First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid… (GRID) Performance
GRID total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +7.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +5.9% total return
- 5 years
- +11.9% a year
- 10 years
- +16.8% a year
- Since first price
- +11.7% a year since 2009
GRID trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | GRID total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.2% | −9.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −9.3% | −9.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −11.5% | −12.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +7.0% | +6.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +5.9% | +5.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +93.7%+24.7%/yr | +87.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +75.3%+11.9%/yr | +66.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +370.5%+16.8%/yr | +321.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +659.6%+14.5%/yr | +539.7% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 17, 2009 | +546.8%+11.7%/yr | +439.6% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: GRID vs SPY
From Nov 17, 2009: GRID grew to $64,680, SPY to $92,182.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
GRID returns by calendar year
11 of 16 full years positive. Best 2020 (+48.8%), worst 2018 (−22.7%). 2026 is year to date.
GRID annual returns table
| Year | GRID | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +7.0% | −18.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +29.7% | −20.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +15.2% | −10.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.6% | −20.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −13.9% | −28.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +27.6% | −7.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +48.8% | −40.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +42.8% | −7.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −22.7% | −29.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +27.4% | −5.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +22.7% | −13.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −5.5% | −23.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +0.5% | −17.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +25.2% | −10.7% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.4% | −15.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −20.8% | −35.4% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | −0.7% | −18.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
GRID largest drawdowns
Now 18.1% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2020 | −40.6% | Mar 18, 2020 | Aug 5, 2020 | 27 days | 5 months |
| Apr 4, 2011 | −35.4% | Nov 25, 2011 | Sep 24, 2013 | 8 months | 2.5 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −29.7% | Dec 24, 2018 | Nov 4, 2019 | 11 months | 1.8 years |
| Nov 19, 2021 | −29.6% | Oct 14, 2022 | Jun 13, 2023 | 11 months | 1.6 years |
| Mar 6, 2014 | −26.6% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 16, 2016 | 1.9 years | 2.4 years |
| Jul 18, 2023 | −20.8% | Oct 27, 2023 | Feb 22, 2024 | 3 months | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
GRID risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +24.9% | +15.1% | +17.4% | +12.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 22.6% | 21.7% | 20.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 0.58 | 0.75 | 0.61 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.96 | 0.99 | 1.24 | 0.98 |
| Best month | +16.8% | +16.8% | +17.9% | +17.9% |
| Worst month | −8.0% | −10.0% | −21.1% | −21.1% |
| Best 12 months | +62.7% | +62.7% | +103.1% | +103.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −0.2% | −17.9% | −22.7% | −23.9% |
| Positive months | 61% | 57% | 63% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.24 | 1.25 | 1.23 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.77 | 0.87 | 0.87 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
GRID rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −23.9% | +15.7% | +103.1% | 73% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −2.4% | +11.1% | +39.5% | 99% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −0.6% | +13.4% | +24.0% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | +4.5% | +13.4% | +20.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
GRID performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid… (GRID) returned +5.9% over the past year and +16.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +11.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $64,680. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −40.6%, from Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 5 months to get back to the old high. GRID finished 11 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+48.8%) and the worst 2018 (−22.7%). Volatility has been 20.4% a year.
Related: GRID chart, GRID holdings, GRID dividends. See the GRID overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
GRID performance FAQ
What is the GRID return over the past year?
GRID returned +5.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 5.0%.
What is the average annual return of GRID?
GRID has returned +11.9% a year over 5 years, +16.8% a year over 10 years, +11.7% a year since November 17, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in GRID be worth?
$10,000 invested in GRID at its first recorded close on November 17, 2009 would be worth about $64,680 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for GRID?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −22.7%. The best was 2020 at +48.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of GRID?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −40.6% between February 20, 2020 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on August 5, 2020, 5 months after the bottom.
How volatile is GRID?
Over the past 3 years GRID had an annualized volatility of 20.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.00 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).