At a glance
GRID charges 0.56% a year, above the 0.54% average of the 6 funds most like it (the 5th cheapest of 7). It has $12.08B in assets, the 2nd largest of that group; it paid 0.93% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +6.7% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 4th of those 7 funds; over three years it returned +26.4% a year. At its worst it fell 40.6% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 28.0% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 5 months and 8 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 58.4% of the fund, out of 122 in all.
The short version
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) tracks the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. The index is a global basket of about 120 companies that build and run electric grids, such as Eaton, Schneider Electric and ABB. Its rules put 80% of the index in "pure play" grid companies, so it is more focused than broad infrastructure funds. It charges 0.56% a year, close to the 0.54% average of similar funds.
Price history
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GRID +6.7% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRID official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +29.60% | — | +14.94% | +18.04% | +11.84% |
| GRID price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +9.9% | +6.7% | +26.4% | +12.1% | +17.2% | +11.8% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, GRID returned +6.7%, 4th of 7 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +12.1% and its 10-year +17.2%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 40.6% and regained its old high 4.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2018 (-22.7%); its best was 2020 (+48.8%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 40.6% (Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020), recovered by Aug 5, 2020.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +9.9% | — |
| 2025 | +29.6% | +29.60% |
| 2024 | +15.2% | +15.31% |
| 2023 | +21.6% | +21.34% |
| 2022 | -13.9% | -13.82% |
| 2021 | +27.6% | +28.36% |
| 2020 | +48.8% | +48.25% |
| 2019 | +42.8% | +42.05% |
| 2018 | -22.7% | -22.29% |
| 2017 | +27.4% | +28.19% |
| 2016 | +22.7% | +24.78% |
| 2015 | -5.3% | — |
| 2014 | -0.6% | — |
| 2013 | +26.6% | — |
| 2012 | +18.4% | — |
| 2011 | -20.8% | — |
| 2010 | -0.7% | — |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 39% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 40.6%, back to its old high 4.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 27.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 28%, back to its old high 7.9 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.2100 | |
| 2025 | $1.5500 | +23.0% |
| 2024 | $1.2600 | -2.3% |
| 2023 | $1.2900 | +17.3% |
| 2022 | $1.1000 | +69.2% |
| 2021 | $0.6500 | +16.1% |
| 2020 | $0.5600 | -18.8% |
| 2019 | $0.6900 | +38.0% |
| 2018 | $0.5000 | -7.4% |
| 2017 | $0.5400 | +25.6% |
| 2016 | $0.4300 | -10.4% |
| 2015 | $0.4800 | -9.4% |
| 2014 | $0.5300 | +8.2% |
| 2013 | $0.4900 | +88.5% |
| 2012 | $0.2600 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | $0.2540 | +135.2% |
| 2010 | $0.1080 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 122 securities; the ten largest made up 58.36% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| EATON CORP PLC | 8.52% | |
| SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SE | 8.29% | |
| ABB LTD (CH) | 8.11% | |
| QUANTA SERVICES INC | 8.10% | |
| JOHNSON CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL PLC | 7.99% | |
| NATIONAL GRID PLC | 4.11% | |
| E.ON SE | 3.88% | |
| PRYSMIAN SPA | 3.87% | |
| NVENT ELECTRIC PLC | 2.87% | |
| HUBBELL INC | 2.61% | |
| TESLA INC | 1.93% | |
| NVIDIA CORP | 1.90% | |
| TERNA - RETE ELETTRICA NAZIONALE SPA | 1.74% | |
| CISCO SYSTEMS INC | 1.67% | |
| HYDRO ONE LTD | 1.49% |
By country
United States 26.47%Ireland 19.38%France 10.44%Switzerland 9.57%Germany 6.18%By asset type
Stocks 99.57%RA 0.55%Preferred stock 0.18%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $3.08B (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +16.93%, +1.04%, -0.50%.
How it works
GRID is an index fund. A manager does not pick the stocks. The fund normally invests at least 90% of its net assets in the stocks of the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, which Clean Edge and Nasdaq build. To qualify, Clean Edge must classify a company as working in smart grids, electric infrastructure, EV charging networks, smart buildings, grid software or related areas. The stock must also meet size and trading rules on an approved global exchange.
Clean Edge labels each company "Pure Play" if grid work brings in a significant share of its revenue, or "Diversified" if it supports grid upgrades as part of a broader business. Pure Plays get 80% of the index and Diversified companies get 20%. Within each group, stocks are weighted by the market value of their freely traded shares, with caps. The five largest Pure Plays can hold up to 8% each, other Pure Plays 4%, and Diversified companies 2%. As of June 30, 2026, that put Eaton, Schneider Electric, ABB, Quanta Services and Johnson Controls near 8% each, while Tesla and Nvidia held under 2% each.
The index is rebuilt twice a year and rebalanced every quarter. Portfolio turnover was 26%. Most holdings trade outside the US, so currency swings affect returns. The fund's price can also drift from its holdings' last prices while foreign markets are closed.
What it really costs
- GRID charges 0.56% a year, versus an average of 0.54% for the similar funds below (5th of 7, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.4% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
In a retirement portfolio
GRID is a concentrated, global bet on one theme that has swung sharply, so it fits best as a small add-on to a broad core.
GRID could add targeted exposure to grid and electrical-equipment companies alongside a broad stock fund, but the ride has been bumpy. It launched in November 2009, so it has no record from the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 40.6% in less than a month, then recovered by August 5, 2020, about 4.6 months later. In the 2022 bear market it fell 28% and did not recover until June 8, 2023. Its worst calendar year was 2018, when it lost 22.29%. Anyone who had to sell shares or draw cash during those stretches would have locked in losses. Income is small: the trailing yield was 0.93% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly. The 0.56% expense ratio is near the 0.54% average of similar funds. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting a focused stake in grid builders like Eaton, Schneider Electric, ABB and Quanta Services, beyond what a broad index holds.
- Investors open to global exposure: only about 26% of assets were in US companies as of June 30, 2026, with large stakes in Ireland, France and Switzerland.
- Patient holders who could sit through drops like the 40.6% fall in early 2020 and the 28% slide in 2022.
Look elsewhere if
- Income seekers: the trailing yield was 0.93% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly.
- Investors who want broad diversification: the 10 largest holdings made up about 58% of assets as of June 30, 2026.
- Cost-focused investors: at 0.56%, it ranked 5th of 7 on cost among similar funds. PAVE charges 0.47% and TOLZ 0.46%.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRID this fund | — | 0.56% | $12.08B | +6.7% | +26.4% |
| MOTO SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology… | 17% | 0.68% | $9.7M | +11.7% | +20.1% |
| CCSO Carbon Collective Climate Solutions U.S. Eq… | 16% | 0.35% | $45.7M | -3.3% | +15.6% |
| PBD Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF | 12% | 0.75% | $182.7M | -5.1% | +7.9% |
| ZAP Global X U.S. Electrification ETF | 12% | 0.5% | $461.7M | +3.6% | — |
| TOLZ ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructu… | 10% | 0.46% | $173.7M | +11.9% | +17.3% |
| PAVE Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF | 9% | 0.47% | $13.50B | +13.8% | +23.2% |
Questions investors ask
Does GRID ETF pay dividends?
Yes, GRID pays dividends quarterly, but the amounts are small. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $1.55 per share, a trailing yield of 0.93%. Most of its holdings are industrial and electrical-equipment companies that reinvest much of their profits rather than paying large dividends. People who want regular income may find the payout too low to rely on.
What is the GRID ETF expense ratio?
GRID's expense ratio is 0.56% a year, according to its prospectus filed January 28, 2026. That includes a 0.40% management fee, with no fee waiver. That is about $56 a year on every $10,000 invested. It is slightly above the 0.54% average of the similar funds compared here and ranks 5th of 7 on cost. PAVE (0.47%), TOLZ (0.46%) and CCSO (0.35%) cost less, and MOTO (0.68%) and PBD (0.75%) cost more.
What are GRID's top holdings?
As of June 30, 2026, GRID's five largest holdings were Eaton (8.5%), Schneider Electric (8.3%), ABB (8.1%), Quanta Services (8.1%) and Johnson Controls (8.0%). Next came National Grid, E.ON, Prysmian, nVent Electric and Hubbell. The top 10 made up about 58% of the fund's 122 holdings. The index rules cap the five largest "Pure Play" companies at 8% each, which is why the top five sit so close together.
GRID vs PAVE: what's the difference?
The two funds share only about 9% of their holdings. GRID is global and focused on the power grid, with about 26% in US companies as of June 30, 2026. PAVE, the Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF, is about US infrastructure building. PAVE costs 0.47% compared with GRID's 0.56%. As of late October 2026, PAVE returned 13.2% over one year versus GRID's 6.7%. Over three years, GRID returned 26.4% a year and PAVE 25.4%.
How did GRID ETF perform in 2022?
GRID lost 13.82% in calendar 2022, according to its prospectus. Within that year the decline was deeper: from January 4 to October 12, 2022, it fell 28% and did not get back to its earlier peak until June 8, 2023, about 7.9 months after the low. It then gained 21.34% in 2023, 15.31% in 2024 and 29.6% in 2025. Its 10-year average annual return was 18.04% as of December 31, 2025.