iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
$214.68+4.94 (+2.36%)
- 0.37%
- $12.2B
- −2.6%
- 0.27%
- 747K sh
- low $195.71high $256.60
The ETF.net ITA Grade
A
Score 74 out of 100
- 2 of 26
Score 74 of 100 falls in the A band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.A80 out of 100Rank 6 of 26Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A76 out of 100Rank 2 of 4Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.B61 out of 100Rank 9 of 26Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.A96 out of 100Rank 1 of 26Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.D34 out of 100Rank 20 of 26Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.A98 out of 100Rank 1 of 26
Our read on ITA
In short
AThe 2006 original in aerospace and defense, and still the anchor fund of the category. It follows a market-cap-weighted index of U.S. aircraft, parts and weapons makers, so the big primes carry most of the weight.
Stated mandate
The fund is designed to follow an index of U.S. equity companies focused on aerospace and defense.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
ITA Holdings
- Stocks
- 52
- 76%
- GE
Sectors
- Aerospace & Defense99.9%
- Leisure Products0.1%
Geography
- United States100.00%
ITA Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
ITA$9,744
Returns run to the Oct 30, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | ITA |
|---|---|
| Year to date | −2.1% |
| 1 month | +1.2% |
| 3 months | −12.4% |
| 1 year | −2.6% |
| 3 years | +24.9% |
| 5 years | +15.9% |
| 10 years | +13.5% |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | ITA |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | −2.1% | |
| 2025 | +48.6% | |
| 2024 | +15.8% | |
| 2023 | +14.3% | |
| 2022 | +10.0% | |
| 2021 | +9.4% | |
| 2020 | −13.6% |
ITA in the news
ITA Dividends
- 0.27%
- $0.57
- $0.25 per share
- Quarterly
ITA Risk
- 18.5%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- 1.06
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −20.0%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 0.98
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.
ITA Cost
Overpaying vs XAR, tied cheapest in Defense & Aerospace
$387
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
ITA 0.37%
$7,513
XAR 0.35% Tied cheapest
$7,126
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | ITA | XAR | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $670 | $634 | $36 |
| 20 | $2,590 | $2,454 | $136 |
| 30 | $7,513 | $7,126 | $387 |
Other funds in Defense & Aerospace
- AXARState Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETFExpense ratio 0.35%1 year return −8.4%
- BFLDZTrueShares Patriot Defense ETFExpense ratio 0.40%1 year return −7.5%
- BFOWFPacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETFExpense ratio 0.49%1 year return +11.9%
- BPPAInvesco Aerospace & Defense ETFExpense ratio 0.58%1 year return +0.9%
- BIDEFiShares Defense Industrials ActExpense ratio 0.55%1 year return −6.5%
