VPU vs. ECLN
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF (ECLN).
VPU and ECLN are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VPU is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. ECLN is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Aug 19, 2019.
Performance
VPU vs. ECLN - Performance Comparison
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VPU vs. ECLN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 8.24% | 16.46% | 23.04% | -7.45% | 1.06% | 17.40% | -0.74% | 5.80% |
ECLN First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | 13.79% | 16.78% | 22.60% | -3.36% | 5.28% | 12.26% | 8.98% | 5.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPU achieves a 8.24% return, which is significantly lower than ECLN's 13.79% return.
VPU
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- 8.24%
- 6M
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 13.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
ECLN
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -0.73%
- YTD
- 13.79%
- 6M
- 13.18%
- 1Y
- 23.76%
- 3Y*
- 16.69%
- 5Y*
- 12.60%
- 10Y*
- —
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VPU vs. ECLN - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than ECLN's 0.97% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VPU vs. ECLN — Risk / Return Rank
VPU
ECLN
VPU vs. ECLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF (ECLN). 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.
| VPU | ECLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.25 | 1.87 | -0.62 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.71 | 2.48 | -0.77 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.36 | -0.13 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.22 | 2.89 | -0.67 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.27 | 12.20 | -6.92 |
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
| VPU | ECLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.25 | 1.87 | -0.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.89 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.70 | -0.15 |
Correlation
The correlation between VPU and ECLN is 0.87, 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
VPU vs. ECLN - Dividend Comparison
VPU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.56%, more than ECLN's 1.80% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.56% | 2.73% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% |
ECLN First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | 1.80% | 1.97% | 2.52% | 2.54% | 1.72% | 1.66% | 1.68% | 0.71% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VPU vs. ECLN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPU drawdown since its inception was -46.31%, which is greater than ECLN's maximum drawdown of -32.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPU and ECLN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VPU | ECLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.31% | -32.28% | -14.03% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -8.45% | -0.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.15% | -19.88% | -5.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.42% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.71% | -0.73% | -1.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.82% | -5.07% | -2.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.74% | 2.00% | +1.74% |
Volatility
VPU vs. ECLN - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) has a higher volatility of 4.99% compared to First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF (ECLN) at 2.82%. This indicates that VPU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ECLN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VPU | ECLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.99% | 2.82% | +2.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.18% | 7.36% | +2.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.51% | 12.76% | +2.75% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 14.16% | +2.75% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.07% | 17.51% | +1.56% |