XAR
Caution
High confidence
ETF Comparison
XAR vs XSPC: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF and VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 6, 2026
No track record yet. XSPC launched within the last six months. The forward distribution rate is left blank until a payout is published.
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
XSPC
Not rated
No published distribution safety rating is available.
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  XAR |  XSPC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF |
| Issuer | State Street | VegaShares |
| Last Close | $224.02 as of November 6, 2026 | $16.79 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 0.23% | — |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 0.19% | — |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 49 | — |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 0.11% | — |
| Expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.75% |
| AUM | $5.26B | $1.75M |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | None |
| Underlying index | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | — |
| Objective | Tracks the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, an equal-weighted index of U.S. aerospace and defense companies. | Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 09/28/2011 | 06/15/2026 |
| Beta | 1.37 | — |
| Last dividend | $0.129 | — |
| Ex-dividend date | 09/21/2026 | — |
— Distribution rate, Safety-Adjusted Yield, last dividend, and ex-dividend date are not yet available because XSPC launched June 2026; these fields will populate after the first distribution.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
XAR has outpaced XSPC over the year to date, posting a -11.09% total return against -39.49%. XAR has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 27.3% against 53.4% for XSPC. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | Since Jun 2026 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAR | -11.09% | -23.92% | 27.3% | -2.69 | -3.24 | -27.8% |
| XSPC | -39.49% | -39.49% | 53.4% | -2.50 | -3.13 | -39.5% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jun 2026” measures every fund from June 16, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the shared window since Jun 2026. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the shared window since Jun 2026) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Not a distribution payer
XSPC (VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. XSPC is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineWe won't call this one: XSPC launched June 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional. What is already clear from the numbers above: the two do not cost the same — XAR charges 0.35% against 0.75% for XSPC, and on funds tracking the same thing that gap compounds every year you hold.
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs186
Total AUM$2.15T
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XAR.
ETFs7
Total AUM$79.0M
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
VegaShares specializes in options-based and thematic ETFs designed to generate income and capitalize on emerging trends. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused strategies, including covered call funds, alongside thematic offerings that target specific market segments and innovation themes. VegaShares serves investors seeking alternative approaches to traditional equity exposure, with a concentrated portfolio of strategically named funds addressing both income generation and sector-specific growth opportunities.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XSPC.
Quick verdict
XAR (SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF) and XSPC (VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.
XAR currently shows a 0.23% distribution yield. XSPC has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.
XAR is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.35% compared to 0.75%.
XAR has $5.26B in assets vs $1.75M for XSPC, but XSPC only launched June 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
0 shared positions
XAR 0.0% of its top-10 weight
XSPC 0.0% of its top-10 weight
No overlap among the top-10 disclosed holdings of XAR, XSPC. These funds draw from largely different positions at the top of their books.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, XAR would pay about $23.00 a year (about $5.75 per quarterly distribution), while XSPC has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available.
XAR yield0.23%
XSPC yield—
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, XAR would cost approximately $350 in fees vs $750 for XSPC (simplified, not compounded). The $400.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
XAR ER0.35%
XSPC ER0.75%
Strategy & risk
XAR tracks S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, while XSPC is an ETF built around a thematic strategy.
XAR beta1.37
XSPC beta—
Fund details
XAR is managed by State Street (launched 09/28/2011) with $5.26B in assets. XSPC is managed by VegaShares (launched 06/15/2026) with $1.75M in assets.
XAR AUM$5.26B
XSPC AUM$1.75M
Frequently asked questions
Which of XAR or XSPC pays more dividend income?
XAR currently reports a distribution yield, while XSPC has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.
What is the difference between XAR and XSPC?
XAR (SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF) tracks S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, while XSPC (VegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETF) is an ETF built around a thematic strategy. They are issued by State Street and VegaShares respectively.
Can I hold both XAR and XSPC?
Yes. Their disclosed top-10 holdings share no positions, so combining both spreads your money across different underlying names — see the holdings-overlap section above for the details. Overlap outside the disclosed top 10 can still exist.
Which has lower fees, XAR or XSPC?
XAR has an expense ratio of 0.35% while XSPC charges 0.75%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in XAR vs XSPC generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in XAR would pay about $23.00 a year (about $5.75 per quarterly distribution). XSPC does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate.
Which has performed better historically, XAR or XSPC?
XAR has outpaced XSPC over the year to date, posting a -11.09% total return against -39.49%. XAR has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 27.3% against 53.4% for XSPC. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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XAR vs XSPC — at a glance
Generated October 31, 2026.
Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.
Overview
XAR and XSPC are both space and aerospace-focused ETFs, but they target markedly different corners of the industry. XAR tracks an equal-weighted index of established U.S. aerospace and defense contractors — companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon — giving it deep liquidity and a broad industrial base. XSPC is a newer, thematic ETF designed to capture private spaceflight, satellite technology, and adjacent innovation, holding smaller and more speculative names in the emerging commercial space economy.
How they differ
The core difference is maturity and scope: XAR holds large-cap, publicly traded defense primes and suppliers with multi-decade operating histories, while XSPC targets the emerging private space and space-tech ecosystem — companies further from profitability or at earlier stages of commercial viability. XAR's $5.26B in assets under management is substantially larger than XSPC's $1.75M, reflecting their relative market establishment and investor adoption. XAR's beta of 1.37 indicates roughly 30% amplified sensitivity to broad market swings compared to the overall market.
Who each is best for
XAR: Fits investors seeking established, dividend-paying exposure to the traditional aerospace and defense supply chain, including contractors that derive revenue from government contracts, commercial aircraft, and military systems.
XSPC: Designed for investors with appetite for concentrated, early-stage commercial space-economy exposure — satellite internet, reusable launch systems, and space technology — and tolerance for illiquidity and the risk of technology disruption or competitive consolidation in an immature market.
Key risks to know
- Sector concentration: Both funds concentrate in aerospace and defense or space tech; their holdings may overlap significantly in areas like satellite providers or defense tech suppliers. Verify overlap before holding both. Entering or exiting XSPC positions may incur material slippage.
- Emerging-market execution risk: XSPC's portfolio targets companies in early commercial phases of spaceflight, satellite deployment, and space infrastructure. Many holdings are pre-profitability or reliant on government subsidies, venture funding, or regulatory approval; delays or failures in any of these areas can cause sharp declines.
- Valuation and sector rotation: Government budget cycles, defense spending priorities, and commercial space venture-capital sentiment drive these sectors. A shift toward peacetime spending or a pullback in space-tech funding can weigh on returns regardless of underlying business performance.
- XAR's market sensitivity: With a beta of 1.37, XAR exhibits amplified sensitivity to broad market moves. During periods of market stress, the fund would historically decline more sharply than the broader market.
Bottom line
If you want diversified, liquid, dividend-paying exposure to the established aerospace and defense establishment, XAR's scale and maturity align with that profile. If you're hunting for upside in commercial spaceflight and emerging space tech and can accept illiquidity and higher risk of capital loss, XSPC offers a more speculative entry point — but with a $1.75M asset base and 4 months track record, its long-term viability and fee structure remain unproven. Past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.