GRID vs VOO
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GRID or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GRID led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.56% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 255 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +14.02%Best | +12.25% |
| 1Y Return | +20.62%Best | +17.03% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.04%Best | +21.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.05%Best | +13.08% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,296Best | $18,490 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.4% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 16, 2009 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 17, 2026 (16 years).
GRID vs VOO 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 years both funds cover.
GRID vs VOO Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GRID returned +20.62% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, GRID is up 14.02% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Over three years, GRID compounded at +23.04% per year against +21.25% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +14.05% and +13.08% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +12.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GRID has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -34.3% for VOO. 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 VOO 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 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
39.4% of GRID's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 12.6% of VOO's money is in holdings GRID also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
20 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in GRID and 494 in VOO, against full books of 255 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 467 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GRID (86.5% of the fund), and 22 for GRID that do not appear in VOO (3.8%).
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 VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.25% | 7.55% | 5.30% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | 8.64% | 0.25% | 8.39% |
| JCIJohnson Controls International Plc | 8.12% | 0.14% | 7.98% |
| PWRQuanta Services Inc | 7.34% | 0.16% | 7.18% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.82% | 1.36% | 0.46% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 2.43% | 0.04% | 2.39% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.69% | 0.71% | 0.98% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 1.13% | 0.34% | 0.79% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.92% | 0.39% | 0.53% |
| GEVGe Vernova, Inc. | 0.87% | 0.41% | 0.46% |
39.4% of GRID is already inside VOO.
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 VOO?
GRID has an expense ratio of 0.56% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GRID or VOO?
Over the past year GRID returned +20.62% vs +17.03% for VOO, so GRID leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GRID annualized +12.32% vs +13.38% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GRID or VOO?
GRID has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GRID -40.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GRID and VOO?
GRID and VOO 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 VOO?
39.4% of GRID's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 12.6% of VOO's is in holdings GRID also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in GRID and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GRID or VOO?
GRID yields 0.80% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GRID?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GRID led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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.