ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund and Global X U.S. Electrification ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

GRIDInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
ZAPInvestors who want higher current income (2.17% vs 0.80% for GRID).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 outpaced ZAP over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.58% total return against 11.10%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 18.01% a year, against -16.81% for ZAP. ZAP has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.5% against 23.9% for GRID. 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	10Y	Since Nov 2009	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
GRID	14.92%	21.58%	18.01%	12.32%	23.9%	0.63	0.88	-15.8%
ZAP	5.49%	11.10%	-16.81%	-4.55%	16.5%	0.37	0.50	-11.7%

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 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 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	ZAP
Full name	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund	Global X U.S. Electrification ETF
Issuer	First Trust	Global X
Last Close	$178.25 as of September 18, 2026	$30.97 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	0.80%	2.17%
Distribution Safety Score™	78	50
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.62%	—
Expense ratio	0.56%	0.50%
AUM	$11.6B	$446M
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	12/17/2024
Beta	1.44	0.6103
Last dividend	$0.756	$0.168
Ex-dividend date	06/25/2026	07/06/2026

Bottom lineChoose GRID if you want broad equity exposure. Choose ZAP if you want higher current income (2.17% vs 0.80% for GRID).

Model this comparison:

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

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

Global X

ETFs117

Total AUM$94.0B

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

Global X is known for developing thematic and alternative investment ETFs with a strong emphasis on income-generating strategies. Their 37-fund lineup spans diverse categories including covered call funds, SuperDividend income products, digital assets, commodities, and sector-specific investments, alongside traditional bond and risk-managed income options. Notable tickers like DIV, MLPA, and BCCC reflect their specialization in high-yield and alternative income strategies, positioning them as a provider focused on investors seeking yield-oriented and thematically-driven exposure.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ZAP.

See all Global X ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Quick verdict

GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) and ZAP (Global X U.S. Electrification ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ZAP offers the higher yield at 2.17% vs 0.80% for GRID. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

ZAP is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.50% compared to 0.56%.

GRID is the larger fund by assets ($11.6B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Still deciding? Track GRID & ZAP 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.

Add to my watchlist See what a free account includes

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, GRID would generate roughly $6.67/month, while ZAP would produce $18.08/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

GRID yield0.80%

ZAP yield2.17%

Monthly diff on $10K$11.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $560 in fees vs $500 for ZAP (simplified, not compounded). The $60.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

GRID ER0.56%

ZAP ER0.50%

Strategy & risk

GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach. ZAP 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 0.6103 for ZAP, making ZAP the less volatile of the two by this measure.

GRID beta1.44

ZAP beta0.6103

Fund details

GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.6B in assets. ZAP is managed by Global X (launched 12/17/2024) with $446M in assets.

GRID AUM$11.6B

ZAP AUM$446M

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for GRID and ZAP?

GRID currently distributes 0.80% and ZAP 2.17%, 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 ZAP better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. ZAP 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 ZAP?

GRID (First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach. ZAP (Global X U.S. Electrification 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 Global X respectively.

Can I hold both GRID and ZAP?

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 ZAP 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, ZAP scores 50, so GRID's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. ZAP has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.61 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 ZAP?

GRID has an expense ratio of 0.56% while ZAP charges 0.50%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in GRID vs ZAP generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in GRID would generate roughly $6.67 per month ($80.00 annually). The same in ZAP would produce about $18.08 per month ($217.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, GRID or ZAP?

More comparisons to explore

People also compare GRID with

People also compare ZAP with

Popular comparisons

GRID vs ZAP — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

GRID and ZAP are both thematic equity ETFs targeting the electrification wave, but they approach it through different lenses. GRID tracks the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, focusing on companies that build and optimize grid infrastructure for power distribution and efficiency. ZAP casts a wider net across the U.S. electrification ecosystem, capturing everything from utilities to EV charging, battery storage, and grid modernization. The key distinction is scope: GRID is more infrastructure-specific, while ZAP spans the full electrification value chain.

How they differ

GRID emphasizes smart grid infrastructure as the underlying strategy, limiting itself to companies directly involved in grid-edge technologies and management. ZAP, launched in December 2024, takes a broader electrification approach that includes adjacent plays like utilities, industrials, and infrastructure players across the sector. GRID carries a notably higher beta of 1.44 compared to ZAP's 0.6103, signaling that GRID responds more sharply to market moves in the clean energy and infrastructure space. Expense ratios are nearly identical—0.56% for GRID and 0.50% for ZAP—so the fee difference is negligible.

Who each is best for

GRID: Fits investors with higher risk tolerance seeking concentrated exposure to grid infrastructure and smart grid modernization, comfortable with the volatility that comes from narrower sector focus and a beta above 1.4.

ZAP: Designed for investors who want broad electrification exposure without the intensity of GRID's infrastructure specialization, and who value a higher yield relative to a lower-volatility profile.

Key risks to know

Concentration in thematic plays. Both funds are heavily weighted toward emerging electrification trends rather than the broad market, which means sector headwinds—regulatory delays, commodities deflation, or technology shifts—hit harder than they would in a diversified portfolio. Overlapping holdings between the two are likely, adding correlation risk if you hold both.

GRID's elevated volatility. With a beta of 1.44, GRID swings more than the broader market. If interest rates rise or investor appetite for cleantech cools, GRID will amplify those downturns relative to ZAP's 0.6103 beta.

Earnings and policy dependency. Both funds depend heavily on government electrification incentives, grid investment cycles, and utility capex spending. Changes to tax credits, infrastructure funding timelines, or regulatory frameworks for grid modernization can shift valuations quickly. ZAP's recent launch means its dividend sustainability and tracking accuracy remain untested through a full market cycle. 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.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener