PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF)
| Assets | $139.96M |
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% |
| PE Ratio | 28.69 |
| Shares Out | 2.94M |
| Dividend (ttm) | $2.22 |
| Dividend Yield | 4.30% |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Dec 30, 2025 |
| Payout Frequency | n/a |
| Payout Ratio | 132.28% |
| Volume | 98,621 |
| Open | 52.21 |
| Previous Close | 49.70 |
| Day's Range | 51.16 - 52.71 |
| 52-Week Low | 37.80 |
| 52-Week High | 67.41 |
| Beta | n/a |
| Holdings | 21 |
| Inception Date | Feb 5, 2025 |
About KDEF
Fund Home PageThe PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Korea Defense Industry index. The fund is passively managed to track an index which provides concentrated exposure to Koreas leading defense companies. The fund uses an AI program to identify, score and select companies for industry relevance KDEF was launched on Feb 5, 2025 and is issued by PLUS.
Top 10 Holdings
70.56% of assets| Name | Symbol | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Rotem Company | 064350 | 18.45% |
| Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. | 012450 | 17.86% |
| LIG Defense&Aerospace Co., Ltd. | 079550 | 5.88% |
| HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. | 329180 | 4.65% |
| Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. | 047810 | 3.98% |
| Samhyun Co., Ltd. | 437730 | 3.97% |
| Poongsan Corporation | 103140 | 3.97% |
| Snt Dynamics Co.,Ltd. | 003570 | 3.94% |
| FIRSTEC Co., Ltd | 010820 | 3.94% |
| Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd. | 272210 | 3.92% |
Performance
KDEF had a total return of 32.69% in the past year, including dividends. Since the fund's inception, the average annual return has been 99.19%.
News
Korean Stocks Under Pressure, Jensen Huang in Seoul
South Korean stocks plunged as investors pulled back from artificial intelligence bets. Meanwhile, a tech-centered camaraderie was on display last week with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's night out in Seou...
One quadrillion is the number used to describe the wealth effect of South Korea's stock-market miracle
Having more than doubled already this year, Korea's stock market returns have driven a wealth effect that under an optimistic scenario could generate a wealth effect among the populace of KRW 43 trill...
The hottest stock market in the world has doubled this year. Now Goldman Sachs sees another 40% gain from here.
Earnings are the principal driver behind the breathtaking rallies achieved by Korean and Taiwanese benchmark indices in 2026, and Goldman Sachs thinks the market is still underestimating the longevity...
South Korea Inflation Accelerated to 26-Month High in May
The benchmark consumer-price index rose 3.1% from a year earlier in May, reflecting the effects of higher oil prices amid Middle East tensions and the won's weakness against the U.S. dollar.
Korean chip stocks will win no matter who survives the AI giants' 'deathmatch': KB Financial Group
Peter Kim, global investment strategist at KB Financial Group, says from a valuations and fundamentals perspective, we are "not even halfway through" the rally in South Korea's semiconductor and memor...
Bank of Korea Holds Rates Steady, Raises Inflation and Growth Forecasts
South Korea's central bank held rates steady at its first meeting under Gov. Shin Hyun-song, but kept the door open to policy tightening as it forecast higher growth and inflation.
Debt-fueled bets turbocharge South Korean stock-market returns as Kospi jumps 8%
News that Samsung management had managed to negotiate successfully with labor unions prompted a steepling rally in SOuth Korean stocks, augmented by the bullish comments from Nvidia's CEO about the AI...
Goldman Sachs says AI and energy resilience are creating a North-South divide in Asian markets
Investors are focusing on AI developments in North Asia. China is coming out of more than three years of deflation measured by the producer price index.
Korean Stocks Are Up 89%. Hedge Funders Suggest How to Play It.
South Korea is often-overlooked but its stock market is the hottest in the world this year. The boom is led by chip powerhouses SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.