QCLN vs SCHD
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, QCLN or SCHD?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.2%.
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 | QCLN | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $557M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 106 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +6.36% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +32.20%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.75% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.55% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.5% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,516 | $16,274Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.2% | 41.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 8, 2007 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
QCLN vs SCHD 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
QCLN vs SCHD Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year QCLN returned +32.20% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, QCLN is up 6.36% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, QCLN compounded at +1.75% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are -5.55% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +11.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.5% compared with 13.6% for SCHD. 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 -71.7% for QCLN and -33.4% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QCLN charges 0.59% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $6 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QCLN currently yields 0.17% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
1.3% of QCLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's money is in holdings QCLN also owns.
QCLN and SCHD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in QCLN and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 106 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for QCLN (99.8% of the fund), and 47 for QCLN that do not appear in SCHD (93.3%).
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 QCLN | Weight in SCHD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWENClearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 1.32% | 0.10% | 1.22% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QCLN and SCHD 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, QCLN or SCHD?
QCLN has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QCLN or SCHD?
Over the past year QCLN returned +32.20% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so QCLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QCLN annualized +11.33% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QCLN or SCHD?
QCLN has been the more volatile fund at 31.5% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: QCLN -71.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both QCLN and SCHD?
QCLN and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 QCLN and SCHD?
1.3% of QCLN's money is in holdings SCHD also owns. 0.1% of SCHD's is in holdings QCLN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in QCLN and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QCLN or SCHD?
QCLN yields 0.17% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so SCHD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than QCLN?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y, SCHD over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCHD is less concentrated, with 41.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.