Overview
Defense technology companies — cybersecurity, drones, autonomous systems, and advanced weaponry. Top performer in 2025 driven by global defense budget surge.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| LMT | Lockheed Martin | 8.4% |
| RTX | RTX Corp. | 7.8% |
| NOC | Northrop Grumman | 7.4% |
| GD | General Dynamics | 6.8% |
| LHX | L3Harris Tech. | 6.4% |
| CACI | CACI Intl. | 5.8% |
| BAH | Booz Allen Hamilton | 5.4% |
| SAIC | SAIC Inc. | 4.8% |
| LDOS | Leidos Holdings | 4.4% |
| PLTR | Palantir Tech. | 3.8% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
Geopolitical deterioration since 2022 has driven the largest sustained increase in global defense budgets since the Cold War. NATO members are legally committed to spending 2% of GDP on defense and most are accelerating toward that target. SHLD focuses specifically on defense technology including cybersecurity, autonomous systems, AI-enabled warfare, and advanced weaponry, the highest-growth segment of the defense industry.
Who It's For
Investors with a geopolitical risk thesis and conviction that defense budgets will remain elevated for years to come. SHLD suits those seeking exposure to the defense modernization cycle including autonomous systems, cyber warfare, AI-enabled military applications, and advanced weapons development. Provides an element of geopolitical hedge within a diversified equity portfolio.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -- | -- |
| 2017 | -- | -- |
| 2018 | -- | -- |
| 2019 | -- | -- |
| 2020 | -- | -- |
| 2021 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | $14.82 | -- |
| 2025 | $28.52 | +92.4% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | -- |
| 2017 | -- |
| 2018 | -- |
| 2019 | -- |
| 2020 | -- |
| 2021 | -- |
| 2022 | -- |
| 2023 | -- |
| 2024 | 0.38% |
| 2025 | 0.44% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -- | -- |
| 2017 | -- | -- |
| 2018 | -- | -- |
| 2019 | -- | -- |
| 2020 | -- | -- |
| 2021 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | $0.3B | -- |
| 2025 | $1.2B | +300.0% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
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