A head-to-head comparison of First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund and Nomura Energy Transition 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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
GRID has lagged PWER over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against 42.42%. Measured from Nov 2023 — when the younger fund began trading — GRID has compounded at 27.99% a year versus 22.21% for PWER. 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 2023” measures every fund from November 29, 2023 — 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 past year. 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 past year) — 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 PWER (Nomura Energy Transition ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
GRID offers the higher yield at 1.68% vs 0.59% for PWER. 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 0.79%.
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 higher current income — GRID yields 1.68% vs 0.59% for PWER.
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.57% expense ratio vs 0.79% for PWER.
Choose PWER
Nomura Energy Transition ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.0 vs 1.4 for GRID.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
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On a $10,000 investment, GRID would generate roughly $14.00/month, while PWER would produce $4.92/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
GRID yield1.68%
PWER yield0.59%
Monthly diff on $10K$9.08
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $570 in fees vs $790 for PWER (simplified, not compounded). The $220.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
GRID ER0.57%
PWER ER0.79%
Strategy & risk
GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach, while PWER is an ETF. Beta is 1.41 for GRID and 1.0111 for PWER, indicating PWER is less volatile relative to the market.
GRID beta1.41
PWER beta1.0111
Fund details
GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.4B in assets. PWER is managed by Macquarie (launched 11/28/2023) with $11.2M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is GRID or PWER better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. GRID 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 PWER?
GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach, while PWER (Nomura Energy Transition ETF) is an ETF. They are issued by First Trust and Macquarie respectively.
Can I hold both GRID and PWER?
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 PWER?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.57% while PWER charges 0.79%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in GRID vs PWER generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in GRID would generate roughly $14.00 per month ($168.00 annually). The same in PWER would produce about $4.92 per month ($59.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, GRID or PWER?
GRID has lagged PWER over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against 42.42%. Measured from Nov 2023 — when the younger fund began trading — GRID has compounded at 27.99% a year versus 22.21% for PWER. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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