TipRanks
Advertisement

IDEF - ETF AI Analysis

Compare

Top Page

IDEF

iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF)

Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:―
IDEF, the iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF, earns a solid overall rating largely because it holds strong, well-established companies like General Dynamics, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, and RTX, which show healthy financial performance, big backlogs of future work, and promising growth in areas like defense, cloud, and AI. The rating is held back somewhat by weaker names such as Boeing, where ongoing financial and operational challenges add risk. The main risk factor is the fund’s heavy focus on defense and related industries, which ties its fortunes closely to government spending and sector-specific issues.
Positive Factors
Large, Established Fund
The ETF has a sizable asset base, suggesting it is well-established and has attracted meaningful investor interest.
Strong Core Defense Holdings
Several major defense and aerospace stocks in the top holdings have shown strong year-to-date performance, helping support the fund’s overall returns.
Global Diversification Within Defense
Exposure to companies across multiple countries, led by the USA but including Europe and Asia, helps spread risk across different defense markets and economies.
Negative Factors
Sector Concentration in Industrials
A large portion of the portfolio is tied to industrials and defense-related businesses, which can make the fund more sensitive to downturns in that sector.
Mixed Performance Among Top Holdings
Some key positions, including well-known aerospace and technology names, have shown weak or negative year-to-date performance, which can drag on the ETF’s results.
Above-Average Expense Ratio
The fund’s expense ratio is higher than many broad market index ETFs, meaning investors pay more in fees each year.

IDEF vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

IDEF Summary

IDEF is the iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF, focused on companies tied to the global defense and aerospace theme rather than tracking a traditional index. It mainly holds industrial and technology firms that benefit from rising defense budgets around the world. Well-known names include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, RTX, and Palantir Technologies. Investors might consider IDEF for growth potential and global diversification within the defense sector. However, this ETF is heavily concentrated in defense-related stocks, so its value can rise or fall sharply with changes in military spending, government policy, and overall market conditions.
How much will it cost me?This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.55%, which means you’ll pay about $5.50 per year for every $1,000 you invest. That’s higher than the average index ETF because this fund is actively managed, with managers choosing defense and industrial stocks rather than just tracking a simple market index.
What would affect this ETF?This ETF could benefit if global tensions stay elevated and governments keep increasing defense budgets, which would likely support major holdings like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and other industrial and technology defense contractors around the world. On the other hand, it could be hurt if peace efforts reduce military spending, if new regulations or political pressure limit arms sales, or if a global economic slowdown or higher interest rates make it harder for industrial companies to win new contracts and invest in growth.

IDEF Top 10 Holdings

IDEF is essentially a bet on the global defense and aerospace machine, with U.S. giants like Lockheed Martin and RTX doing much of the heavy lifting as their backlogs and steady demand keep the fund’s core humming. Rolls-Royce has been a rising engine in the mix, adding some international flair from the U.K. side. On the flip side, Boeing and Airbus have been dragging performance, as ongoing operational and supply-chain headaches weigh on sentiment. Overall, the ETF is tightly focused on industrials and defense, with a mostly U.S. tilt but meaningful European exposure.
Name
Company Name
Weight %
Market Value
Market Cap
Yearly Gain
Overall Rating
RTX5.05%$189.46M$250.64B17.93%
74
Outperform
Palantir Technologies4.53%$170.05M$502.36B19.16%
74
Outperform
Lockheed Martin3.29%$123.32M$117.61B0.90%
70
Outperform
SpaceX3.13%$117.30M$2.21T――
Rolls-Royce Holdings2.91%$109.37M£114.89B21.83%
71
Outperform
General Dynamics2.87%$107.80M$89.63B-0.50%
80
Outperform
Boeing2.83%$106.15M$150.46B-9.66%
54
Neutral
Northrop Grumman2.58%$96.90M$68.29B-22.90%
76
Outperform
Palo Alto Networks2.14%$80.15M$342.56B100.80%
73
Outperform
Microsoft2.03%$76.31M$3.97T4.72%
79
Outperform

IDEF Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price―
Price Trends
50DMA
32.78
Negative
100DMA
32.48
Negative
200DMA
33.33
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.39
Positive
RSI
37.08
Neutral
STOCH
23.97
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IDEF, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of undefined is equal to the 20-day moving average (MA) of 31.54, equal to the 50-day MA of 32.78, and equal to the 200-day MA of 33.33, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.39 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.08 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 23.97 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for IDEF.

IDEF Peer Comparison

Comparison Results
Name
Price
Price Target
AUM
Expense Ratio
Overall Rating
――$3.76B0.55%
57
Neutral
――$3.67B0.22%
66
Neutral
――$3.49B0.65%
63
Neutral
――$2.05B0.75%
53
Neutral
――$1.93B0.75%
62
Neutral
――$1.08B1.11%
68
Neutral
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
IDEF
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF
30.79
-0.91
-2.87%
DFGR
Dimensional Global Real Estate ETF
―
―
―
FWD
AB Disruptors ETF
―
―
―
ARKG
ARK Genomic Revolution ETF
―
―
―
ARKQ
ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF
―
―
―
EIPI
FT Energy Income Partners Enhanced Income ETF
―
―
―
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
DisclaimerThis AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: ―
Table of Contents
Advertisement