ICLN vs VOO
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ICLN or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ICLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ICLN | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 152 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.20% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.31%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.91% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.91% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,192 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.5% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2008 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
ICLN vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 16 years both funds cover.
ICLN vs VOO Performance
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ICLN returned +25.31% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, ICLN is up 4.20% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, ICLN compounded at +5.91% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -3.91% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +1.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ICLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.4% compared with 14.1% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -67.3% for ICLN and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ICLN charges 0.39% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICLN currently yields 1.04% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
8.5% of ICLN's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
ICLN and VOO share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 105 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 505 in VOO, against full books of 152 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ICLN (99.5% of the fund), and 14 for ICLN that do not appear in VOO (40.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ICLN | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSLRFirst Solar, Inc | 8.47% | 0.04% | 8.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ICLN and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ICLN or VOO?
ICLN has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ICLN or VOO?
Over the past year ICLN returned +25.31% vs +20.08% for VOO, so ICLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ICLN annualized +1.08% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ICLN or VOO?
ICLN has been the more volatile fund at 27.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ICLN -67.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ICLN and VOO?
ICLN and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ICLN and VOO?
8.5% of ICLN's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.0% of VOO's is in holdings ICLN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 105 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ICLN or VOO?
ICLN yields 1.04% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ICLN?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ICLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.