ETF Comparison

AIHY vs GRID: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

AIHY has outpaced GRID over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 8.74% total return against -1.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	Since Jul 2026
AIHY	8.74%
GRID	-1.05%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jul 2026” measures every fund from July 21, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	AIHY	GRID
Full name	Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund
Issuer	Defiance ETFs	First Trust
Last Close	$21.65 as of September 18, 2026	$178.25 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	—	0.80%
Distribution Safety Score™	—	78
Safety-Adjusted Yield	—	0.62%
Expense ratio	0.37%	0.56%
AUM	$5.26M	$11.6B
Distribution frequency	Annual	Quarterly
Underlying index	—	Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index
Objective	Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in the companies building and operating the compute backbone of artificial intelligence — spanning AI compute infrastructure, cloud platforms, data centers, semiconductors, and AI software. Holdings must derive at least 50% of revenues, assets, or spending from AI and demonstrate revenue growing faster than operating expenses.	Seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	07/20/2026	11/16/2009
Beta	—	1.44
Last dividend	—	$0.756
Ex-dividend date	—	06/25/2026

— Distribution rate, Safety-Adjusted Yield, last dividend, and ex-dividend date are not yet available because AIHY launched July 2026; these fields will populate after the first distribution.

Bottom lineWe won't call this one: AIHY launched July 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional. What is already clear from the numbers above: the two do not cost the same — AIHY charges 0.37% against 0.56% for GRID, and on funds tracking the same thing that gap compounds every year you hold.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Defiance ETFs

ETFs86

Total AUM$10.8B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Defiance ETFs is known for offering specialized and thematic investment strategies that cater to niche market segments and alternative income approaches. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused funds, leveraged strategies, combinations of leverage with income generation, and thematic products tied to emerging trends and sectors. Defiance emphasizes non-traditional and differentiated strategies rather than broad-based index exposure, appealing to investors seeking targeted exposure beyond conventional ETF offerings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on AIHY.

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First Trust

ETFs319

Total AUM$286B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

First Trust is known for offering a diverse lineup of actively and passively managed ETFs across multiple investment styles and asset classes. Their fund families span income-focused strategies including dividend and covered call approaches, as well as thematic, factor-based, alternatives, and sector-specific offerings that appeal to different investor objectives. The issuer provides breadth across allocation, bond, buffer, commodities, and municipal fund categories, making them a comprehensive provider serving various portfolio construction and income-generation needs.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on GRID.

See all First Trust ETFs

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Quick verdict

AIHY (Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF) and GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

GRID currently shows a 0.80% distribution yield. AIHY has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

AIHY is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.37% compared to 0.56%.

GRID has $11.6B in assets vs $5.26M for AIHY, but AIHY only launched July 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, AIHY has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while GRID would produce $6.67/month, at current distribution rates.

AIHY yield—

GRID yield0.80%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, AIHY would cost approximately $370 in fees vs $560 for GRID (simplified, not compounded). The $190.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

AIHY ER0.37%

GRID ER0.56%

Strategy & risk

AIHY is an ETF built around technology exposure, while GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach.

AIHY beta—

GRID beta1.44

Fund details

AIHY is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 07/20/2026) with $5.26M in assets. GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.6B in assets.

AIHY AUM$5.26M

GRID AUM$11.6B

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Frequently asked questions

Which of AIHY or GRID pays more dividend income?

GRID currently reports a distribution yield, while AIHY has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between AIHY and GRID?

AIHY (Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF) is an ETF built around technology exposure, while GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach. They are issued by Defiance ETFs and First Trust respectively.

Can I hold both AIHY and GRID?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, AIHY or GRID?

AIHY has an expense ratio of 0.37% while GRID charges 0.56%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in AIHY vs GRID generate?

At current rates, AIHY has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in GRID would produce about $6.67 per month ($80.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, AIHY or GRID?

AIHY has outpaced GRID over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 8.74% total return against -1.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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AIHY vs GRID — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

AIHY and GRID are both thematic equity ETFs, but they target fundamentally different infrastructure narratives. AIHY focuses narrowly on companies deriving at least 50% of revenues from artificial intelligence compute infrastructure, cloud platforms, semiconductors, and AI software—betting on the hardware and services layer powering the AI boom. GRID tracks a broad index of companies in smart grid infrastructure, electrification, and utility modernization—a longer-established theme spanning utilities, industrials, and grid-enabling equipment manufacturers.

How they differ

The biggest difference is theme scope and maturity: AIHY is a nascent, narrowly focused play on AI infrastructure with $5.26M in assets and an inception date of 07/20/2026, while GRID is an established index fund tracking smart grid infrastructure with $11.6B in assets since 11/16/2009.

Who each is best for

AIHY: Fits investors with high conviction that AI infrastructure companies will drive long-term returns and a tolerance for concentrated, early-stage thematic exposure with limited trading liquidity and no established dividend income.

GRID: Fits investors seeking broad exposure to electrification and grid modernization infrastructure through an established index vehicle with deeper liquidity, lower concentration risk, and a modest quarterly dividend component. Concentrated thematic funds also risk overweighting narrowly defined sub-sectors that fall out of favor.

Definitional drift (AIHY): The 50% AI-revenue threshold is a screening rule, not a market-based mechanism. As AI normalizes and companies reclassify their revenue sources, the fund's holdings may shift unexpectedly or miss companies that become strategically central to AI infrastructure.

Sector rotation risk (GRID): Smart grid and electrification infrastructure are capital-intensive and policy-dependent. Regulatory changes, interest-rate sensitivity on utility capex, and energy-market cycles can drive sharp drawdowns across the entire index.

Index composition and style drift (GRID): The Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index may concentrate in specific sub-themes (e.g., smart meters, EV charging, transmission equipment). Investors should verify that the index components align with their own view of "grid modernization."

AI valuation and sentiment risk (AIHY): AI valuations remain elevated and sentiment-driven. If compute-infrastructure spending disappoints or capital shifts to different technologies, the fund's concentrated holdings may face sustained pressure. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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