ETF Evaluator: Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF () Follow This ETF

Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF Overview

Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) is an actively managed Sector Equity Alternative Energy exchange-traded fund (ETF). Virtus launched the ETF in 2021.

The investment seeks capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest not less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of clean energy companies. The sub-adviser defines clean energy companies as those that derive at least 50% of their value from one or more of the following clean energy businesses: (a) the production of clean energy; (b) the provision of clean energy technology and equipment; or (c) the transmission and distribution of clean energy. It is non-diversified.

About Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN)

There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.25 years: Benjamin Bielawski (2021). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.

The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P Global BMI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and S&P Global Clean Energy Trnsitn NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has 46 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 51.1% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.

Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has 59.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 40.3% There is 59.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.2% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has 0.2% of the portfolio in cash.

Assets Under Management

The fund has $4 million in total assets, which is below the $409 million average for the Alternative Energy category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.

VCLN Performance and Fees

The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Alternative Energy category. Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has an expense ratio of 0.59%, which is 5% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.

High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 49%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 41% for the Alternative Energy category.

Recently, in the month of October 2026, Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF returned -8.2%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Alternative Energy category had an average return of -7.8%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.

Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF has a trailing yield of 2.13%, which is above the 1.67% category average. The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually.

It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.

Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF Grades

Year to date, the ETF has returned -1.1%, 6.6 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned -3.4% over the past year (grade of A), 18.5% over the past three years (grade of A) and -1.2% per year over the past five years (grade of A).

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