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MISL

First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL)

Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:$44.00â–²(5.92% Upside)

MISL, the First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF, has a solid overall rating driven mainly by strong, well-established defense and aerospace names like General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, RTX, GE Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin, which benefit from robust backlogs, positive earnings, and strategic growth initiatives. However, weaker areas such as Boeing’s ongoing financial and operational challenges, along with valuation concerns across several holdings, and the fund’s heavy concentration in the aerospace and defense sector, add risk and help explain why the rating is not higher.

Positive Factors
Focused Aerospace & Defense ExposureThe fund gives targeted access to the aerospace and defense industry, which can benefit when spending in this area is steady or growing.
Strong Performance From Several Key HoldingsTop positions like Lockheed Martin, Palantir Technologies, RTX, and General Dynamics have shown strong year-to-date performance, helping support the ETF’s returns despite recent weakness elsewhere.
Meaningful Fund SizeWith hundreds of millions in assets under management, the ETF is large enough to offer reasonable liquidity for everyday investors.
Negative Factors
Recent Performance WeaknessThe ETF has shown weak performance over the past month, three months, and year to date, which may concern investors looking for short-term stability.
High Concentration in a Few StocksThe top five holdings make up a large share of the portfolio, increasing the impact that any one company’s poor results can have on the fund.
Higher Expense RatioThe fund’s expense ratio is relatively high for an ETF, which means more of the returns are used to cover fees instead of staying with investors.

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

AUM
691.98M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.65%
Beta
1.04
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Oct 25, 2022
Dividend Yield
0.39%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
Indxx US Aerospace & Defense Index - Benchmark TR Gross

MISL Summary

MISL is an ETF that focuses on the aerospace and defense industry, following the Indxx US Aerospace & Defense Index. It holds a mix of well-known companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, along with other firms involved in aviation, space technology, and defense systems. Investors might consider MISL if they want targeted exposure to a sector tied to global security and long-term innovation, rather than owning individual stocks. However, this fund is concentrated in one industry, so its value can rise or fall sharply with changes in defense spending, government policies, or market sentiment toward this sector.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.65%, which means you’ll pay about $6.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s higher than the average ETF because it’s a specialized, sector-focused fund that requires more research and management than a broad, low-cost index fund.

What would affect this ETF?

MISL could benefit from increased government defense spending, growing demand for air travel and space exploration, and continued innovation from major U.S. aerospace and technology names like Boeing, RTX, SpaceX, and Palantir. On the downside, cuts to defense budgets, safety or regulatory issues affecting aerospace companies, higher interest rates that pressure industrial and tech stocks, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy could weigh on the ETF’s future performance.

MISL Top 10 Holdings

MISL is a pure play on U.S. aerospace and defense, with most of its firepower concentrated in industrial heavyweights and a dash of defense tech. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have been rising, acting like steady engines for the fund, while Palantir’s strong, AI-driven momentum adds a high-growth twist. On the other side, Boeing is clearly lagging, and GE Aerospace and SpaceX have shown more mixed, stop-and-go performance. Overall, the ETF leans heavily into defense contractors, with U.S.-centric exposure and a few tech names spicing up returns.

MISL top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
RTXRTXRTX8.62%$58.07M$269.62B12.61%74Outperform
GEGEGE Aerospace7.86%$52.93M$311.87B-2.88%72Outperform
PLTRPLTRPalantir Technologies7.07%$47.60M$442.43B-5.37%74Outperform
BABABoeing7.23%$48.71M$135.94B-14.26%54Neutral
SPCXSPCXSpaceX6.65%$44.79M$1.83T-16.30%――
LMTLMTLockheed Martin5.02%$33.78M$147.14B30.06%70Outperform
LHXLHXL3Harris Technologies4.70%$31.66M$51.69B-6.18%70Neutral
NOCNOCNorthrop Grumman4.65%$31.34M$79.21B-3.64%76Outperform
GDGDGeneral Dynamics4.51%$30.40M$100.81B8.10%80Outperform
TDGTDGTransdigm Group4.15%$27.97M$63.39B-12.20%69Neutral

MISL Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price41.54

Price Trends

50DMA42.49Negative
100DMA43.84Negative
200DMA45.49Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-0.24Negative
RSI47.24Neutral
STOCH79.14Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MISL, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 41.54 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 41.59, below the 50-day MA of 42.49, and below the 200-day MA of 45.49, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.24 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.24 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.14 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MISL.

MISL Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

MISL against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
MISLMISL$41.54$44.00(5.92% Upside)$691.98M0.65%61Neutral
RSPNRSPN$60.55$71.11(17.43% Upside)$853.52M0.40%70Outperform
FXRFXR$86.96$103.77(19.33% Upside)$710.60M0.60%69Neutral
PRNPRN$193.49$232.90(20.37% Upside)$310.88M0.60%68Neutral
PKBPKB$89.67$113.17(26.21% Upside)$261.75M0.57%70Outperform
WELDWELD$49.93$65.90(31.98% Upside)$252.50M0.75%74Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%20%40%MISLRSPNFXRPRNPKBWELDDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
MISL and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
MISLFirst Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF41.54-1.14-2.67%
RSPNInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF60.555.479.94%
FXRFirst Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund86.9610.0012.99%
PRNInvesco DWA Industrials Momentum ETF193.499.795.33%
PKBInvesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF89.67-5.79-6.06%
WELDTema U.S. Manufacturing & Reshoring ETF49.936.2514.30%
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.
Disclaimer

This 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.