First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy… (QCLN) Performance
QCLN total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −4.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −5.3% total return
- 5 years
- −8.9% a year
- 10 years
- +11.8% a year
- Since first price
- +4.4% a year since 2007
QCLN trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QCLN total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −13.5% | −13.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −17.5% | −17.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −25.4% | −25.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −4.5% | −4.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −5.3% | −5.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +20.0%+6.3%/yr | +18.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −37.1%−8.9%/yr | −38.4% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +205.5%+11.8%/yr | +189.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +352.5%+10.6%/yr | +310.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 14, 2007 | +135.2%+4.4%/yr | +113.5% | — | — | — |
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: QCLN vs SPY
From Feb 14, 2007: QCLN grew to $23,519, SPY to $74,815.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QCLN returns by calendar year
7 of 18 full years positive. Best 2020 (+184.0%), worst 2008 (−65.8%). 2026 is year to date.
QCLN annual returns table
| Year | QCLN | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −4.5% | −37.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +31.8% | −33.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −18.9% | −26.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −10.0% | −43.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −30.4% | −34.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −3.2% | −38.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +184.0% | −45.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +42.6% | −12.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −12.4% | −23.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +32.3% | −6.7% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −2.7% | −20.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −6.2% | −30.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −3.2% | −25.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +93.9% | −8.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | −1.9% | −31.1% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −41.6% | −50.3% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +2.2% | −23.8% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +42.3% | −33.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −65.8% | −74.5% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
QCLN largest drawdowns
Now 50.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2007 | −76.2% | Nov 20, 2008 | Feb 19, 2020 | 11 months | 12.1 years |
| Feb 9, 2021 | −71.7% | Apr 8, 2025 | not yet | 4.2 years | 5.7 years so far |
| Feb 20, 2020 | −45.0% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jul 6, 2020 | 27 days | 5 months |
| Jul 13, 2007 | −14.5% | Aug 16, 2007 | Oct 2, 2007 | 34 days | 3 months |
| Sep 1, 2020 | −13.1% | Sep 8, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | 7 days | 29 days |
| Nov 8, 2007 | −12.3% | Nov 21, 2007 | Dec 7, 2007 | 13 days | 29 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QCLN risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.7% | −4.7% | +12.9% | +5.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.9% | 38.2% | 34.6% | 33.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.18 | -0.03 | 0.45 | 0.28 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.27 | -0.04 | 0.73 | 0.41 |
| Best month | +26.2% | +26.2% | +33.8% | +33.8% |
| Worst month | −21.3% | −21.3% | −23.3% | −33.5% |
| Best 12 months | +120.0% | +120.0% | +243.5% | +243.5% |
| Worst 12 months | −19.3% | −40.0% | −40.0% | −65.8% |
| Positive months | 44% | 45% | 54% | 54% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.96 | 1.66 | 1.56 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.69 | — |
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.
QCLN rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 225 | −65.8% | +2.2% | +243.5% | 52% |
| 3-year (a year) | 201 | −24.2% | +3.7% | +61.7% | 60% |
| 5-year (a year) | 177 | −22.2% | +7.3% | +42.2% | 76% |
| 10-year (a year) | 117 | −4.3% | +8.3% | +23.2% | 84% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QCLN performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy… (QCLN) returned −5.3% over the past year and +11.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +4.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $23,519. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −76.2%, from Dec 31, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 11.2 years to get back to the old high. QCLN finished 7 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+184.0%) and the worst 2008 (−65.8%). Volatility has been 33.4% a year.
Related: QCLN chart, QCLN holdings, QCLN dividends. See the QCLN overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QCLN performance FAQ
What is the QCLN return over the past year?
QCLN returned −5.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.4%.
What is the average annual return of QCLN?
QCLN has returned −8.9% a year over 5 years, +11.8% a year over 10 years, +4.4% a year since February 14, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QCLN be worth?
$10,000 invested in QCLN at its first recorded close on February 14, 2007 would be worth about $23,519 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QCLN?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −65.8%. The best was 2020 at +184.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QCLN?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −76.2% between December 31, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on February 19, 2020, 11.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is QCLN?
Over the past 3 years QCLN had an annualized volatility of 35.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.18 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).