Q – Last week you advised investing in the Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE Arca: SHLD). Is buying the Canadian version (TSX: SHLD) basically the same thing? – Jim B.
A – Not exactly. For starters, the US version has been around a little longer. It was launched in September 2023 whereas the Canadian fund was started in April 2025. In the short term, that means we can see a one-year return for the US entry which allows for some comparison with similar funds. The Canadian ETF can’t report returns until it reaches its first anniversary. What’s more interesting is the difference between the portfolios. You’d expect they would be the same, but not so. The most significant difference is that the Canadian version has a much larger position in South Korea: 11.9% vs. 5.9% for the US fund. We’ll have to see if that discrepancy disappears over time. – G.P.