Data as of .
WDEF vs XDEF: which is really different?
WDEF and XDEF hold 71% of their weight in the same names.
ETFIQ Off-Index Score: WDEF scores higher
How much of it is not the index it is sold as an alternative to?
A percentile among the 379 thematic ETFs with a holdings filing. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All thematic ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
71% of the two portfolios are the same securities at the same weight.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, WDEF and XDEF hold 71% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Holding | WDEF | XDEF |
|---|---|---|
| BAE SYSTEMS PLC | 10.21% | 7.30% |
| RHEINMETALL AG | 8.70% | 6.95% |
| SAFRAN SA | 5.62% | 8.26% |
| ROLLS-ROYCE HOLDINGS PLC | 5.57% | 8.64% |
| AIRBUS SE | 5.34% | 8.69% |
| THALES SA | 10.14% | 4.40% |
| LEONARDO SPA | 4.79% | 3.98% |
| KONGSBERG GRUPPEN ASA | 4.61% | 3.92% |
| SAAB AB | 4.83% | 3.87% |
| DASSAULT AVIATION SA | 4.14% | 3.71% |
| HENSOLDT AG | 4.13% | 3.63% |
| BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC | 3.10% | 3.69% |
| Only in WDEF | Only in XDEF |
|---|---|
| TKMS AG & CO. KGAA 2.96% | DSV A/S 4.70% |
| EXOSENS SA 1.70% | MTU AERO ENGINES AG 4.29% |
| EXAIL TECHNOLOGIES SA 1.34% | SPINNAKER ETF SERIES 0.60% |
| FINCANTIERI SPA 1.30% | NORBIT ASA 0.54% |
| THEON INTERNATIONAL PLC 1.27% | NCC GROUP PLC 0.30% |
| CSG NV 1.25% | YUBICO AB 0.25% |
| OHB SE 0.78% | |
| BITTIUM OYJ 0.66% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Jun 30, 2026 and May 31, 2026.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | vs the Nasdaq-100 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WDEF | XDEF | WDEF | XDEF | WDEF | XDEF | |
| 3 months | +2.9% | +1.8% | +0.7 pts | −0.5 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
| 6 months | −6.0% | −0.4% | −24.1 pts | −18.5 pts | −30.3 pts | −24.7 pts |
| 1 year | −7.6% | not published | −24.1 pts | not published | −29.4 pts | not published |
| Since launch | −2.7% | −99.1% | −25.7 pts | −111.5 pts | −31.8 pts | −117.1 pts |
| WDEF WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund Holds 42 stocks in defense, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | XDEF Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF Holds 30 stocks in defense, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | WisdomTree | Xtrackers |
| Theme | Defense | Defense |
| In the S&P 500 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Active share vs the S&P 500 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| In the Nasdaq-100 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Holdings | 42 | 30 |
| Top ten, share of the fund | 63.9% | 61.5% |
| Expense ratio | 0.45% | 0.35% |
| Fee for the differing part | 0.45% | 0.35% |
| Total return, 1 year | −7.6% | −99.1% (since launch on Jan 2, 2026) |
| vs the S&P 500 | −24.1 pts | −111.5 pts |
| vs the Nasdaq-100 | −29.4 pts | −117.1 pts |
| Below its high | −15.7% | −99.2% |
| Net assets | $83m | $4m |
WDEF in plain words
By weight, 0% of WDEF's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 64% of the fund across 42 positions, as filed for Jun 30, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned −7.6% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was behind by 24.1 pts. It sits 15.7% below its all-time high of Jan 27, 2026.
XDEF in plain words
By weight, 0% of XDEF's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 62% of the fund across 30 positions, as filed for May 31, 2026. Since it launched on Jan 2, 2026 the fund returned −99.1% with distributions reinvested against +12.4% for the S&P 500, so a holder was behind by 111.5 pts. It sits 99.2% below its all-time high of Jan 16, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do WDEF and XDEF hold the same stocks?
- By their latest filings, 71% of their books are the same securities at the same weight, which is close to holding one of them twice. Overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of every security they share.
- Which is more different from the S&P 500, WDEF or XDEF?
- WDEF has 0% of its weight in S&P 500 names and XDEF has 0%, so WDEF differs more from the index.
- Which is cheaper, WDEF or XDEF?
- WDEF charges 0.45% a year and XDEF charges 0.35%, so XDEF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, WDEF against XDEF, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/wdef-vs-xdef Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.