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.
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.
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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
GRID has outpaced NLR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against -0.92%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 18.62% a year, against 11.34% for NLR. GRID has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.5% against 35.4% for NLR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
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 Nov 2009” measures every fund from November 17, 2009 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.
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 2.84% vs 1.68% for GRID. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
GRID is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.57% compared to 0.61%.
They track different benchmarks: GRID is linked to Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index while NLR tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
GRID is the larger fund by assets ($11.4B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose GRID
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.57% expense ratio vs 0.61% for NLR.
Choose NLR
VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF
Want higher current income — NLR yields 2.84% vs 1.68% for GRID.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.1 vs 1.4 for GRID.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track GRID & NLR for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, GRID would generate roughly $14.00/month, while NLR would produce $23.67/month, at current distribution rates.
GRID yield1.68%
NLR yield2.84%
Monthly diff on $10K$9.67
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $570 in fees vs $610 for NLR (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
GRID ER0.57%
NLR ER0.61%
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 1.41 for GRID and 1.13 for NLR, indicating NLR is less volatile relative to the market.
GRID beta1.41
NLR beta1.13
Fund details
GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.4B in assets. NLR is managed by VanEck (launched 08/13/2007) with $3.74B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
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 — 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, GRID or NLR?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.57% while NLR charges 0.61%. 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 rates, $10,000 in GRID would generate roughly $14.00 per month ($168.00 annually). The same in NLR would produce about $23.67 per month ($284.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, GRID or NLR?
GRID has outpaced NLR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against -0.92%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 18.62% a year, against 11.34% for NLR. GRID has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.5% against 35.4% for NLR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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