First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL)


Market Price (8/11/2026): $47.43

First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL)


Market Price (8/11/2026): $47.43

Key Takeaways

  • MISL has returned +11.0% YTD vs +13.7% for SPY; +23.9% over the past 12 months (SPY +22.3%). details →
  • Priced in gold, MISL has returned -9.0% over the past 3 years, vs +105.8% in dollars — its dollar gains have lagged gold. details →
  • Over the past month, MISL has seen net outflows of −$20M (−2.6% of assets). details →
  • MISL's portfolio trades at 34.5x forward earnings — a 305% premium to SPY (8.5x). details →
  • MISL's top 10 holdings represent 61% of the fund vs 38% for SPY — a more concentrated portfolio. details →
Last updated: 8/10/2026.

Price Chart

Asset Allocation with MISL

Risk Tolerance:
ConservativeModerateAggressive
Moderate — 55% equity / 25% bonds / 20% alternatives
10Y Return (ann.)
+8.1%
Volatility
8.0%
Sharpe
0.67
YTD
+7.5%
Modeled with monthly rebalancing to target weights; 10-year figures are annualized from monthly returns. Illustrative only — past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Tailored Asset Allocation
[1] Personalized 5 Level Risk Tolerance Assessment
[2] Asset Allocation for My Risk Tolerance
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[2] Tax-Efficient Strategies

Top 20 Holdings for MISL

Total Weights
Top 5: 39.6% | Top 10: 61.1% | Top 20: 87.3%

TickerHoldingETF WeightSales WeightEarnings WeightFwd P/SFwd P/EFwd Sales GrowthFwd Earnings Growth
Total98.34%100.00%100.00%3.034.5+10.1%+14.5%
Top 2087.32%83.45%89.59%3.235.4+10.5%+13.9%
RTXRTX9.08%9.68%10.02%3.029.1+7.4%+8.7%
GEGE Aerospace8.29%3.80%8.41%7.142.3+11.1%+12.8%
BABoeing8.04%14.17%4.59%1.797.0+14.8%
PLTRPalantir Technologies8.02%0.41%2.48%38.996.2+49.3%+40.0%
SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies6.17%0.54%12.8608.9+84.7%
LMTLockheed Martin4.60%8.82%9.00%1.718.8+5.7%+7.1%
HWMHowmet Aerospace4.31%1.19%3.07%10.749.3+13.2%+19.1%
GDGeneral Dynamics4.23%7.48%7.65%1.921.7+4.8%+8.9%
HEIHeico4.20%1.40%2.82%8.852.8+10.2%+13.2%
NOCNorthrop Grumman4.16%7.49%9.82%1.819.4+6.9%+4.0%
TDGTransDigm4.02%1.98%5.25%6.125.7+10.1%+17.3%
LHXL3Harris Technologies3.94%5.78%5.86%2.222.0+7.6%+15.0%
RKLBRocket Lab3.31%0.17%42.6+43.3%
CWCurtiss-Wright2.98%1.46%2.71%6.442.0+8.1%+9.8%
ASTSAST SpaceMobile2.55%0.05%40.4+330.7%
WWDWoodward2.39%1.63%2.69%4.532.7+8.9%+13.4%
FTAIFTAI Aviation2.35%1.15%2.28%4.321.8+59.6%+101.8%
TXTTextron1.65%5.63%4.31%1.012.4+3.8%+12.4%
LDOSLeidos1.62%5.62%5.48%0.910.4+4.6%+5.3%
HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries1.43%4.99%3.13%1.016.8+6.1%+11.6%
[1] Total and Top 20 rows are weighted aggregates across constituents.
[2] Forward P/S and P/E ratios use consensus sales and earnings for the 12 months ending 8/31/27. Individual constituent FY1 and FY2 consensus figures adjusted to align with 8/31/27.
[3] Forward Sales and Non-GAAP Earnings Growth are calculated as next fiscal year (FY2) consensus growth over current fiscal year (FY1) consensus. They are not derived from the forward P/S and P/E multiples shown.

Performance for MISL Top Holdings

TickerHoldingWeightMkt Price
8/10
1D Rtn1M RtnYTD Rtn1Y Rtn3Y Rtn5Y Rtn10Y Rtn
MISLFirst Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF100.00%47.490.6%6.6%11.0%23.9%105.8%  
RTXRTX9.08%224.120.5%14.4%23.1%47.0%175.0%182.3%342.5%
GEGE Aerospace8.29%366.70-0.9%2.1%19.4%34.0%307.5%463.4%171.0%
BABoeing8.04%232.79-0.7%4.7%7.2%1.6%-1.2%-2.8%90.1%
PLTRPalantir Technologies8.02%175.231.9%38.2%-1.4%-6.3%1,037.1%684.0% 
SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies6.17%138.744.2%-4.5%     
LMTLockheed Martin4.60%603.162.6%15.3%26.2%45.5%44.0%90.0%197.5%
HWMHowmet Aerospace4.31%283.710.6%4.8%38.6%57.3%478.6%772.0%1,172.1%
GDGeneral Dynamics4.23%395.971.0%5.6%19.2%28.3%85.1%119.1%224.7%
HEIHeico4.20%363.94-1.0%3.7%12.6%16.2%113.8%174.0%906.6%
NOCNorthrop Grumman4.16%577.891.1%7.1%2.1%1.0%40.9%71.2%210.9%
TDGTransDigm4.02%1,223.48-0.1%-5.3%-8.0%-5.9%63.9%135.9%591.5%
LHXL3Harris Technologies3.94%289.721.1%-0.4%-0.6%9.2%63.6%37.4%289.2%
RKLBRocket Lab3.31%80.04-3.4%-1.2%14.7%79.1%1,166.5%615.9% 
CWCurtiss-Wright2.98%694.350.4%-8.0%26.0%47.2%237.7%480.2%713.9%
ASTSAST SpaceMobile2.55%68.76-4.4%-6.2%-5.3%47.5%1,517.9%587.6% 
WWDWoodward2.39%356.11-1.9%-12.4%18.0%43.9%184.0%210.9%539.2%
FTAIFTAI Aviation2.35%215.00-0.6%-5.4%9.6%59.2%536.6%956.6%3,634.6%
TXTTextron1.65%89.20-0.3%-1.9%2.4%15.9%14.3%20.4%130.6%
LDOSLeidos1.62%139.101.1%30.0%-22.4%-20.4%47.4%53.9%343.8%
HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries1.43%330.812.0%15.6%-2.0%27.1%55.3%76.5%140.0%

Guidance Updates for MISL Top Holdings

 TickerCompanyEarnings DateGuidance MetricMidpoint Value% ChangeGuidance Change
HII_7302026HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries7/30/20262026 Shipbuilding Revenue10.30 Bil5.1%RaisedRaised Prior Guidance of 9.80 Bil for 2026
HWM_8062026HWMHowmet Aerospace8/6/2026Q3 2026 Revenue2.58 Bil7.3%Higher NewNew Guidance Higher than Prior Actual of 2.40 Bil for Q2 2026
PLTR_8032026PLTRPalantir Technologies8/3/20262026 Revenue8.15 Bil6.5%RaisedRaised Prior Guidance of 7.66 Bil for 2026
RKLB_8102026RKLBRocket Lab8/10/2026Q3 2026 Revenue257.50 Mil10.8%Higher NewNew Guidance Higher than Prior Actual of 232.50 Mil for Q2 2026

Return vs. Risk

Price Returns Compared

 202120222023202420252026Total [1]
Returns
MISL Return-8%15%20%41%10%133%
Peers Return15%-20%33%13%40%41%177%
S&P 500 Return27%-19%24%23%16%13%107%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
MISL Win Rate-100%58%58%83%50% 
Peers Win Rate58%45%62%58%67%72% 
S&P 500 Win Rate75%42%67%75%67%50% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
MISL Max Drawdown---10%-10%-16%-17% 
Peers Max Drawdown-20%-37%-19%-18%-26%-18% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-5%-25%-10%-8%-19%-9% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: SMH, SOXX, IBB, XBI, ITA.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 8/10/2026 (YTD)

Sharpe Ratios Compared

One measure of reward vs. risk is a Sharpe ratio. A higher ratio indicates better risk-adjusted returns. Most funds have Sharpe ratios < 1.0.

Ticker1Y3Y5Y
MISL0.340.910.91
Equity Top Results (3Y)   
IALT2.112.112.11
SPMO0.891.380.82
VLUE2.491.260.69
CORO1.331.251.25
CGDV1.351.230.94

Results as of 7312026.

MISL Dip Buy History


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Current Dip Buy Opportunities Across ETFs

ETFs currently down 5% or more from trailing 6M peaks.

TickerNameDip %Mkt PricePrice DatePeak PricePeak Date# Days
IEMGiShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF-7.5%79.56810202686.00622202649
EEMiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF-8.5%65.17810202671.21622202649
ASHRXtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF-6.3%34.96810202637.30622202649
EWYiShares MSCI South Korea ETF-25.6%163.128102026219.20621202650
EWZiShares MSCI Brazil ETF-15.7%35.19810202641.734142026118
FXIiShares China Large-Cap ETF-7.7%36.49810202639.532102026181
ILFiShares Latin America 40 ETF-9.4%34.52810202638.104142026118
KWEBKraneShares CSI China Internet ETF-15.2%29.12810202634.342092026182
MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF-11.0%307.328102026345.22622202649
SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF-8.0%148.708102026161.66622202649
URAGlobal X Uranium ETF-23.8%44.38810202658.26506202696
BOTZGlobal X Funds Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF-10.1%37.42810202641.63513202689
ROBOROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF-7.6%83.46810202690.34602202669
LITGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF-18.4%74.74810202691.62511202691
ICLNiShares Global Clean Energy ETF-23.9%18.08810202623.75602202669
ARKQARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF-11.1%127.898102026143.82528202674
ARKXARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF-8.8%34.41810202637.74528202674
NASATema Space Innovators ETF-39.4%25.39810202641.89527202675
XOVREntrepreneurShares Series Trust ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF-5.2%20.22810202621.34706202635
AGIXKraneShares Artificial Intelligence ETF-8.7%45.09810202649.40601202670
XLKState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF-6.0%186.328102026198.21602202669
XLCState Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF-6.1%111.838102026119.104192026113
XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF-5.1%84.95810202689.513012026162
XLUState Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF-9.0%43.13810202647.403012026162
SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF-14.9%569.418102026668.91622202649
SOXXiShares Semiconductor ETF-19.2%529.398102026655.01622202649
XOPState Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF-6.5%175.938102026188.183292026134
MISLFirst Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF-6.3%47.49810202650.663022026161
RINGiShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF-21.2%78.38810202699.423012026162
SOXQInvesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF-18.0%94.448102026115.11622202649
TLTiShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF-7.9%82.06810202689.153012026162
VGLTVanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF-6.8%52.68810202656.533012026162
SPTLState Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF-7.2%25.05810202626.993012026162
TLHiShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF-6.5%96.398102026103.083012026162
EDVVanguard World Funds Extended Duration ETF-11.6%59.57810202667.423012026162
SPLBState Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF-5.3%21.35810202622.552192026172
IGLBiShares 10+ Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF-5.0%47.83810202650.372172026174
PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF-5.7%17.83810202618.91512202690
DBCInvesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund-5.6%29.93810202631.69512202690
COMTiShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF-8.0%33.59810202636.53519202683
GSGiShares GSCI Commodity-5.8%30.01810202631.853182026145
BCIabrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF-5.5%24.49810202625.91512202690
GLDSPDR Gold Trust-17.8%402.548102026490.003022026161
IAUiShares Gold Trust-17.8%82.518102026100.383022026161
GLDMSPDR Gold MiniShares Trust-17.7%86.818102026105.543022026161
SGOLETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares-12.1%44.66810202650.813022026161
BARDirexion Daily Gold Bull 3X Shares-15.6%44.34810202652.533022026161
SLViShares Silver Trust-30.1%59.41810202684.993012026162
SIVRETFS Physical Silver Shares Trust ETF-6.6%83.39810202689.263012026162
PPLTETFS Physical Platinum Shares-25.9%15.91810202621.473012026162
CPERUnited States Copper Index Fund ETV-9.6%33.33810202636.883012026162
PALLETFS Physical Palladium Shares-22.8%25.11810202632.542242026167
USOUnited States Oil Fund LP-17.7%125.928102026152.96519202683
UNGUnited States Natural Gas Fund LP-22.2%10.14810202613.043122026151
BNOUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP ETV-7.1%55.85810202660.13504202698
IBITiShares Bitcoin Trust ETF-22.0%36.23810202646.47511202691
FBTCFidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund-22.0%55.65810202671.35511202691
ETHAiShares Ethereum Trust ETF-23.1%14.14810202618.384192026113

ETF Fund Flows

Largest fund inflows and outflows across ETFs, with the asset-allocation rotation they imply.

Net fund flows · as of 2026-08-07

Asset allocation rotation · Past month

  • Equity ETFs drew the largest net inflows (+$57.8B), followed by Bond (+$13.7B), with every major asset class in net inflows.
  • Within the mix, money rotated into US Large Cap Core (+$15.6B) and out of Thematic (−$3.2B).
  • Relative to fund size, BFLX drew the largest inflow (+55.7% of AUM) and FTXL the largest outflow (−49.7%).
Largest inflows
#TickerNameTypeNet flow% of AUM
1VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFEquity US Large Cap Core+$11.9B+1.2%
2QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1Equity US Nasdaq Growth+$11.24B+2.4%
3SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETFEquity US Large Cap Core+$10.94B+1.4%
4EWYiShares MSCI South Korea ETFEquity Emerging Markets+$6.01B+25.7%
5SPYMState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETFEquity US Large Cap Core+$5.46B+3.4%
6DRAMRoundhill Memory ETFOther+$3.87B+16.2%
7SGOViShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETFCash+$3.85B+3.9%
8TLTiShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETFBond Long Treasury+$3.32B+7.8%
9QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFEquity US Nasdaq Growth+$3.26B+3.3%
10SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFEquity Dividend Income+$3.15B+3.1%
Largest outflows
#TickerNameTypeNet flow% of AUM
1IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETFEquity US Large Cap Core-$12.44B-1.4%
2IEFiShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETFBond Intermediate Treasury-$3.67B-7.8%
3IWMiShares Russell 2000 ETFEquity US Small Cap Core-$2.72B-3.4%
4LQDiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETFBond Intermediate Corporate-$2.48B-7.4%
5ARKKARK Innovation ETFEquity Thematic-$2.34B-39.4%
6IQMMProShares - GENIUS Money Market ETFOther-$2.22B-12.4%
7IWFiShares Russell 1000 Growth ETFEquity US Large Growth-$1.06B-0.9%
8IWDiShares Russell 1000 Value ETFEquity US Large Value-$1.05B-1.3%
9VOVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETFEquity US Mid Cap Core-$1.01B-0.9%
10IWRiShares Russell Mid-Cap ETFEquity US Mid Cap Core-$944M-1.7%

Largest ETF fund flows across ~2598 funds (min AUM $100M). Net creations/redemptions; leveraged & inverse ETFs excluded. A ⚠ marks a day excluded as a suspected data error.

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About MISL

0Holdings Count: 49
Expense Ratio: 0.6%
Inception Date: 2022-10-25
First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF
The First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF aims to mirror the financial performance, specifically the capital appreciation and income generation, of the Indxx US Aerospace & Defense Index, before factoring in its operational costs. Typically, under ordinary market circumstances, the Fund allocates a minimum of 80% of its net assets, including any capital acquired through borrowing, to the equity securities composing that benchmark index.
Asset Class: Sector Equity | ETF Website

Recent Active Movers

Peer Comparisons

Peers to compare with:

Profile

MISLSMHSOXXIBBXBIITAMedian
NameFirst Trus.VanEck Sem.iShares Se.iShares Bi.State Stre.iShares U.. 
Asset ClassEquityEquityEquityEquityEquityEquity-
AUM ($ Bil)0.771.644.49.810.215.112.6
Expense Ratio0.60%0.35%0.33%0.44%0.35%0.37%0.36%
10-D Avg Volume (Mil)0.4210.829.761.558.890.805.22
Latest Day Volume (Mil)0.155.869.481.148.64-5.86
Holdings Count4926302471554949
Inception Date10/25/202212/20/20117/10/20012/5/20011/31/20065/1/2006-

Fundamentals

MISLSMHSOXXIBBXBIITAMedian
NameFirst Trus.VanEck Sem.iShares Se.iShares Bi.State Stre.iShares U.. 
Net Asset Value44.32582.90543.49197.66154.57250.70-
Premium/Discount7.2%-2.3%-2.6%1.2%2.2%0.2%0.7%
Distribution Yield0.3%0.2%0.3%0.2%0.4%0.0%0.2%
Sales Yield29.5%7.2%7.5%12.4%8.5%28.2%10.4%
Earnings Yield2.4%2.3%2.1%1.9%1.0%2.5%2.2%

Valuation

MISLSMHSOXXIBBXBIITAMedian
NameFirst Trus.VanEck Sem.iShares Se.iShares Bi.State Stre.iShares U.. 
P/S (TTM)3.4x13.9x13.3x8.1x11.8x3.5x9.9x
P/E (TTM)42.4x44.0x48.6x53.0x103.1x40.3x46.3x
P/FCF (TTM)55.7x50.2x55.2x159.5x-42.3x55.2x
Forward P/E34.5x---60.9x33.7x34.5x
Forward P/S3.0x---9.3x3.2x3.2x

Risk

MISLSMHSOXXIBBXBIITAMedian
NameFirst Trus.VanEck Sem.iShares Se.iShares Bi.State Stre.iShares U.. 
Volatility (1Y)25.2%38.8%44.9%20.5%27.1%22.7%26.2%
Volatility (3Y)20.7%36.8%39.4%20.4%27.6%19.9%24.1%
Volatility (5Y)19.8%36.5%38.3%22.1%32.3%20.3%27.2%
Beta (1Y)1.182.372.600.781.051.021.11
Beta (3Y)0.861.972.050.811.020.850.94
Beta (5Y)0.811.761.810.861.160.811.01
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.971.931.992.172.421.201.96
Sharpe Ratio (3Y)1.271.381.170.860.951.441.22
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)1.241.000.860.290.310.970.92
Max Drawdown (1Y)-17.1%-24.6%-29.0%-9.6%-10.5%-15.8%-16.5%
Max Drawdown (3Y)-17.9%-35.7%-41.4%-24.9%-33.0%-15.8%-28.9%
Max Drawdown (5Y)-17.9%-45.3%-45.8%-39.8%-54.0%-18.7%-42.6%

Returns

MISLSMHSOXXIBBXBIITAMedian
NameFirst Trus.VanEck Sem.iShares Se.iShares Bi.State Stre.iShares U.. 
1M Return6.6%-6.8%-8.9%4.1%-0.6%5.0%1.8%
3M Return5.7%0.5%1.7%17.7%17.3%12.4%9.0%
6M Return-2.6%41.8%52.0%14.4%25.9%7.4%20.2%
YTD Return11.0%58.1%75.9%18.6%29.6%17.0%24.1%
1Y Return23.8%96.2%120.7%52.8%85.9%28.1%69.3%
2Y Return66.8%169.0%163.6%43.5%69.8%88.1%78.9%
3Y Return106.2%274.3%215.2%58.9%95.5%123.0%114.6%

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date7152026
Short Interest: Shares Quantity0.0 Mil
Short Interest: % Change Since 6302026422.4%
Average Daily Volume0.1 Mil
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1