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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights ICLN, QCLN, CNRG, PBD and PBW

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – May 6, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks and ETFs featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN - Free Report) , First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN - Free Report) , State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF (CNRG - Free Report) , Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF (PBD - Free Report) and Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Clean Power in Focus Amid Energy Security Concerns: ETFs to Gain

The transition toward clean and renewable energy is no longer driven solely by environmental considerations. It is increasingly supported by long-term structural drivers, namely the global push for energy security, accelerating electrification and the expansion of the AI-driven tech infrastructure, collectively reinforcing a structural foundation for sustained investment in the sector.

This trend can be highlighted by the performance of the S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index, which tracks companies engaged in clean energy-related businesses. The clean energy index has gained 26.20% year to date and 14.99% so far this quarter.

War-Driven Shock Speeds Up the Energy Transition

Since the onset of the Iran conflict, oil prices have turned increasingly volatile, and with no clear resolution in sight, this volatility is likely to persist. The U.S. crude benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), which was trading below $70 per barrel, has surged to around $104 per barrel.

At the same time, continued hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, raising the risk of continued disruptions to this critical waterway along with damage to regional energy infrastructure, are constraining near-term supply and keeping global energy markets on edge. These disruptions in fossil fuel markets, combined with heightened energy security concerns, are expected to accelerate global investment in clean energy and potentially reignite investor interest in clean energy funds.

Reinforcing this view, Simon Stiell, the U.N. climate secretary, noted that the Middle East conflict is “supercharging” the global shift toward renewable energy, as economies move to reduce their exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, as quoted on Reuters.

Adding to this momentum, rising investment flows into clean power-focused funds signal strengthening investor conviction in the sector’s long-term growth outlook.

Investor Appetite for Clean Power Picks Up

According to data as per Morningstar, as quoted on the Financial Times, clean energy funds are witnessing their strongest investor flows in five years, as the persistent Iran conflict amplifies the shift toward energy security and non-fossil alternatives.

Per the Morningstar data, in April alone, more than $3 billion flowed into global renewable energy ETFs, pushing total assets to $43 billion and marking the strongest monthly inflows since January 2021. As per Charles de Boissezon, Société Générale’s global head of equity strategy, as quoted on the abovementioned Financial Times article, the renewed focus on clean energy may appear to be a rebound in renewables, but is in reality an energy security trade.

Energy Security: The New Driver of Clean Energy Demand

Uncertainty around energy security is emerging as a key catalyst behind the renewed focus on clean energy. The Middle East conflict has highlighted the vulnerabilities of fossil fuel dependence, prompting global economies to accelerate renewable capacity, strengthen energy independence and diversify their energy mix.

The resulting energy shock is likely to further accelerate investment in clean energy. As the conflict persists and energy security remains a top priority, governments are expected to introduce more supportive policies for the green transition, providing an additional tailwind for the sector.

Clean Energy ETFs in Focus

These clean energy ETFs are well-positioned to benefit from the sector’s accelerating momentum. However, investment decisions should not be driven by short-term movements in oil prices, where rising prices prompt increased exposure and declines lead to pullbacks.

Instead, investors are better served by focusing on the structurally robust drivers underpinning the clean energy transition and maintaining a long-term investment horizon to fully capture the sector’s growth potential.

Investors can consider iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund, State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF, Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF and Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF.

With a one-month average trading volume of 6.53 million shares, ICLN is the most liquid option. ICLN has also gathered an asset base of $2.52 billion, with the largest asset base among the other options. Regarding charging annual fees, ICLN is the cheapest option, charging 0.39%, suitable for long-term investing.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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