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ITA

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:$235.00â–²(10.41% Upside)
Positive Factors
Large, Established FundThe ETF has a high level of assets under management, suggesting it is widely used and offers good liquidity for everyday investors.
Focused Industry ExposureThe fund concentrates on U.S. aerospace and defense companies, giving investors targeted access to a specialized part of the industrial sector.
Strong Defense Leaders in Top HoldingsSeveral major defense contractors among the largest positions have shown relatively strong or steady performance, helping support the fund despite weakness in other names.
Negative Factors
Recent Weak PerformanceThe ETF has shown negative performance over the past month, three months, and year to date, indicating recent pressure on the aerospace and defense sector.
High Concentration in a Few StocksA small number of companies, including GE Aerospace, RTX, and Boeing, make up a large share of the portfolio, increasing the impact if any of these stocks struggle.
Limited Diversification by Sector and RegionAlmost all holdings are U.S. industrial companies, which means the fund offers little protection if this single sector or country faces a downturn.

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

-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%25%SPY+15.52%ITA+1.14%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
12.38B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.37%
Beta
1.07
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
May 01, 2006
Dividend Yield
0.27%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
DJ US Select / Aerospace & Defense

ITA Summary

ITA is an ETF that follows the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense index, focusing on American companies that make aircraft, defense systems, and related technology. Its holdings include well-known names like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, along with other major defense contractors. Investors might consider ITA if they want targeted exposure to the aerospace and defense theme, which can offer growth tied to government spending and long-term security needs. However, this ETF is heavily concentrated in one sector, so its value can go up or down sharply with changes in defense budgets, political decisions, and overall market conditions.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.37%, which means you’ll pay about $3.70 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s a bit higher than the average broad-market index ETF because this fund focuses on a specific sector (aerospace & defense) and tracks a more specialized index.

What would affect this ETF?

Future performance of ITA could benefit from rising U.S. defense spending, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and continued demand for aircraft and defense technology, which would support major holdings like GE Aerospace, RTX, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin. On the negative side, cuts to government defense budgets, stricter regulations, or economic slowdowns that hurt industrial companies in the U.S. could weigh on this aerospace and defense–focused ETF.

ITA Top 10 Holdings

ITA is heavily tilted toward U.S. aerospace and defense giants, with GE Aerospace and RTX setting the tone. GE has been lagging lately, acting as a bit of a headwind, while RTX is steadier, helping to balance the ride. Boeing remains a big swing factor, but its recent struggles are dragging on the fund. On the brighter side, defense leaders like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics are rising, giving the ETF a solid backbone. Overall, this is a concentrated U.S. industrial play, tightly focused on defense and aircraft makers.

ITA top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
GEGEGE Aerospace21.54%$2.62B$331.36B8.30%72Outperform
RTXRTXRTX16.85%$2.05B$275.04B12.99%74Outperform
BABABoeing6.94%$844.49M$137.34B-10.63%54Neutral
LMTLMTLockheed Martin5.24%$637.17M$147.61B22.69%70Outperform
TDGTDGTransdigm Group4.99%$607.09M$66.78B-5.81%69Neutral
NOCNOCNorthrop Grumman4.70%$572.25M$78.18B-8.97%76Outperform
GDGDGeneral Dynamics4.77%$581.02M$101.20B6.23%80Outperform
HWMHWMHowmet Aerospace4.24%$515.58M$88.73B4.17%67Neutral
LHXLHXL3Harris Technologies3.66%$445.43M$51.70B-10.78%70Neutral
HONAHONAHoneywell Aerospace3.75%$456.49M$49.93B-21.81%――

ITA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price212.84

Price Trends

50DMA213.42Negative
100DMA227.25Negative
200DMA228.20Negative

Market Momentum

MACD0.04Negative
RSI53.50Neutral
STOCH84.81Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ITA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 212.84 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 207.85, below the 50-day MA of 213.42, and below the 200-day MA of 228.20, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 53.50 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.81 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ITA.

ITA Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

ITA against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
ITAITA$212.84$235.00(10.41% Upside)$12.38B0.37%67Neutral
VGTVGT$115.55$178.05(54.09% Upside)$143.18B0.09%74Outperform
XLKXLK$176.50$264.02(49.59% Upside)$117.01B0.08%75Outperform
XLFXLF$59.20$63.98(8.08% Upside)$53.64B0.08%72Outperform
XLVXLV$189.66$203.23(7.15% Upside)$49.43B0.08%73Outperform
XLIXLI$169.46$213.35(25.90% Upside)$31.49B0.08%71Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%20%40%ITAVGTXLKXLFXLVXLIDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
ITA and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
ITAiShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF212.844.322.07%
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF115.5520.8021.95%
XLKTechnology Select Sector SPDR Fund176.5033.1623.13%
XLFFinancial Select Sector SPDR Fund59.207.2413.93%
XLVHealth Care Select Sector SPDR Fund189.6645.9231.95%
XLIIndustrial Select Sector SPDR Fund169.4617.8611.78%
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.