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.
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.
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.
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund
Global X U.S. Electrification ETF
Issuer
First Trust
Global X
Last Close
$179.80 as of July 23, 2026
$33.95 as of July 23, 2026
Distribution yield
1.68%
1.98%
Distribution Safety Score™
77
50
Expense ratio
0.57%
0.50%
AUM
$11.4B
$464M
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
1.41
0.6103
Last dividend
$0.7560
$0.1680
Ex-dividend date
06/25/2026
07/06/2026
Bottom lineGRID and ZAP are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar thematic exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: ZAP is cheaper at 0.50% vs 0.57%.
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
Want to go deeper?
Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
GRID has outpaced ZAP over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against 24.47%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 18.62% a year, against -16.24% for ZAP. ZAP has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% against 22.1% for GRID. 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 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 ZAP (Global X U.S. Electrification ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
ZAP offers the higher yield at 1.98% vs 1.68% 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 0.57%.
GRID is the larger fund by assets ($11.4B), which generally means tighter spreads and better 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.
On a $10,000 investment, GRID would generate roughly $14.00/month, while ZAP would produce $16.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
GRID yield1.68%
ZAP yield1.98%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, GRID would cost approximately $570 in fees vs $500 for ZAP (simplified, not compounded). The $70.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
GRID ER0.57%
ZAP ER0.50%
Strategy & risk
GRID tracks Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index with an electrification approach, while ZAP is an ETF. Beta is 1.41 for GRID and 0.6103 for ZAP, indicating ZAP is less volatile relative to the market.
GRID beta1.41
ZAP beta0.6103
Fund details
GRID is managed by First Trust (launched 11/16/2009) with $11.4B in assets. ZAP is managed by Global X (launched 12/17/2024) with $464M in assets.
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.
Frequently asked questions
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, while ZAP (Global X U.S. Electrification ETF) is an ETF. 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.
Which has lower fees, GRID or ZAP?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.57% 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 $14.00 per month ($168.00 annually). The same in ZAP would produce about $16.50 per month ($198.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, GRID or ZAP?
GRID has outpaced ZAP over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.91% total return against 24.47%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: GRID has compounded at 18.62% a year, against -16.24% for ZAP. ZAP has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% against 22.1% for GRID. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
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.
