Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) Performance
VCLN total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −1.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +3.7% total return
- 5 years
- −0.0% a year
- Since first price
- +0.6% a year since 2021
VCLN trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VCLN total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.0% | −9.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −11.5% | −11.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −17.2% | −17.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −1.4% | −2.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +3.7% | +1.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +67.6%+18.8%/yr | +60.3% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −0.2%−0.0%/yr | −5.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 4, 2021 | +3.4%+0.6%/yr | −2.4% | — | — | — |
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: VCLN vs SPY
From Aug 4, 2021: VCLN grew to $10,335, SPY to $18,569.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VCLN returns by calendar year
1 of 4 full years positive. Best 2025 (+55.7%), worst 2023 (−17.5%). 2026 is year to date.
VCLN annual returns table
| Year | VCLN | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −1.4% | −30.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +55.7% | −13.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −6.7% | −16.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −17.5% | −35.4% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −7.9% | −24.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
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.
VCLN largest drawdowns
Now 30.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2021 | −45.7% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jan 16, 2026 | 3.4 years | 4.2 years |
| Jun 2, 2026 | −30.0% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 5 months | 5 months so far |
| Sep 2, 2021 | −10.2% | Oct 4, 2021 | Oct 21, 2021 | 32 days | 49 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VCLN risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.2% | +3.1% | +1.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.3% | 27.2% | 27.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.62 | 0.11 | 0.07 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.97 | 0.17 | 0.10 |
| Best month | +15.8% | +19.3% | +19.3% |
| Worst month | −11.8% | −12.9% | −12.9% |
| Best 12 months | +96.8% | +96.8% | +96.8% |
| Worst 12 months | −6.7% | −28.4% | −28.4% |
| Positive months | 64% | 55% | 54% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.16 | 1.16 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.57 | 0.67 | — |
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.
VCLN rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 51 | −28.4% | +0.6% | +96.8% | 51% |
| 3-year (a year) | 27 | −13.0% | +4.7% | +21.6% | 52% |
| 5-year (a year) | 3 | −1.2% | +2.0% | +3.1% | 67% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2021. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VCLN performance overview
Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) returned +3.7% over the past year and −0.0% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2021 it has returned +0.6% a year, turning $10,000 into about $10,335. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −45.7%, from Nov 1, 2021 to Apr 8, 2025, and it took 9 months to get back to the old high. VCLN finished 1 of its 4 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+55.7%) and the worst 2023 (−17.5%). Volatility has been 27.2% a year.
Related: VCLN chart, VCLN holdings, VCLN dividends. See the VCLN overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VCLN performance FAQ
What is the VCLN return over the past year?
VCLN returned +3.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 1.8%.
What is the average annual return of VCLN?
VCLN has returned −0.0% a year over 5 years, +0.6% a year since August 4, 2021 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VCLN be worth?
$10,000 invested in VCLN at its first recorded close on August 4, 2021 would be worth about $10,335 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VCLN?
The worst calendar year was 2023, with a total return of −17.5%. The best was 2025 at +55.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VCLN?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −45.7% between November 1, 2021 and April 8, 2025. It recovered to the old high on January 16, 2026, 9 months after the bottom.
How volatile is VCLN?
Over the past 3 years VCLN had an annualized volatility of 25.3% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.62 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).