ETF Evaluator:
Global X Defense Tech ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Industrials Over the Last Year
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ETF Details
Global X Defense Tech ETF Overview
Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) is a passively managed Sector Equity Industrials exchange-traded fund (ETF). Global X Funds launched the ETF in 2023.
The investment seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Global X Defense Tech Index.
The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes (if any), in the securities of the Global X Defense Tech Index, which may include common stocks, American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") based on the securities in the underlying index. The underlying index is owned and was developed by Global X Management Company LLC, an affiliate of the fund and the fund's investment adviser. The fund is non-diversified.
About Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.89 years: Nam To (2023) and Wayne Xie (2023). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Global X Defense Tech NTR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Global X Defense Tech ETF has 54 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 64.4% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Global X Defense Tech ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. Global X Defense Tech ETF has 36.9% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 63.0% There is 36.9% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Global X Defense Tech ETF has -0.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $7 billion in total assets, which is above the $1 billion average for the Industrials category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
SHLD Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Global X Defense Tech ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Industrials category. Global X Defense Tech ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50%, which is 2% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Global X Defense Tech ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 32%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 40% for the Industrials category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Global X Defense Tech ETF returned 6.0%, which earned it a grade of A, as the Industrials category had an average return of -4.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
Global X Defense Tech ETF has a trailing yield of 0.67%, which is below the 1.11% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Global X Defense Tech ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned -2.0%, 14.6 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F. The fund has returned 4.0% over the past year (grade of F).
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SHLD Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| SHLD Return (NAV) | 6.0% | -6.3% | 4.0% | na | na | na |
| SHLD Return (Price) | 5.9% | -7.0% | 4.0% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.095% | 0.684% | 0.011% | na | na | na |
| Industrials Avg | -4.0% | -1.4% | 24.7% | 17.8% | 11.5% | 13.6% |
| SHLD Grade (NAV) | A | D | F | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 10.0% | -4.9% | -20.7% | na | na | na |
| SHLD Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.3% | na | na | na |
SHLD Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| SHLD Return (NAV) | -2.0% | 74.8% | 35.4% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| SHLD Return (Price) | -2.1% | 74.4% | 35.0% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.017% | -0.005% | -0.012% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Industrials Avg | 12.6% | 27.1% | 14.2% | 21.4% | -12.8% | 20.7% | 15.4% | 30.3% | -13.4% | 22.8% | 22.1% |
| SHLD Grade (NAV) | F | A | A | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -14.6% | 47.7% | 21.3% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 0.7% |
| Total Assets: | $ 7,002 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 7,002 Mil |
| Turnover: | 32.8% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.50% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 2.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.9 years | |||
| Managers (Year): To Nam (2023), Xie Wayne (2023) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 54 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 64.4% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 36.9% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 63.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 36.9% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.1% |
| Cash: | -0.0% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Global X Funds |
| Phone Number: | 888-493-8631 |
| Website: | www.globalxfunds.com |
| Inception Date: | September 11, 2023 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.50% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.51% |
