PBW vs. VBK
Compare and contrast key facts about Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK).
PBW and VBK 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. VBK is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both PBW and VBK 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. VBK - Performance Comparison
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PBW vs. VBK - 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% |
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 1.01% | 8.50% | 16.50% | 21.45% | -28.44% | 5.66% | 35.44% | 32.75% | -5.70% | 21.87% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PBW achieves a 3.51% return, which is significantly higher than VBK's 1.01% return. Over the past 10 years, PBW has underperformed VBK with an annualized return of 6.57%, while VBK has yielded a comparatively higher 10.55% 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%
VBK
- 1D
- 0.85%
- 1M
- -5.50%
- YTD
- 1.01%
- 6M
- 2.29%
- 1Y
- 21.17%
- 3Y*
- 12.79%
- 5Y*
- 2.33%
- 10Y*
- 10.55%
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PBW vs. VBK - Expense Ratio Comparison
PBW has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than VBK's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PBW vs. VBK — Risk / Return Rank
PBW
VBK
PBW vs. VBK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK). 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 | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.37 | 0.87 | +1.50 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.88 | 1.36 | +1.52 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.18 | +0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.83 | 1.49 | +3.34 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.26 | 5.92 | +7.34 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PBW | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.37 | 0.87 | +1.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.44 | 0.10 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.17 | 0.46 | -0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.07 | 0.40 | -0.48 |
Correlation
The correlation between PBW and VBK is 0.79, 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. VBK - Dividend Comparison
PBW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.86%, more than VBK's 0.52% 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% |
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.52% | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.68% | 0.55% | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.57% | 0.79% | 0.82% | 1.08% | 0.98% |
Drawdowns
PBW vs. VBK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PBW drawdown since its inception was -89.02%, which is greater than VBK's maximum drawdown of -58.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PBW and VBK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PBW | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -89.02% | -58.68% | -30.34% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.24% | -14.56% | -6.68% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -84.98% | -38.39% | -46.59% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -89.02% | -38.70% | -50.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -73.91% | -6.78% | -67.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -62.86% | -10.22% | -52.64% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.74% | 3.67% | +4.07% |
Volatility
PBW vs. VBK - Volatility Comparison
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) has a higher volatility of 11.75% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) at 8.63%. This indicates that PBW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PBW | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.75% | 8.63% | +3.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 31.89% | 15.43% | +16.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 42.80% | 24.45% | +18.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 42.93% | 23.48% | +19.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.48% | 22.80% | +15.68% |