

How to Use the TipRanks ETF Analyzer

Step 1: Enter the ticker symbols (e.g., VTI, IVV, ARKK) in the search bar above.

Step 2: Select 'Add to Compare' to build your custom view (compare up to 10 funds at once).

Step 3: Toggle between the 'Dividends' tab to check payment history and the 'Technical Analysis' tab to see momentum indicators like RSI and Moving Averages.

Step 4: Check the 'Analyst Consensus' column. This proprietary metric aggregates the buy/sell ratings of the individual stocks held within the ETF, giving you a unique 'Wall Street' view of the fund's potential.

All ETFs Comparison Categories

Vanguard ETFs Bitcoin ETFs Gold ETFs AI ETFs Bond ETFs Crypto ETFs Blackrock ETFs QQQ vs SPY Silver ETFs Ethereum ETFs Healthcare ETFs Real Estate ETFs Defense ETFs China ETFs Copper ETFs High Dividend Yield ETFs VUG vs. SCHG (Vanguard vs. Schwab Growth BioTech ETFs Commodities ETFs Regional Banks ETFs SPY vs. VOO vs. IVV (S&P 500 Giants)VXUS vs. VEU (Vanguard International Battle)SCHD vs. JEPI (Growth vs. Monthly Income)VOO vs. VTI (Vanguard S&P 500 vs. Total Market)Cannabis ETFs Gold Miners ETFs JEPI vs. JEPQ (JPMorgan Income Battle)QQQ vs. QQQM (Invesco Nasdaq 100 Battle)VXUS vs. IXUS (Total International)Commercial Real Estate ETFs EV ETFs VIG vs. DGRO (Dividend Growth Battle)S&P 500 Sector ETFs S&P 500 Index ETFs SCHD vs. VYM (Schwab vs. Vanguard High Yield)SOXX vs. SMH (Semiconductor ETFs)BND vs. AGG (Total Bond Market)GLD vs. IAU (Gold ETFs)Nasdaq-100 Index ETFs QQQ vs. XLK (Nasdaq 100 vs. Tech Sector)Bank and Financials ETFs Country ETFs - Americas Country ETFs - Asia & Pacific Country ETFs - Europe Country ETFs - Middle East & Africa Currencies ETFs Factor ETFs - Investment Style Factor ETFs - Qualitative Style Fixed Income ETFs - U.S. Government & Agencies Fixed Income Factor ETFs - U.S. Corporate Credit Fixed Income Factor ETFs - U.S. Treasury Duration Growth Stocks ETFs International Credit ETFs Size and Value ETFs U.S Industries ETF SPY vs. VOO (S&P 500 ETF Battle)

Defense ETFs - FAQ

Which Defense ETFs stocks have a "Strong Buy" analyst rating?

These Defense ETFs stocks currently have a "Strong Buy" analyst rating consensus:

None of the selected stocks have a “Strong Buy” analyst rating consensus.

Are Defense ETFs stocks overpriced?

Global X Defense Tech ETF's stock price is currently $76.18, and its average 12-month price target is $79.48.

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF's stock price is currently $233.38, and its average 12-month price target is $256.21.

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF's stock price is currently $280.01, and its average 12-month price target is $303.11.

ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF's stock price is currently $33.06, and its average 12-month price target is $37.74.

Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares's stock price is currently $80.62, and its average 12-month price target is N/A.

Which Defense ETFs stocks pay dividends?

Global X Defense Tech ETF does not currently pay dividends.

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF does not currently pay dividends.

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF does not currently pay dividends.

ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF does not currently pay dividends.

Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares does not currently pay dividends.