GRID vs IVV
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GRID or IVV?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GRID led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GRID | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.56% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11.7B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 255 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +14.92%Best | +12.39% |
| 1Y Return | +20.39%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.55%Best | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.79%Best | +13.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.5% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,931Best | $18,844 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.4% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 16, 2009 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 17, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (16.8 years).
GRID vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 16.8 years both funds cover.
GRID vs IVV Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year GRID returned +20.39% while IVV returned +16.61%. Year to date, GRID is up 14.92% versus a gain of 12.39% for IVV.
Over three years, GRID compounded at +23.55% per year against +21.38% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +14.79% and +13.51% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.64% annualized vs +11.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GRID has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 14.4% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -40.5% for GRID and -33.9% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GRID charges 0.56% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $56 vs $3 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GRID currently yields 0.80% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
29.8% of GRID's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 12.9% of IVV's money is in holdings GRID also owns.
GRID and IVV share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in GRID and 490 in IVV, against full books of 255 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 464 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for GRID (85.7% of the fund), and 24 for GRID that do not appear in IVV (13.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GRID | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.25% | 8.07% | 5.82% |
| JCIJohnson Controls International Plc | 8.12% | 0.13% | 7.99% |
| PWRQuanta Services Inc | 7.34% | 0.14% | 7.20% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.82% | 1.56% | 0.26% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 2.43% | 0.04% | 2.39% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.69% | 0.66% | 1.03% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 1.13% | 0.38% | 0.75% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.92% | 0.36% | 0.56% |
| GEVGe Vernova, Inc. | 0.87% | 0.36% | 0.51% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 0.85% | 0.33% | 0.52% |
29.8% of GRID is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GRID or IVV?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.56% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GRID or IVV?
Over the past year GRID returned +20.39% vs +16.61% for IVV, so GRID leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), GRID annualized +11.53% vs +12.64% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GRID or IVV?
GRID has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 14.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: GRID -40.5% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both GRID and IVV?
GRID and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GRID and IVV?
29.8% of GRID's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 12.9% of IVV's is in holdings GRID also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in GRID and 490 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, GRID or IVV?
GRID yields 0.80% while IVV yields 1.06%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than GRID?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GRID led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.