Is State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) a Strong ETF Right Now?

The State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) is analyzed as a smart beta ETF with $5.52 billion in assets and a low expense ratio of 0.35%. However, the fund has underperformed recently, declining 5.84% year-to-date and 8.96% over the past year as of October 9, 2026. With a beta of 1.03 and standard deviation of 23.92%, it presents medium risk. Alternative aerospace & defense ETFs like Invesco's PPA and iShares' ITA are also discussed.