IDEF ETF — iShares Defense Industrials Act

iShares Defense Industrials Act (IDEF)

IDEF is an ETF. As of September 4, 2026, its distribution rate is 0.33%, its trailing-12-month yield is 0.33%, its expense ratio is 0.55%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 50/100 (Caution). Total return is 29.1% over the past 1.3 years, 4.9 points behind SPY at 34.0%.

At the current 0.33% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $33 per year, or $2.75 per month on an equivalent basis. Actual semi-annual payments vary.

iShares Defense Industrials Act is an ETF that invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. defense and related industrials companies, with a non-diversified structure. The fund carries a low expense ratio of 0.55% and has a modest current distribution rate. This ETF appeals to investors seeking equity exposure to the defense and industrial sectors.

IDEF performance versus SPY

Data as of September 4, 2026.

Total return is 29.1% over the past 1.3 years, 4.9 points behind SPY at 34.0%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 15.8%.

IDEF key facts

Data as of September 4, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

50 · Caution

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

05/19/2025

Expense ratio

0.55%

Distribution rate

0.33%

Distribution frequency

Semi-Annual

Trailing yield

0.33%

Last close

$32.26

NAV

$31.78

Premium / discount

1.51% premium

AUM

$4,325,233,425

Average volume

443236.0

Last dividend

$0.054

Last ex-dividend date

06/15/2026

Last payment date

06/18/2026

Beta

1.155

P/E ratio

32.6301

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.33%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (0.33%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of September 4, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of September 4, 2026.

Primary sources: iShares; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

IDEF risks and drawbacks

IDEF's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are semi-annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 15.8%.

Who may consider IDEF — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (IDEF pays semi-annual); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.