QCLN: FIRST TRUST NASDAQ CLEAN EDGE GREEN ENERGY INDEX FUND
What this ETF is trying to do
The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) is an ETF that invests in companies involved in clean energy. Based on its top holdings, it focuses on businesses like Bloom Energy Corp (9.23%), Tesla Inc (8.39%), and First Solar Inc (6.69%). These companies work in areas like solar power, electric vehicles, and energy technology.
What the numbers show
As of October 5, 2026, the share price of QCLN is $50.16. To understand how the price has changed, we look at "price return" (the change in share price) and "total return" (which includes distributions).
• Year-to-Date (YTD): The price return is 12.49%, and the total return is 12.50%.
• One Year: The price return is 15.68%, and the total return is 15.81%.
• Three Year: The price return is 28.98%, and the total return is 30.72%.
• Five Year: The total return is -16.64%.
For a simple example, the estimated price from roughly one year ago was $43.36. If you had invested $10,000 based on that estimated price, the price-only growth (15.68%) would have increased that amount to approximately $11,568.
Income and distribution explanation
This ETF pays out cash to investors, known as distributions. The distribution yield is 0.10%. Over the last 12 months, it has made 2 payouts. These payouts happen on an irregular or less frequent basis.
It is important for beginners to know that a distribution yield is not the same as a total return. While distributions provide cash income, they do not guarantee that the original investment value will stay the same.
NAV erosion explanation
"NAV erosion" happens when the actual value of the fund's underlying assets drops over time. StockValueFinder uses an erosion-risk score to measure this. QCLN has an erosion score of 100, and the label states "No price erosion detected." The erosion severity is rated as "good," and there is no severe erosion-risk flag for this fund.
Pros
• Positive Recent Growth: The fund has shown positive price and total returns over the last one and three years.
• Low Erosion Risk: The fund currently has a "good" erosion severity rating.
Cons
• Long-term Decline: The five-year total return is negative (-16.64%).
• Low Income: The distribution yield is very low (0.10%).
Beginner takeaway
QCLN gives investors a way to own a piece of many clean energy companies at once. While it has grown over the last three years, its five-year performance has been negative. Investors should remember that a high distribution yield in any fund can be misleading if the share price is falling, though that is not the case here.
Top Holdings
Structured portfolio holdings supplied by the ETF data provider. These figures are not generated by the AI article.
| # | Holding | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLOOM ENERGY CORP CLASS A | BE | 9.23% |
| 2 | TESLA INC | TSLA | 8.39% |
| 3 | MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS INC | MPWR | 7.67% |
| 4 | ON SEMICONDUCTOR CORP | ON | 6.81% |
| 5 | FIRST SOLAR INC | FSLR | 6.69% |
| 6 | RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE INC CLASS A | RIVN | 4.63% |
| 7 | ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES INC | AEIS | 4.20% |
| 8 | ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS INC ORDINARY SHARES | ALGM | 3.84% |
| 9 | VICOR CORP | VICR | 3.81% |
| 10 | ACUITY INC | AYI | 3.38% |