iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is a BlackRock index fund that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. As of June 30, 2026, that meant 49 U.S. plane makers, parts suppliers and defense contractors. The fund is heavily top-weighted: General Electric, RTX and Boeing made up about 46% of assets. It costs 0.37% a year, close to the 0.36% peer average, and it is the largest fund in its peer group.

• Over the year to Nov 2, 2026, ITA returned -0.3%, 4th of 9 among similar funds.
• Its 5-year annualized return was +16.4% and its 10-year +13.6%.
• In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 50.2% and regained its old high 34.5 months after the low.
• Its worst full calendar year was 2008 (-39.0%); its best was 2013 (+55.4%).
• The deepest fall in its price history was 60% (Oct 9, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009), recovered by Jan 4, 2013.

As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 49 securities; the ten largest made up 75.15% of assets.

By sector

• Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors withdrew a net $482.3M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
• Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +0.08%, +7.64%, +3.06%.

ITA follows the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index, which is run by S&P Dow Jones Indices. The index includes companies that make, assemble or distribute aircraft and aircraft parts. It also includes companies that make defense equipment, such as military aircraft, radar equipment and weapons. Large, mid-size and small companies can all qualify. The index provider, not BlackRock, decides which stocks are in the index and how much each one counts.

BlackRock uses "representative sampling." This means the fund buys a group of stocks that together look like the index in size, industry mix, price swings and yield, without having to own every stock in it. Under normal conditions, at least 80% of net assets must be in index stocks. The fund may also hold cash, money market funds and derivatives (contracts whose value is tied to other assets). As of June 30, 2026, its only derivative was a tiny industrials futures position. The fund may also lend out up to one-third of its assets to earn extra income.

Because the fund mirrors a narrow index, it ends up concentrated. As of June 30, 2026, the 10 largest holdings were 75% of assets, and General Electric alone was 22.6%. Portfolio turnover, the share of holdings replaced in a year, was 18%. Low turnover usually means lower trading costs.

• ITA charges 0.37% a year, versus an average of 0.36% for the similar funds below (5th of 9, cheapest first).
• Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $38 in the first year and $468 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).

ITA owns one narrow, top-heavy industry and has lost half or more of its value in two past market crises, so it fits better as a small add-on than as a core holding.

ITA can add focused exposure to U.S. aerospace and defense companies. That exposure has come with deep losses. From October 2007 to March 2009 the fund fell about 60% and did not recover until January 2013. In the 2020 COVID crash it dropped about 50% and did not regain its peak until February 2023. In 2022 it did better: it fell about 19% at its worst and recovered in about six weeks. Its worst calendar year was 2008, when it lost 39%. Anyone who has to sell shares in a bad year could lock in steep losses.

The fund pays very little income. Its trailing yield was 0.09% as of October 29, 2026, paid twice a year. In the SEC's standard $10,000 example, costs add up to $468 over 10 years. Past results don't predict future returns, and a retirement plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.

Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.