ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF and VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF 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 NLR over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 8.74% total return against -1.27%. 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%
NLR	-1.27%

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	NLR
Full name	Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF	VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF
Issuer	Defiance ETFs	VanEck
Last Close	$21.65 as of September 18, 2026	$107.69 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	—	2.94%
Distribution Safety Score™	—	96
Safety-Adjusted Yield	—	2.82%
Expense ratio	0.37%	0.52%
AUM	$5.26M	$3.73B
Distribution frequency	Annual	Annual
Underlying index	—	MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy 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 to replicate the price and yield performance of the MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	07/20/2026	08/13/2007
Beta	—	1.25
Last dividend	—	$3.166
Ex-dividend date	—	12/22/2025

— 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.

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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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VanEck

ETFs85

Total AUM$163B

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

VanEck is known for offering specialized and thematic ETFs across diverse asset classes, including commodities, digital assets, and sector-specific investments. The firm's 22-fund lineup spans income-generating options, covered call strategies, and growth-focused equity funds, with popular tickers including GDX (gold miners), SMH (semiconductors), MOAT (competitive advantage stocks), and HODL (bitcoin). VanEck distinguishes itself through niche exposure areas such as digital assets, commodities, and thematic investing strategies, complemented by traditional bond and municipal bond offerings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on NLR.

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Quick verdict

AIHY (Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF) and NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) are both annual-pay ETFs, but they take different approaches.

NLR currently shows a 2.94% 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 0.52%.

NLR has $3.73B 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 NLR would produce $24.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay annual distributions.

AIHY yield—

NLR yield2.94%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, AIHY would cost approximately $370 in fees vs $520 for NLR (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

AIHY ER0.37%

NLR ER0.52%

Strategy & risk

AIHY is an ETF built around technology exposure, while NLR tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index with a nuclear approach.

AIHY beta—

NLR beta1.25

Fund details

AIHY is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 07/20/2026) with $5.26M in assets. NLR is managed by VanEck (launched 08/13/2007) with $3.73B in assets.

AIHY AUM$5.26M

NLR AUM$3.73B

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Frequently asked questions

Which of AIHY or NLR pays more dividend income?

NLR 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 NLR?

AIHY (Defiance AI Hyperscale Leaders ETF) is an ETF built around technology exposure, while NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index with a nuclear approach. They are issued by Defiance ETFs and VanEck respectively.

Can I hold both AIHY and NLR?

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 NLR?

AIHY has an expense ratio of 0.37% while NLR charges 0.52%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, AIHY has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in NLR would produce about $24.50 per month ($294.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, AIHY or NLR?

AIHY has outpaced NLR over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 8.74% total return against -1.27%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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AIHY vs NLR — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

AIHY and NLR are thematic equity ETFs tracking opposing cycles of energy and technology investment. AIHY targets companies deriving at least 50% of revenues from AI infrastructure—compute, semiconductors, data centers, and cloud platforms—while NLR tracks uranium and nuclear energy producers via the MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index. The funds differ fundamentally in sector focus, maturity, and capital structure: AIHY is newly launched and focused on AI enablers, while NLR is an established 19 years-year-old fund in the nuclear energy space.

How they differ

The biggest difference is strategy and underlying exposure. AIHY invests in companies building the computational infrastructure that powers AI systems—semiconductors, data centers, GPU makers, and cloud-compute platforms—while NLR targets uranium miners, nuclear utilities, and related nuclear-fuel-cycle companies. AIHY charges 0.37% in fees against $5.26M in assets; NLR charges 0.52% and holds $3.73B, a far larger base that reflects its 19 years-year operational history versus AIHY's recent launch on 07/20/2026. NLR carries a 1.25 beta, indicating sensitivity to broad market swings and energy-sector rotations. The two funds address opposite investor theses: AI infrastructure demand driven by model scaling, versus nuclear energy positioned as decarbonization infrastructure.

Who each is best for

AIHY: Fits investors seeking long-term capital appreciation in the compute and semiconductor supply chain, with appetite for concentrated exposure to companies directly enabling AI development and tolerance for volatility in a newly launched, illiquid fund.

NLR: Fits investors targeting established nuclear and uranium equity exposure with a modest income stream, lower new-fund execution risk, and acceptance of cyclical energy commodity pricing and geopolitical supply-chain sensitivity.

Key risks to know

Concentration in compute-driven demand for AIHY. A slowdown in AI capex spending or GPU adoption would directly hit the revenue thesis underlying AIHY's holdings. The fund's 50%-revenue-threshold criteria mean its portfolio moves in tandem with AI investment cycles, not broad tech demand. Low trading volume may make entry and exit costly.

Nuclear commodity and policy sensitivity for NLR. Uranium and nuclear equities are sensitive to uranium spot prices, reactor build timelines, regulatory changes, and geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply. The 1.25 beta indicates outsized swings during market stress or energy-sector rotations.

Sector overlap risk. Both funds may hold semiconductor and data-center companies that serve nuclear facilities or benefit from nuclear-power-related compute demand, creating hidden correlation that isn't obvious from their nominal exposures. The two funds pursue opposite energy narratives and should not be viewed as substitutes. 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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