iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Performance
ICLN total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −2.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −0.9% total return
- 5 years
- −6.2% a year
- 10 years
- +7.7% a year
- Since first price
- −4.4% a year since 2008
ICLN trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | ICLN total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −8.0% | −8.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −12.8% | −12.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −20.2% | −20.5% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −2.2% | −2.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −0.9% | −2.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +26.6%+8.2%/yr | +21.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −27.3%−6.2%/yr | −32.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +109.2%+7.7%/yr | +77.6% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +128.6%+5.7%/yr | +66.2% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJun 25, 2008 | −56.3%−4.4%/yr | −69.6% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: ICLN vs SPY
From Jun 25, 2008: ICLN grew to $4,374, SPY to $80,349.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ICLN returns by calendar year
7 of 17 full years positive. Best 2020 (+141.8%), worst 2011 (−44.0%). 2026 is year to date.
ICLN annual returns table
| Year | ICLN | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −2.2% | −32.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +47.0% | −11.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −25.7% | −25.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −20.4% | −39.4% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −5.4% | −25.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −24.2% | −38.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +141.8% | −41.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +44.4% | −7.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.0% | −20.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +21.5% | −7.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −16.9% | −20.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +3.8% | −31.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −4.8% | −20.0% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +49.1% | −11.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | −12.8% | −39.1% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −44.0% | −55.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | −27.5% | −41.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +5.4% | −42.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
ICLN largest drawdowns
Now 56.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2008 | −87.2% | Jul 25, 2012 | not yet | 4.1 years | 18.3 years so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
ICLN risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +6.8% | −3.5% | +8.1% | −3.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.4% | 28.9% | 27.9% | 30.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.21 | -0.10 | 0.34 | -0.01 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.31 | -0.15 | 0.52 | -0.01 |
| Best month | +13.6% | +17.0% | +20.3% | +20.3% |
| Worst month | −14.3% | −14.3% | −24.0% | −39.7% |
| Best 12 months | +89.5% | +89.5% | +156.0% | +156.0% |
| Worst 12 months | −25.7% | −32.4% | −36.4% | −57.5% |
| Positive months | 58% | 50% | 56% | 52% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.15 | 1.10 | 1.06 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.52 | 0.60 | 0.58 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
ICLN rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 209 | −57.5% | −0.6% | +156.0% | 49% |
| 3-year (a year) | 185 | −35.7% | −0.6% | +48.3% | 49% |
| 5-year (a year) | 161 | −27.8% | +2.3% | +30.8% | 60% |
| 10-year (a year) | 101 | −13.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | 77% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ICLN performance overview
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) returned −0.9% over the past year and +7.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned −4.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $4,374. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −87.2%, from Jun 25, 2008 to Jul 25, 2012; the fund has not yet regained that high. ICLN finished 7 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+141.8%) and the worst 2011 (−44.0%). Volatility has been 30.8% a year.
Related: ICLN chart, ICLN holdings, ICLN dividends. See the ICLN overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ICLN performance FAQ
What is the ICLN return over the past year?
ICLN returned −0.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 2.0%.
What is the average annual return of ICLN?
ICLN has returned −6.2% a year over 5 years, +7.7% a year over 10 years, −4.4% a year since June 25, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ICLN be worth?
$10,000 invested in ICLN at its first recorded close on June 25, 2008 would be worth about $4,374 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ICLN?
The worst calendar year was 2011, with a total return of −44.0%. The best was 2020 at +141.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of ICLN?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −87.2% between June 25, 2008 and July 25, 2012. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 56.3% below its peak.
How volatile is ICLN?
Over the past 3 years ICLN had an annualized volatility of 27.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.21 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).