PBW vs. QCLN

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN).

PBW and QCLN are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. PBW is a passively managed fund by Invesco that tracks the performance of the The WilderHill Clean Energy Index (AMEX). It was launched on Mar 3, 2005. QCLN is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy. It was launched on Feb 8, 2007. Both PBW and QCLN are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

PBW vs. QCLN - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PBW vs. QCLN - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PBW Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF	3.51%	53.96%	-30.77%	-20.03%	-44.55%	-29.86%	204.82%	62.58%	-14.11%	39.92%
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund	5.17%	31.81%	-18.86%	-10.02%	-30.37%	-3.21%	184.00%	42.65%	-12.38%	32.34%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PBW achieves a 3.51% return, which is significantly lower than QCLN's 5.17% return. Over the past 10 years, PBW has underperformed QCLN with an annualized return of 6.57%, while QCLN has yielded a comparatively higher 12.87% annualized return.

PBW

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: -4.70%
• YTD: 3.51%
• 6M: 3.91%
• 1Y: 100.93%
• 3Y*: -6.15%
• 5Y*: -18.62%
• 10Y*: 6.57%

QCLN

• 1D: 0.90%
• 1M: -4.61%
• YTD: 5.17%
• 6M: 8.63%
• 1Y: 61.08%
• 3Y*: -2.97%
• 5Y*: -7.09%
• 10Y*: 12.87%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PBW vs. QCLN - Expense Ratio Comparison

PBW has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than QCLN's 0.60% expense ratio.

PBW

Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF

QCLN

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

Return for Risk

PBW vs. QCLN — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PBW

PBW Risk / Return Rank: 92
PBW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
PBW Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
PBW Omega Ratio Rank: 84
PBW Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
PBW Martin Ratio Rank: 92

QCLN

QCLN Risk / Return Rank: 84
QCLN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
QCLN Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
QCLN Omega Ratio Rank: 71
QCLN Calmar Ratio Rank: 94
QCLN Martin Ratio Rank: 90

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PBW vs. QCLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	PBW	QCLN	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.37	1.63	+0.74
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.88	2.23	+0.65
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.34	1.27	+0.07
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.83	3.97	+0.86
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	13.26	12.27	+0.99
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PBW vs. QCLN - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PBW Sharpe Ratio is 2.37, which is higher than the QCLN Sharpe Ratio of 1.63. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PBW and QCLN, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PBW	QCLN	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.37	1.63	+0.74
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.44	-0.19	-0.25
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.17	0.37	-0.20
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.07	0.15	-0.22

Correlation

The correlation between PBW and QCLN is 0.91, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

PBW vs. QCLN - Dividend Comparison

PBW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.86%, more than QCLN's 0.21% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PBW Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF	0.86%	0.79%	2.84%	3.68%	4.21%	1.71%	0.44%	1.45%	2.04%	1.28%	2.68%	1.53%
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund	0.21%	0.25%	0.87%	0.76%	0.33%	0.01%	0.30%	0.85%	1.03%	0.45%	1.24%	0.72%

Drawdowns

PBW vs. QCLN - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PBW drawdown since its inception was -89.02%, which is greater than QCLN's maximum drawdown of -76.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PBW and QCLN.

Drawdown Indicators

	PBW	QCLN	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-89.02%	-76.18%	-12.84%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.24%	-16.18%	-5.06%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-84.98%	-69.49%	-15.49%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-89.02%	-71.73%	-17.29%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-73.91%	-45.67%	-28.24%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-62.86%	-43.54%	-19.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.74%	5.24%	+2.50%

Volatility

PBW vs. QCLN - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is 11.75%, while First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) has a volatility of 13.73%. This indicates that PBW experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QCLN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PBW	QCLN	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.75%	13.73%	-1.98%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	31.89%	27.33%	+4.56%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	42.80%	37.76%	+5.04%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	42.93%	37.87%	+5.06%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	38.48%	34.62%	+3.86%