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ETF Comparison
GRID vs NLR: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund and VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 6, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- GRIDInvestors who want targeted infrastructure exposure and accept its concentration.
- NLRInvestors who want higher current income (3.58% vs 0.92% for GRID).
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
NLR
Generally safe
Limited data
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  GRID |  NLR |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund | VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF |
| Issuer | First Trust | VanEck |
| Underlying index | Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index | MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index |
| Last Close | $154.21 as of November 6, 2026 | $88.44 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 0.92% | 3.58% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 1.00% | 3.58% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 83 | 61 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 0.76% | 2.18% |
| Expense ratio | 0.56% | 0.52% |
| AUM | $11.3B | $3.01B |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Objective | Seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. | Seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 11/16/2009 | 08/13/2007 |
| Beta | 1.42 | 1.54 |
| Last dividend | $0.353 | $3.17 |
| Ex-dividend date | 09/24/2026 | 12/22/2025 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
GRID has outpaced NLR over the trailing twelve months, posting a -2.44% total return against -38.88%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 16.35% a year, against 8.98% for NLR. GRID has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 21.8% against 36.9% for NLR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Nov 2009 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRID | 0.00% | -2.44% | 20.36% | 8.99% | 16.35% | 11.19% | 21.8% | 0.67 | 0.93 | -23.5% |
| NLR | -31.80% | -38.88% | 8.62% | 10.95% | 8.98% | 4.64% | 36.9% | 0.11 | 0.16 | -48.5% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Nov 2009” measures every fund from November 17, 2009 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineChoose GRID if you want targeted infrastructure exposure and accept its concentration. Choose NLR if you want higher current income (3.58% vs 0.92% for GRID).
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs329
Total AUM$290B
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.
ETFs86
Total AUM$156B
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 a broad range of asset classes, from traditional equities and fixed income to alternatives and digital assets. The firm's lineup encompasses income-focused funds, sector strategies, commodity exposure, municipal bonds, and innovative thematic products covering areas like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and emerging markets. VanEck serves both income-oriented and growth-focused investors with a diversified product suite that extends beyond conventional equity and bond offerings.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on NLR.
Quick verdict
GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) and NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
NLR offers the higher yield at 3.58% vs 0.92% for GRID. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
NLR is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.52% compared to 0.56%.
They have different reference exposures: GRID is linked to Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index while NLR is linked to MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
GRID is the larger fund by assets ($11.3B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
0 shared positions
GRID 0.0% of its top-10 weight
NLR 0.0% of its top-10 weight
No overlap among the top-10 disclosed holdings of GRID, NLR. These funds draw from largely different positions at the top of their books.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, GRID would pay about $92.00 a year (about $23.00 per quarterly distribution), while NLR would pay about $358.00 a year.
GRID yield0.92%
NLR yield3.58%
Annual cash diff on $10K$266.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $560 in fees vs $520 for NLR (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
GRID ER0.56%
NLR ER0.52%
Strategy & risk
GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach, while NLR tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index with a nuclear approach. Beta is 1.42 for GRID and 1.54 for NLR, making GRID the less sensitive to market moves of the two by this measure.
GRID beta1.42
NLR beta1.54
Fund details
GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.3B in assets. NLR is managed by VanEck (launched 08/13/2007) with $3.01B in assets.
GRID AUM$11.3B
NLR AUM$3.01B
Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for GRID and NLR?
GRID currently distributes 0.92% and NLR 3.58%, based on fund data updated November 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is GRID or NLR better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. NLR currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between GRID and NLR?
GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach, while NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index with a nuclear approach. They are issued by First Trust and VanEck respectively.
Can I hold both GRID and NLR?
Yes. Their disclosed top-10 holdings share no positions, so combining both spreads your money across different underlying names — see the holdings-overlap section above for the details. Overlap outside the disclosed top 10 can still exist.
Is GRID or NLR safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — GRID scores 83, NLR scores 61, so GRID's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, GRID or NLR?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.56% 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 GRID vs NLR generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in GRID would pay about $92.00 a year (about $23.00 per quarterly distribution). $10,000 in NLR would pay about $358.00 a year.
Which has performed better historically, GRID or NLR?
GRID has outpaced NLR over the trailing twelve months, posting a -2.44% total return against -38.88%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 16.35% a year, against 8.98% for NLR. GRID has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 21.8% against 36.9% for NLR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.