Original, independent, thought leadership

Sustain Indices in April 2020: Bond Funds Rocked while Equity Funds Lagged

The Bottom Line:  Markets rebound in April, as stocks and bonds move sharply higher. Sustainable bond funds outperform but equity funds lag their conventional benchmarks. Markets rebound in April as stocks and bonds move sharply higher Optimism fueled by bullish sentiments regarding the COVID-19 medical recovery combined with massive Federal Reserve Bank guarantees of unlimited […]

Performance of Sustainable Funds During Recent Market Rout–Proceed with Caution

The Bottom Line: It’s premature to boast about the outperformance of sustainable mutual funds and ETFs based on the February to March 2020 market rout. Introduction and Conclusion:  It’s premature to boasting about the outperformance of sustainable funds during the recent market rout In the last several weeks, a number of articles, asset management company […]

Sustainable Investment Funds Performance Scorecard: March 2020

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable MFs and ETFS posted average return of -11.94% in March; 52 of 60 top and bottom performers employ ESG integration strategy. Summary The month of March has been one of the most volatile in stock market history, as the world-wide corona virus pandemic produced a simultaneous health crisis, financial crisis and […]

SUSTAIN Equity and Bond Fund Indices Performance: March 2020

The Bottom Line:  Stocks and many bonds retreat in one of the most volatile months in stock market history. SUSTAIN equity indices beat their conventional benchmarks. Stocks and many bond segments retreat in one of the most volatile months in stock market history The month of March has been one of the most volatile in stock […]

Active Management of Sustainable Funds vs. 2019 SPIVA Scorecard

The Bottom Line:  Actively managed US funds posted excellent absolute returns in 2019 but lagged behind indices again while sustainable funds delivered somewhat better results. Actively managed US Equity and bond funds post excellent absolute returns in 2019 but continue to lag behind indices while sustainable funds delivered better results On April 3, S&P Dow […]

SUSTAIN Equity Indices Led in February 2020 while Bonds Lagged

The Bottom Line:  The US stock market in February suffers a sharp decline, bonds gain and sustainable funds across asset classes drop an average -4.25%. Market suffers sharp decline and ends the month of February with a decline of -8.23% The US stock market at the end of February, based on the S&P 500, suffered […]

Sustainable Investment Funds Performance Scorecard: February 2020

The Bottom Line: Sustainable MFs and ETFs posted an average of -4.25% in February; 31 of 60 top and bottom performers employ ESG integration exclusively. February 2020 Sustainable Investment Funds Performance Scorecard    Summary The US stock market at the end of February, based on the S&P 500, suffered the second-worst week since 1941 and one […]

Sustainable Fund Indices Post Better than Average Results in January 2020

The Bottom Line: Markets in January posted mixed results ranging from -11.88% to 6.99%. Two SUSTAIN Indices outperformed while the third lagged by 10 bps. Markets in January reversed course and posted mixed results ranging from -11.88% to 6.99% Markets in January reversed course in response to news of the coronavirus outbreak in the third […]

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