QCLN vs VYM
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QCLN or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.7%.
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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $554M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 106 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +7.74% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.27%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.39% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.41% | +11.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.2% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,407 | $17,334Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.7% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 8, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 14, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (19.6 years).
QCLN vs VYM 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
QCLN vs VYM Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QCLN returned +16.27% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, QCLN is up 7.74% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Over three years, QCLN compounded at +8.39% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.41% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.58% annualized vs +4.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.3% compared with 14.6% for VYM. 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 -76.2% for QCLN and -58.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QCLN charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QCLN currently yields 0.17% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
8.4% of QCLN's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings QCLN also owns.
QCLN and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, QCLN as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in QCLN and 557 in VYM, against full books of 106 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for QCLN (97.0% of the fund), and 43 for QCLN that do not appear in VYM (85.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QCLN and VYM 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 VYM?
QCLN has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QCLN or VYM?
Over the past year QCLN returned +16.27% vs +13.75% for VYM, so QCLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QCLN annualized +4.92% vs +6.58% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QCLN or VYM?
QCLN has been the more volatile fund at 33.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: QCLN -76.2% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both QCLN and VYM?
QCLN and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 VYM?
8.4% of QCLN's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings QCLN also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in QCLN and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QCLN or VYM?
QCLN yields 0.17% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QCLN?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QCLN led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.