ETF Comparison

NLR vs URA: Nuclear Complex, or Uranium Miners?

A head-to-head of VanEck Uranium and Nuclear Energy and Global X Uranium covering miners versus the broader nuclear book.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

NLRInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
URAInvestors who want higher current income (5.00% vs 2.94% for NLR).

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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.

NLR has lagged URA over the trailing twelve months, posting a -13.34% total return against -2.05%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: URA has compounded at 15.89% a year, against 11.38% for NLR. 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	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Nov 2010	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
NLR	-19.05%	-13.34%	17.85%	17.29%	11.38%	6.29%	36.4%	0.33	0.47	-37.5%
URA	-9.57%	-2.05%	21.11%	14.67%	15.89%	-2.93%	43.4%	0.34	0.49	-39.3%

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 2010” measures every fund from November 5, 2010 — 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 trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) — 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	NLR	URA
Full name	VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF	Global X Uranium ETF
Issuer	VanEck	Global X
Underlying index	MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index	Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index
Last Close	$107.69 as of September 18, 2026	$41.65 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	2.94%	5.00%
Distribution Safety Score™	96	67
Safety-Adjusted Yield	2.82%	3.35%
Expense ratio	0.52%	0.69%
AUM	$3.73B	$5.84B
Distribution frequency	Annual	Annual
Objective	Seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index.	Seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	08/13/2007	11/04/2010
Beta	1.25	1.57
Last dividend	$3.166	$2.084
Ex-dividend date	12/22/2025	12/30/2025

Bottom lineChoose NLR if you want broad equity exposure. Choose URA if you want higher current income (5.00% vs 2.94% for NLR).

Nuclear complex versus uranium miners

NLR spans uranium and nuclear-energy names. URA is a miners book. Complex versus miners is the split.

	NLR	URA
Scope	Uranium + nuclear energy	Uranium miners
Expense ratio	0.52%	0.69%
Distribution yield	2.94%	5.00%

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Income calculator

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

VanEck

ETFs85

Total AUM$163B

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

VanEck is known for offering specialized and thematic ETFs across diverse asset classes, including commodities, digital assets, and sector-specific investments. The firm's 22-fund lineup spans income-generating options, covered call strategies, and growth-focused equity funds, with popular tickers including GDX (gold miners), SMH (semiconductors), MOAT (competitive advantage stocks), and HODL (bitcoin). VanEck distinguishes itself through niche exposure areas such as digital assets, commodities, and thematic investing strategies, complemented by traditional bond and municipal bond offerings.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on NLR.

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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 URA.

See all Global X ETFs

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Quick verdict

NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) and URA (Global X Uranium ETF) are both annual-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

URA offers the higher yield at 5.00% vs 2.94% for NLR. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

NLR is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.52% compared to 0.69%.

They have different reference exposures: NLR is linked to MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index while URA is linked to Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

URA is the larger fund by assets ($5.84B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose NLR

VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF

Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.52% expense ratio vs 0.69% for URA.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.3 vs 1.6 for URA.

Choose URA

Global X Uranium ETF

Want higher current income — URA yields 5.00% vs 2.94% for NLR.
Want broad equity exposure.

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, NLR would generate roughly $24.50/month, while URA would produce $41.67/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay annual distributions.

NLR yield2.94%

URA yield5.00%

Monthly diff on $10K$17.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, NLR would cost approximately $520 in fees vs $690 for URA (simplified, not compounded). The $170.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

NLR ER0.52%

URA ER0.69%

Strategy & risk

NLR tracks MVIS Global Uranium & Nuclear Energy Index with a nuclear approach, while URA tracks Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index with an energy approach. Beta is 1.25 for NLR and 1.57 for URA, making NLR the less volatile of the two by this measure.

NLR beta1.25

URA beta1.57

Fund details

NLR is managed by VanEck (launched 08/13/2007) with $3.73B in assets. URA is managed by Global X (launched 11/04/2010) with $5.84B in assets.

NLR AUM$3.73B

URA AUM$5.84B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between NLR and URA?

NLR (VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF) holds uranium and nuclear-energy names. URA (Global X Uranium ETF) holds uranium miners. Nuclear complex versus miners is the split. Cost is 0.52% versus 0.69%; distributions are 2.94% and 5.00% as of September 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for NLR and URA?

NLR currently distributes 2.94% and URA 5.00%, 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 NLR or URA better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. URA 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.

Can I hold both NLR and URA?

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 NLR or URA safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — NLR scores 96, URA scores 67, so NLR's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. NLR has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.25 vs 1.57 for URA). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, NLR or URA?

NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while URA charges 0.69%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in NLR vs URA generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in NLR would generate roughly $24.50 per month ($294.00 annually). The same in URA would produce about $41.67 per month ($500.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, NLR or URA?

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NLR vs URA — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

NLR and URA are both ETFs tracking uranium and nuclear energy stocks, but they differ in their underlying indexes, yield profiles, and volatility characteristics. The choice between them hinges on whether you prioritize lower cost and stability or higher income and broader sector exposure.

How they differ

The biggest difference is yield: URA distributes 5.00%, nearly 2 percentage points higher than NLR's 2.94%. This gap suggests URA may include higher-yielding uranium and nuclear names in its Solactive index, or the index methodology captures more dividend-paying exposure. Second, volatility diverges meaningfully—URA carries a beta of 1.57, versus NLR's 1.25, meaning URA amplifies broad market moves more aggressively. Third, costs and scale differ modestly: NLR charges 0.52% with $3.73B in assets, while URA costs 0.69% and holds $5.84B, giving URA a larger asset base but a slightly higher fee burden. Both track the same sector but via different indexes, so their holdings may overlap without being identical.

Who each is best for

NLR: Fits investors seeking a lower-volatility uranium and nuclear energy position with moderate income; the 1.25 beta and 0.52% fee make it suitable for core allocations where stability matters.

URA: Designed for investors willing to accept higher price swings (1.57 beta) in exchange for meaningfully higher yield (5.00%) and a larger fund with broader institutional adoption.

Key risks to know

Index concentration risk: Both ETFs track narrow uranium and nuclear energy sectors; holdings may be concentrated in a handful of dominant miners or reactor operators, amplifying the impact of company-specific setbacks or sector sentiment shifts.

URA's elevated beta: At 1.57, URA's price swings are 57% larger than broad market moves. In a uranium rally, this magnifies gains; in a downturn, losses accelerate proportionally.

Divergent yield mechanics: URA's 5.00% yield is substantially higher than NLR's 2.94%. If this reflects greater reliance on return-of-capital or one-time distributions rather than sustainable earnings, the yield premium may not persist, risking NAV compression.

Regulatory and commodity-price sensitivity: Nuclear energy exposure depends on uranium spot prices, fuel-cycle policy, and nuclear power expansion prospects—all subject to geopolitical disruption, regulatory shifts, and competing clean-energy priorities.

Bottom line

If you prioritize lower volatility and a modest, predictable income stream within nuclear energy, NLR's 1.25 beta and 2.94% yield fit a steadier approach. If you're comfortable with higher price swings in pursuit of 5.00% income and don't mind 1.57 beta exposure, URA's larger asset base and yield appeal. Verify the index methodologies and recent holdings to confirm the yield gap reflects genuinely different sector tilts rather than accounting choices; past performance in uranium markets 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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