Energy Infrastructure Income or Clean Energy Growth? MLPX vs. ICLN

Eric Trie, The Motley Fool

Thu, June 18, 2026 astatine 12:06 PM CDT 4 min read

Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (NYSEMKT:MLPX) offers higher income and little volatility done accepted vigor infrastructure, whereas iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN) provides volatile, growth-oriented vulnerability to planetary renewables.

Investors choosing betwixt these funds are deciding betwixt 2 chiseled ends of the powerfulness spectrum. While MLPX targets unchangeable currency flows from pipelines and storage, ICLN bets connected the semipermanent modulation toward solar, wind, and sustainable powerfulness technologies crossed planetary markets.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr instrumentality represents full instrumentality implicit the trailing 12 months. Dividend output is the trailing-12-month organisation yield.

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF is somewhat much affordable with a 0.39% disbursal ratio. MLPX is the much income-oriented fund, portion ICLN is chiefly a thematic equity maturation money

Performance & hazard examination

What's wrong

Global X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (NYSEMKT:MLPX) focuses wholly connected the vigor sector, holding astir 30 positions concentrated successful midstream companies and maestro constricted partnerships. Its largest positions see Tc Energy Corp (NYSE:TRP) astatine 9.28%, Enbridge Inc (NYSE:ENB) astatine 9.12%, and Williams Cos Inc (NYSE:WMB) astatine 8.54%. It aims to supply targeted vulnerability to North American infrastructure portion avoiding the circumstantial taxation filing complexities often associated with owning idiosyncratic MLPs directly.

In contrast, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN) provides a importantly broader portfolio of astir 100 holdings, leaning into utilities astatine 35%, industrials astatine 26%, and vigor astatine 25%. This fund, launched successful 2008, employs an ESG surface and tracks an scale of planetary companies focused connected sustainable powerfulness solutions. Top holdings see Bloom Energy Class A Corp (NYSE:BE) astatine 11.96%, First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) astatine 9.50%, and Nextpower Inc Class A (NASDAQ:NXT) astatine 7.47%.

For much guidance connected ETF investing, cheque retired the afloat usher astatine this link.