Original, independent, thought leadership

Largest 50 sustainable investment funds-April 2024

The Bottom Line:  The largest 50 sustainable funds represent a good starting point for identifying and evaluating candidates for a diversified investment portfolio’s core positions. The largest 50 sustainable investment funds represent a good starting point for identifying and evaluating core candidates for building a diversified sustainable investment portfolio The largest 50 sustainable investment funds, […]

Getting Started: Large-cap blended index mutual funds and ETFs

The Bottom Line: Six qualifying funds available for investors seeking a sustainable large-cap blended index mutual fund or ETF investment option to serve as an anchor position in a sustainable investment portfolio. Large-cap blended index fund:  An anchor position in a sustainable investment portfolio Investors seeking a sustainable large-cap blended index mutual fund or ETF […]

Largest sustainable investment funds going into 2024

The Bottom Line:  A number of the largest ten sustainable investment funds can each serve as a sustainable investment portfolio’s anchor equity or bond position. Largest sustainable mutual funds and ETFs as of November 30, 2023, with trailing 12-month performance resultsNotes of Explanation:  Total net assets combine all share classes.  For mutual funds, trailing 12-month […]

SRA Select Listing: ESG Integration Investment Funds-Q1 2022

Sustainable investors can establish cost-effective diversified portfolios of funds that pursue an ESG Integration investing approach aligned with their financial profile and risk tolerance (1). Summary Sustainable investors seeking to establish a diversified investment fund portfolio that pursues an ESG Integration investing approach, as defined and  based on the criteria set out below, should consider […]

S&P 500 and selected sustainable indices recover in October

The Bottom Line:  The S&P 500 gained 7.0% and erased September’s -4.7% decline; selected sustainable indices also bounced back with beats from 0.01% to 2.41%. October summary Gaining confidence from strong earnings reports, investors drove stock prices higher in October and the S&P 500 gained 7.0%, erasing last month’s -4.7% decline.  Selected sustainable securities market […]

ESG Integration Should Not Be Confused with Responsible Investing Practices

An article by Vito J. Racanelli entitled “A Setback for ESG in California” that appeared in last week’s November 5, 2018 edition of Barron’s on the subject of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) election last month that resulted in the ouster of board president Priya Mathur, a 15-year veteran and a strong champion of the public pension […]

For Index Fund Investors, Shedding Gun Companies and Gun Retailers May Not be an Option

Summary The effectiveness of divestment strategies aside, index fund investors who may wish to avoid investments in the stocks and bonds of weapons manufacturers and retailers in light of recent mass shootings in Florida, may be challenged to do so. Alternative investment vehicles are not readily available. In the absence of arms-free indexes, alternative near-term […]

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments