ETF Comparison

GRID vs PWER: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

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.

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.

GRID has lagged PWER over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.58% total return against 45.19%. Measured from Nov 2023 — the start of shared available history — GRID has compounded at 25.85% a year versus 24.84% for PWER. 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	YTD	1Y	Since Nov 2023	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
GRID	14.92%	21.58%	25.85%	23.9%	0.63	0.88	-15.8%
PWER	27.57%	45.19%	24.84%	22.4%	1.47	2.08	-13.7%

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 Nov 2023” measures every fund from November 29, 2023 — 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 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	GRID	PWER
Full name	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund	Nomura Energy Transition ETF
Issuer	First Trust	Nomura
Last Close	$178.25 as of September 18, 2026	$45.47 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	0.80%	0.54%
Distribution Safety Score™	78	67
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.62%	0.36%
Expense ratio	0.56%	0.79%
AUM	$11.6B	$12.7M
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index	—
Objective	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	11/16/2009	11/28/2023
Beta	1.44	1.0111
Last dividend	$0.756	$0.061
Ex-dividend date	06/25/2026	06/22/2026

Bottom lineGRID and PWER are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar thematic exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: GRID is cheaper at 0.56% vs 0.79%.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

First Trust

ETFs319

Total AUM$286B

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.

See all First Trust ETFs

Nomura

ETFs7

Total AUM$663M

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

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on PWER.

See all Nomura ETFs

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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 0.80% vs 0.54% 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 0.56% compared to 0.79%.

GRID is the larger fund by assets ($11.6B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or 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 0.56% 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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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, GRID would generate roughly $6.67/month, while PWER would produce $4.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

GRID yield0.80%

PWER yield0.54%

Monthly diff on $10K$2.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $560 in fees vs $790 for PWER (simplified, not compounded). The $230.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

GRID ER0.56%

PWER ER0.79%

Strategy & risk

GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach. PWER is an ETF whose tracked index or strategy detail is not recorded in our data, so this comparison rests on the measured figures — yield, fees, size, and performance — rather than strategy labels. Beta is 1.44 for GRID and 1.0111 for PWER, making PWER the less volatile of the two by this measure.

GRID beta1.44

PWER beta1.0111

Fund details

GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.6B in assets. PWER is managed by Nomura (launched 11/28/2023) with $12.7M in assets.

GRID AUM$11.6B

PWER AUM$12.7M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for GRID and PWER?

GRID currently distributes 0.80% and PWER 0.54%, based on fund data updated September 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 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. PWER (Nomura Energy Transition ETF) is an ETF whose tracked index or strategy detail is not recorded in our data, so this comparison rests on the measured figures — yield, fees, size, and performance — rather than strategy labels. They are issued by First Trust and Nomura 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.

Is GRID or PWER 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 78, PWER scores 67, so GRID's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. PWER has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.01 vs 1.44 for GRID). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, GRID or PWER?

GRID has an expense ratio of 0.56% 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 $6.67 per month ($80.00 annually). The same in PWER would produce about $4.50 per month ($54.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, GRID or PWER?

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GRID vs PWER — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

GRID and PWER are both equity ETFs tracking energy transition and smart infrastructure themes, but they differ fundamentally in scope and maturity. GRID tracks the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index—a focused index of companies in grid modernization, smart meter technology, and power distribution automation—and has been live since 2009.

How they differ

The biggest difference is index construction and fund age. GRID indexes a narrow, defined set of smart grid players through Nasdaq's Clean Edge methodology, while PWER's approach and underlying holdings remain newer and less transparent given its recent inception. GRID has accumulated $11.6B in assets over 15 years; PWER holds just $12.7M, suggesting it is still in early adoption. GRID's expense ratio of 0.56% undercuts PWER's 0.79%, though both are reasonable. GRID carries a beta of 1.44, indicating it swings more sharply than the broad market; PWER's beta of 1.0111 suggests closer alignment to market moves, a distinction that hints at PWER's broader diversification across energy transition plays.

Who each is best for

GRID: Fits investors seeking concentrated exposure to smart grid modernization infrastructure—transmission, distribution automation, and metering—with a willingness to accept higher volatility in exchange for focused thematic conviction.

PWER: Designed for investors wanting broader energy transition exposure across multiple sub-themes, preferred by those less comfortable with the volatility profile of a single infrastructure subsector or who view the energy transition as a wider ecosystem play.

Key risks to know

Index concentration in grid infrastructure: GRID's narrow focus on smart grid technologies means significant overlap in holdings and sector concentration; any slowdown in grid-modernization spending or regulatory delays ripples through the entire fund.

Higher market sensitivity: GRID's beta of 1.44 means it amplifies downturns; in a recession or rotation away from infrastructure spending, the fund is likely to fall faster than the broader market.

Energy transition theme risk: Both funds depend on continued policy support for grid modernization and clean energy. Changes in subsidy structures, permitting timelines, or political priorities could alter the fundamental attractiveness of their underlying holdings. Neither fund offers material income—both are growth-oriented plays on energy policy. 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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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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