Defence ETF

Invest in the Global Defence Industry

Marketing Communication

Amid global uncertainty, the topic of security and defence returned to the financial investors’ minds. VanEck‘s Defence ETF provides investors with an opportunity to invest in the leaders of defence technologies, large-scale cybersecurity and providers of relevant services.

VanEck Defense UCITS ETF

Exposure to companies at the forefront of global defence industry
Diversified access to the market leaders
A transparent, convenient investment via our Defence ETF

ETF Details

Basis-Ticker: DFNS
ISIN: IE000YYE6WK5

TER: 0.55%
AUM: $1.6 B (as of 04-12-2024)
SFDR Classification: Article 6

Lower risk

Typically lower reward

Higher risk

Typically higher reward

Risk: Investors in a Defence ETF may lose money up to the total loss of their investment due to the Main Risk Factors such as Industry or Sector Concentration Risk and Liquidity Risks as described in the KIID and prospectus.

Changing Tides

Traditionally, defence investments have been a sensitive topic in the Developed World. The share of the EU Defence Spending dipped below 2% after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR and has not recovered since. However, due to the recent geopolitical conflicts and global security worries, the paradigm started shifting. The Western European governments, perennial violators of NATO’s 2% military expenditure rules, announced serious investments into defensive infrastructure and stockpiles as well as the intent to stick to the 2% rule going forward. The ongoing war in Ukraine showed deficiencies in countries lack of ammunitions capacities and put a spotlight on a chronic underinvestment in maintenance.

Germany
Netherlands
Sweden

In May 2022, German government passed a bill allocating €100bn to a special fund for armaments in a so-called „Zeitenwende“ - a change of a long-standing defensive policy. The government also announced its intention to increase its yearly defence by €10bn in 2023.

(West) Germany Defence Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

The government of the Netherlands has approved an additional €5bn in defence investments in a structureal policy shift. This will bring a 40% increase to the defence budget in 2023.

Netherlands Defence Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

Traditionally neutral Sweden faced a drastic public opinion shift, which encouraged the country to pursue a NATO membership. The incoming government announced their plans to ramp up the defence investments to reach the 2% target by 2026.

Sweden Defence Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

A History of Innovation

Defence companies often invest heavily in research and development to create cutting-edge technology and products. This focus on innovation can lead to advancements that spill over to areas beyond just military use.

Jet Engines
GPS
Internet
Microwave Ovens

Jet engines were developed by the military in the 1940s for the jet fighters and have since been adapted for use in commercial aircraft, which have revolutionized air travel.

Global Positioning System, which is now commonly used in mobile devices for navigation, was originally developed by the US military for navigation and targeting purposes.

ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet was developed by the US Department of Defence in the 1960s as a way to facilitate communication and information sharing between military installations.

Internet hosts count (IPv4) – log scale

Source: Internet Systems Consortium.

In 1937 a group of UK physicists built a first multi-cavity magnetron, an instrument capable of producting short waves, for the British and American military radar installations in World War II. In 1940, as the need in more precise measurments arose, English scientists invented a valve that for the first time could produce pulses of microwave radio energy at a wavelength of 10 cm – so-called microvawes. In 1945, the heating effect of a high-power microwave beam was accidentally discovered by Percy Spencer, an American engineer employed by Raytheon at the time. Raytheon later licensed its patents for the first home-use microwave oven produced in 1955.

Comprehensive Methodology of a Defence ETF

VanEck‘s Defence ETF adopts a robust approach to select and screen the companies included in the investment strategy, based on its long-standing experience in ETF construction. Only “pure play” companies (i.e., companies with at least 50% revenues in defence) are eligible to enter the Fund.

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Key Documents and Links

Fact sheet

KIID

Prospectus

Fund page

Main Risk Factors of a Defence ETF

Industry or Sector Concentration Risk
Equity Market Risk
Liquidity Risks

The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in one or more particular sectors or industries. The Fund may be subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on the relevant sectors or industries will negatively impact the Fund's performance to a greater extent than if the Fund’s assets were invested in a wider variety of sectors or industries.

The prices of the securities in the Fund are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities market, including general economic conditions and sudden and unpredictable drops in value. An investment in the Fund may lose money.

Exists when a particular financial instrument is difficult to purchase or sell. If the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous or reasonable price, or at all.

Please contact us for more information:

Phone: +41 (0)44 562 40 65
Email: EMEAinfo@vaneck.com