DFND vs ARMR: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
ARMR comes out ahead on 4 of 7 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $6,500 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
DFND vs ARMR side by side
| DFND leads on 3, ARMR on 4 | DFNDVanEck Global Defence ETF | ARMRBetashares Global Defence ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | MarketVector Global Defence Industry (AUD) Index | See the PDS |
| Fund manager | VanEck | Betashares |
| Asset class | International shares | International shares |
| Listed | Sep 2024 | Oct 2024 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.65% | 0.55%✓ |
| AUMfund size | $242m✓ | $217m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $0.0m✓ | −$1.1m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.18% | 0.12%✓ |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −5.2%✓ | −5.8% |
| 1 year | −15.4% | −11.8%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | – | – |
| 5 years p.a. | – | – |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $8,458 | $8,815✓ |
| 5 years ago | – | – |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
DFND vs ARMR price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into DFND 1 year ago is worth $8,458 today, against $8,815 in ARMR. That is $357 more in ARMR.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
ARMR's lower fee leaves about $6,500 more in your pocket over 20 years.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
DFND and ARMR overlap
40 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.
| Biggest shared holdings | % of DFND | % of ARMR |
|---|---|---|
| 8.77% | 8.46% | |
| 8.17% | 7.97% | |
| 6.36% | 2.32% | |
| 7.25% | 2.16% | |
| 5.89% | 2.12% | |
| 4.14% | 1.63% | |
| 3.90% | 1.60% | |
| 5.05% | 1.54% | |
| 4.84% | 1.45% | |
| 3.23% | 1.35% | |
| 2.31% | 1.13% | |
| 2.03% | 0.96% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Get the full DFND vs ARMR report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, DFND or ARMR?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers DFND wins on 3 measures and ARMR on 4. ARMR is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.55% vs 0.65%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $6,500. DFND is the larger fund at $242m vs $217m. ARMR has the better 1-year return: −11.8% vs −15.4%.
Which is cheaper, DFND or ARMR?
DFND charges 0.65% a year and ARMR charges 0.55% a year.
Can I hold both DFND and ARMR?
You can, but check how much they overlap. DFND is a international shares fund and ARMR is a international shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.