For the foreseeable future, there will be demand for defense companies and the products they make. Defense stocks tend not to be as glamorous as high-growth sectors, such as tech. However, they provide reliable revenue and income from a customer -- the U.S. government -- with a seemingly insatiable appetite for their products.
Defense stocks tend to be stable contributors to an income-focused portfolio. Their predictable long-term revenue streams translate into solid dividends and healthy returns for investors. Defense ETFs are a type of investment that holds a basket of defense stocks, allowing investors to gain exposure to multiple stocks in the sector instead of having to choose between the various companies.
Since no single defense contractor makes everything, an investor would have to buy shares in all the largest defense companies to gain full exposure to the sector. With that in mind, it might make more sense to invest in defense through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that gives you a small interest in a large number of companies with ties to the aerospace and defense market.
Six best defense ETFs to consider in 2026
Here are some of the top defense-focused ETFs:
1. iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA +0.68%) is the largest ETF focused on defense, with $14.3 billion in net assets as of January 2026. The ETF is designed to provide exposure to domestic United States aerospace and defense companies, as well as the commercial aerospace industry.
NYSEMKT: ITA
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NYSEMKT: PPA
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As of January 2026, the top five holdings in the Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF were:
- Boeing
- GE Aerospace
- RTX
- Lockheed Martin
- Northrop Grumman (NOC +4.42%)
The ETF had 61 total holdings, with the top five representing about 39% of the total portfolio. The Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has an expense ratio of 0.58%.
NYSEMKT: ARKX
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NYSEMKT: DFEN
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Direxion states on its website that its leveraged ETFs are best for "aggressive" investors with a "willingness to accept substantial losses in short periods of time." The fund has about $342 million in net assets. As of January 2026, the top five holdings of the Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares ETF were:
- GE Aerospace
- RTX
- Boeing
- L3Harris
- Lockheed Martin
Those five holdings made up 54% of the portfolio in early 2026. The Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X has an expense ratio of 0.95%.
How wars and global conflicts affect defense stocks and ETFs
A new conflict puts the spotlight on defense companies and usually has a positive impact on defense stocks and ETFs. The logic makes sense: The equipment used in war is expensive, and if nations are depleting their reserves, it should mean greater demand for new products and services over time.
One word of caution, though: The large defense companies tend to earn higher margins on the research and development (R&D) of new platforms, and just restocking arsenals tends to be lower-margin work. And new orders can take quarters, if not years, to translate into revenue. For that reason, the pop that comes with a new conflict tends to fade.
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