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Special Report
2 Actively Managed Defense ETFs That Can Pivot as the War EvolvesSubmitted by Nathan Reiff. Article Published: 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.
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With actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) growing increasingly popular relative to traditional passive funds, investors may find that these ETFs offer an advantage for highly time-sensitive topics, such as the ongoing Iran war. A key benefit of many active funds is that managers can adjust portfolios in real time in response to market developments—whereas many passive funds track indices that are rebalanced only periodically. Active management typically costs more in annual fees, but it can be worth the premium if managers can generate stronger performance in a fast-moving environment. The conflict in Iran is one such scenario: with near-constant updates on U.S. objectives and strategy, and major disruptions in energy markets, defense stock investors need to be nimble to make the best day-to-day decisions. The actively managed defense ETFs below may be a good starting point for those who want to outsource that agility. 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 targeting companies that could benefit from rising global defense and security spending. Its portfolio can include aerospace, defense, infrastructure, and cybersecurity firms worldwide, although roughly 60% of the holdings are U.S.-based. Other meaningful country exposures include South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Japan. IDEF tends to hold companies that could see gains from increased government defense spending tied to geopolitical turmoil, making it potentially responsive to conflicts like those in Iran and Ukraine. The fund holds about 111 stocks, with the top 10 representing more than 42% of the portfolio. These include major U.S. defense names such as RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), alongside international firms like Rheinmetall (OTCMKTS: RNMBY) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (OTCMKTS: MHVYF) (see its top holdings). Despite concentrated exposure to some large names, IDEF is among the more broadly diversified defense ETFs and is relatively inexpensive for an active fund, with a 0.55% expense ratio. What it lacks is a long track record: launched in May 2025, it does not yet have a full year of performance history. Since inception it has returned more than 25%, even after a roughly 15% pullback in the past month amid broader market weakness. A Space-Focused Fund With a Defense AngleThe ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (BATS: ARKX) is notable for accessing defense-related companies through a space-technology lens. There is significant overlap between space technology and defense—firms involved in intelligent devices, autonomous mobility, reusable rockets, and related innovations can serve both commercial and defense customers. ARKX's investable universe is relatively small: the fund holds fewer than three dozen positions, so it is fairly concentrated. It carries a higher expense ratio than IDEF, at 0.75%. ARKX is not a pure-play defense fund and includes larger, mainstream companies such as Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), though these appear at lower weightings than core defense and space names (see its portfolio holdings). The fund has a longer track record than IDEF—about five years since launch—and a one-year total return approaching 60%. Like IDEF, it has recently experienced a decline, dropping roughly 13% in recent weeks. Given its narrower space focus, ARKX managers may be more inclined to adjust weightings within the existing holdings rather than make immediate changes to the list of companies. Even shifting allocations, however, can materially affect returns in a rapidly changing market. |
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