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Special Report
2 Actively Managed Defense ETFs That Can Pivot as the War EvolvesBy Nathan Reiff. Date Posted: 4/1/2026. 
Key Points
- Two prominent actively managed ETFs holding defense stocks have surged in recent months even as the broader market has faltered.
- IDEF has wide latitude in seeking out global defense names, giving it excellent room to pivot in light of new information related to geopolitical conflicts.
- ARKX is a space-focused fund that has considerable overlap with defense industry names as well.
- Special Report: Elon’s “Hidden” Company
With actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) growing increasingly popular relative to traditional passive funds, investors may find these vehicles advantageous for timely investment themes, such as the ongoing conflict involving Iran. A key benefit of active funds is that managers can adjust portfolios in real time to reflect market developments, whereas many passive funds track indices that are only rebalanced periodically. Active management typically carries higher annual fees, but it can be worth the cost if managers can generate stronger performance in a fast-moving environment. The situation in and around Iran is exactly that type of scenario: with frequent updates on U.S. objectives and strategy, and continued disruption in energy markets, defense stock investors need to be nimble. The active defense ETFs below may be a good starting point for those who prefer to outsource timely portfolio moves. A Broad International Defense and Security Fund, but With Minimal Performance History
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The iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (NASDAQ: IDEF) has a broad mandate focused on companies that could benefit from increased global defense and security spending. It can hold aerospace, defense, infrastructure, and cybersecurity firms worldwide, although roughly 60% of the basket is made up of U.S.-based stocks. Other notable country exposures include South Korea, the United Kingdom and Japan. IDEF's holdings tend to be companies that could gain from higher government defense budgets driven by geopolitical turmoil—making it particularly responsive to conflicts such as those in Iran and Ukraine. The fund holds about 111 stocks, with the largest 10 accounting for more than 42% of the portfolio. Those top holdings include major U.S. defense names like RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), alongside international firms such as Rheinmetall (OTCMKTS: RNMBY) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (OTCMKTS: MHVYF) (see the fund's top holdings). Despite relatively large weightings in a handful of big names, IDEF is still one of the more diversified defense ETFs available. It is also relatively inexpensive for an active fund, with an expense ratio of 0.55%. What it lacks is a long track record: IDEF launched in May 2025 and does not yet have a full year of performance history. Since launch it has returned more than 25%, despite a roughly 15% selloff in the last month amid broader market weakness. A Space-Focused Fund With a Defense AngleThe ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (BATS: ARKX) approaches defense exposure through a space-technology lens. There is significant overlap between space technology and defense—companies working on intelligent devices, autonomous mobility, reusable rockets and related innovations can find opportunities in both commercial space and defense markets. ARKX holds fewer than three dozen positions, so it is relatively concentrated. Its expense ratio is higher than IDEF's at 0.75% annualized. Investors should note that ARKX is not a pure-play defense fund; it also includes broader technology and industrial companies such as Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), although these appear at smaller weights compared with its core space and defense-related holdings (see the fund's portfolio). ARKX has a longer performance history than IDEF; it launched five years ago and posted a one-year total return of nearly 60%. Like IDEF, it has pulled back recently—by roughly 13% in recent weeks. Because ARKX focuses narrowly on space-related firms, managers may be more likely to adjust portfolio weightings than to change the fund's underlying investment universe in response to breaking news. Still, shifts in allocations can materially affect returns in a rapidly changing market. |
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