GRID Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) belongs to the Infrastructure Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GRID. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to GRID

GRID charges 0.70% annually. There are 25 ETFs in the Infrastructure Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.29%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
HWAY	Themes US Infrastructure ETF	0.29%	3.80M	Sep 2024	GRID vs HWAY
IFRA	iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF	0.30%	4.55B	Apr 2018	GRID vs IFRA
ENFR	Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF	0.35%	519.57M	Oct 2013	GRID vs ENFR
UPGR	Xtrackers US Green Infrastructure Select Equity ET...	0.35%	612.04K	Jul 2023	GRID vs UPGR
IGF	iShares Global Infrastructure ETF	0.39%	10.93B	Dec 2007	GRID vs IGF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GRID

GRID has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 53. There are 17 ETFs in the Infrastructure Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 81.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
PIPE	Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF	81	65.42M	Feb 2025	GRID vs PIPE
EMLP	First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure F...	80	4.13B	Jun 2012	GRID vs EMLP
ENFR	Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF	76	519.57M	Oct 2013	GRID vs ENFR
BKGI	Bny Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF	75	1.31B	Nov 2022	GRID vs BKGI
USNG	Amplify Samsung U.S. Natural Gas Infrastructure ET...	74	9.23M	May 2025	GRID vs USNG

Top Performing GRID Alternatives (YTD)

GRID is at 19.50% YTD. There are 7 ETFs in the Infrastructure Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 28.11%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PIPE	Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF	28.11%	65.42M	Feb 2025	GRID vs PIPE
ENFR	Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF	27.46%	519.57M	Oct 2013	GRID vs ENFR
MLPB	ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series...	26.71%	231.17M	Oct 2015	GRID vs MLPB
USNG	Amplify Samsung U.S. Natural Gas Infrastructure ET...	25.88%	9.23M	May 2025	GRID vs USNG
MLPX	Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF	25.38%	3.64B	Aug 2013	GRID vs MLPX

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GRID

GRID has 23.13% 1-year volatility. There are 30 ETFs in the Infrastructure Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 10.32%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
BILT	iShares Infrastructure Active ETF	10.32%	—	Jul 2025	GRID vs BILT
EMLP	First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure F...	10.35%	4.13B	Jun 2012	GRID vs EMLP
NFRA	FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index...	10.40%	3.00B	Oct 2013	GRID vs NFRA
TOLZ	ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF	10.71%	176.36M	Mar 2014	GRID vs TOLZ
IGF	iShares Global Infrastructure ETF	10.72%	10.93B	Dec 2007	GRID vs IGF

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GRID

GRID has a 1-year max drawdown of -15.82%. There are 24 ETFs in the Infrastructure Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.94%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
EMLP	First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure F...	-4.94%	4.13B	Jun 2012	GRID vs EMLP
TOLZ	ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF	-5.18%	176.36M	Mar 2014	GRID vs TOLZ
BILT	iShares Infrastructure Active ETF	-5.38%	—	Jul 2025	GRID vs BILT
IGF	iShares Global Infrastructure ETF	-5.87%	10.93B	Dec 2007	GRID vs IGF
GII	SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF	-5.94%	941.89M	Jan 2007	GRID vs GII

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, AIRR, NFTY and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	44	31.78%	14.31B	Jul 2015	GRID vs CIBR
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	63	22.38%	10.18B	Mar 2014	GRID vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	9	-5.08%	118.19M	Feb 2012	GRID vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.62%	7.77B	Mar 2006	GRID vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	23	-6.86%	514.13M	Mar 2021	GRID vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	68.79%	1.27B	Sep 2016	GRID vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	49	16.55%	4.18B	Aug 2012	GRID vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	42	13.15%	586.61M	Feb 2007	GRID vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	88	18.21%	24.89B	Jan 2014	GRID vs RDVY
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	47	9.32%	3.53B	Mar 2018	GRID vs KNG

Often Compared With GRID

Investors most often compare GRID with ICLN, NLR, POWR. These 20 comparison targets span 14 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
ICLN	iShares Global Clean Energy ETF	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	40	9.79%	2.31B	Jun 2008	GRID vs ICLN
NLR	VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF	Uranium, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	13	-10.20%	3.81B	Aug 2007	GRID vs NLR
POWR	iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF	Infrastructure Equities, Utilities Equities	45	13.87%	450.78M	Jan 2012	GRID vs POWR
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.72%	1.70T	Sep 2010	GRID vs VOO
VOLT	Tema Electrification ETF	Global Equities	67	30.27%	743.97M	Dec 2024	GRID vs VOLT
PAVE	Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF	Infrastructure Equities, Industrials Equities	61	20.61%	14.54B	Mar 2017	GRID vs PAVE
FIW	First Trust Water ETF	Water Equities	14	1.85%	1.86B	May 2007	GRID vs FIW
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	58	14.23%	452.80B	Mar 1999	GRID vs QQQ
ELFY	ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF	Infrastructure Equities, Utilities Equities	46	18.04%	191.85M	Apr 2025	GRID vs ELFY
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.70%	789.06B	Jan 1993	GRID vs SPY
DTCR	Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF	REIT	78	32.24%	2.30B	Oct 2020	GRID vs DTCR
QTUM	Defiance Quantum ETF	Technology Equities	80	33.62%	5.22B	Sep 2018	GRID vs QTUM
IDGT	iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estat...	Technology Equities	71	35.87%	502.93M	Jul 2001	GRID vs IDGT
ZAP	Global X U.S. Electrification ETF	Utilities Equities	46	13.49%	461.72M	Dec 2024	GRID vs ZAP
LCTD	BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readines...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	60	9.67%	285.99M	Apr 2021	GRID vs LCTD
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	88	51.46%	68.10B	Dec 2011	GRID vs SMH
ACES	ALPS Clean Energy ETF	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	23	-3.43%	116.43M	Jun 2018	GRID vs ACES
FAN	First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	51	16.69%	277.74M	Jun 2008	GRID vs FAN
FXH	First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund	Health & Biotech Equities	74	12.75%	1.05B	May 2007	GRID vs FXH
URA	Global X Uranium ETF	Uranium	18	-4.49%	5.45B	Nov 2010	GRID vs URA

Compare GRID with Any Fund or Stock

Compare GRID with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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Diversifiers

Pair GRID with funds that move differently

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GRID.

Explore GRID Diversifiers

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) Alternatives