Illumina, Inc. vs iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF — how do they compare? Illumina, Inc. trades at $226.76 (market cap $33.57B), while iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF trades at $214.11 (market cap $12.73B). The key difference: Illumina, Inc. is far larger — about 2.6× iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF's market cap, and Illumina, Inc. is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Illumina, Inc. for 86 Days and iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF for 0 Days on average.
| ILMN | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.57B | $12.73B |
Volume | 3,125,907 | 1,183,777 |
Sector | Health | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $227.69 | $253.22 |
52-Week Low | $91.00 | $198.23 |
Typical Hold Time | 86 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $34.92B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Illumina (ILMN) trades at $223.82, up 8.41% over 24 hours, reflecting strong momentum. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with moving averages supporting upside, while oscillators remain neutral. Fundamentally, the company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.31 exceeding the $1.23 estimate. Revenue for 2025 was $4.34 billion, with a net income margin of 19.57%, marking a significant turnaround from prior years. Recent news highlights S&P 500 inclusion effective September 21, 2026, a positive catalyst for institutional interest.
The outlook for ILMN is positive, driven by earnings momentum, S&P 500 inclusion, and analyst upgrades. Investment opportunities include potential upside to the consensus price target of $208.14 and strong profitability metrics like a 32.34% ROE. Key risks involve valuation concerns with a P/E of 38.85, competitive pressures in genomics, and debt levels, with a debt-to-asset ratio of 29.93% in 2025. Investors should weigh growth prospects against high expectations and market volatility.
ITA, the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF, trades at $214.00, down 2.29% amid a bearish technical signal from moving averages but oversold RSI readings. Recent news highlights strong sector tailwinds from U.S.-Iran tensions and Pentagon efforts to boost missile production, supporting demand for defense equities. The ETF offers diversified exposure to major contractors like Lockheed Martin and RTX, though key valuation ratios are unavailable in the provided data.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic given geopolitical catalysts and robust backlogs, but risks include reliance on government spending and production bottlenecks. Analyst sentiment is positive, with Seeking Alpha rating ITA a strong buy on August 27, 2026, citing record orders and raised guidance from top holdings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Illumina provides tools and services to analyze genetic material with life science and clinical lab applications. The company generates over 90% of its revenue from sequencing instruments, consumables, and services. Illumina's high-throughput technology enables whole genome sequencing in humans and other large organisms. Its lower throughput tools enable applications that require smaller data outputs, such as viral and cancer tumor screening. Illumina also sells microarrays (less than 10% of sales) that enable lower-cost, focused genetic screening with primarily consumer and agricultural applications.
Read more on ILMN →iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF seeks to track U.S. companies in the aerospace and defense sector. Its holdings include manufacturers of commercial and military aircraft, defense systems, and related equipment.
Read more on ITA →