QCLN vs VXUS
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, QCLN or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $557M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 106 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +6.36% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +32.20%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.75% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.55% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,516 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 8, 2007 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
QCLN vs VXUS 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
QCLN vs VXUS Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QCLN returned +32.20% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, QCLN is up 6.36% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, QCLN compounded at +1.75% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -5.55% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QCLN has the edge at +7.38% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.6% compared with 15.0% for VXUS. 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 -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QCLN charges 0.59% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $5 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QCLN currently yields 0.17% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 52 holdings in QCLN and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 99.9% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in QCLN and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 106 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QCLN and VXUS 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 VXUS?
QCLN has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QCLN or VXUS?
Over the past year QCLN returned +32.20% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so QCLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QCLN annualized +7.38% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QCLN or VXUS?
QCLN has been the more volatile fund at 31.6% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: QCLN -71.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both QCLN and VXUS?
QCLN and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QCLN or VXUS?
QCLN yields 0.17% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than QCLN?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.