🤝 BFF Take
XAR for Long-Term Defense Exposure. ITA for Liquidity and Prime Contractor Concentration.
XAR (SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF) and ITA (iShares US Aerospace & Defense) both provide exposure to US defense companies, but their construction differs significantly. XAR uses an equal-weight approach within the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, giving similar weight to a mid-cap defense electronics firm as to Lockheed Martin. ITA market-cap weights its holdings, concentrating in the largest prime contractors. XAR costs 0.35% vs ITA's 0.40%. In 2025, ITA's prime-contractor concentration worked in its favor as the largest defense companies benefited disproportionately from increased Pentagon contracts. Over longer periods, XAR's equal-weight methodology has outperformed because it forces exposure to the full defense supply chain and rebalances into smaller outperformers. XAR is the better long-term choice for defense exposure; ITA is more appropriate for investors who specifically want maximum prime contractor concentration.
📋 Quick Takeaways
⚖️XAR: 0.35% ER, equal weight across defense stocks. ITA: 0.40% ER, market-cap weighted (concentrated in largest prime contractors).
🔄XAR's quarterly rebalance forces buy-low discipline across the defense supply chain. ITA passively concentrates in winners.
🎯Lowest cost, best long-term construction: XAR. Want prime contractor concentration and maximum liquidity: ITA.
📊 Data-Based Take: XAR has the lower fee
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
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Reviewed by a CFA® Charterholder · Data updated Jun 2026 · Educational only, not financial advice
XAR
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF
ITA
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
📋 XAR vs ITA — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric |
XAR |
ITA |
| Fund Name |
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF |
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF |
| Issuer |
State Street |
iShares |
| Tracks Index |
S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index |
Dow Jones US Select Aerospace & Defense |
| Expense Ratio |
0.35% ✓ |
0.40% |
| Cost per $10K/yr |
$35.00 |
$40.00 |
| AUM |
$6B |
$12B |
| Holdings |
34 |
35 |
| Inception |
2011 |
2006 |
| 1-Year Return |
+44.40% |
+48.90% |
| 3-Year Return |
+17.50% |
+18.20% |
| 5-Year Return |
+21.30% |
+22.10% |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread |
0.04% |
0.03% |
Data from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 XAR vs ITA — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy XAR or ITA?
Choose if...
XAR
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$5/yr per $10K vs ITA
- You already use State Street and prefer staying within their fund family
Choose if...
ITA
- You already use iShares and prefer staying within their fund family
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❓ XAR vs ITA — Frequently Asked Questions
Is XAR or ITA the better defense ETF?
Over long periods, XAR's equal-weight methodology has delivered better risk-adjusted returns because it provides more balanced exposure across the defense supply chain rather than concentrating in a handful of prime contractors. XAR also costs less at 0.35% vs ITA's 0.40%. ITA is better suited to traders or those who specifically want maximum exposure to the largest defense companies. For long-term defense investors, XAR is the more sensible construction.
Why does ITA sometimes outperform XAR?
ITA outperforms XAR in environments where the largest prime contractors dominate defense sector returns, typically when major contract awards or budget authorizations favor Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, or Northrop Grumman. In 2025, prime contractor stocks led the defense rally. XAR's equal weighting means it captures those gains proportionally less. Over full market cycles, XAR's rebalancing discipline tends to capture more of the smaller-company defense premium.
How does XAR's equal weighting work?
XAR tracks the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, which weights member companies equally rather than by market cap. At each quarterly rebalance, XAR sells holdings that have outperformed (reducing their weight back toward equal) and buys holdings that have underperformed (increasing their weight). This systematic approach prevents the fund from becoming overly concentrated in whichever defense company has the highest market cap at any moment.
Is now a good time to invest in defense ETFs?
Defense sector ETFs have performed strongly through 2025-2026 as NATO members committed to significantly higher spending targets and European governments authorized historic defense budget increases. Defense spending tends to be long-cycle: multi-year procurement contracts create revenue visibility. Whether defense ETFs continue to outperform depends on whether geopolitical conditions sustain elevated spending. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →
ℹ️ Data shown is for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current figures. Returns are trailing price-based and exclude dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF BFF is not a licensed financial advisor — this is not personalized financial advice.