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 4, 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

GRID has lagged PWER over the trailing twelve months, posting a 28.06% total return against 52.75%. Measured from Nov 2023 — when the younger fund began trading — GRID has compounded at 26.44% a year versus 26.02% 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	15.40%	28.06%	26.44%	23.3%	0.86	1.23	-15.8%
PWER	29.84%	52.75%	26.02%	21.9%	1.72	2.46	-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 4, 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 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.

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	$178.99 as of September 4, 2026	$46.28 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate	0.80%	0.53%
Distribution Safety Score™	78	67
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.62%	0.36%
Expense ratio	0.56%	0.79%
AUM	$11.7B	$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

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First Trust

ETFs312

Total AUM$285B

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.

See all First Trust ETFs

Nomura

ETFs7

Total AUM$660M

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 0.53% 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 ($11.7B), 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 $4.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

GRID yield0.80%

PWER yield0.53%

Monthly diff on $10K$2.25

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 $11.7B in assets. PWER is managed by Nomura (launched 11/28/2023) with $12.7M in assets.

GRID AUM$11.7B

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 0.53%, 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 $4.42 per month ($53.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, GRID or PWER?

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GRID vs PWER — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

GRID and PWER are both equity ETFs targeting the energy transition and power infrastructure space, but they take different strategic approaches. GRID is a mature, $11.7B fund established in 2009; PWER is brand-new, launched in late 2023 with just $12.7M in assets.

How they differ

The fundamental difference lies in their focus: GRID's index-based approach zeros in on smart grid infrastructure and electrification within utilities and industrials, whereas PWER's actively managed (or systematically selected) portfolio captures a wider energy transition thesis. GRID carries a 0.56% expense ratio and distributes 0.80% yield quarterly, while PWER charges 0.79% and yields 0.53%—a modest cost premium on PWER offset by GRID's higher yield. GRID's 1.44 beta signals notably higher volatility relative to the broader market than PWER's 1.0111, reflecting GRID's tighter sector tilt versus a more balanced energy transition exposure.

Who each is best for

GRID: Fits investors building a thematic allocation to grid modernization and smart infrastructure with a tolerance for higher volatility; the large AUM and index methodology provide liquidity and transparency.

PWER: Designed for investors seeking energy transition exposure through a concentrated, emerging-fund vehicle; best suited for those comfortable with nascent fund risk and willing to accept micro-cap liquidity constraints.

Key risks to know

Concentrated AUM and liquidity risk in PWER: At $12.7M, the fund is vulnerable to rapid asset flows and wide bid-ask spreads; a modest redemption wave could materially harm execution costs and fund viability.

Sector concentration in both funds: Both funds focus heavily on power infrastructure and energy transition themes, creating overlapping portfolio risk; they may move in tandem during sector rotations away from electrification priorities.

GRID's elevated beta and volatility: With a beta of 1.44, GRID amplifies market swings and is sensitive to interest-rate shocks and tech-growth sentiment shifts that affect valuation of infrastructure stocks.

PWER's nascent track record: Launched 11/28/2023, PWER lacks meaningful performance history to evaluate manager skill or strategy consistency through a full market cycle.

Distribution sustainability in GRID: At 0.80%, GRID's yield is modest and less likely to erode NAV, but investors should verify that distributions reflect underlying earnings rather than return of capital.

Bottom line

If you prioritize a transparent, large-scale smart grid play with deep liquidity and proven index methodology, GRID stands out; if you're comfortable taking on execution risk and micro-cap illiquidity in exchange for active or systematic energy transition selection, PWER merits consideration. Neither fund offers yield alone as a reason to hold; both are thematic bets on infrastructure and energy transition, not income vehicles. Past performance does not guarantee 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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