VettaFi has experienced strong growth as a differentiated index provider in 2026. This momentum continues with today’s acquisition of The SPADE® Defense Index. The deal adds a popular, high-conviction thematic sector strategy to a global platform. More than $260 billion in index-based assets is tied to VettaFi.
Brian Coco, chief product officer at VettaFi, highlighted the strategic rationale behind the deal: “The acquisition of The SPADE® Defense Index aligns with our mission to offer asset managers and investors specialized, institutional-grade exposure to critical, long-term trends. Defense and security capabilities remain top-of-mind globally, and integrating this benchmark strengthens our expansive indexing platform.”
Key Takeaways
- VettaFi acquired the index behind the Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA), an $8 billion ETF. Assets tied to VettaFi’s indexing business exceed $260 billion.
- Demand for targeted industry ETFs has increased in 2026 as defense modernization budgets climb.
- PPA owns 5% or more exposure to Boeing Company, GE Aerospace and RTX Corporation.
With the addition of the SPADE® index, assets tied to VettaFi’s global aerospace & defense franchise expanded to over $11 billion. This reinforces a key pillar of VettaFi’s specialized index suite and research insights.
Inside PPA: Scale, Holdings & Flow Momentum
The acquired benchmark serves as the underlying index for the Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). The ETF provides focused exposure to U.S-listed leaders across defense, aerospace, national security, and space operations.
PPA has seen significant demand as modern defense priorities accelerate. As of late September, strong investors have added approximately $700 million to the index ETF in 2026. This pushed the fund’s total assets up to $8 billion.
