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 July 23, 2026

Defiance ETFs

ETFs88

Total AUM$10.6B

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

ETFs304

Total AUM$281B

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

First Trust operates a broad multi-strategy ETF platform with 50 funds spanning allocation, income, alternatives, and thematic investing. The issuer focuses heavily on specialized income strategies, including dividend funds, covered call strategies (Buffer series), and sector-specific income plays, alongside factor-based and alternative investments. Notable tickers like FDN (tech), FAN (clean energy), and the Buffer series (BUFD, BUFQ, BUFR) reflect the issuer's emphasis on income generation and downside protection strategies across diverse market segments.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on GRID.

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Side-by-side snapshot

	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	$18.78 as of July 23, 2026	$179.80 as of July 23, 2026
Distribution yield	—	1.68%
Distribution Safety Score™	—	77
Expense ratio	0.76%	0.57%
AUM	$497,658	$11.4B
Distribution frequency	—	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	—	1.41
Last dividend	—	$0.7560
Ex-dividend date	—	06/25/2026

— Distribution 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 lineChoose AIHY if you want broad equity exposure. Choose GRID if you want higher current income (1.68% while AIHY makes no distribution).

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

Symbol	YTD	Since Jul 2026
AIHY	-5.67%	-5.67%
GRID	15.92%	-0.19%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 23, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jul 2026” measures every fund from July 21, 2026 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window.

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 1.68% distribution yield. AIHY has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

GRID is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.57% compared to 0.76%.

GRID has $11.4B in assets vs $497,658 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 $14.00/month, at current distribution rates.

AIHY yield—

GRID yield1.68%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, AIHY would cost approximately $760 in fees vs $570 for GRID (simplified, not compounded). The $190.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

AIHY ER0.76%

GRID ER0.57%

Strategy & risk

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

AIHY beta—

GRID beta1.41

Fund details

AIHY is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 07/20/2026) with $497,658 in assets. GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.4B in assets.

AIHY AUM$497,658

GRID AUM$11.4B

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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, 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 0.76% while GRID charges 0.57%. 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 $14.00 per month ($168.00 annually).

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