ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN
ZCLN.TO (BMO Clean Energy Index ETF) and VCLN (Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZCLN.TO is a Alternative Energy Equities fund tracking the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, while VCLN is a Sustainable fund actively managed by Virtus Investment Partners. ZCLN.TO is passively managed, while VCLN is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, ZCLN.TO returned 9.66%/yr vs 22.02%/yr for VCLN. A 0.80 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ZCLN.TO charges 0.39%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for VCLN.
Performance
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
ZCLN.TO is traded in CAD, while VCLN is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VCLN values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ZCLN.TO achieves a 43.19% return, which is significantly higher than VCLN's 40.93% return.
ZCLN.TO
- 1D
- -1.82%
- 1M
- 14.50%
- YTD
- 43.19%
- 6M
- 37.47%
- 1Y
- 83.05%
- 3Y*
- 9.66%
- 5Y*
- 4.92%
- 10Y*
- —
VCLN
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- 13.56%
- YTD
- 40.93%
- 6M
- 36.70%
- 1Y
- 98.39%
- 3Y*
- 22.02%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZCLN.TO BMO Clean Energy Index ETF | 43.19% | 37.90% | -20.23% | -20.37% | 1.41% | -7.69% |
VCLN Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF | 40.93% | 48.61% | 1.32% | -19.36% | -1.31% | -4.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between ZCLN.TO and VCLN is 0.61, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 5, 2021 | 0.80 |
The correlation between ZCLN.TO and VCLN shifts across timeframes, from 0.61 (1 year) to 0.80 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN — Risk / Return Rank
ZCLN.TO
VCLN
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Clean Energy Index ETF (ZCLN.TO) and Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN). 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.
| ZCLN.TO | VCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.46 | 1.54 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 6.45 | 8.21 | -1.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 19.07 | 30.47 | -11.40 |
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
| ZCLN.TO | VCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.08 | 3.47 | -0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.12 | 0.42 | -0.54 |
Drawdowns
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ZCLN.TO drawdown since its inception was -61.07%, which is greater than VCLN's maximum drawdown of -38.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZCLN.TO and VCLN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ZCLN.TO | VCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -61.07% | -38.81% | -22.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.95% | -12.05% | -0.90% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -38.80% | -25.34% | -13.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -50.26% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.13% | -0.75% | -15.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -40.49% | -18.86% | -21.63% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.37% | 3.24% | +1.13% |
Volatility
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Volatility Comparison
BMO Clean Energy Index ETF (ZCLN.TO) has a higher volatility of 9.92% compared to Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) at 9.04%. This indicates that ZCLN.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCLN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ZCLN.TO | VCLN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.92% | 9.04% | +0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.45% | 20.02% | +0.43% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.21% | 28.52% | -1.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.89% | 25.30% | +0.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.06% | 25.30% | +1.76% |
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Expense Ratio Comparison
ZCLN.TO has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is lower than VCLN's 0.59% expense ratio.
Dividends
ZCLN.TO vs. VCLN - Dividend Comparison
ZCLN.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.19%, less than VCLN's 1.45% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLN Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF | 1.45% | 2.01% | 1.16% | 1.14% | 0.65% | 0.00% |
ZCLN.TO BMO Clean Energy Index ETF | 1.19% | 1.71% | 2.13% | 1.37% | 0.93% | 0.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ZCLN.TO and VCLN have a correlation of 0.61, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, ZCLN.TO is cheaper at 0.39% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
ZCLN.TO is cheaper with a 0.39% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for VCLN.
ZCLN.TO is categorized as Alternative Energy Equities, while VCLN is Sustainable. They also come from different issuers: BMO and Virtus Investment Partners. Their fees differ too: 0.39% for ZCLN.TO and 0.59% for VCLN.
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