Is ACES a Buy? What to Consider in 2026
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
The case for ACES is simple: low-cost, diversified exposure to CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index at a 0.55% expense ratio, anchored by names like RIVN, TSLA, HASI. If that is the exposure you want and you do not already own most of it through another fund, ACES is a strong core holding. The catch is concentration in its top names and overlap with broad-market funds you may already hold. Whether it is a buy comes down to whether you want CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index and at what cost. Not a recommendation; Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What are you buying with ACES?
ACES tracks the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index, a basket of US and Canadian companies in solar, wind, electric vehicles, energy storage, and related clean energy segments. It charges 0.55%, more than a broad index fund. The key nuance versus ICLN is that ACES is North America only and more concentrated, while ICLN is global and cheaper.
Largest holdings (approximate as of mid-2026; verify on SS&C ALPS Advisors's fund page):
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of ACES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIVN | Rivian Automotive, Inc. | ~6.7% | |
| 2 | TSLA | Tesla, Inc. | ~5.8% | |
| 3 | HASI | HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. | ~5.4% | |
| 4 | BEP | Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. | ~5.0% | |
| 5 | NXT | Nextracker Inc. | ~4.8% | |
| 6 | NPI | Northland Power Inc. | ~4.8% | |
| 7 | ALB | Albemarle Corporation | ~4.7% | |
| 8 | FSLR | First Solar, Inc. | ~4.6% | |
| 9 | CWEN | Clearway Energy, Inc. | ~4.5% | |
| 10 | ITRI | Itron, Inc. | ~4.5% |
What's the case for ACES?
ACES is the ALPS Clean Energy ETF, a fund that holds roughly 40 US and Canadian companies across solar, wind, electric vehicles, energy storage, and other clean energy segments. It tracks the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index and charges 0.55%, higher than broad market funds but in line with thematic clean energy peers. It suits investors who want focused North American clean energy exposure. The obvious peer is ICLN, which is cheaper and global; ACES is more concentrated and North America only.
In its favour: it gives you CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index exposure in one ticker at a 0.55% expense ratio, which is simple to hold and cheap to own.
What should you weigh before buying ACES?
- Cost vs alternatives: 0.55% is the fee; compare it to funds tracking a similar index.
- Concentration: check how much of ACES sits in its largest holdings (RIVN, TSLA, HASI).
- Overlap: if you already own a broad-market fund, you may already hold much of this.
- Tracking scope: ACES only gives you CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index; it will not capture what sits outside that index.
How do you decide if ACES is a buy?
The useful question is rarely “will ACES go up?” It is “does this exposure fit my plan, at a cost I am happy with, without doubling up on what I already own?” Walnut connects your real brokerage so you can see exactly how ACES would overlap with your current holdings, analyze it by chatting through Claude or ChatGPT, and place any trade yourself. You stay in control.
The bottom line on ACES
The bottom line: ACES is a low-cost core building block for CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index exposure, not a tactical bet on a single name. If you want CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index exposure and the 0.55% fee is competitive for you, it does its job well. If you already own that exposure through another fund, adding it mostly doubles a fee without adding diversification. Decide from your goal and your existing holdings, not from where the market sat last week. Walnut is not an investment adviser.
Build a portfolio around ACES with Walnut
Use ACES as your core holding, then let Walnut's AI propose thematic satellites: AI infrastructure, dividend growth, clean energy, whatever you believe in. Connect your broker, build the basket in conversation, track it as one unit.
FAQ
Is ACES a good ETF to buy?
+
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Whether ACES fits depends on your goals, time horizon, and what you already hold. It tracks CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index at a 0.55% expense ratio, so the questions that matter are whether you want that exposure, whether you already own it through another fund, and whether the cost is competitive for what it does.
What does ACES actually hold?
+
ACES tracks CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index. Its largest positions include RIVN, TSLA, HASI, BEP, NXT and others (approximate, verify on SS&C ALPS Advisors's fund page). The holdings are what you are really buying, not the ticker.
What is ACES's expense ratio?
+
0.55% as of mid-2026. Over decades, the expense ratio is one of the few things you can control, so it is worth comparing against close alternatives that track a similar index.
Does ACES pay a dividend?
+
ACES distributes a dividend with an approximate yield of ~1% (mid-2026). See the ACES dividend page for how distributions work. Verify the current figure with SS&C ALPS Advisors.
What are the risks of buying ACES?
+
Like any index ETF, weigh concentration (how much sits in the top holdings), overlap with funds you already own, and whether CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index matches the exposure you actually want. ACES only gives you CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index, not what sits outside it.
How do I decide if ACES is right for me?
+
Start from your goal, then check four things: what ACES holds, its cost versus alternatives, how much it overlaps with what you already own, and whether the exposure fits your time horizon and risk tolerance. Walnut can analyze the overlap against your real holdings; you keep your broker and approve any trade.
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Figures are approximations stamped to mid-2026; verify current data with SS&C ALPS Advisors or your broker. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security.