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Launched · SEC filings

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

QCLNNasdaqFirst TrustB

$44.04+0.68 (+1.57%)

At close: Nov 2, 2026, 4:00 PM ET

B55/ 100

Rank 6 of 16 in Clean Energy

B55/100Rank 6 of 16inClean Energy
Intraday session: up, 79 prints from 43.36 to 44.04. Range 43.88 to 45.40. Use the arrow keys to read each point.44.5045.0045.5010 AM12 PM2 PM4 PM
Expense ratio
0.59%
Fund size
$468M
1Y total return
−5.2%
Yield · Last 12 months
0.12%
Holdings
58
Avg volume · 30D
164K sh
52W range
low $39.83high $69.20
Launched
Filings
SEC EDGAR

The ETF.net QCLN Grade

Based on 5 of 6 pillars

B

Score 55 out of 100

Category
Clean Energy⁠
Rank
6 of 16
Six-pillar profile for QCLN. Scores out of 100: Cost 50, Risk 43, Mission not scored, Tradability 88, Holdings 32, Durability 76. Strongest: Tradability (88). Weakest: Holdings (32). Based on 5 of 6 pillars.

Score 55 of 100 falls in the B band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.

  • Cost

    The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.
    C50 out of 100
    Rank 8 of 16

  • Mission

    Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.
    Not scored

  • Risk

    How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.
    C43 out of 100
    Rank 10 of 16

  • Tradability

    How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.
    A88 out of 100
    Rank 1 of 16

  • Holdings

    How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.
    D32 out of 100
    Rank 12 of 16

  • Durability

    Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.
    A76 out of 100
    Rank 4 of 16

Our read on QCLN

ETF.net Research

In short

BLaunched in 2007, an early arrival in clean energy that still runs the theme the old-fashioned way: a concentrated book of about 40 stocks tracking the Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index.

Stated mandate

The Fund seeks investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield of its designated clean-energy index, before fees and expenses.

Why people hold it

  • A 2007 launch date means a long, public record across multiple clean-energy cycles, not a fund built for last year's headlines.
  • Straightforward job: track a published Nasdaq clean-energy index. No manager hunches, no derivative sleeve, no structural quirks flagged in our review.
  • Getting in and out is one of its stronger suits: among the more tradable funds in the clean-energy group.
  • The 0.59% fee sits right on the clean-energy category median, and income is paid on a quarterly schedule.

Worth knowing

  • About 40 holdings is a narrow bench. Single names carry real weight, and portfolio construction is the weakest part of the package.
  • The ride is demanding even by thematic standards; volatility is the biggest trade-off here.
  • Cost-first shoppers have cheaper doors into the theme: ICLN and FRNW both charge 0.39%.

QCLN Performance

Launched Feb 8, 2007

Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.

QCLN$9,478
SPY tracks large US stocks. It provides market context, rather than representing this fund’s strategy, asset class or investment benchmark.$11,146
Oct 31, 2025 to Nov 2, 2026. QCLN $9,478. SPY $11,146. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$10,000$12,000$14,000Oct 2025May 2026Nov 2026

Oct 31, 2025 – Nov 2, 2026

Returns run to the Nov 2, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.

Trailing total return for QCLN. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
PeriodQCLN
Year to date−1.2%
1 month−12.0%
3 months−10.6%
1 year−5.2%
3 yearsper year+8.4%
5 yearsper year−10.8%
10 yearsper year+12.5%

With distributions reinvested.

Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.

Annual total returns for QCLN
YearReturn barQCLN
2026 YTD−1.2%
2025+31.8%
2024−18.9%
2023−10.0%
2022−30.4%
2021−3.2%
2020+184.0%

QCLN in the news

QCLN Dividends

Adds up every distribution paid per share over the last 12 months, divided by the last completed close. Distributions are counted by ex-date. Data through Nov 2, 2026.
0.12%Last 12 months
Payout per share
$0.05Last 12 months
Last payment
$0.0068 per share
Paid on
Shares bought on or after this date do not qualify for this distribution.
Frequency
Quarterly

Distribution history

2017–2026

One bar per payment. 32 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Mar 23, 2017 $0.02; Jun 22, 2017 $0.03; Sep 21, 2017 $0.02; Dec 21, 2017 $0.03; Mar 22, 2018 $0.0098; Jun 21, 2018 $0.06; Sep 14, 2018 $0.03; Dec 18, 2018 $0.08; Mar 21, 2019 $0.04; Jun 14, 2019 $0.02; Sep 25, 2019 $0.11; Dec 13, 2019 $0.03; Mar 26, 2020 $0.05; Jun 25, 2020 $0.07; Sep 24, 2020 $0.02; Dec 24, 2020 $0.07; Jun 24, 2021 $0.0069; Jun 24, 2022 $0.01; Sep 23, 2022 $0.06; Dec 23, 2022 $0.09; Mar 24, 2023 $0.05; Jun 27, 2023 $0.16; Sep 22, 2023 $0.03; Dec 22, 2023 $0.08; Jun 27, 2024 $0.18; Sep 26, 2024 $0.08; Dec 13, 2024 $0.04; Mar 27, 2025 $0.02; Jun 26, 2025 $0.02; Sep 25, 2025 $0.03; Dec 12, 2025 $0.04; Mar 26, 2026 $0.0068. Use the arrow keys to read each point.2017201820192020202120222023202420252026YTD
Ex-datePay dateAmount per share
Mar 26, 2026Mar 31, 2026$0.0068
Dec 12, 2025Dec 31, 2025$0.04
Sep 25, 2025Sep 30, 2025$0.03
Jun 26, 2025Jun 30, 2025$0.02
Mar 27, 2025Mar 31, 2025$0.02
Dec 13, 2024Dec 31, 2024$0.04
Sep 26, 2024Sep 30, 2024$0.08
Jun 27, 2024Jun 28, 2024$0.18
Dec 22, 2023Dec 29, 2023$0.08
Sep 22, 2023Sep 29, 2023$0.03
Jun 27, 2023Jun 30, 2023$0.16
Mar 24, 2023Mar 31, 2023$0.05

See all 50 payments⁠

$10,000 in QCLN 10 years ago paid $1,125 in dividends.⁠

QCLN Risk

Risk pillarC43 out of 100Rank 10 of 16 in Clean Energy
How much the fund’s monthly returns vary, scaled to a year.
34.1%
Annualised · 36 months to Oct 2026
How it’s calculated: standard deviation

The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.

Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.

Return above 3-month US Treasury bills per unit of volatility.
0.30
vs 3-month T-bills · to Oct 2026
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio

Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.

Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.

Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.

The largest fall from a peak to the low that followed.
−69.5%
Trough Apr 2025
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown

The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.

Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.

How strongly the fund’s returns move with its asset-class index.
2.11
vs its asset-class index
How it’s calculated: beta

The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.

FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.

QCLN Cost

Compare QCLN and ICLN

Overpaying vs ICLN, cheapest in Clean Energy

$3,929

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • QCLN 0.59%

    $11,635

  • ICLN 0.38% Cheapest

    $7,706

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • QCLN 0.59%
  • ICLN 0.38%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$2.5K$5K$7.5K$10K$12.5K051015202530QCLN $11,635ICLN $7,706

Year by year

YearQCLNICLNOverpaying
10$1,058$688$370
20$4,051$2,658$1,393
30$11,635$7,706$3,929

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