Is QCLN a Buy? What to Consider in 2026
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
The case for QCLN is simple: low-cost, diversified exposure to NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index at a 0.59% expense ratio, anchored by names like BE, TSLA, MPWR. If that is the exposure you want and you do not already own most of it through another fund, QCLN 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 NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index and at what cost. Not a recommendation; Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What are you buying with QCLN?
QCLN tracks the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index, a market-cap-weighted group of US-listed clean-energy companies spanning solar, advanced batteries, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and enabling power semiconductors. The expense ratio is ~0.59%. Compared with the broader, cheaper ICLN, QCLN is more concentrated in US names and leans heavily on its top holdings.
Largest holdings (approximate as of mid-2026; verify on First Trust Advisors's fund page):
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of QCLN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BE | Bloom Energy Corp | ~9.2% | |
| 2 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | ~8.4% | |
| 3 | MPWR | Monolithic Power Systems | ~7.7% | |
| 4 | ON | ON Semiconductor Corp | ~6.8% | |
| 5 | FSLR | First Solar Inc | ~6.7% | |
| 6 | RIVN | Rivian Automotive Inc | ~4.6% | |
| 7 | AEIS | Advanced Energy Industries | ~4.2% | |
| 8 | ALGM | Allegro MicroSystems Inc | ~3.8% | |
| 9 | VICR | Vicor Corp | ~3.8% | |
| 10 | AYI | Acuity Brands Inc | ~3.5% |
What's the case for QCLN?
QCLN is a clean-energy index ETF from First Trust that tracks the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index, a market-cap-weighted basket of US-listed companies across solar, advanced batteries, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and power semiconductors. It holds names like Bloom Energy, Tesla, First Solar, and ON Semiconductor. The expense ratio is ~0.59%, which is higher than a broad market fund. It suits investors who want concentrated thematic exposure to the clean-energy transition rather than a diversified core holding. The obvious peer is ICLN, which is broader and cheaper.
In its favour: it gives you NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index exposure in one ticker at a 0.59% expense ratio, which is simple to hold and cheap to own.
What should you weigh before buying QCLN?
- Cost vs alternatives: 0.59% is the fee; compare it to funds tracking a similar index.
- Concentration: check how much of QCLN sits in its largest holdings (BE, TSLA, MPWR).
- Overlap: if you already own a broad-market fund, you may already hold much of this.
- Tracking scope: QCLN only gives you NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index; it will not capture what sits outside that index.
How do you decide if QCLN is a buy?
The useful question is rarely “will QCLN 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 QCLN 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 QCLN
The bottom line: QCLN is a low-cost core building block for NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index exposure, not a tactical bet on a single name. If you want NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index exposure and the 0.59% 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 QCLN with Walnut
Use QCLN 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 QCLN a good ETF to buy?
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Whether QCLN fits depends on your goals, time horizon, and what you already hold. It tracks NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index at a 0.59% 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 QCLN actually hold?
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QCLN tracks NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index. Its largest positions include BE, TSLA, MPWR, ON, FSLR and others (approximate, verify on First Trust Advisors's fund page). The holdings are what you are really buying, not the ticker.
What is QCLN's expense ratio?
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0.59% 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 QCLN pay a dividend?
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QCLN distributes a dividend with an approximate yield of ~0.9% (mid-2026). See the QCLN dividend page for how distributions work. Verify the current figure with First Trust Advisors.
What are the risks of buying QCLN?
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Like any index ETF, weigh concentration (how much sits in the top holdings), overlap with funds you already own, and whether NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index matches the exposure you actually want. QCLN only gives you NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index, not what sits outside it.
How do I decide if QCLN is right for me?
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Start from your goal, then check four things: what QCLN 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 First Trust Advisors or your broker. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security.