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XDEF ETF — Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF
Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF)
Updated November 5, 2026.
Verdict as of November 5, 2026 close
XDEF's distribution is rated unproven by the Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ (50/100, low confidence). It pays quarterly and its distribution rate is 0.52%. The latest total cash payment per current share, $0.027 with an ex-date of September 18, 2026, was 91.6% lower than the previous $0.321. It is not yet confirmed whether this is a cut to the regular payout or a one-off difference.
Sources: DWS, Section 19a-1 notices, scoring methodology.
XDEF is an ETF. Its distribution rate is 0.52%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.68%, its expense ratio is 0.35%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 50/100 (Unproven). Total return is -16.7% over the past 0.7 years, 23.9 points behind SPY at 7.2%.
XDEF dividend yield and income
Price as of 2026-11-05.
The distribution rate (0.52%) has no calculation basis on file. Trailing-12-month yield (1.68%) is the last year of cash distributions by ex-date divided by the current price. The dividend amount is $0.027. The ex-dividend date is 09/18/2026. The payment date is 09/25/2026.
| Ex-date | Amount | Change from previous payment |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-18 | $0.027 | -91.6% Total cash (unclassified) |
| 2026-06-18 | $0.321 | — |
| 2026 YTD total | $0.348 | — |
XDEF holdings and sector exposure
The top 10 holdings are 62.9% of the fund.
| Ticker | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RHM | Rheinmetall AG | 8.21% |
| SAF | Safran SA | 7.98% |
| BA | BAE Systems plc | 7.85% |
| AIR | Airbus Group SE | 7.81% |
| RR | Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC | 7.36% |
| 27M | Melrose Industries PLC | 4.96% |
| SAAB-B | Saab AB (publ) | 4.72% |
| KOG | Kongsberg Gruppen ASA | 4.71% |
| HO | Thales S.A. | 4.69% |
| MTX | MTU Aero Engines AG | 4.57% |
To see how this fund's sectors add up across your own holdings, use True Exposure.
XDEF performance versus SPY
Total return is -16.7% over the past 0.7 years, 23.9 points behind SPY at 7.2%.
| Window | Total return | CAGR |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.3% | — |
| 3M | -13.6% | — |
| 6M | -6.2% | — |
| YTD | -16.7% | — |
| Since 2026-02-20 (first price on file) · 0.7 years | -16.7% | — |
XDEF key facts
- Distribution Safety Score™
- 50 · Unproven
- Issuer
- DWS
- Asset type
- ETF
- Asset class
- Equity
- Inception date
- 02/19/2026
- Expense ratio
- 0.35%
- Distribution rate
- 0.52%
- Distribution frequency
- Quarterly
- Trailing yield
- 1.68%
- Last close
- $20.66 (as of 2026-11-05)
- AUM
- $4,310,132
- Average volume
- 1,905
- Dividend
- $0.027
- Ex-dividend date
- 09/18/2026
- Payment date
- 09/25/2026
- Beta
- 1.2257
How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns
Distribution rate (0.52%) has no calculation basis on file. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.68%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. 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.
Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology
Sources and review
Primary sources: DWS; 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.
XDEF risks and drawbacks
XDEF's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window.
Who may consider XDEF — and who may not
It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (XDEF pays quarterly); 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.
More on XDEF
Frequently asked questions
Does XDEF pay monthly?
No. XDEF currently pays quarterly, not monthly.
What is XDEF's expense ratio?
XDEF's expense ratio is 0.35%.
What is XDEF's dividend yield?
XDEF's distribution rate is 0.52%, paid quarterly, with a 0.35% expense ratio — no calculation basis on file.
When does XDEF pay a dividend?
XDEF pays quarterly. The dividend amount is $0.027. The ex-dividend date is 09/18/2026. The payment date is 09/25/2026.
How has XDEF performed?
Total return is -16.7% over the past 0.7 years, 23.9 points behind SPY at 7.2%.
Is XDEF a good investment?
XDEF's Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score is 50 (Unproven). That is a risk signal, not investment advice. Its distribution rate is 0.52% (no calculation basis on file). Compare peers below rather than treating any single figure as a buy or sell.
More securities from DWS.
Tickers
XDEF's distribution is rated unproven by the Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ (50/100, low confidence). It pays quarterly and its distribution rate is 0.52%. The latest total cash payment per current share, $0.027 with an ex-date of September 18, 2026, was 91.6% lower than the previous $0.321. It is not yet confirmed whether this is a cut to the regular payout or a one-off difference.
Sources: DWS, Section 19a-1 notices, scoring methodology.
Holdings as-of date unavailable.
| Ticker | Name | Weight |
|---|
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