At a glance
UFOX charges 0.3% a year, below the 0.46% average of the 6 funds most like it (the 2nd cheapest of 7). It has $1.01B in assets, the 2nd largest of that group; it paid 0.45% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +24.2% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 5th of those 7 funds. Its ten largest positions make up 41.3% of the fund, out of 58 in all.
The short version
Defiance Space and Connective Tech ETF (UFOX) is an index fund that tracks the BlueStar Connective Technologies Index. As of June 30, 2026, that meant 58 U.S.-listed stocks tied to 5G and 6G networks, chips, cloud equipment, satellites and rockets. It sets aside a fixed 20% slice for space companies such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab. Its 0.30% annual fee is below the 0.46% average of similar funds.
Price history
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UFOX +24.2% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFOX official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +34.76% | — | +15.03% | — | +16.04% |
| UFOX price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +28.7% | +24.2% | — | — | — | +34.5% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, UFOX returned +24.2%, 5th of 7 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2025 (+34.8%); its best was 2025 (+34.8%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 28.1% (Jan 23, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by Jun 24, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +28.7% | — |
| 2025 | +34.8% | +34.76% |
| 2024 | — | +34.10% |
| 2023 | — | +21.88% |
| 2022 | — | -27.20% |
| 2021 | — | +25.63% |
| 2020 | — | +29.77% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Not in the price data, which starts Jul 22, 2024 |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Not in the price data, which starts Jul 22, 2024 |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.2700 | |
| 2025 | $0.3500 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 58 securities; the ten largest made up 41.32% of assets. It also reported 19.86% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| MaxLinear Inc | 6.47% | |
| SPACEX | 5.24% | |
| Rocket Lab Corp | 4.88% | |
| Apple Inc | 3.83% | |
| Broadcom Inc | 3.82% | |
| Marvell Technology Inc | 3.80% | |
| NVIDIA Corp | 3.71% | |
| AST SpaceMobile Inc | 3.48% | |
| Cisco Systems Inc | 3.35% | |
| ARM Holdings PLC | 2.76% | |
| Credo Technology Group Holding | 2.22% | |
| Datadog Inc | 2.09% | |
| Oracle Corp | 2.03% | |
| CEVA Inc | 2.02% | |
| QUALCOMM Inc | 2.00% |
By country
United States 90.76%United Kingdom 2.76%Finland 1.83%Canada 1.38%Israel 1.36%By asset type
Stocks 99.67%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $20.6M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +23.28%, +22.14%, -7.33%.
How it works
UFOX is an index fund that aims to match the BlueStar Connective Technologies Index, run by MarketVector Indexes, before fees. The index holds U.S.-listed companies from two groups. One supplies the chips, equipment, software and services behind 5G, 6G and other networks, including wireless carriers and cell tower and data center REITs (real estate investment trusts). The other builds rockets, spacecraft and satellite systems. Each company must earn at least half its revenue from these areas and pass size and trading-volume tests.
Each March and September, the index ranks eligible companies by the market value of their publicly traded shares. It takes the 40 largest network companies and the 10 largest space companies. Current members can stay if they slip to 60th or 20th place, which cuts trading. Network companies get 80% of the weight and space companies 20%, with bigger firms weighted more. At each rebalance, no stock may exceed 5%, or 1.5% for REITs and carriers; thinly traded stocks get a lower cap. Newly listed stocks that qualify can join between rebalances.
Weights drift between rebalances. As of June 30, 2026, the fund held 58 stocks. MaxLinear was the largest at 6.5%, above the 5% cap, followed by SpaceX at 5.2% and Rocket Lab at 4.9%. The fund uses no leverage or derivatives.
What it really costs
- UFOX charges 0.3% a year, versus an average of 0.46% for the similar funds below (2nd of 7, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $31 in the first year and $381 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFOX | $31 | $97 | $169 | $381 |
In a retirement portfolio
UFOX is a narrow, theme-based stock fund that has moved almost twice as much as the market, so it fits as a small add-on rather than a foundation.
UFOX could add growth exposure to network, chip and space companies, but it swings much more than the broad market. As of October 27, 2026, its one-year beta (a measure of how strongly it moves with the market) was 1.87, and its volatility was 32.4%. The fund launched in 2019, so it has no record from 2008. The prospectus shows a 16.38% drop in the first quarter of 2020 and a 27.2% loss in 2022, its worst calendar year. In price data starting July 2024, its deepest drop was 28.1%, from January 23 to April 8, 2025. It recovered by June 24, 2025. Anyone forced to sell during a drop like that would lock in the loss. Income is small: a 0.45% yield, paid quarterly. The SEC's standard example puts the cost at $31 for the first year on $10,000. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a small, rules-based slice of 5G, chip and space stocks, including SpaceX, Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile, as of June 30, 2026.
- Cost-conscious buyers of themed funds: the 0.30% fee is below the 0.46% average of similar funds and Invesco KNCT's 0.40%.
- Long-term holders who can sit through deep drops, such as the 27.2% loss in 2022, without needing to sell.
Look elsewhere if
- People who need income: the trailing yield was just 0.45% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly.
- Investors who want broad, low-cost tech exposure; the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) charges 0.08% and holds a wider slice of tech.
- Retirees who may need to draw on savings in a downturn: beta was 1.87 and one-year volatility 32.4% as of October 27, 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFOX this fund | — | 0.3% | $1.01B | +24.2% | — |
| XPND First Trust Expanded Technology ETF | 27% | 0.65% | $39.4M | +1.8% | +25.7% |
| KNCT Invesco Next Gen Connectivity ETF | 26% | 0.4% | $153.9M | +44.7% | +39.4% |
| TRFK Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF | 26% | 0.6% | $954.5M | +26.8% | +46.8% |
| IDGT iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Rea… | 23% | 0.41% | $502.8M | +26.4% | — |
| VEGN US Vegan Climate ETF | 22% | 0.6% | $177.6M | +24.3% | +29.2% |
| XLK Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | 21% | 0.08% | $123.91B | +20.1% | +4.0% |
Questions investors ask
How has UFOX performed over the long run?
The fund's long-term returns have been strong but uneven. As of December 31, 2025, the prospectus shows average annual returns of 34.76% over one year, 15.03% over five years and 16.04% since its 2019 launch. Calendar years ran from a 27.2% loss in 2022 to a 34.76% gain in 2025. Through October 27, 2026, the fund was up 28.7% year to date. Past returns don't predict future results.
Does UFOX own SpaceX?
Yes. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) was the fund's second-largest holding at 5.2% as of June 30, 2026. The largest was MaxLinear at 6.5%, followed after SpaceX by Rocket Lab (4.9%), Apple, Broadcom and Marvell (each about 3.8%), NVIDIA (3.7%), AST SpaceMobile (3.5%), Cisco (3.4%) and ARM Holdings (2.8%). The top 10 made up 41.3% of the fund, which held 58 stocks.
What is the UFOX expense ratio?
UFOX charges 0.30% a year, according to the prospectus filed April 29, 2026. That is below the 0.46% average of the similar funds compared here and ranks 2nd cheapest of 7. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 earning 5% a year would cost about $31 after one year, $97 after three, $169 after five and $381 after ten. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) is cheaper at 0.08%.
Does UFOX pay dividends?
Yes, but not much. UFOX pays quarterly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.37 per share, a yield of 0.45%. Most of the fund is in tech, chip and space companies, which tend to reinvest their profits rather than pay large dividends. The fund may not suit investors who need regular income.
UFOX vs KNCT: what's the difference?
Both track connectivity themes, but UFOX costs less and has a dedicated space slice. UFOX charges 0.30% and Invesco Next Gen Connectivity ETF (KNCT) charges 0.40%. UFOX's index puts 20% in satellite and space companies. About 26% of the two funds' holdings overlap. KNCT returned 44.7% over the year to October 27, 2026, against 24.2% for UFOX. UFOX is larger, with $1.01 billion in net assets versus KNCT's $154 million.