Easy Comps Should Help Aerospace ETFs By Don Dion About this article: ETF investors holding or interested in holding the PowerShares Aerospace and Defense Portfolio and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Aerospace and Defense Index Fund should pay close attention to this week's earnings action. Firms that are major holdings in both instruments will be reporting, and their results will dominate the ETFs' performance. On Wednesday, United Technologies and Boeing will report fourth-quarter earnings. These companies are two of the top three holdings listed in PPA, accounting for nearly 14% of the fund. In ITA, the two firms rank No. 1 and 2, making up almost 16% of the fund. Analysts' forecasts for both firms are already looking strong, thanks to easy year-over-year comparisons. Throughout the global economic crisis, aerospace firms suffered as orders for planes were cut back. However, with the economic climate looking stronger, passengers are once again taking to the sky, boosting the prospects... To read the rest of this article and sign up for a FREE trial click here...

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