A side-by-side comparison of First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) and BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF (ZGI) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | GRID | ZGI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +3404.94%✓ | +14.19% |
| 1-Day Change | +3676.94%✓ | +1.63% |
| 1-Week Change | +3908.00%✓ | +2.47% |
| 1-Month Change | +4024.46%✓ | +9.53% |
| Current Price | $170.34 | $59.29 |
| AUM | $11.36B✓ | $522M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.56% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 2.43%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2009-11-16 | 2010-01-19 |
| Holdings Count | 117 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Infrastructure Equity | Infrastructure Equity |
| Beta | 1.42 | 1.10 |
| 52-Week High | $198.79 | $61.03 |
| 52-Week Low | $143.36 | $49.84 |
| 50-Day MA | $176.67 | $56.65 |
| 200-Day MA | $178.62 | $57.57 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | GRID | ZGI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +3404.94%✓ | +14.19% |
| 1 Year | +6.92% | +14.23%✓ |
| 3 Year | +26.01%✓ | +16.76% |
| 5 Year | +12.53%✓ | +10.81% |
| 10 Year | +17.48%✓ | +8.76% |
| 1Y Volatility | 24.18% | 14.08% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.02 | 0.87 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | JCI | Johnson Controls International PLC | 8.71% |
| 2 | PWR | Quanta Services Inc | 7.94% |
| 3 | ETN | Eaton Corporation PLC | 7.94% |
| 4 | ABBN | ABB Ltd | 7.62% |
| 5 | SU | Schneider Electric S.E. | 6.45% |
| 6 | NG | National Grid PLC | 4.39% |
| 7 | EOAN | E.ON SE | 4.52% |
| 8 | PRY | Prysmian SpA | 3.58% |
| 9 | HUBB | Hubbell Inc | 2.84% |
| 10 | NVT | nVent Electric PLC | 2.62% |
| 1 | ENB | Enbridge Inc | 8.54% |
| 2 | WMB | Williams Companies Inc | 7.22% |
| 3 | AMT | American Tower Corp | 6.86% |
| 4 | NGG | National Grid PLC ADR | 6.67% |
| 5 | TRP | TC Energy Corp | 5.31% |
| 6 | KMI | Kinder Morgan Inc | 4.90% |
| 7 | TRGP | Targa Resources Inc | 5.09% |
| 8 | OKE | ONEOK Inc | 4.62% |
| 9 | LNG | Cheniere Energy Inc | 4.62% |
| 10 | SRE | Sempra Energy | 4.40% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | GRID | ZGI |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.27% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 2.56% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 45.12% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 63.07% | 1.63% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 10.57% |
| Technology | 13.07% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 20.06% | 41.04% |
About GRID
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the index. The index includes companies that are primarily engaged and involved in electric grid, electric meters and devices, networks, energy storage and management, and enabling software used by the smart grid infrastructure sector. The fund is non-diversified.
About ZGI
BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF (ZGI.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both GRID and ZGI are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, GRID scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GRID and ZGI?
GRID (First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) and ZGI (BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($11.36B vs $522M), dividend yield (0.86% vs 2.43%), and year-to-date performance (+3404.94% vs +14.19%).
Is GRID better than ZGI?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, GRID has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy GRID and ZGI on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both GRID and ZGI should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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