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XAR

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:$233.00â–²(3.31% Upside)

XAR, the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF, has a solid overall rating that reflects generally strong underlying companies but also some valuation and sector risks. High-quality holdings like General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and HEICO support the fund’s rating through strong financial performance, robust backlogs, and positive growth outlooks. However, several key holdings such as Lockheed Martin, Transdigm, and others face high valuation, leverage, and government-related risks, and the fund’s focus on the aerospace and defense sector means it is exposed to industry-specific and government spending uncertainties.

Positive Factors
Established Aerospace & Defense LeadersThe ETF holds well-known companies like Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and RTX, some of which have shown strong or steady performance and help support the fund’s long-term prospects.
Balanced Top HoldingsNo single stock dominates the portfolio, with the largest positions each making up only a small slice, which helps reduce the impact of any one company’s ups and downs.
Focused Industry ExposureThe fund’s strong focus on the industrials sector gives investors targeted exposure to the aerospace and defense industry, which can benefit when spending in this area is healthy.
Negative Factors
Recent Weak PerformanceThe ETF has seen weak returns over the past month, three months, and year to date, which may signal short-term challenges for the aerospace and defense sector.
Many Lagging Top HoldingsSeveral of the largest positions, including Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Transdigm Group, Huntington Ingalls, Textron, and HEICO, have shown weak performance so far this year, weighing on the fund’s overall results.
High U.S. and Sector ConcentrationWith almost all assets in U.S. companies and heavy exposure to a single sector, investors face higher risk if the U.S. market or the aerospace and defense industry experiences a downturn.

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

-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%SPY+15.63%XAR-3.59%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
5.20B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.35%
Beta
1.30
Issuer
SPDR
Inception Date
Sep 28, 2011
Dividend Yield
0.19%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry

XAR Summary

XAR is the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF, which follows the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index. It invests in U.S. companies tied to aircraft, space, and military equipment, giving you a focused way to invest in the aerospace and defense theme. Well-known holdings include Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, major suppliers to government defense programs. Someone might consider XAR for potential long-term growth and diversification within the industrial sector. A key risk is that it is heavily concentrated in aerospace and defense, so its value can rise or fall with changes in defense spending and global conflict trends.

How much will it cost me?

XAR has an annual expense ratio of 0.35%, which means you’ll pay about $3.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is higher than the average broad-market index ETF because XAR is a specialized, sector-focused fund that requires more targeted management.

What would affect this ETF?

XAR could benefit if U.S. defense spending stays strong or increases, and if demand for commercial air travel and new aerospace technologies grows, supporting its major holdings like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX. On the negative side, cuts to government defense budgets, geopolitical de-escalation that reduces weapons demand, stricter regulations on defense contractors, or an economic slowdown that hurts airline and aircraft orders could weigh on this U.S.-focused industrials ETF.

XAR Top 10 Holdings

XAR is essentially a bet on U.S. aerospace and defense, with the heavy hitters calling the shots. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have been rising lately, helping to pull the fund higher as defense spending stays robust. RTX and General Dynamics are steadier contributors, adding some balance without much drama. On the other side, names like TransDigm and Huntington Ingalls have been lagging, acting as a bit of a weight on returns. Overall, it’s a tightly focused, U.S.-centric play on defense contractors and aerospace suppliers.

XAR top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
LMTLMTLockheed Martin3.63%$190.71M$147.61B22.69%70Outperform
HIIHIIHuntington Ingalls3.36%$176.64M$12.49B-3.77%69Neutral
LHXLHXL3Harris Technologies3.30%$173.56M$51.70B-10.78%70Neutral
NOCNOCNorthrop Grumman3.18%$167.06M$78.18B-8.97%76Outperform
TXTTXTTextron3.27%$171.92M$14.86B8.64%75Outperform
GDGDGeneral Dynamics3.16%$166.21M$101.20B6.23%80Outperform
HEIHEIHEICO3.22%$169.25M$39.82B6.80%77Outperform
KRMNKRMNKarman Holdings Inc.3.02%$158.81M$5.24B-59.66%62Neutral
TDGTDGTransdigm Group3.19%$167.96M$66.78B-5.81%69Neutral
HONAHONAHoneywell Aerospace3.09%$162.64M$49.93B-21.81%――

XAR Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price225.53

Price Trends

50DMA236.37Negative
100DMA256.27Negative
200DMA263.52Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-2.03Negative
RSI45.36Neutral
STOCH72.90Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For XAR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 225.53 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 225.19, below the 50-day MA of 236.37, and below the 200-day MA of 263.52, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -2.03 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.36 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.90 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for XAR.

XAR Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

XAR against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
XARXAR$225.53$233.00(3.31% Upside)$5.20B0.35%64Neutral
AIRRAIRR$97.39$146.69(50.62% Upside)$8.63B0.69%68Neutral
VISVIS$324.91$419.20(29.02% Upside)$7.87B0.09%70Outperform
PPAPPA$157.25$201.92(28.41% Upside)$7.67B0.58%67Neutral
FIDUFIDU$89.66$110.20(22.90% Upside)$2.30B0.08%70Outperform
IYTIYT$85.02$100.65(18.39% Upside)$2.04B0.37%71Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%XARAIRRVISPPAFIDUIYTDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
XAR and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
XARSPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF225.53-7.05-3.03%
AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF97.390.480.50%
VISVanguard Industrials ETF324.9133.3611.44%
PPAInvesco Aerospace & Defense ETF157.255.303.49%
FIDUFidelity MSCI Industrial Index ETF89.669.0411.22%
IYTiShares US Transportation ETF85.0214.6420.80%
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.