# WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF): ETF Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: WisdomTree · Asset class: International Equity - Strategy: Thematic · Inception: 2025-07-17 The WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) utilizes a passive management approach, aiming to invest in companies operating within the European defense industry. Instead of holding every single constituent, the fund employs a representative sampling methodology to closely mirror the risk and return characteristics of its underlying index. For a company to be eligible for inclusion, it must be listed in a European country, satisfy specific minimum requirements for size and liquidity, and generate at least 10% of its total revenue from defense-related activities. Eligible securities are then cl... ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $28.34 | | Expense Ratio | 0.45% | | Assets Under Management | $82.4M | | NAV | $28.65 | | Holdings Count | 0 | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | 0.07% | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | $0.02 /share | | Distribution Frequency | Irregular | | 52-Week Range | $26.25 – $34.74 | | Beta | 0.50 | ## Latest Distribution - Amount: $0.0210 /share - Ex-date: 2025-12-26 - Pay date: 2025-12-30 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does WDEF invest in? The WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) utilizes a passive management approach, aiming to invest in companies operating within the European defense industry. Instead of holding every single constituent, the fund employs a representative sampling methodology to closely mirror the risk and return characteristics of its underlying index. For a company to be eligible for inclusion, it must be listed in a European country, satisfy specific minimum requirements for size and liquidity, and generate at least 10% of its total revenue from defense-related activities. Eligible securities are then classified into three distinct categories based on their percentage of defense revenue: Category 1 represents 12-25% exposure, Category 2 covers 25-50%, and Category 3 includes those with over 50%. The index imposes individual concentration limits, setting a maximum of 12.5% for companies in the highest exposure Category 3 and 4.5% for those in Categories 1 and 2. Portfolio holdings are predominantly weighted by their free-float market capitalization, with a further adjustment based on their specific level of defense revenue exposure. The underlying index is subject to rebalancing twice per year, specifically in March and September. ### What is the expense ratio of WDEF? WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) charges an expense ratio of 0.45%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### How big is WDEF? WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) manages $82.4M in total assets. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation. ### Is WDEF actively managed or an index fund? WDEF's management style is described in the fund's prospectus. See the description on the Summary tab for the published strategy. ### When was WDEF launched? WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) launched in July 2025 and is managed by WisdomTree. ### How has WDEF performed? WDEF's total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon. ### Does WDEF pay a dividend? WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund (WDEF) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is 0.07%. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab. ### How often does WDEF pay dividends? WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund pays dividends Irregular. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page. ### What is WDEF's dividend yield? WDEF's trailing-twelve-month yield is 0.07%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### When is WDEF's next ex-dividend date? The most recently announced ex-dividend date for WDEF was 2025-12-26. The next ex-date typically follows Irregular; once announced it appears at the top of the dividend history table on this page. ### How much will WDEF's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.45% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees. ### How does WDEF charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from WDEF's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price. ### Why does WDEF cost more than a fund like VOO? WDEF's strategy (current expense ratio 0.45%) is different from a broad-market index tracker like VOO, so its fee belongs to a different cohort. The Cost Verdict card above shows you where WDEF sits within its own category, which is the comparison that actually matters. ### Are there cheaper alternatives to WDEF? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists ETFs following the same investment strategy as WDEF (0.45%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want. ## More on Dividend Data - Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/wdef/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.