Podcasts about esg etfs

More Top ESG ETFs and Companies. Includes reviews and links to 16 articles with great ETF and stock recommendations globally. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 154, June 13, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 154, published June 13, 2025, titled “More Top ESG ETFs and Companies.” So, this podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, please visit this podcast's webpage for links to the articles and additional company and stock information. I have a great crop of 16 articles for you in this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- More Top ESG ETFs and Companies (1) My first review article appeared on a favourite investor website, morningstar.com. It's titled Five Top ESG ETFs for US Investors and is written by Hannah Hummel. Here are some brief comments on each ETF from Ms. Hummel. “To find these 174 sustainable ETFs, we applied multiple screens across all exchange-traded funds in Morningstar's database, selecting only equity investments that are both domiciled in the United States and traded on a United States Exchange. Next, we filtered the remaining ETFs down to only those Morningstar designates as an ‘ESG Intentional Investment – Overall.' (Read here.)… All fund sizes are as of June 2, 2025. 1. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF ESGU Morningstar Category: Large Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Silver Morningstar ESG Risk Rating: Above Average Analyst: Lan Anh Tran IShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF tops our screen with $13.37 billion in assets under management. Incepted in December 2016, the fund has returned 0.48% year to date, trailing a 1.06% return for the S&P 500 and a 0.86% return for the Morningstar US Market Index in 2025. Over the past three years, the fund has posted a 13.59% annualized return, underperforming the S&P 500 at 14.41% and the Morningstar US Market Index at 14.05%. This passively managed fund tracks the MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index. 2. Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF ESGV Morningstar Category: Large Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Silver Morningstar ESG Risk Rating: Above Average Analyst: Lan Anh Tran The only ETF offered by a provider other than iShares that places among our screen's five largest vehicles is the $10.16 billion Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF. The Silver Morningstar Medalist was launched… in September 2018. Year to date, investors have seen a negative 0.21% return, leaving the fund trailing the S&P 500 and the Morningstar US Market Index by 1.27 percentage points and 1.07 percentage points, respectively. In the past three years, however, the fund has delivered a 14.45% annualized return, slightly overperforming the S&P 500 at 14.41%. Like the other four largest funds in our screen, Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF is passively managed, designed to replicate the performance of the FTSE USA All Cap Choice Index. 3. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF ESGD Morningstar Category: Foreign Large Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Silver Morningstar ESG Risk Rating: Above Average Analyst: Zachary Evens The largest ETF falling under the foreign large-blend Morningstar Category and the third largest across our screen overall is the $9.73 billion iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF. Opened to investors in June 2016, this Silver medalist has returned an impressive 16.7% year to date against a 5.22% return for the Morningstar Global Markets Index. The fund's three-year annualized return is 11.3%, trailing the Morningstar Global Markets Index by 0.42 percentage points. In keeping with the remainder of the five largest funds in our screen, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF is passively managed, tracking the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus Index. 4. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF ESGE Morningstar Category: Diversified Emerging Markets Morningstar Medalist Rating: Bronze Morningstar ESG Risk Rating: Above Average Analyst: Lan Anh Tran IShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF ranks fourth in our screen with $4.73 billion in assets under management. Launched in June 2018, the IShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF has returned 9.74% in 2025, beating a 7.54% return for the Morningstar Emerging Markets Index. Looking over a longer horizon, the fund's three-year annualized return is 4.62%, trailing a 5.46% return for the Morningstar Emerging Markets Index. This Bronze Morningstar Medalist is passively managed, seeking to replicate the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Extended ESG Focus Index. 5. iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF DSI Morningstar Category: Large Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Bronze Morningstar ESG Risk Rating: High Analyst: Ryan Jackson Rounding out our list of the top five largest US-domiciled ESG Equity ETFs is iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF with $4.5 billion in assets under management. Incepted in November 2006, it is the oldest fund among the five largest in our screen by nearly a decade. Year to date, DSI has returned negative 0.88%, trailing the S&P 500 by 0.18 percentage points, but outperforming the Morningstar US Market Index by 0.02 percentage points. This Bronze Morningstar Medalist passive fund seeks to replicate the performance of the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More Top ESG ETFs and Companies (2) Now, another article by Hannah Hummel on morningstar.com. This one is titled 2 Top Undervalued EV Stocks to Watch Now. Again, some brief quotes on each stock by her. Morningstar Data as of May 13, 2025. “1. Analog Devices ADI Morningstar Economic Moat Rating: Wide Price/Fair Value: 0.93 Morningstar Rating: 4 stars Sector: Technology Analog Devices is a leading global manufacturer of mixed-signal and analog chips. [Its] chips function by translating environmental conditions like temperature and sound into viable digital signals. The company supplies chips to a diverse range of end markets, including automotive companies, as well as manufacturers of medical devices, robots, and industrial machinery. In both fiscal 2022 and 2023, the adjusted operating margin for the firm hit 49%, though it has since declined to 41% in fiscal 2024. Morningstar anticipates, however, that the adjusted operating margin for Analog Devices could reach 50% by fiscal 2028, bolstered by a projected 9% average annual growth in sales. Considering Morningstar's current fair value estimate of $245 per share, projections for fiscal 2025 are in line with a 3% free cash flow yield. At a recent $226.68 per share, Analog Devices was trading at a 7% discount to Morningstar's fair value estimate. 2. NXP Semiconductors NXPI Morningstar Economic Moat Rating: Wide Price/Fair Value: 0.76 Morningstar Rating: 4 stars Sector: Technology NXP Semiconductors is a prominent player among automotive semiconductor manufacturers. Like Analog Devices, the firm's expertise is not limited solely to automotive chipmaking, as it also sells to the mobile, communications infrastructure, and industrial markets. Moreover, through enabling near-field communication, or NFC, NXP Semiconductors powers the mobile wallet offerings of multiple high-profile clients, the likes of which include Google GOOGL and Apple AAPL. Although the firm lost 5.0% in revenue in 2024 and Morningstar models an 8.5% decrease in revenue this year amid tariff-related market challenges, Morningstar anticipates a recovery by 2026. Indeed, Morningstar models indicate that NXP Semiconductors' revenue could increase 6% in 2026 as EV designs call for an increasing proportion of chips embedded into their systems. Morningstar's fair value estimate for NXP Semiconductors currently sits at $280 per share, indicating a 6% free cash flow yield for 2025. At a recent $212.40 per share, NXP Semiconductors was trading at a 24% discount to Morningstar's fair value estimate.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More Top ESG ETFs and Companies (3) My third article brings us back to a favourite sector for ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Amid Escalated Tariff Uncertainty and was found on zacks.com and is by analyst Aparajita Dutta. Her article is a comprehensive review and analysis of the industry and a few of its leading companies. Here are some quotes by Ms. Dutta from her article. “The Alternative Energy Industry has outperformed its sector as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively surged 41.9% in the past year against the Oils-Energy sector's 9.8% decline. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 11.7% in the same time frame… 1. Ormat Technologies ORA Based in Reno, NV, the company is primarily engaged in the geothermal energy power business. On May 27, 2025, Ormat Technologies announced a $62 million Hybrid Tax Equity partnership with Morgan Stanley Renewables to support its Lower Rio and Arrowleaf energy storage and solar projects, expected to be operational by the end of 2025. This innovative financing will help Ormat monetize $160 million in tax benefits in 2025, boosting profitability and supporting its long-term energy storage growth strategy. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's 2025 sales implies an improvement of 8.4% from the previous year's estimated figure. The stock boasts a long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate of 10%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Ormat Technologies, Inc. (ORA): Free Stock Analysis Report. 2. Standard Lithium SLI Based in Vancouver, Canada, Standard Lithium is a technology and lithium development company. Its flagship project is located in southern Arkansas, where it is engaged in the testing and proving of the commercial viability of lithium extraction. On May 29, 2025, it was announced that Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, has secured AOGC approval for a 2.5% lithium royalty rate for Phase I of its South West Arkansas Project, marking the first such approval in the state. This milestone sets a regulatory precedent and enhances Standard Lithium's pathway to commercial production by 2028. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Standard Lithium's 2025 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 8 cents per share, suggesting a solid improvement from the year-ago quarter's reported loss of 13 cents. The bottom line beat the consensus estimate in the last reported quarter. Standard Lithium currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Standard Lithium Ltd. (SLI): Free Stock Analysis Report. 3. Bloom Energy BE.VI Based in San Jose, CA, the company generates and distributes renewable energy. On April 30, 2025, Bloom Energy posted its first-quarter 2025 results. Revenues of $326 million reflected an increase of 38.6% year over year. Bloom Energy's gross margin was 27.2%, reflecting a 110 basis points improvement over last year's reported figure. The stock holds a long-term earnings growth rate of 24.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales implies an improvement of 19.3% from the previous year's reported figure. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Bloom Energy Corporation (BE): Free Stock Analysis Report.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- More articles of interest from around the world for ethical and sustainable investors 1. Title: Best Natural and Organic Food Stocks to Keep an Eye On in 2025 on finance.yahoo.com. (Updated.) By Sumit Singh of Zacks. Original article featured in my Podcast: The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors. 2. Title: 5 Best Sustainable Investment Platforms for UK Investors on moneymagpie.com. By Ruby Layram. 3. Title: Triodos Investment Fund Earns Rare Perfect Score on financial-news.co.uk. By Danielle Trigg. 4. Title: Triodos Bank UK Recognised as Ethical ‘Best Buy' for Investment Funds and Stocks & Shares ISAs. On and by ffnews.com. 5. Title: Top 10: Sustainable Supply Chains on sustainabilitymag.com. By James Darley. 6. Title: M & T Bank a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.9% Yield (MTB) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 7. Title: Top 10: ESG Ratings Providers on sustainabilitymag.com. By James Darley. 8. Title: Australian Ethical Investment Leads These 3 Promising Small Caps with Strong Potential on and by simplywall.st/stocks/au. 9. Title: These 3 Nuclear Stocks Should Be on Your Energy Radar on oilprice.com. By Alex Kimani. 10. Title: There's Absolutely Massive Demand Growth Ahead for This Well-Positioned High-Yield Stock on finance.yahoo.com. By Reuben Gregg Brewer. 11. Title: Our top rated ESG ETFs on morningstar.com.au. By Simonelle Mody. 12. Title: How to Invest in Green Bonds on morningstar.com. (Lists 6 green bond funds). By Charity Blue and Leslie P. Norton. 13. Title: The 50 most sustainable companies in Europe on corporateknights.com. Introduction by Tristan Bronca. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, “More Top ESG ETFs and Companies.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I'll talk to you next on June 27th. Bye for now.   © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Neues Rekordhoch für den DAX! Die Märkte profitieren von politischem Rückenwind, dem "TACO-Trade" rund um Trump und der Aussicht auf Zinssenkungen durch die EZB. Infineon, Airbus und DHL glänzen, Redcare fällt tief. Im Börsenradio-Podcast sprechen Bankexperte Prof. Peter Scholz über ESG-ETFs, wikifoliotrader Marco Schai über Tech-Strategien und TBF-Produktmanager Max Dreide über Europas Halbleiterchampions. Jetzt reinhören!

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Watch Alix and Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Bailey Lipschultz, Bloomberg News Equities Reporter, talks GameStop and recent meme stock mania. Shelby McFaddin, Investment Analyst at Motley Fool Asset Management, discusses her outlook for the markets. Mandeep Singh, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Tech Industry Analyst, talks about Reddit forging a pact with OpenAI. Ryan Fox, Bloomberg Intelligence Analyst Covering Paper Packaging, discusses his recent report, on his mid year outlook for box shipments. Shaheen Contractor, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ESG Strategist, talks about her outlook for ESG ETFs.Hosts: Paul Sweeney and Alix Steel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To HECS or not to HECS, that is the question! Owen Rask & financial adviser Alex Luck answer YOUR questions today, covering HECS debts, car loans, building an ethical investment portfolio, making super contributions, investment properties and more. Ask a question: https://bit.ly/3QtiY00 Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes Kate's book, Buying Happiness: https://bit.ly/kate-amazon Invest with Owen: https://bit.ly/R-invest Mortgage Broking: https://bit.ly/broke-rask Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan Property Coaching: https://bit.ly/R-P-coach 100-point property checklist (PDF): https://bit.ly/prop-check Accounting with Grey Space: http://bit.ly/3DG5lWS Business Coaching: https://bit.ly/o-coach Pearler, the broker for long-term investors. Sign up to Pearler using the code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit: bit.ly/Pearler DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you're confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In dieser Podcastfolge habe ich mit dem Börsianer Christian Röhl gesprochen. Wir haben über seine Tätigkeit als Aktionärsvertreter, Hauptversammlungen und das Thema nachhaltiges Investieren diskutiert und ob ESG ETFs wirklich die Welt verbessern können. Viel Spaß beim Zuhören! ➡️ Zur LINKBOX (Links zu unseren Produkten und Werbepartnern): https://www.finanzfluss.de/podcast-linkbox/ ℹ️ Weitere Infos zur Folge: Diese Folge als Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bps4YH3iIio

On this episode of the Aquest Podcast I'm joined by Adrian Mulryan, CEO of Invesco Investment Management to talk about ETFs (mostly!). We begin by reflecting on the predictions made by Adrian the last time he came on the podcast in 2018.  His predictions were pretty accurate, to be fair, and he wasn't shy about reminding me either. We go on to chat about the continued growth of ETFs, both in terms of assets under management and product range.  We take quite an in-depth look at ESG ETFs and how investors are driving strong inflows here.  We also chat about product innovations, active ETFs and speculate on the tokenization of ETFs.  Let's see how accurate these predictions prove to be in 2029!  Enjoy

Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Includes SRI ETFs, sustainable carbon capture stocks, analysis on Enphase or Plug Power?   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 128, April 19, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 128 titled “Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More…” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 4 article links below that time didn't allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… It's been a while since I included an article focusing on ESG ETFs, so here's one from a good publication that just appeared on aol.com. It's titled Best ESG ETFs: Top funds for socially responsible investing. It's by Brian Baker at The Banker. Here are some quotes from the article. “1) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF tries to match the performance of the FTSE U.S. All Cap Choice Index and screens for certain ESG criteria. Certain companies in the following industries are excluded from the fund: adult entertainment, alcohol, fossil fuels, gambling, nuclear power, tobacco and weapons. 5-year return (annualized): 14.6 percent Expense ratio: 0.09 percent 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF seeks to track the performance of an index of global stocks from the clean energy sector. These companies produce energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind. 5-year return (annualized): 8.0 percent Expense ratio: 0.41 percent 3) iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF gives investors exposure to large- and mid-cap stocks that score highly on ESG issues relative to their sector peers. The fund avoids holding companies with low ESG ratings or severe controversies. 3-year return (annualized): 11.5 percent Expense ratio: 0.10 percent 4) Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF uses a passive approach to invest in large-cap companies with value characteristics that also meet certain ESG criteria. 5-year return (annualized): 7.9 percent Expense ratio: 0.26 percent 5) SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (SPYX) The SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF gives investors focused on climate change exposure to the S&P 500 while eliminating companies that own fossil fuel reserves. It's a great choice if you're looking for fairly traditional investment exposure with a slight focus on climate change. 5-year return (annualized): 14.4 percent Expense ratio: 0.20 percent 6) iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) The iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF seeks to track the performance of an index made up of companies that derive the majority of their revenue from products and services that address at least one of the world's major social and environmental challenges as defined by the United Nations. 5-year return (annualized): 7.1 percent Expense ratio: 0.49 percent 7) iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF tracks the results of an index of U.S. companies with ESG features that show a similar risk and return profile as the overall MSCI USA Index. The fund includes large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks, and those looking for exposure to high-performing stocks with an ESG-bent may find what they're looking for here. 5-year return (annualized): 14.2 percent Expense ratio: 0.15 percent” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Now carbon capture has been gaining increasing attention as a means to reduce CO2. Hence, this article might interest many of you. It's titled TOP 5 CARBON CAPTURE STOCKS FOR SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT. It's by the Ritz Herald and found on their site at ritzherald.com. Here are some quotes from the article commenting on some of the leading companies in this sector. “Carbon capture technology has emerged as a promising avenue for mitigating the impact of greenhouse gasses on the environment… Research shows that the carbon capture market is predicted to hit $7.7 billion by 2025, further emphasizing the potential for growth in this sector. With governments worldwide implementing stricter regulations on emissions and offering incentives for carbon capture initiatives, the market is ripe for investment… The top five carbon capture stocks identified herein not only offer potential returns for investors but also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. 1) Dotz is a leading nanotechnology company traded on the ASX [Australian Securities Exchange], is at the forefront of innovation with its carbon-based nanotechnologies… Dotz's primary focus is on DotzEarth, a revolutionary CO2 capture carbon-based sorbent technology designed for industrial decarbonization, which addresses two major environmental challenges – 1) industrial carbon emissions and 2) plastic pollution. 2) Aker Carbon Capture is a specialized enterprise dedicated to carbon capture, offering an array of solutions, services, and technologies tailored for various industries. These encompass sectors such as cement, bioenergy, waste-to-energy, gas-to-power, and blue hydrogen… Its distinctive post-combustion capture technology is the culmination of an extensive eight-year research and development endeavor known as SOLVit. Throughout this program, numerous solvent mixtures were meticulously tested and compared to refine the innovation. The resulting plants boast several key advantages, including minimal energy demands, a highly durable solvent, and outstanding performance in health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE) metrics. 3) FuelCell Energy delivers efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly solutions for energy supply, recovery, and storage… These systems cater to utilities, industrial entities, and large municipal power users, offering a diverse range of solutions including utility-scale power generation, on-site power, carbon capture, local hydrogen production for transportation and industry, and long-duration energy storage… 4) Equinor is a global energy enterprise dedicated to fostering lasting value creation in a future characterized by low-carbon initiatives… As a key player on the Norwegian continental shelf and with substantial international operations, Equinor is deeply involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources, alongside expanding interests in wind and solar power. 5) Delta CleanTech has been at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art technology for pre/post-combustion CO2 capture from industrial sources since 2004… Central to Delta's portfolio is its CO2 capture system, known as Low-Cost Design or LCDesign®. This innovative system is designed to significantly reduce various key parameters, including CAPEX & OPEX (CO2 Cost), emissions, effluent, waste, chemical, and water consumption, as well as plant size and labor requirements.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… The next article appeared on the renowned Morningstar.com site. It's titled 2 Sustainable Index Stocks With Room to Grow and is by Muskaan Hemrajani and Leslie P. Norton. Here's a little of what they said about their picks. “WestRock and Carnival surged in 2023 but still look cheap today… That's our conclusion after perusing the Morningstar US Sustainability Index, which seeks to reduce ESG risk while tracking the Morningstar US Large-Mid Cap Index… 1) WestRock WRK  Morningstar Rating: 3 Stars Fair Value: $55.00 ESG Risk Rating: Medium Price (as of April 8, 2024): $49.25 WestRock manufactures corrugated packaging and consumer packaging products, such as folding cartons and paperboard. It accounts for roughly 20% of the North American containerboard market and is the second-largest producer. The company has returned nearly 60% in the past year… Spencer Liberman, Morningstar equity analyst, writes: ‘WestRock is exposed to some environmental, social, and governance risks, including carbon emissions from the firm's operation and sizable water usage for production. However, we don't believe these risks could result in material value destruction.' 2) Carnival CCL Morningstar Rating: 5 Stars Fair Value: $27.50 ESG Risk Rating: Medium Price (as of April 8, 2024): $15.66 Carnival is trading at a 45% discount. Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 92 ships in service at the end of fiscal 2023. Carnival's brands attracted nearly 13 million guests in 2019, prior to covid-19, a level it has reached again in 2023… Writes Jamie Katz, equity analyst at Morningstar, in a report. ‘Carnival's first-quarter performance suggests continuing demand momentum. Net yields were up 18%, helped by an 11% increase in occupancy, along with ticket and onboard gains.'” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Many of you are likely invested in the stocks covered in this next article titled Enphase Energy vs. Plug Power: Which Alternative Energy Stock Does Wall Street Like Best? It's by Ebube Jones at Barcharts and found on theglobeandmail.com site. Now some quotes from the article. “The Case for Enphase Energy Stock (ENPH) With a market cap of $16 billion, Enphase Energy is a big name in the solar energy game. They're all about making solar power more efficient and user-friendly, offering tech like microinverters and energy storage systems to both homeowners and business customers… At current levels… Enphase stock is priced at a discount… Out of 34 analysts… Enphase has landed a ‘moderate buy' rating overall… The average target price is pegged at $125.38, suggesting a potential 4.4% upside from here.  The Case for Plug Power Stock (PLUG) Plug Power is making waves in the hydrogen and fuel cell tech scene, focusing on creating hydrogen fuel cell systems that could replace the usual batteries in electric-powered equipment and vehicles. They've got a lineup of tech that includes fuel cells, hydrogen fueling stations, and even their own green hydrogen production.  Wall Street's take on Plug Power is a cautious ‘hold.' The average target price for PLUG is $5.30, about 79% north of current levels.  The Verdict: Enphase Edges Out Plug Power Enphase Energy seems to be the Wall Street favorite of these two clean energy stocks… Plug Power, on the other hand, is stuck at a ‘hold,' and has yet to turn a profit… But, keep an eye on Plug Power too - if they can get those hydrogen plants up and running and start turning a profit, they could be a serious contender in the longer haul.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… I'm going to end with this article titled Al Gore's Hedge Fund Loves This $445 Billion Stock. It's by the Motley Fool and seen on theglobeandmail.com. “Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president, co-founded Generation Investment Management in 2004. Today, the firm manages nearly $50 billion, all of which is directed to investments that the firm believes won't destroy the planet… Where is Al Gore's investment firm putting money to work today? One of its biggest investments -- a stake worth roughly $560 million -- is in a company nearly everyone knows well: Mastercard (NYSE: MA)… During the past two decades, Mastercard stock has risen more than 10,000% in value… Gore's firm has owned Mastercard stock since the second quarter of 2022. Don't be surprised to still see it in the portfolio many years down the road.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title: How First Solar Crushed Its Solar Energy Rivals on finance.yahoo.com. By Travis Hoium, The Motley Fool. 2) Title: 4 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Buoyed by Solid Investments on finance.yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 3) Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Ride the Mega Trend Higher on investorplace.com. By Terel Miles. 4) Title: Wall Street Favorites: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings for April 2024 on investorplace.com. By Faizan Farooque. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More…” Now, please be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I'll talk to you next on May 3rd. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Watch Alix and Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.On this week's podcast, Mary Ross Gilbert, Bloomberg Intelligence, Senior Equity Analyst, Covering Retail, discusses Kohl's earnings. George Ferguson, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Aerospace, Defense, and Airlines Analyst, discusses how challenges at Boeing will impact the U.S airline market going forward. Shaheen Contractor, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ESG Strategist, discusses her outlook for ESG ETFs in 2024. Brody Ford, Bloomberg Tech Reporter, discusses Oracle earnings. Gautam Naik, Bloomberg Senior Editor covering ESG Investing, discusses his Big Take story “How a Physics Whiz Made a Fortune Betting on Nature's Catastrophe's.”Hosts: Alix Steel and Jennifer RyanThe Bloomberg Intelligence radio show with Paul Sweeney and Alix Steel podcasts through Apple's iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg's flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 121 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and iPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., has more than 400 professionals who provide in-depth analysis on more than 2,000 companies and 135 industries while considering strategic, equity and credit perspectives. BI also provides interactive data from over 500 independent contributors. It is available exclusively for Bloomberg Terminal subscribers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 123, February 9, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 123 titled “Great Sustainable Stocks and Funds for 2024.” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. And look at my newly revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think. Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 13 article links below that time didn't allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10: ESG Stocks to Consider in 2024 I'm beginning this episode with an article titled Top 10: ESG Stocks to Consider in 2024. It's by Kate Birch and found on sustainabilitymag.com. Here are a few quotes by Ms. Birch on each of her picks. “1. Nvidia MSCI Rating: AAA The microchip megastar is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom… The company has built what looks like an unassailable lead in the AI race, accounting for more than 70% of AI chip sales and widely recognised as the best, not just the biggest… MSCI finds that Nvidia – when the chips are down – could do better when it comes to corporate governance. 2. Microsoft MSCI Rating: AAA Microsoft is another tech giant… getting high on AI. Savvy investment in ChatGPT's creator OpenAI has put Microsoft in pole position… Microsoft is working toward 100% renewable energy by 2025, carbon negative by 2030, and has famously set out to offset all historical carbon emissions since it was formed in 1975 by 2050. 3. Best Buy MSCI Rating: AAA The tech retail giant which has more than 1,000 stores in the US and Canada… The company has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040 and has already reduced carbon emissions by two thirds since 2009.  Barron's has named Best Buy in the 100 Most Sustainable US Companies for six years running, this year taking 7th position. 4​​​​​​​. Adobe MSCI Rating: AAA An industry standard software for the creative industries – from design to video editing… The company has set a goal of sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2035. 5. Intuit MSCI Rating: AAA Intuit… has been praised by MSCI for its corporate governance, human capital development, and carbon emissions. You've probably heard of Intuit thanks to its accounting software QuickBooks, and it's the company behind Mailchimp and Credit Karma too.  6. Idexx MSCI Rating: AAA Most well known as a company that helps pets live longer, healthier lives via diagnostics and tech innovations, Idexx products help ensure the safety of milk and water around the world – for humans too.  Listed in the S&P 500, Idexx employs 11,000 people and has customers in more than 175 countries and territories. 7. Lam Research MSCI Rating: AAA Lam makes equipment that makes the semiconductors we all rely on, and business is booming.  Lam is adopting sustainability across its organisation as it aims to reach net zero by 2050 and use 100% renewable energy by 2030.  8. Salesforce MSCI Rating: AA Everyone has surely heard of Salesforce – the cloud-based software that handles customer relationship management (CRM) and applications focused on sales and customer service… Pre-pandemic, Salesforce was ranked AAA but that dropped to AA in November 2020 and that is where it remains… MSCI says it… is seen as a laggard when it comes to corporate behaviour. 9. POOLCORP MSCI Rating: AA Pool manufactures equipment and machinery for swimming pools, and is the largest such company in the world… Pool was upgraded from an A to AA in 2019 in recognition of efforts made to be more sustainable, especially when it comes to labour management, where MSCI says it is a leader. 10. Cadence MSCI Rating: AA MSCI does not recognise it as an ESG Laggard in any of its criteria. However, Cadence misses out on the highest ranking as it is, well, bang average on too many criteria, including carbon emissions and human capital development.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- America's Most Responsible Companies 2024 The next article is another ranking. It's titled America's Most Responsible Companies 2024. The cover article is by Nancy Cooper and seen on newsweek.com. Here are a few quotes by Ms. Cooper. “This year, we award 600 of the largest corporations in the United States, up from 500 in 2022. While that increase is noteworthy, even more so is the fact that the company in this year's 600th spot has a higher score than last year's 500th. It is also worth mentioning that 243 companies on the list have placed for at least four consecutive years, with 156 earning a spot for all five years… This year's top overall position is held by Merck (MRK) having an impressive score of 92 out of 100, with Xylem (XYL) following closely at 91.3 and HP (HPQ), which held the No. 1 position for the previous four years, maintaining a solid presence in third with a score of 90.3. Three companies stand out for scoring 100 in one of the three ESG pillars: Dell (DELL), Entergy (ETR) and Merck.'” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Now Next, back to a familiar favorite sector with this article titled 7 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Now. It's by Jeff Reeves and appeared on money.usnews.com. Now some quotes from Mr. Reeves on his recommendations. “1. Array Technologies Inc. (ARRY) Array provides technology solutions that support solar array efficiency by moving panels to track the sun across the sky. This includes both the physical rigs as well as proprietary software that points them in the right direction at the right time… Average analyst estimates call for earnings per share to rise from $1.03 per share in 2023 to $1.27 per share in 2024. Revenue is growing nicely, too, with a projected 20% growth rate in 2024. Market capitalization: $2 billion 2. Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) Though headquartered in Canada, Canadian Solar also has significant international operations, including in the fast-growing solar marketplace of China. And unlike some of the other stocks on this list that only produce solar panels or related hardware, Canadian Solar has a global energy segment that provides the actual power generation from solar farms… This diversification into a utility-style business model provides it a bit more stability… analyst projections of 26% revenue growth in 2024. Market capitalization: $1.5 billion 3. Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ) Daqo is headquartered in China… Woods Mackenzie published a report in November that stated China will have more than 80% of the world's solar manufacturing capacity through 2026. Daqo's growth rate is impressive, with total revenue of $4.6 billion in 2022 compared with about $300 million back in 2018. Market capitalization: $1.3 billion 4. Enphase Energy Inc. (ENPH) Many solar investors are drawn to Enphase, both because it's larger than many dedicated solar rivals and because of its impressive 1,489% share price increase over the past five years through Jan. 25. Enphase has made a name for itself by specializing in semiconductor products known as ‘microinverters,' which convert energy captured in those cells into usable energy for homes and businesses… Truist just upgraded the stock in January, and Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage with a ‘buy' rating in the past few weeks, too.  Market capitalization: $14.5 billion 5. First Solar Inc. (FSLR) Founded in 1999… manufactures solar modules, mainly serving large-scale developers and operators of utilities or independent power grids for commercial and industrial use. The gloomy outlook for the industry in 2023 didn't take as much of a toll on First Solar, thanks to its focus on bigger customers instead of residential end-users, and its powerful position in the industry ensures it can weather short-term volatility as it looks to the future of alternative energy. Market capitalization: $15.8 billion 6. SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (SEDG) SolarEdge sells current inverter systems for solar installations, allowing the panels to produce alternating current, or AC, power that is transmissible across the energy grid. Unfortunately, the headwinds for the solar industry have been compounded by the fact that this mid-cap solar company is headquartered in Israel. As a result, shares are down a gut-wrenching 76% in the past 12 months. Market capitalization: $3.9 billion 7. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NOVA) Sunnova installs solar arrays and energy storage solutions for homeowners and small businesses. It's modest in size… however… analysts expect more than $1 billion in total revenue in 2024 – more than 36% higher than expected 2023 sales. There's more volatility with a small and unprofitable stock… But if you want to get in on the ground floor of the residential solar rollout, Sunnova is a good option to consider in 2024. Market capitalization: $1.3 billion.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Top 5 Sustainable Funds of 2023: AI, Anybody? Now a look at some funds with this article titled The Top 5 Sustainable Funds of 2023: AI, Anybody? It's by Muskaan Hemrajani and seen on morningstar.com. Here are some points by Mr. Hemrajani on each of the funds. “To identify the top sustainable funds of 2023, we screened U.S.-based funds within the Morningstar Large Cap category that identify as sustainable investments. 1. Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQMG) Return: 55.34% Morningstar Medalist Rating: Bronze Maximum Allocation: The technology sector Top Holdings: Microsoft MSFT (13.00%), Apple AAPL (11.99%) Notable: 10% portfolio weight is in AI stocks like Nvidia NVDA and Broadcom AVGO 2. ClearBridge Large Cap Growth ESG ETF (LRGE) Return: 45.99% Morningstar Medalist Rating: Neutral Maximum Allocation: The technology sector Top Holdings: Microsoft (9%), Amazon.com AMZN (8%) 3. Parnassus Growth Equity Institutional (PFPGX) Return: 45.18% Morningstar Medalist Rating: Bronze Key Driver: Successful rally in the technology sector Notable: 11% of the fund's weight is in Microsoft 4. Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF (NWLG) Return: 43.50% Morningstar Medalist Rating: Neutral Maximum Allocation: Microsoft (13%) and the technology sector 5. BlackRock Sustainable US Growth (BESGX) (Note different versions of fund) Return: 43.42% Morningstar Medalist Rating: Neutral Maximum Allocation: Microsoft (12.77%) and the technology sector.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Stocks Poised for Success in the Sustainable Fashion Trend Now this article will particularly interest those of you who are fashion conscious! It's titled 3 Stocks Poised for Success in the Sustainable Fashion Trend by Shane Neagle and found on investorplace.com. Now some quotes. “Embrace these three sustainable fashion stocks for a greener future… 1. Lululemon Athletica (LULU) The company makes fashion products designed for health-conscious and active consumers. 2. Deckers Outdoor (DECK) In its commitment to sustainability, Deckers Brands has made significant strides in recent years. 3. Columbia Sportswear (COLM)” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1. Title: Maximizing Tax Deductions: 3 Charity-Friendly Stocks to Consider on investorplace.com. By Faizan Farooque. 2. Title: Eco-Friendly Tax Breaks: 3 Green Stocks to Buy Now on investorplace.com. By Gabriel Osorio-Mazzilli. 3. Title: There's Still Strong Interest in Sustainable Investing on etftrends.com. By Todd Shriber. 4. Title: 3 Once-in-a-Lifetime Renewable Energy Stocks With Unprecedented Surge Potential on investorplace.com. By Matthew Farley. 5. Title: Solar Surge: 3 Stocks to Light Up Your Portfolio in 2024 on investorplace.com. By Jeremy Flint. 6. Title: VEGN growth and expansion plans on etfexpress.com. By Fiona Nicolson. 7. Title: 7 Stocks Benefiting from the Massive Shift to Clean Energy on investorplace.com. By Ian Cooper. 8. Title: Top 5 Solar Energy Stocks to Buy in 2024 for Green Investing! On youtube.com. By Ai Motive Mingle. 9. Title: Just Capital's 2024 Overall Rankings on justcapital.com. By Just Capital. 10. Title: The 3 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in February 2024 on investorplace.com. By Ian Cooper. Additional Articles from the UK and Australia 1. Title: 5 Renewable Energy Companies in the UK to Know on builtin.com. By Abel Rodriguez. 2. Title: 3 ethical ASX shares poised to outperform in 2024 on fool.com.au. By Bernd Struben. 3. Title: What were Pearler's 5 most popular ESG ETFs in 2023? On raskmedia.com.au. By Nick Nicolaides. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Great Sustainable Stocks and Funds for 2024.” Now, please be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com. Tell me what you think! I'll talk to you next on February 23rd. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Ethical investing, or ESG investing (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has attracted a lot of attention over the past decade. However, not everyone agrees on whether it's a worthwhile investing channel.Some investors argue it provides a much-needed chance to do some good whilst potentially earning a return. Others claim it's a milquetoast asset class that will never be able to compete with traditional investments. There are also people who express concern over whether ESG investments actually perform as advertised, or whether they're simply greenwashing.In this episode, Natasha Etschmann (Tash Invests) and Ana Kresina (Head of Product & Community at Pearler) welcome back Nick Nicolaides, Pearler's CEO and co-founder, to explore this very topic. To this end, they assess the Pearler community's ESG investing habits, and detail their most popular ESG ETFs. They also discuss prevailing attitudes around ESG, and what to look out for if you're thinking about investing green.If you'd like to know more about ethical investing, this is the episode for you!@tashinvests@anakresina@getrichslowclub@pearlerhqGet Rich Slow ClubPearlerYouTubeDisclaimerAny advice is general and does not consider your financial situation needs, or objectives, so consider whether it's appropriate for you. You should also consider seeking professional advice before making any financial decision. Natasha Etschmann is an Authorised Representative 1299881 of Guideway Financial Services Pty Ltd AFSL 420367. Read the FSG available from https://tashinvests.com/linksPearler is an Authorised Representative 1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL 337927. Read the FSG available from https://pearler.com/financial-services-guideIf you are considering any of the products we spoke about during the show, be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement & Target Market Determination available from the product issuer's website before deciding.

Die Outperformance der ETFs, die nach Umwelt-, Sozial- und Governance-Kriterien investieren, war wohl nur ein Ausreißer. Zu diesem Urteil zumindest kommt eine Analyse von Scientific Beta. Grund genug für Tim Temp und Benjamin Heimlich in Folge 99 des einfach börse-Podcasts die Ergebnisse genau unter die Lupe zu nehmen und sich kritisch aber objektiv mit der Frage auseinander zu setzen, ob es sinnvoll ist, Geld in derartigen ETFs anzulegen. Das Topic der Woche geht der Frage nach, wieso die Krisenwährung Gold zuletzt selbst in der Krise steckt. Die Oktober-Ausgabe einfach börse findet Ihr hier: https://tiny.li/Izfg Wir wollt keine Ausgabe mehr verpassen? Holt Euch einfach börse im Probeabo (3 Ausgaben für 10 Euro): https://tiny.li/BAeg Hinweis: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlageempfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren oder der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen.

Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks. Prepare for a carbon-free future with these lithium and hydrogen stocks. Investors like these socially responsible ESG ETFs and funds. Transcript & Links, Episode 114, September 22, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 114 titled “Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks.” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. And look at my newly revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think. Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there is also 1 article link below that time didn't allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks Now many ethical and sustainable investors are excited about investing in battery metals, so I thought to begin this podcast with this article. It's titled What are the top five largest lithium companies in the world? It's by Joseph Morton and found on mugglehead.com. Here's some of what he has to say. “1. Ganfeng Lithium (SZSE: 002460) (SEHK: 1772) Largest lithium salt producer in China, and third in the world Ganfeng Lithium is a global company specializing in the production of lithium, lithium-based products, various metals and batteries. Established by Li Liangbin in the year 2000, the company is headquartered in Xinyu, Jiangxi, China and operates both domestically and internationally… With a market capitalization of approximately $35 billion, it holds a significant presence in the lithium industry. The company doesn't just have one property, but instead actively engages in overseas investments in lithium companies and projects as part of its strategy to secure long-term competitive resources. The company holds ownership of three lithium brine projects located in Argentina and serves as the largest shareholder of Lithium Americas (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC). 2. Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) World's largest supplier of lithium for EV Albemarle Corporation is a U.S.-based specialty chemicals manufacturing company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company operates in three main divisions: lithium, bromine specialties, and catalysts… When it comes to global lithium and lithium storage product production, Albemarle, along with lithium companies SQM  Sociedad Quimica y Minr de Chile SA  (NYSE: SQM) and Livent Corporation (NYSE: LTHM), collectively account for slightly over half of the total production. Meanwhile, just under half of the world's lithium supply is produced by various entities within China. Greenbushes in Western Australia is one of Albemarle's largest projects. It's a joint venture mine shared with Talison Lithium, a subsidiary of the Tianqi Lithium Corporation (SZSE: 002466) (SEHK: 9696)… Albemarle's market capitalization is roughly $30 billion. 3. SQM (Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA) Largest lithium producer in the world (SQM) is a Chilean chemical company renowned for its role as a prominent supplier of plant nutrients, iodine, lithium and various industrial chemicals… For the fiscal year 2019, SQM reported lithium-related revenues amounting to USD$505 million. Notably, in 2021, the company witnessed a substantial increase in its lithium revenues, reaching a total of USD$936.1 million. 4. Tianqi Lithium Controls over 46 per cent of global lithium production The Tianqi Lithium Corporation hails from Sichuan, China, and operates primarily in mining and manufacturing… The company has a market cap of approximately $16.5 billion. 5. Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) Operates two significant properties in Western Australia In recognition of its significant market presence and capitalization, Mineral Resources earned a coveted spot in the S&P/ASX 50 in June 2022, designating it as one of the 50 largest companies trading on the ASX. Its market capitalization is in the range of $11 billion. Mineral Resources operates primarily in the iron ore sector, but is also actively engaged in the mining of hard rock lithium, with operations in two significant locations within Western Australia: Mount Marion in the Goldfields and Wodgina in the Pilbara.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks A second article with a related theme is this one titled EV Stocks vs. Battery Metal: Which Green Investment Should You Choose? It's written by Adam Othman and seen on fool.ca. Here's some of what Mr. Othman says. “1. Lion Electric (TSX:LEV) … is a $559.76 million market capitalization vehicle manufacturer, primarily focusing on the production of electric school buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. With little competition in the EV space in Canada, its focus on commercial EVs gives it a niche it can enjoy without competing against industry giants… That said, it is not a profitable company right now… Despite its small presence, this EV stock can deliver stellar long-term returns as the broader industry grows. 2. American Lithium (TSXV:LI) … is a metals and mining company primarily engaged in the exploration stage. The Canada-based company focuses on acquiring, exploring, and developing lithium deposits. A small name in the mining industry, it has a $450.78 million market capitalization. American Lithium stock is not the biggest Canadian lithium stock, but it's worth watching closely.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors Diversifying internationally is often considered a good idea, hence I bring these articles from Canada, for investors both inside and outside Canada. This article is titled 2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors. It's by Christopher Liew and also found on fool.ca. These are some comments by Mr. Liew. “1. Capital Power Corporation's (TSX:CPX) mission is to provide responsible energy to the world. The $4.7 billion growth-oriented company is well-positioned to support the low-carbon energy system. Its thermal and renewable assets have a combined generating capacity of around 7,500 MW. On March 13, 2023, Ethisphere named the Edmonton-based power producer one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the fifth straight year… In the first half of 2023, revenue and net income rose 76.9% and 88.7% year over year respectively to $2.1 billion and $370 million. Capital Power has raised dividends for 10 consecutive years and provided dividend growth guidance of 6% annually through 2025. Capital Power pays a hefty 6.12% dividend. 2. Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG) is at the front and centre in the automotive industry's drive to deliver more electric vehicles (EVs). The Canadian auto parts maker raised its sales forecast for fiscal 2025 because of the sustained, if not increasing, demand for parts, sensors, and electrified powertrain systems. The $22.8 billion company's primary goal is to create a better world of mobility and achieve net-zero by 2050. According to its CEO, Swamy Kotagiri, Magna can achieve the target by addressing the emissions in their manufacturing facilities and the entire supply chain… Magna will use 100% renewable electricity in Europe and globally by 2025 and 2030, respectively… In the first half of 2023, Magna's sales rose 14% year over year to US$21.7 billion, while income jumped 128% to US$548 million… Magna also pays a decent 3.06% dividend.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks Now this next article talks about the opportunities in the hydrogen industry. It's titled These 2 Dividend Stocks Are Investing in This Niche Industry. Should You Do the Same? It's by James Brumley and found on fool.com. Now here are some quotes from Mr. Brumley. “Market veterans will likely recall that hydrogen fuel cell stocks like Plug Power (PLUG) and Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) were all the rage at one time. This alternative energy was going to change the world, after all. And then, nothing happened. As it turns out, the world wasn't quite ready for fuel cells. This industry's stocks have mostly struggled for the past couple of decades. You might want to put these tickers back on your radar, though. A couple of major oil companies recently made investments in hydrogen-based power solutions, thinking the movement will eventually displace the oil and gas business… Chevron (CVX) recently acquired a majority stake in a young company called ACES (Advanced Clean Energy Storage) Delta, while BP (BP) just led a wave of funding for Advanced Ionics, which develops energy-efficient electrolyzers that ultimately generate hydrogen, which can then be converted into electricity… Carmakers are on board, too, and have been for a while. They're ramping up development, and Toyota (TM) is leading the way. With its hydrogen engine technology now well refined, the company hopes to sell 200,000 such vehicles by 2030. If the concept proves successful, look for other automakers to augment their current EVs with yet another alternative to carbon-fuel cars. Pragma Market Research estimates the world's hydrogen-powered vehicle market will swell from last year's $1 billion to more than $43 billion by 2030… One hydrogen fuel cell stock to buy now So if hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen power in general are finally moving into the mainstream, which of the related stocks are worth owning? The aforementioned Ballard Power Systems and Plug Power are two tickers at least worth adding to your long-term watch list. Anyone interested in jumping into the hydrogen power movement at its current stage, however, might do best with… Bloom Energy (BE) It's not one of the more familiar names in the business, although it arguably should be. It's a $3.5 billion organization, and while not currently profitable, it's nearing that point. In fact, the analyst community is calling for a swing to a per-share profit of $0.39 on revenue growth of 30%. Then things are projected to really start to take off… Bloom's systems are also readily scalable, meaning their users can fine-tune the amount of power they're producing, and then add or subtract capacity as needed. Its customers include Honda Motor (HMC), Alphabet's Google (GOOG), Walmart (WMT), and IBM (IBM). The advent of artificial intelligence and the giant data centers it requires is proving a particular boon for Bloom. Although most of its customers only need these fuel cells for backup power now, as hydrogen production initiatives like BP's Advanced Ionics and Chevron's ACES Delta gain traction, don't be surprised to see hydrogen fuel cells evolve into a primary power source… The only catch with Bloom or its rivals? Buckle up for plenty of continued volatility, and be prepared to hang on to any of these stocks for a while. Hydrogen power is here to stay, but it's hardly on a reliably firm footing yet.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds Now our last article brings us back to familiar territory. It's titled 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds. It's by Jeff Reeves and found on money.usnews.com. Here is a quote from Mr. Reeves and his picks. “There are no easy answers when it comes to how to invest in a world like this. But thankfully, there are a group of socially responsible funds out there that try to focus your cash behind some of the better companies and leave out some of the bad actors. It's not perfect, of course, and the goal of most investors remains to make money and not just feel good about their portfolio. That said, the following investments are well-established and diversified ways to invest with environmental, social and governance priorities in mind – or ESG for short. FUND ASSETS EXPENSE RATIO iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ticker: ESGU) $12.8 billion 0.15% Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) $6.8 billion 0.09% Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) $1.3 billion 0.26% Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) $1.6 billion 0.26% iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) $7.3 billion 0.20% iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) $3.5 billion 0.41% Parnassus Core Equity Fund (PRBLX) $27.4 billion 0.82%” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- One Other Honorable Mention Title: Solar Power Stocks: The Winners and Losers of 2023 So Far on barrons.com. By Avi Salzman. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks.” Now, please be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these very troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com. Tell me what you think! Talk to you next on October 6th! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Allein im Februar verzeichneten in Europa nachhaltige, sogenannte ESG-ETFs Zuflüsse in Höhe von 4,7 Milliarden US-Dollar. Nachhaltigkeit ist also ein Mega-Trend bei der Kapitalanlage – doch die Umsetzung ist alles andere als einfach. Diffuse Kriterien, Intransparenz und mangelnde Vergleichbarkeit sind nur einige Stichworte, mit den sich die Investorinnen und Investoren herumschlagen müssen. Seit Januar gelten nun mit der zweiten Stufe der EU-Offenlegungs-Verordnung noch strengere Regeln für nachhaltige Fonds. Was das alles für grüne bzw. nachhaltige ETFs bedeutet und was es mit den Artikeln 6, 8 und 9 bei der Fondsauswahl zu tun hat, hören Sie von Karl Matthäus Schmidt, Vorstandsvorsitzender der Quirin Privatbank AG und Gründer der digitalen Geldanlage quirion, in dieser Podcast-Folge. Dazu beantwortet er folgende Fragen: • Wie findet der CEO den nachhaltigen Trend? (1:15) • Was bedeutet ESG? Was sind ESG-ETFs? (2:09) • Wie funktionieren ESG-ETFs – anders als traditionelle ETFs? (4:13) • Arbeitet die Quirin Privatbank mit einem bestimmten nachhaltigen Anbieter zusammen? Welche ESG-Abstufungen und Punktesysteme gibt es in dem Bereich? (5:19) • Worin unterscheiden sich nachhaltige ETFs von herkömmlichen? (6:43) • Mittlerweile gibt es eine Klassifizierung der Fonds nach Artikel 6, 8 und 9. Wie kann das Anlegerinnen und Anlegern bei der Auswahl helfen? (7:55) • Wann gilt ein ETF als nachhaltig? Wie findet man gute, nachhaltige ETFs im riesigen Fonds-Universum? (10:17) • Wie wählt die Quirin Privatbank nachhaltige Fonds aus? (11:18) • Wie kann man sicher sein, dass in nachhaltigen Fonds nur saubere Unternehmen drin sind und keine Gas- oder Atomkonzerne? (13:07) • Wie bewertet Schmidt die nachhaltige Einstufung von Gas- und Atomkonzernen? (13:47) • Was gibt es für Ausschlusskriterien? (14:50) • Wirken sich die Ausschlüsse negativ auf die Performance aus? (15:45) • Wie geht die Quirin Privatbank mit dem Spannungsfeld zwischen Nachhaltigkeit und Diversifizierung um? (16:56) • Wie viele Unternehmen hat die Quirin Privatbank in ihrem Portfolio? (18:07) • Geht grün und rentabel? Gibt es dazu Studien oder andere Erkenntnisse? (18:37) • Warum braucht es noch klassische ETFs, wenn man auch breit gestreut nachhaltig in den globalen Aktienmarkt investieren kann? (19:04) • Bleiben nachhaltige ETFs in Zeiten von Krieg, Inflation und hohen Energiekosten wichtig? (20:18) • Wie versucht Schmidt im Alltag nachhaltiger zu leben? (20:47) Weil wir trotz unseres Nachhaltigkeitsanspruchs eine breite Streuung für unabdingbar halten, bewegen wir uns mit unserer Systematik im Bereich der Artikel 8 Fonds. Konkret schließen wir auf Indexebene schon einige Unternehmen kategorisch aus. Wenn es um Atomwaffen, Landminen und Streumunition geht, machen auch wir keine Kompromisse. Das Gleiche gilt für Unternehmen, die sich dem sogenannten Global Compact der Vereinten Nationen verweigern. Anschließend schauen wir bei der Portfoliokonstruktion auf die ESG-Bewertung und den CO2-Ausstoß. Das Ganze wird dann so austariert, dass wir zwischen diesen beiden Nachhaltigkeitszielen einerseits und Risikostreuung andererseits eine optimale Positionierung finden. In unserem Nachhaltigkeitsportfolio mit Aktien sind aktuell gut 3.000 Unternehmen vertreten – ausreichend genug, um ein gutes Rendite-Risiko-Verhältnis zu erreichen. Mehr Informationen finden Sie unter: https://www.quirinprivatbank.de/nachhaltige-geldanlage Darüber hinaus empfehlen wir Ihnen den nachhaltigen Fonds-Check. Dieser beantwortet Ihnen u. a., wie hoch der CO2-Fußabdruck Ihres Fonds-Portfolios ist und ob Sie mir Ihrer aktuellen Anlagestrategie mehr Risiken eingehen als nötig. Jetzt kostenlos Gutachten anfordern: https://www.quirinprivatbank.de/fonds-check Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften zum Schutz und Erhalt unseres Klimas und unserer Umwelt ist und bleibt ein wichtiges, wenn nicht sogar DAS Top-Thema unserer Zeit. Dabei ist der Weg hin zu einer besseren Welt oft steinig und von kontroversen Diskussionen geprägt. Zudem gibt es immer mehr fragwürdige „grüne Angebote“, wie man sein Geld nachhaltig anlegen kann, sodass zunehmend der Begriff Greenwashing die Runde macht. Wie nachhaltiges Investieren funktionieren kann – ohne auf Greenwashing hereinzufallen, erfahren Sie in dieser Podcast-Folge: Folge 105: Nachhaltig investieren - wie umgeht man die Greenwashing-Falle? https://www.quirinprivatbank.de/podcast/podcast-folge-105 _______________________

Mandeep Singh, Senior Tech Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, joins to discuss the new Twitter CEO. Bloomberg's Bailey Lipschultz also joins. Jane Foley, Managing Director and Head of FX Strategy at Rabobank, joins to discuss dollar strength and the impact of inflation and a potential debt default on US currency. Robert Teeter, Head of Investment Policy & Strategy Group at Silvercrest Asset Management, joins in studio to discuss sectors and stocks on the move and what could outperform the market amid various economic headwinds. Dan Ives, Senior Equity Analyst at WedBush Securities, explains why he thinks Linda Yaccarino potentially becoming the next CEO of Twitter would be a “home run.” Mark Douglas, CEO at MNTN, also joins to talk about the NBC shakeup and streaming wars. He can also discuss its impact on Peacock and streaming, as well as Tesla. Shaheen Contractor, ESG Research Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, joins to discuss the backlash causing ESG ETF closing. Hosted by Paul Sweeney, Kriti Gupta, and Madison Mills.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner.  In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen welcomes back Bill Davis, founder of Stance Capital, which was established in 2016 to bring to market investment portfolios that mitigate material environmental, social, and governance risks and generate excess returns while at the same time allowing investors to align their portfolios with their belief systems. Bill has a BA from Connecticut College and has taught or been a guest lecturer at Columbia University, Harvard College & Harvard Business School, MIT & MIT Sloan, and Vanderbilt University. Bill also serves on the boards of Ceres and the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation. Listen as she and Bill discuss the current controversies and debates related to ESG and the need for practitioners and investors to regroup and revisit the scope and purpose of this work. Bill and Kaitlyn think of ESG as an agnostic risk screening of material issues, a different concept than values-based investing, in which investors seek to align investments with their personal values. This distinction is critical to defusing the poorly informed bluster about ESG, in which critics have incorrectly conflated the concept of ESG screening with values-based investing. Check out  our previous episode (#54), How ESG Investment Products Are Built, also featuring Bill! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/esg-decoded/id1553348139?i=1000555720018 Additional resource boosts include: Stance's Investment Performance Summary: https://www.stancecap.com/performance Stance Equity ESG Large Cap Core ETF (stancefunds.com): http://stancefunds.com/ ESG ETFs, Sustainable Investments | Stance Capital: https://www.stancecap.com/ Subscribe to the ESG Decoded Podcast on your favorite streaming platform, YouTube, and social media so that you're notified of new episodes. Enjoy tuning in!

Welche Trends zeichnen sich bei ESG ETFs ab. Was sind Proxy Votings und wie geht die Invesco Asset Management (Schweiz) AG damit um? Diese Fragen beantwortet Nima Pouyan, Head of Switzerland & Liechtenstein ETF Invesco Asset Management (Schweiz) AG im heutigen Experteninterview mit David Kunz, COO der BX Swiss AG.

We talk about some of the best performing investments in 2023 and some potentially poised to breakout.  Top Stock picks from some of the best-known names on Wall Street are reviewed, and also a review of some of the best non-ESG ETFs.  Top Picks in Artificial Intelligence Stocks by tech expert Ray Wang.

Paul Fitzpatrick, president of 1792 Exchange, joined WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" radio program to discuss ESG ETFs that are currently making headlines for hemorrhaging money. WEBSITE: https://1792exchange.com/ U.S. ESG Exchange-Traded Funds Faced Record Outflows in March https://www.barrons.com/articles/u-s-esg-exchange-traded-funds-investment-inflows-outflows-dfce88d8 For more coverage on the issues that matter to you, visit www.WMAL.com, download the WMAL app or tune in live on WMAL-FM 105.9 FM from 5-9 AM ET. To join the conversation, check us out on Twitter: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, ETF strategist Etienne Joncas-Bouchard shares his thoughts and insights on the ETF landscape for 2023 and explains what factors could thrive in the first half of the year and beyond. He says to keep an eye on international equity markets, as this category saw inflows of about $500 million and it is a category he believes is underappreciated. He says it will be interesting to see how it continues in 2023. He adds movement with yields and the bond market will be something to watch for this year, as well as ESG ETFs. Étienne also touches on the benefits of Fidelity All-in-One ETFs and what factors to consider in this type of investment approach. He says the All-In-One ETFs provide very broad exposure with 2,500 holdings and a fully diversified solution and strategic outlook. Recorded on February 3, 2023. Transcript (PDF): https://www.fidelity.ca/content/dam/fidelity/en/documents/transcripts/transcript-podcast-fidelityconnects-joncas-bouchard-feb3-23.pdf At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For the second year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked the #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2022 Environics' Advisor Digital Experience Study.

• How Islamic finance can contribute towards meeting sustainable development and climate goals• Innovative Shariah-compliant sustainable finance products and solutions to facilitate transition to a greener and low-carbon economyo Green financing – sustainability-linked financing, term financing, mortgages, hire-purchase, credit cardso Capital Market – Green sukuk, sustainability linked sukuk, ESG Funds, ESG ETFs, FinTech• Enhancing and leveraging on Islamic finance to ensure just transition• Issues, challenges and priorities facing the financial sector in driving climate-related actions, alongside key impediments and gaps in the demand and supply of green solutions, products and services• Facilitating collaboration between stakeholders, alongside enhancing Shariah-compliant and sustainable finance global thought leadership and capacity building capabilities, in advancing the climate agenda

In this episode of the Fidelity ETF Exchange - powered by FidelityConnects, host Étienne Joncas Bouchard and guest Christopher Drynan sat down to recap notable trends and headlines in the Canadian ETF Industry for Q3 2022. The Canadian ETF industry saw a strong third quarter of inflows at more than $5B. This was led by risk-off ETFs, more specifically in the cash alternative segment. Flows into ESG ETFs continue to stay positive with more than $2B net inflows YTD; our panel discusses why this is the case despite weaker relative performance. The panel also discussed equity factor performance for the quarter, and fixed-income market movements, as well as provided an outlook for the rest of the year. Recorded on October 28, 2022. At Fidelity, our mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. We offer investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. Fidelity mutual funds and ETFs are available by working with a financial advisor or through an online brokerage account. Visit fidelity.ca/howtobuy for more information. For the second year in a row, FidelityConnects by Fidelity Investments Canada was ranked the #1 podcast by Canadian financial advisors in the 2022 Environics' Advisor Digital Experience Study.

CNBC's Bob Pisani spoke with Arne Noack, Head of Systemic Investment Solutions, Americas, at DWS Group and Todd Rosenbluth, Head of Research at VettaFi – along with Mona Naqvi, Global Head of ESG Capital Markets Strategy at S&P Global Sustainable1. They discussed the politics behind energy – which are heating up as states like Florida and Texas are taking aim at ESG funds. Our panel of experts delved into the impact on ESG ETFs and how the industry, including major issuers like BlackRock, is responding to accusations of boycotting oil with its greener approach to investing. Plus, they talked about the latest push to standardize ESG criteria – and what the SEC's take on it might be. In the Markets ‘102' portion of the podcast, Bob continues the conversation with Todd Rosenbluth from VettaFi.

We discuss excellence capitalism and anti-ESG investing (0:45) - What Impact Has ESG Investing Had On The Energy Market? (6:15) - Excellence Capitalism vs Stakeholder Capitalism (10:30) - How Has Stakeholder Capitalism Impacted The Energy Market? (14:30) - Strive US Energy ETF: DRLL (17:35) - What Products Can Investors Expect From Strive Asset Management (22:00) - Fossil Fuel Companies Role In ESG Investing Podcast@Zacks.com

In this week's Bloomberg podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analysts discuss the findings and impact of their research: Manchin's $370 Billion Bill Has Three Key Oil and Gas Takeaways    -- Brandon Barnes lays out the impact on methane costs, offshore leasing and future permitting.     Manchin-Schumer Plan Has Pain for Pharma, Perks for Renewables -- Duane Wright explains what it means for big drugmakers and renewable-energy companies. ESG Faces a Rough Outlook on Asset Drop, Returns, Concentration    -- Shaheen Contractor says assets in ESG ETFs may continue to shrink and performance challenged. Barclays to HSBC, UK's £1.6 Trillion Mortgage Market Remains Key -- Jon Tyce says mortgages are critical for domestic banks' growth and profitability. Why Inflation Is No Longer Tesco, Carrefour Friend: Intelligence --Charles Allen explains what will shape expectations for EU supermarkets.   The Bloomberg Intelligence radio show with Paul Sweeney and Alix Steel podcasts through Apple's iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg's flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 119 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and iPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., has more than 400 professionals who provide in-depth analysis on more than 2,000 companies and 135 industries while considering strategic, equity and credit perspectives. BI also provides interactive data from over 500 independent contributors. It is available exclusively for Bloomberg Terminal subscribers. Run {BI }.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESG has gathered a lot of steam as an essential and strategic investment component for both returns, with long term positive fundamentals, and risk management.Around roughly 1400 studies have found a positive relationship between ESG scores on the one hand and financial returns on the other, whether measured by equity returns or profitability or valuation multiples. Another factor is the cost of capital. Evidence suggests that a better ESG score translates to about a 10 percent lower cost of capital as the RISKS that affect your business, in terms of its ability to operate, are reduced if you have a strong ESG proposition.For these reasons, publicly traded companies that are actively implementing ESG in their operations are expected to be granted a valuation and risk premium as a result 'ESG goodwill,' versus those companies doing less.Samantha McDonald, Vice President, ESG Research and Engagement, and Jonathan Needham, Vice President & Director, Lead of ETF Distribution, at TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM), join us to talk about the approach that TDAM is taking to ESG, as well as the suite of TD ESG ETFs. These ETFs invest in stocks and bonds that have strong ESG metrics and leverage exclusive Morningstar Indexes and research from Sustainalytics, a Morningstar® company and a globally recognized leader in ESG risk ratings and research.Highlights include:How do you define your view on ESG?How TDAM defines a gradual approach vs. a binary approach to ESG – Engagement vs. divestment?How TDAM's shareholder engagement on behalf of investors' alignments worksThe Aha! moment for advisorsTDAM's ESG ETFs screening methodology - sector-neutral Morningstar Sustainability Indexesmarket-like exposure with significantly lower ESG risk, relative to benchmarksPosition sizing? Benchmark replacements.Silver linings? – Taking advantage of tax-loss harvesting to increase pure beta ESG exposure.How do Morningstar Sustainable Indexes navigate geo-political concerns?Investors can now also get beta exposure to ESG corporate bond indexeshighest quality, high liquidity investment grade corporate credits for yieldBuilding blocks, maximum diversification, low or no tracking error.How do the screening rules work?What is greenwashing?Where to find our guests:Samantha McDonald on LinkedinJonathan Needham on LinkedinFor more on TDAM ETFs, visit td.com/etfs

ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens. Articles covered include: “ESG Investing: 7 Profitable Stock Picks for the Socially Responsible”; “Canada's Best 50 corporate citizens of 2022 continue to conquer the markets”; “This Renewable Energy Giant Sees Even More Powerful Growth Ahead”; “Looking for Passive Income? This Renewable Energy Company Is a Great Way to Go.” Plus Podcast: ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens. Transcript & Links, Episode 86, July 1, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. First of all, I want to wish my fellow Canadians a very happy Canada Day and my American friends a great Independence Day! Welcome to my podcast episode 86 published on July 1, 2022, titled “ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens Now my first article has this title: ESG Investing: 7 Profitable Stock Picks for the Socially Responsible by Tezcan Gecgil on InvestorPlace.com. Here are Ms. Gecgil's stock picks and brief comments that generally relate to the latest material developments of the company. “Best Buy (BBY): A newly launched home pick-up recycling program will make it easier for customers to recycle old electronics. Deere (DE): Announced a new joint venture that will improve productivity, growing more food using fewer resources. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD): Tracks the best ESG stocks. Microsoft (MSFT): A new data center in Finland will provide carbonless surplus heating to the surrounding region. Novo Nordisk (NVO): Positive results for a once-weekly insulin treatment will improve the quality of life for diabetes patients. Procter & Gamble (PG): Developed a 3-in-1 product to clean, sanitize, and defend against 99.9% of bacteria and viruses for up to 24 hours. Xylem (XYL): Developed a new wastewater treatment solution that will help improve nutrient removal, save energy and reduce costs. To help investors choose ESG shares, MSCI (NYSE: MSCI), a leading supplier of investment decision support tools, provides the MSCI ESG Rating.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens This annual ranking, though they're Canadian companies, could be of interest to ethical and sustainable investors everywhere. The following descriptive article is titled Canada's Best 50 corporate citizens of 2022 continue to conquer the markets. It's by the renowned Corporate Knights group and found on their website with this commentary by Toby Heaps. Here are some quotes from Mr. Heaps. “Twenty years ago, Corporate Knights launched its quest for a more humane form of capitalism, placing people and planet ahead of profits, with the Best 50 Corporate Citizens sitting at the head of the roundtable to make business a force for good. A lot has changed for the better in that time and a lot hasn't. Thankfully, the glass ceilings in Canada's corporate boardrooms have been breached, with non-male members now making up almost a third of directors, double their one-sixth share in 2002… Racial diversity on large corporate boards has also improved: 9% of members are now non-white, double the 4% level in 2011, when we first started tracking this metric… While one workplace fatality is too many, it is encouraging that on a national level, a third less people died on the job in 2019 than was the case in 2002… Over the last two decades, corporate profits have doubled, workers have been left behind and emissions have stalled, but the Best 50 firms are leading the way with 50% more gender diversity and triple the investments aligned with the clean economy… The Best Corporate Citizens' stock market performance has outperformed its peers earning 499% gross return since it was first launched in June 2002, versus 366% for S&P/TSX Composite.” End quotes. Incidentally, the top three companies in the ranking are Hydro-Quebec, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (INE.TO), and Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE: BEP). Go to this podcast's webpage for a great statistical table titled… The 2022 Best 50 Corporate Citizens vs. the rest* Indicator 2022 Best 50 Average Large Canadian Company (minus Best 50) CEO–Average Worker Pay Ratio 74:1 160:1 Board Gender Diversity 36.7% 23.3% Executive Gender Diversity 26.6% 13.1% Board Racial Diversity 8.8% 8.2% Executive Racial Diversity 12.0% 6.6% Cash Taxes Paid (% of EBITDA) 11.6% 8.9% **Clean Revenue (% Total Revenue) 36.8% 6.2% **Clean Investment (% Total Investment) 33.8% 12.7% Carbon Productivity ($ sales/tonnes GHGs) $1,517,909 $641,183 *Large Canadian companies (with more than $1b in annual revenue) excluding the Best 50 **Based on Corporate Knights' Clean Taxonomy ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens It seems in every podcast I have an article and recommendation from Matthew DiLallo from fool.com! His latest article is titled This Renewable Energy Giant Sees Even More Powerful Growth Ahead. Here are quotes from Mr. DiLallo's article. “NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is already growing faster than most utilities, powered by its focus on clean energy… That high-powered growth could enable NextEra Energy to continue generating market-crushing total returns for investors… The company raised its 2022 and 2023 earnings ranges by $0.05 per share, while boosting 2024's forecast by $0.10 per share. Meanwhile, it sees 2025 earnings growing by 6% to 8% off 2024's higher base. This updated forecast would see the company expand its adjusted earnings per share at a 9.8% annual rate from 2021 to the high end of 2025's forecast range… Several factors are helping power that growth. The company plans to significantly increase its core wind, solar, and storage business, expand beyond the power sector, and grow its already large-scale transmission business to help support the decarbonization of the U.S. economy… In addition, the company expects to build a leading regulated water business… NextEra Energy also unveiled its Real Zero plan to eliminate all the carbon emissions across its businesses no later than 2045 without the help of carbon offset credits… NextEra Energy has proven that going green can generate some serious green for its investors… That makes it a great stock to buy and hold for the long haul because it can potentially deliver massive returns as it leads the way in decarbonizing the U.S. economy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens Now income from investments is particularly important for those who need cash flow in their daily living. So, this next article will interest those investors. It's titled Looking for Passive Income? This Renewable Energy Company Is a Great Way to Go. It's by Rekha Khandelwal, also on fool.com. Here's some of what Ms. Khandelwal writes. “At current share prices, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY) offers a dividend yield of 5.6%... Utilities focused on renewable energy offer a great way to generate regular dividend income… Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure owns over 2 gigawatts of renewable electricity generation assets, roughly 72% of which are solar. Renewable power generation is expected to contribute around 70% of the company's cash available for distribution (CAFD) from 2022 to 2026. Atlantica also generates power using natural gas. The company expects its efficient natural gas and heat segment to contribute 15% of its cash available for distribution from 2022 to 2026. Transmission lines are expected to contribute 12%, and its water desalination assets are expected to contribute 3%.  The biggest positives for Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure as an investment are its stable and predictable long-term cash flows. At the end of 2021, the weighted average remaining term of agreements for the company's assets was 15 years. All of its revenue comes from contracted or regulated assets… Its assets are also geographically diversified, with 46% of its cash available for distribution coming from North America, 31% from Europe, and 15% from South America. Protection from inflation Rising interest rates are impacting the stock prices of companies in capital-intensive businesses. But the interest rates on 93% of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's project debt are either fixed or hedged… Similarly, the company has escalation factors included in its contracts to protect it from inflation… Management is targeting cash available for distribution per share growth of 5% to 8% through 2025… In short, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure is a top renewables stock that can generate passive income for shareholders in the decades to come.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens This next article is by Joel Makower of GreenBiz.com, a well-known and highly respected figure in sustainable business. It's not a direct stock recommendation but rather is here as a stock that some of you might want to look at. The title of the article is In Brazil, Suzano harvests trees with deep roots in communities (BOVESPA: SUZB3). Here's some of what Mr. Makower writes. “What if the company had planted those trees years earlier, on degraded land that's now been revitalized? And if it then planted millions more trees where the cut ones used to be — all to be harvested years later and replaced by yet more trees? And it did this for multiple generations in partnership with local and Indigenous communities? Can that company be deemed sustainable? These are among the questions I pondered last week during my visit to São Paulo, Brazil. I was there as the guest of Suzano — a 98-year-old pulp and paper company, the largest in Latin America and one of the 10 largest in the world — to help host its annual ESG Call, an online event during which the company showcased its achievements and challenges to a global audience of investors, customers, activists and others. (I was paid for this work, but not for this article.)… Suzano, founded in 1924 by Ukrainian immigrant Leon Feffer, pioneered the production of pulp and paper from eucalyptus as an alternative to pine. It invested in research and development — in the 1980s, for example, it began to apply biotechnology, adopting micropropagation practices in its plantations — and in sustainability measures, including the creation in 1999 of the nonprofit Ecofuturo Institute (Portuguese), with a focus on ‘socio-environmental responsibility…' Social studies I was impressed by the environmental aspects of Suzano's operations, which have been informed by such global sustainability thinkers as John Elkington, Pavan Sukhdev and the late Tom Lovejoy… The company has a longstanding rural development program in which it teaches communities how to make the best use of their land by producing high-value crops and helping them transform those crops into finished goods that go into local and global markets. For example, it supports honey producers and beekeepers in placing their hives inside Suzano's eucalyptus plantations, which has the added benefit of reducing poaching by people afraid of bee stings. Among other things, there is a history of distrust to overcome. A few years ago, for example, activists in the northern state of Maranhao claimed Suzano had behaved badly, stealing land from traditional communities, displacing families and making livelihoods untenable. Suzano disputes these claims… Walter Schalka, the CEO, struck me as earnest as any business leader about the company's social — and environmental — commitments. ‘Not everything that we are doing is perfect,' he said. ‘But we are humble enough to bring the problems to the table and try to address how we are going to build the action plan to the future.'” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order, links on this podcast's webpage 1) Title Introducing the three largest ESG ETFs found on Trackinsight.com. By Eddie Barrak. 2) Title 2 Top Dividend Stocks You Can Buy and Hold Forever on fool.com. By Beth McKenna. 3) Title Top Seven Socially Responsible Funds on GoogleWebStory.com. By Teknika Raman. 4) Title Three Sharia-compliant growth companies on MoneyWeek.com. By Scott Klimo. Plus an article for Australian investors — again link on this podcast's webpage - Title 3 dividend-paying and ethical ASX shares to buy now: fund manager on monexsecurities.com.au. By Tony Yoo. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 15. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

VettaFi's Lara Crigger dives into ESG ETF flows, performance, and overall investor interest.  Plus, Lara offers perspective on recent SEC proposals that could impact ESG ETF naming and disclosures.  New York Life Investment's Wendy Wong spotlights their IQ Dual Impact Suite of ETFs.  ACA Foreside's Sonja Formato provides an inside look at ETF distribution, including […]

ESG Decoded is the podcast powered by Global Affairs Associates, a ClimeCo company, to share relevant updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a manner that is clear and actionable. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Bill Davis, founder of Stance Capital. The firm was established in 2016 to bring to market investment portfolios that mitigate material environmental, social, and governance risks and generate excess returns, while at the same time allowing investors to align their portfolios with their belief systems. Bill has a BA from Connecticut College, and he has taught or been a guest lecturer at Columbia University, Harvard College & Harvard Business School, MIT & MIT Sloan, and Vanderbilt University. Bill also serves on the boards of Ceres and the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation. For context, in the early 2010's, asset management firms with “ESG” products really were not in the business of portfolio construction; they were more activist shareholders, using investment fees to pay for future activism. Bill knew there was a better way to align investments with values and generate alpha through rigorous portfolio construction, which led to the establishment of Stance Capital. Listen as Kaitlyn and Bill clarify some common ESG-related terms including: ESG investing vs. impact investing, and greenwashing. They also remind us that the genesis for intentional focus on ESG data gathering started with voluntary CSR reports filed by companies. (At present, the vast majority of S&P 500 companies are now preparing these filings.) Bill and Kaitlyn also cover the three key elements of portfolio construction, coupled with the importance of having industry-specific comparisons and measurements. As a point of what we hope is inspiration to our listeners, Bill's road to this innovation within sustainability stemmed from an epiphany at a transfer station in Winchester, Massachusetts. Another reminder, that amazing things happen for people, business, industries, and society when we dare to lean into seemingly wild ideas! Be sure to check out the resource boosts for this episode: · Stance's Investment Performance Summary | Stance Capital · Stance Equity ESG Large Cap Core ETF (stancefunds.com) · ESG ETFs, Sustainable Investments | Stance Capital · Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation - Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation (celfeducation.org) · Ceres Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

On this month's episode, we're going to discuss some of the most frequently asked investing questions that I receive. The first of these is helping you decide if you should just pick one ETF for your entire portfolio (these are referred to as asset-allocation ETFs), or if you should pick and choose multiple ETFs for your portfolio to fine-tune tune it based on your specific preferences.  We also talk about how to determine the asset allocation for your portfolio (the stock to bond mix), as well as how to determine how risky the ETFs that you're considering actually are. It turns out that there is an actual standardized risk rating in Canada to help you determine this which I think you'll find really helpful. Last but definitely not least, we cover socially responsible investing (also known as ESG investing) to help you decide whether ESG ETFs could be a good fit for your investment portfolio, and some things to be careful about and consider, when partaking in socially responsible investing by buying these types of ETFs. To help me with this, I'm thrilled to have Danielle Neziol back on the show. Danielle and her team actually create some of the most popular ETFs that Canadians invest in. She works for BMO ETFs which is the largest Canadian ETF provider in the country, so we're literally getting this information right from the source here which I'm always a big fan of.  Danielle and her ETF research team have put together a lot of free resources for Canadian DIY investors over the years, and because there are so many of them, I created a resources page where you can see them listed and access them easily.  They're all free, they're not affiliate links or anything like that, and you can check them out and start learning over at buildwealthcanada.ca/bmo Enjoy, a big thanks to Danielle and the team for putting these together and making them available free of charge, and now let's get into the interview. 

On the Bloomberg Intelligence radio show this week, Poonam Goyal says how more modest discounts this holiday season bode well for retail margins. Shaheen Contractor discusses the rapid growth of assets in ESG ETFs, and the challenges they face. Talon Custer shares his view of the 2022 global LNG market. Paul Gulberg details why private equity is on a roll and may top five-year goals ahead of schedule. Gaurav Patankar says why his emerging market sector scorecard shows a cyclical tilt, and which sector is at top. The BI radio show podcasts through Apple's iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg's flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 119 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and iPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., provides in-depth analysis and data on more than 2,000 companies and 130 industries. On the Bloomberg terminal, run BI . Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Everybody wants to do the right thing for our planet. We want to reduce pollution, keep the world from warming up and fight for clean air and water. We also want to do the right thing when it comes to people: encourage diversity, stop sexual harassment and support fair labor practices. And when it comes to investing, we want companies that embody the same beliefs: companies that don't hurt the earth or the people on it. That's the idea behind Environmental, Social and Governance investing, also known as ESG, or Socially Responsible Investing, known as SRI. Putting your money where your beliefs are: It's getting ever-more popular. As of 2020, more than $17 Trillion has found its way to funds that specialize in ESG. But is ESG investing really going to save the planet, or is this another clever package Wall Street is using to wrap up your money? We're about to find out. Because that's what this week's "Money!" podcast is about. We're going to look under the hood of ESG investing and when we're done, you'll have everything you need to decide whether it's fantastic or fad. And we're going to do it without making your eyes glaze over. As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman. Want more information? Check out these resources: Nerdwallet: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing and How to Get Started Forbes: Environmental, Social And Governance: What Is ESG Investing? Investors Business Daily: 100 Best ESG Stocks Combine Performance And Value With Values Bloomberg: Trillion-Dollar ESG Boom Rings Bubble-Trouble Alarm in New Study Motley Fool: What is ESG Investing & What Are ESG Stocks? Vox: The thorny truth about socially responsible investing SustainFi: The Complete Guide to ESG Investing US News: 7 ESG Funds to Buy Now Nerdwallet: Best ESG Funds: High-Rated and Low-Cost Options Kiplinger: 7 ESG ETFs to Buy for Responsible Profits Financial Times: ESG outperformance narrative ‘is flawed', new research shows Associated Press: From fad to force, sustainable investing sweeps Wall Street To see Stacy's stocks, click here Subscribe to the Money Talks News newsletter Take our course The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need Take our course Money Made Simple Miranda Marquit's website Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Besonders seit 2021 nimmt das Interesse am Thema Nachhaltigkeit auch an der Börse spürbar zu. Das spürt auch Jürgen Dietrich, unser Leiter im Handel mit Blue Chips & Funds, der mit Richy auf die Umsätze und Handelsdaten der ESG-ETFs blickt. Außerdem gehen die beiden der Frage nach, wie grün diese ETFs wirklich sind – oder ob sich hinter manchen Begriffen doch nur Greenwashing verbirgt?

Wie baut Frau sich ein nachhaltiges Portfolio auf, ohne auf Firmen hereinzufallen, die Greenwashing betreiben? herMoney holt sich wertvolle Tipps bei Jennifer Brockerhoff. Sie ist Autorin des neu erschienenen Buches „Grüne Finanzen: Von Altersvorsorge bis Geldanlage – der Ratgeber für Einsteiger*innen“. Die langjährige Finanzexpertin erklärt, warum Nachhaltigkeit kein reines Frauenthema sein sollte und welche Siegel und Ratings bei der Auswahl von nachhaltigen Aktien, Fonds und ESG-ETFs relevant sind. Auch das Thema „nachhaltige Banken und Versicherungen“ steht auf der Agenda. Außerdem erklärt Jennifer Brockerhoff, wovon Investor*innen, die sich möglichst ökologisch aufstellen wollen, besser die Finger lassen sollten.

ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now. Reviewed include iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Thornburg Better World International Fund, Natixis Sustainable Future 2030 Fund, iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF, iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF,1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund, Vestas Wind Systems, Orsted, First Solar, Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies and SunPower PODCAST: ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Transcript & Links, Episode 68, October 8, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 68 published on October 8, titled “ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's online site for information. If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now I'm going to start with this article titled 7 ESG Funds to Buy Now. It's by Paulina Likos and Jeff Reeves and reviewed by Susannah Snider. It's found in the money section of the U.S. News & World Report site. Here are some of their comments on each ETF recommendation. Quote. “1) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ticker: ICLN) The fund offers investors exposure to companies that produce energy from solar, wind and other renewable resources and global clean energy stocks. With more than $5.8 billion of net assets, this fund is a liquid and established way for investors to play top names in the space… With just about 40% allocation to U.S. securities, (the fund) takes a global sector view with investments in Canada, China, Denmark, Italy, Spain and other countries. It carries an expense ratio of 0.42%. One-year return as of Sept. 30: 18%. 2) Thornburg Better World International Fund (TBWIX) (This fund) seeks high-quality, fairly valued companies that could or already make a positive impact in the world… Some of Thornburg Better World International Fund's top holdings include the largest online recruitment platform in China, Kanzhun Ltd. (BZ)… tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. (XFRA: NNND), (and) Tokyo-based Renesas Electronics Corp. (OTCM: RNECY), a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, is another top allocation in the fund… It holds net assets of more than $345 million (and) one-year return: 37.7%. 3) Natixis Sustainable Future 2030 Fund (NSFFX) This sustainable target-date fund is part of a family of Natixis funds that rebalance over time to dial down risk as an investor nears retirement. The fund holds both active and passive investments. This single-fund solution invests across different asset classes for a diversified strategy that balances risk and reward. ESG considerations play an integral role in the selection process. The fund is on the smaller end… with just over $11 million of total assets. Among the fund's top holdings are the Mirova Global Green Bond Fund (MGGYX) for fixed income, iShares ESG Aware MSCI ETF (ESGD), and individual securities like Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) and Facebook Inc. (FB). One-year return: 22.8%. 4) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) Another solid option for international investors looking for socially responsible ETFs is this iShares fund that's focused on EAFE markets, or Europe, Australasia and the Far East… Investors in (this fund) get exposure to large- and midcap ESG companies in the target region…There's a diverse lineup of companies across geographies and sectors, including Switzerland's Nestle (NSRGY), French consumer giant LVMH (MC.PA) and Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) at the top of the list. With $6.7 billion in assets under management, more than 450 holdings and an affordable expense ratio of 0.2%, this global ESG fund is the go-to option for those looking for exposure outside the U.S. One-year return: 26.2%. 5) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) At more than $5 billion in total assets under management, this socially responsible ETF from Vanguard holds more than 1,500 stocks… Now, you may wonder how that many stocks — including some of the usual blue-chip brands like JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) — can have such a positive impact on the world. The answer is that this is just an ‘exclusionary' fund, meaning it cuts out the worst, based on rankings for ESG criteria, and presumes the rest are aboveboard. One-year return: 30.9%. 6) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) With more than 190 holdings, investors are not getting a simplistic fund… you might be surprised to find some names such as… Home Depot Inc. (HD) and… American Express Co. (AXP) make an appearance in (its) portfolio… One-year return: 32%. 7) 1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund (SSIAX) (The fund) invests 70% of its assets in U.S. equities and 30% in investment-grade debt. Some of the fund's top holdings include Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL), and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). The fund has captured growth opportunities as the U.S. economy continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic… One-year return: 18%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Now to articles that pick the best investments in renewable energy. The first article is titled Best Wind Energy Stocks and ETFs to Buy. It's by Matt Whittaker and appeared on wtopnews.com. Here are some quotes from the article. Quote. “On US Government Policies ‘The Biden administration has set a goal to have 30,000 megawatts of offshore energy installed by 2030. While there is debate within the industry about whether it will hit that goal, the attempt could prove lucrative for companies involved. Capital expenditures in the U.S. offshore wind supply chain alone could total $200 billion through 2035, according to a recent report from the research provider Lium. Wind Turbine Makers Of the 9 gigawatts – or 9,000 megawatts – of known turbine awards off the East Coast, 48% have gone to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (GCTAY), 35% to General Electric Co. (GE) and 17% to Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY), Lium says… They stand to ‘collect a large chunk' of the $40 billion to $50 billion spent for offshore wind turbines through 2035, according to the report… Of course, those sales wouldn't happen without the companies developing the offshore wind farms in the first place. The world's largest offshore wind developer is Danish power company Orsted (DNNGY)… Other key developers to watch are Avangrid Inc. (AGR), Eversource Energy (ES), Equinor ASA (EQNR), Dominion Energy Inc. (D), Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS.A), and Aker Offshore Wind (AKOWF). Keep in mind that some developers, such as Avangrid, as well as the turbine makers, also have exposure to the domestic onshore wind industry. Other stocks with U.S. onshore wind exposure include NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B)… Oil & Gas Company Offshore Expertise To Be Tapped Industry watchers expect offshore wind will use expertise from the offshore oil and gas industry. Joseph Triepke, partner with Lium, points to firms including oil and gas equipment company Nov Inc. (NOV), offshore platform and marine vessel manufacturer Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. (GIFI) and offshore vessel companies Seacor Marine (SMHI) and Tidewater Inc. (TDW). Wind ETFs Investors who want more immediate diversification than building a portfolio from individual stocks can turn to exchange-traded funds including the First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) and the Global X Wind Energy ETF (WNDY)… … the winds of fortune could be at this industry's back for some time.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Now here's a new article with only solar power picks. It's titled Renewable Energy Stocks: Is Now a Good Time to Buy? It's by Travis Hoium and on fool.com. Here are some quotes from him including his stock picks. “Today, we're entering a more mature phase for the industry in which companies are establishing technology advantages and scale that helps create a competitive moat. The result is steadily rising profitability, which you can see… from First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG), and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR)… Financiers are the companies that build or buy renewable energy projects, usually with long-term contracts to sell electricity to a utility. They generate very stable cash flows and often come with a dividend. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) and NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP) are both leaders in this space and have exposure to wind and solar energy projects… I focus on the solar industry in part because there are very few wind-focused companies publicly traded in the U.S. But in solar energy there are some leaders with clear differentiation, like First Solar in solar panel manufacturing, SunPower in deploying residential and commercial solar, and Enphase Energy in module-level power electronics… On the speculative side, I see a huge opportunity in hydrogen. Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is an industry leader in solid-oxide fuel cells; it's also built a nearly $1 billion business in backup power with new markets like electrolysis and marine power on the horizon…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Honorable Mentions (These are here because I didn't have room in this podcast to extensively quote them) 1. Title Kiplinger ESG 20: Our Favorite Picks for ESG Investors, by Nellie S. Huang and Adam Shell. Quote “Doing good and making money are no contradiction with these 16 stocks and four funds that ride the trend of socially conscious investing.” End quote. 2. Title Three funds to help build back better, by Rory Palmer on UK's What Investment site. Quote “As part of Good Money Week, Quilter Cheviot's Melissa Scaramellini considers how investors can contribute to efforts to build back better .” End quote. 3. Title Don't Overlook This Side of the Environmental Investing Equation by Tom Lydon on etftrends.com. Quote “The VanEck Vectors Environmental Services ETF (EVX) is an example of an exchange traded fund that's in that boat.” End quote. 4. Title Why the Infrastructure Bill Has These 3 Stocks Soaring Today by Howard Smith on fool.com. Quote “XL Fleet (XL) was up 10.9%. Hyliion (HYLN) was up 8.7%. Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) was up 10.2%.” End quote. 5. Title Northern Trust launches two emerging market factor ESG ETFs by Theo Andrew on etfstream.com. Quote “The FlexShares Emerging Market High Dividend Climate ESG UCITS ETF (QDFE) and the FlexShares Emerging Market Low Volatility Climate ESG UCITS ETF (QVFE) have been listed on the Euronext and Deutsche Boerse with a total expense ratio of 0.35% and 0.31%, respectively.” End quote. 6. Title 4 Leading Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond. It's by Matthew DiLallo and found on fool.com. Quote “These electric utilities are embracing change. They expect to invest billions on building new renewable energy generating capacity over the next few years. These investments should power steady earnings and dividend growth.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on October 22. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

In this Let's Talk ETFs podcast, Seeking Alpha speaks with Stephan Flagel, Chief Product Officer of Qontigo.to discuss how the ESG space is affecting exchange traded funds., Show Notes: 2:30 - Tell us about yourself and Qontigo 6:00 - What is ESG, sustainable investing, all about? 13:00 - What's your long term view of sustainable investing? 19:00 - How do we standardize measurements to create a level playing field? 24:30 - Can you highlight a specific ESG index that would stand out? 28:00 - Why would a non-believer of ESG want to participate in this market? 32:00 - What is driving the momentum in this market and what's holding it back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYSE's Douglas Yones discusses key growth drivers behind active ETFs, the prospects for ESG ETFs, and the status of bitcoin ETFs.  ETF Trends' Tom Lydon explains the pros and cons of an ETF industry dominated by market cap weighted products.  ETF Hearsay's Henry Jim offers a unique window into ETF filings and product development.

In the most recent ASX-partnered "Ringing the Bell" series, Jessica Amir talks ETF trends with Rory Cunningham, Senior Manager of Investment Products at the ASX.Since 2016, we've seen the ETF market quintuple to $100 billion. There are also now over 220 ETFs listed on the ASX. But what's driving this growth? In this video, Jessica and Rory look at the 5 major drivers of ETF growth.They discuss:(0:53) Younger generations increasingly using ETFs(2:02) Investors using ETFs to invest in megatrends(4:02) The US$1.3 trillion expected to flow into global ESG ETFs(6:08) Breaking the Aussie home bias through ETF investing(9:18) The rising popularity of multi-asset (fully diversified) ETFs among older investorsThis interview was filmed on Friday 13th August 2021.

Environmental, Social and Governance(ESGs) is one of the non-financial factors that investors are now taking into consideration when picking investment funds or stock . In this episode ,ETX Expert, Nerina Vissers simplify ESG-focused ETFs and how one can look at it as part of their investment strategies. We also touch on Capital gains tax in both discretionary account and Tax-Free Savings Account.The difference between a feeder fund ETF and Funds of Funds ETF is also explained.

Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More. This episode includes the following stocks and funds. First Solar, Enphase, Generac, Apple, Tesla, GE, Microsoft, Neo, Plug Power, Airbnb, Palantir, Bloom Energy, Ballard Power Systems, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Lucid Motors, BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF PODCAST: Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More Transcript & Links, Episode 63, July 30, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 63 published on July 30, titled “Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's site for such information. If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks Let's begin with CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday revealed his top three solar stock plays. It's by Tyler Clifford on CNBC. Here are some quotes from the article. “'I think your portfolio needs some solar exposure, ideally with First Solar, Enphase or Generac … We needed to wait for the big post-election shakeout before recommending the solar stocks,' Cramer said… (continuing)… ‘I think that this group has a lot more room to run… Generac has been one of my favorite ways to play an increasingly unreliable electric grid, and while the stock looks expensive up here, management's got a terrific track record,' Cramer said.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These stocks are the top picks for millennials and Gen Z Want to know which stocks millennials and Gen Z favour? This article reveals them. It's titled These stocks are the top picks for millennials and Gen Z by Ihsaan Fanusie appearing on Yahoo! Finance. Quoting the article. “A recent study by financial source DailyFX revealed that Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), and GE (GE) are the most popular stocks for millennials and Generation Z investors. The study collected data from Robinhood and examined investing preferences among millennials and Gen Z across the United States and United Kingdom for the 12 months ending April 2021… GameStop (GME) was not included in the study… Overall, the technology and automotive industries dominated the market for young people, with companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla generating significant investment activity. Interestingly, electric vehicle manufacturing company Nio (NIO) was the top security for millennial investors… Sustainability has been a key factor… Plug Power (PLUG), an alternative energy company, was the top stock for the younger generations in seven states… In the UK, Nio, Airbnb (ABNB), and Palantir (PLTR) were the younger generations' most commonly traded stocks.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy If the Market Crashes Continuing in the renewable energy theme is this article 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy If the Market Crashes. Each stock is recommended by a different analyst. Here are the names of the analysts, followed by the company they recommend, and then followed by quotes from them on that company. “1) Travis Hoium picks Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) One of the most exciting growth markets in renewable energy is hydrogen technology, and Bloom Energy is one of the industry leaders… Bloom Energy hasn't gotten as much attention as Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) or Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP), both of which have higher valuations than it does. But Bloom is a better operator with more revenue and higher gross margins… it has a long growth runway into a total addressable market that management thinks could be over $2 trillion.  What Bloom Energy hasn't generated yet are profits… (but) could be profitable in the next few years. 2) Howard Smith likes Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) The stock's dividend yields around 3% at recent prices, and a market crash could provide investors the chance to lock in income at an even more desirable yield.  Brookfield Renewable has a portfolio of almost $60 billion worth of renewable energy assets globally… (its) shares are up about 40% over the past year… Brookfield aims to increase shareholder distributions by between 5% and 9% annually… 3) Daniel Foelber recommends Lucid Motors (NYSE: CCIV) (NASDAQ: LCID) The company says the Lucid Dream Edition (automobile) has an EPA-rated range of 503 miles on a full charge, and that its 1,080-horsepower engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds or less. The specs speak for themselves, but it's going to take a lot more than a hot car for Lucid to become a rival to automakers like Tesla… Lucid's marketing strategy resembles the one used by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)… begin with the low-volume rollout of a high-margin vehicle, then transition to a lower-margin, higher-volume strategy over time…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 ESG ETFs to Buy Now Looking for ESG ETFs? You're in luck with this article 7 ESG ETFs to Buy Now by Jeff Reeves on money.usnews.com. Here are some quotes from him on each one. “1) iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) It's… benchmarked to an MSCI index of emerging-market stocks. Emerging markets obviously hold a lot of promise because of their growth potential, but they also can be home to business practices that many Western investors would frown upon… Allocations include 35% of assets in China, 13% in South Korea and 10% in India… (It has) an impressive $8 billion in assets under management. 2) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) Another solid option for international investors… is this sister iShares fund… focused on EAFE markets – that is, Europe, Asia and the Far East. While you won't get exposure to companies in the U.S. and Canada, you do get access to developed markets to supplement the EM approach of the prior iShares fund… With nearly $6 billion in assets under management, this global ESG fund is the go-to option for those looking for exposure outside the U.S. 3) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Another iShares fund tops this list of leading ESG funds… it's hard to argue that anyone concerned about climate change or carbon emissions would overlook the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF as one of the most important ways to invest with environmental principles in mind. With about $6 billion in assets under management, this fund is a liquid and established way for investors to play top names in the space. 4) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) At about $5 billion in total assets under management… (it) is among the most diversified when it comes to total holdings. Around 1,500 total components make up this fund, and… they are all U.S.-based corporations… it cuts out the worst based on rankings for ESG criteria and presumes the rest are above board. 5) Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) Another substantial U.S.-based ESG fund… tallies a total of nearly $4 billion in assets… Comprised of a focused list of about 280 securities… About 28% of the fund is in tech, but it diversifies nicely after that with the No. 2 sector being health care at 14%. 6) iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) At more than $3 billion in assets… (It's)… pretty much a kind of S&P 500 index with the 100 stocks that rank worst on social criteria being excluded from the lineup. Unfortunately, though it has more total stocks than the prior Xtrackers fund, it's even more biased toward tech with 33% of assets in the sector. 7) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) With only 200 or so holdings in (its) portfolio… the prospectus claims this ESG ETF only backs stocks with ‘leading environmental, social, and governance practices.' You… get exposure to some traditionally popular domestic stocks without sacrificing your principles.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG BS Detector: Do new “green” funds support the carbon transition? Adria Vasil of Canada's Corporate Knights magazine has penned an article titled ESG BS Detector: Do new “green” funds support the carbon transition? Here are some quotes from her piece. “We look under the hood of BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF to see if it delivers on its low-carbon promise… This ETF invests in large- and mid-capitalization U.S. equity securities ‘tilting towards those that BlackRock believes are better positioned to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy.' The fund is dominated by all the standard Big Tech firms found in conventional ETF holdings… more than a quarter of this fund's holdings trip our red-flag alarms…" End quote. (Issues found by author) "14 energy companies with less than 20% of their near-term investment in the energy transition, including Exxon, Chevron, Kinder Morgan and ConocoPhillips. 8 climate-policy-blocking companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs and Valero, as well as a few energy companies. 3 big brands selling industrial meat, including Spam-king Hormel. 1 deforestation and palm oil laggard, namely Kraft Heinz Co., which Global Canopy gives a big fat zero to when it comes to its overarching commitment on deforestation (a primary contributor to climate change). BlackRock's position: ‘BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF (LCTU) leverages BlackRock's proprietary climate analytics to analyze a company's ability to thrive in the transition to a low carbon economy, resulting in a portfolio with almost 50% less carbon intensity than its Russell 1000 benchmark.' Bottom line: look before you leap.” End quotes. (For Adria's previous discussion of a similar Blackrock fund see 4. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…) ------------------------------------------------------------- How Engine No. 1's new $100 million ETF plans to change impact investing Many of you will recall how a little-known fund, Engine No. 1, was able to muster enough support to install 3 pro-climate investors on Exxon's board of directors. Well, now they've created a special fund to be in a position to influence the boards of numerous other companies towards pro-climate and ESG policies. Watch this interview on Yahoo! Finance titled How Engine No. 1's new $100 million ETF plans to change impact investing. (The link to this interview is on this podcast's webpage.) The interviewer is Julie Hyman who interviews Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on August 13. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

In late May, Engine No. 1 shook Corporate America. Despite owning just .02% of Exxon Mobil — not long ago the world's most valuable company — the little-known activist investor was able to install three new directors on the company's board, an advance that could finally make the energy giant confront the challenges of climate change. Hot off that win, Engine No. 1 issued an ETF that allows all investors to join their cause. The new ETF, which is called the Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF ($VOTE), is a fresh take on the concept of ESG ETFs by seeking real systemic change. On this episode of Trillions, Eric and Joel speak with Charlie Penner, who led the Exxon campaign and is in charge of Engine No. 1's active engagement practice, as well as Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1. Rob Du Boff, ESG Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, and Saijel Kishan, ESG reporter for Bloomberg News, also join the conversation, which explores the company's background, activism strategy, and the kinds of campaigns that investors should expect to see from them in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late May, Engine No. 1 shook Corporate America. Despite owning just .02% of Exxon Mobil — not long ago the world's most valuable company — the little-known activist investor was able to install three new directors on the company's board, an advance that could finally make the energy giant confront the challenges of climate change. Hot off that win, Engine No. 1 issued an ETF that allows all investors to join their cause. The new ETF, which is called the Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF ($VOTE), is a fresh take on the concept of ESG ETFs by seeking real systemic change.  On this episode of Trillions, Eric and Joel speak with Charlie Penner, who led the Exxon campaign and is in charge of Engine No. 1's active engagement practice, as well as Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1. Rob Du Boff, ESG Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, and Saijel Kishan, ESG reporter for Bloomberg News, also join the conversation, which explores the company's background, activism strategy, and the kinds of campaigns that investors should expect to see from them in the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

To drive the momentum in mainstreaming ESG, understanding ESG factors and what goes into ESG ratings is important for investors. With a wealth of ESG information from various ESG rating agencies, how can investors decipher what are the meaningful ESG metrics and how to use them? We will delve deeper into how an asset manager uses its ESG ratings and also address the rise in ESG ETFs with the use of ESG ratings. Speakers: Marco Iachini, Cross-Asset Strategist, Standard Chartered BankThomas Morris, Product Specialist, Global Growth Equities, Allianz Global Investors

Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus… Green Bonds, Renewable Energy and ESG ETFs. Covered entities include: Vulcan Materials, Caterpillar, AECOM, Nucor, ChargePoint Technologies, iShares Global Green Bond ETF, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF, Alphabet Inc., Visa Inc., The Charles Schwab Corporation,  PayPal Holdings, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Starbucks Corporation, Apple Inc., and LGBTQ100 ESG ETF PODCAST: Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 60, June 18, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 60 published on June 18, titled “Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG-sustainability or financial ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's online site for such information. If your broker doesn't have ESG-sustainability information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to such company and fund ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Infrastructure Stocks Now amid the continuing US talks on infrastructure Neha Chamaria has penned an article titled 5 Potential Winners from Biden's Infrastructure Plan. It appeared on fool.com. I name her picks and follow them with some of her remarks. “1) Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) Vulcan is the nation's largest producer of aggregates, operates across 20 states, and has equal exposure to private (residential and nonresidential) construction and public infrastructure markets, positioning it well to benefit from nearly all kinds of construction activity. Vulcan is already experiencing strong demand… has a strong balance sheet (and) has steadily increased its dividend for years. 2) Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) … might be the leading construction equipment manufacturer, but it also has significant exposure to volatile sectors like mining and oil and natural gas. That's why a pure-play equipment stock like United Rentals (NYSE: URI) could be a better potential winner from Biden's infrastructure plan. United Rentals is the world's largest heavy-equipment rental company… Its revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 14% over the past decade. 3) AECOM (NYSE: ACM) Building anything requires planning, designing, and engineering, which is why an infrastructure consulting company like AECOM should benefit from an uptick in infrastructure spending in the U.S…. government is already its biggest client… 4) Nucor (NYSE: NUE) … is the largest and most diversified manufacturer of steel and steel products in the U.S… (and) is North America's largest scrap recycler… (Its) mini steel mills use electric-arc furnaces -- a more flexible, cost-effective method than traditional blast furnaces. (Also, Nucor) has a solid balance sheet… increasing its dividend payouts for 48 straight years. 5) ChargePoint Technologies (NYSE: CHPT) The (US) president's infrastructure plan includes a… network of 500,000 EV chargers across the nation by 2030. Currently, there are only around 42,500 charging station locations in the U.S… ChargePoint operates one of the world's largest EV charging networks and has a nearly 70% share of the domestic Level 2 charging network market… ChargePoint… sells hardware to station operators, which then subscribe to its software to manage the stations.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Green Bond Funds More and more ethical and sustainable investors are turning their attention to green bonds and the benefits they offer. Here are two articles on that theme. The first is titled How Eco-Conscious Is Your Portfolio? 2 Green Bond ETFs To Consider by Tezcan Gecgil at investor.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “1) iShares Global Green Bond ETF (NASDAQ: BGRN) The iShares Global Green Bond ETF provides access to global investment-grade green bonds that have been issued to fund environmental projects. Furthermore… the fund is U.S.-dollar hedged. Since its inception in November 2018, net assets have grown to $212 million. (The iShares Global Green Bond ETF)… tracks the returns of the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI Global Green Bond Select (USD Hedged) Index. (It has) bonds issued by governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy as well as the European Investment Bank and KfW Group lead the names in the roster. 2) VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSE: GRNB) Another green bond ETF that could be of interest to readers is the VanEck Vectors Green Bond which provides exposure to U.S.-dollar-denominated green bonds for financing environmentally-friendly projects. In addition to bonds issued in the U.S. and various European countries, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF also holds bonds from China, South Korea, Brazil, India, Chile, Indonesia and others.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Green Bond Funds The second article on green bonds is titled $1.2tn US giant launches core impact bond fund into Ucits market. It's by Chris Sloley and was on the citywireselector.com site. The fund is for investors in Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, UK, and Italy. Here are some quotes… “Global investment giant Nuveen has launched its Global Core Impact Bond fund for Ucits investors to capitalise on opportunities created by ‘ESG leaders'. The multi-currency bond fund will invest across all global fixed income markets… Focusing on perceived ‘ESG leaders', the bond fund will find companies setting an example in their respective industry or sector, with respect to ESG risks and behaviours… The fund may allocate up to 40% in emerging markets and 15% in high yield, at the managers' discretion. It will launch with $25m (€20.5m) of seed capital.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best LGBTQ Friendly Stocks Since this is Pride Month and numerous LGBTQI+ investors are ethically and sustainably oriented, here's an article for members of that community. It's titled Ethical Investing for Pride Month: 10 Gay-Friendly Stocks To Buy. It's by John Csiszar and was on the gobankingrates.com site. Here are some quotes from his article. “1) Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Google, now trading under parent company Alphabet, has long been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. The company has a specific support group for the LGBTQ community, known as ‘Gayglers'. 2) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) IBM was one of the first companies to include sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy, back in 1984. The company established its Global LGBT Council, designed to make the workplace safe for everyone, in 1995. 3) Visa Inc. (V) Visa has appeared on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for five years running, marking it as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ employees. Visa supports the United Nations Standards for LGBTI, which outlines five standards of conduct that the business community can use to combat discrimination against lesbian, bi, gay, trans and intersex people. 4) The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) Schwab has received a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion for over 15 years… Internally, Schwab has created a diversity and inclusion group known as PRIDE, dedicated specifically to the LGBTQ+ network at Schwab. 5) The Coca-Cola Company (KO) The company has scored 100% on the HRC's Corporate Equality Index every year since 2006. Coca-Cola has also designed a separate Business Resource Group specifically to address LGBTA issues. Other LGBTQ-focused resources that Coca-Cola supports include the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and The Trevor Project. 6) PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) PayPal is another company scoring a perfect 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Equality Index, and it strongly promotes LGBTQ rights. The company has a benefits flyer that outlines all its health benefits for transgender employees, from hormone replacement therapies and voice modification surgery to therapy sessions and more. 7) Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Microsoft and its employees have donated over $2 million to organizations supporting the LGBTQI+ community just over the past year… Microsoft has received a perfect 100% score on the HRC's Equality Index for 13 years running. 8) Target Corporation (TGT) As with many of the other companies making the HRC Equality Index, Target has signed the Equality Act. Target has developed its own PRIDE Manifesto, designed to emphasize the company's dedication to equality. Target also produces clothing and other products indicating its backing of the LGBTQ community. 9) Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) In addition to receiving a perfect 100% score on the HRC's Equality Index for 11 straight years, the company has recently donated $50,000 to the Lavender Rights Project. 10) Apple Inc. (AAPL) Apple isn't just the largest company in America, it's also one of the most consistent supporters of the LGBTQ community. Apple has been rated a best place to work for the LGBTQ community for 15 years straight.” End quotes. Also, note this article on a new Pride fund, titled, Pride Month meets Wall Street as new LGBTQ ETF hits the market by Ernestine Siu. Quote “ProcureAM, in partnership with LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, launched the new LGBTQ100 ESG ETF.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions 1. Title: My Top Renewable Energy Stock to Buy in June. “Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is the stock I think will be one of the hydrogen winners” says Travis Hoium, the article's author. 2. Title: Fidelity to Launch 5 New ESG Funds by Bernice Napach. Quoting the article, “All five new funds are actively managed and the two ETFs are Fidelity's first ETFs focused on ESG factors.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well—and engaged with your ethical and sustainable values and investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 2. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Want to learn about ethical investing? Sarah Bengtsson joins us on the show today to teach you everything you need to know to get started investing ethically. Sarah is an expert in ESG Investing and the founder of Money Meets Soul where she teaches millennials to build wealth that is sustainable, both for themselves and the planet. In this episode you will learn: • What is ethical investing • How to get started investing ethically • What does ESG stand for and how you can use it to help you choose your investments • What Sarah invests in and how to access her top 20 ESG ETFs investment recommendations • Sarah's book recommendations for ethical investing

In this week's episode, we sit down with Ari Polychronopoulos, Partner, Product Management & Head of ESG at Research Affiliates. Together we uncover and discuss the details and nuances of environmental, social, and governance investing within the exchange traded fund space. Tickers: (SPY) Show Notes: 2:30 - Introduction with Ari Polychronopoulos 4:00 - What is ESG and what is it all about? 8:00 - How can investors examine a an ESG score and see if it's appropriate for their portfolio? 10:30 - Is there a centralized rating system investors can go to when evaluating ESG funds? 16:45 - Do all ESG scores matter or is there a threshold to where they are impactful? 20:15 - Of the 3 ESG areas is there one that's more of a focus in the investment community? 21:45 - What would you say to an investor who doesn't care about ESG ratings? 26:15 - Do you see any future government mandates affecting ESGs? 29:10 - Where do you see ESG as part of an individual's portfolio? 31:30 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Bloomberg Intelligence Radio show featuring our analysts and their research, Eric Kane discusses the depth of the challenge for global utilities to reach carbon-neutral targets. Shaheen Contractor looks at what's under the hood in ESG ETFs. Simone Andrews talks about green bonds' performance and BI's tracking tool. Rob Barnett examines the green ambitions of European oil companies. Vince Piazza shows why the fundamental setup is better for natural gas than for oil. Hosts: Alix Steel and Paul Sweeney. Producer: Tim Herro The BI Radio show podcasts through Apple’s iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg’s flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 119 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and iPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., provides in-depth analysis and data on more than 2,000 companies and 130 industries. On the Bloomberg terminal, run BI .

In the 16th episode of the Fidelity ETF Exchange - powered by FidelityConnects, co-hosts Étienne Joncas Bouchard and Himesh Patel sat down to recap notable trends and headlines in the Canadian ETF Industry for the first quarter of 2021. Some of the key topics discussed include the continued growth in the Multi-Asset segment, the rise in ESG ETFs, the style rotation taking place in the factor space, among others. Recorded on March 31, 2021.

ETF.com’s Sumit Roy discusses the apparent frothiness in SPACs and offers a quick snapshot of the SPAC ETF landscape.  CFRA’s Todd Rosenbluth covers a range of topics including a recent ETF investor survey, ESG ETFs, bitcoin ETFs, and more.  Toews Asset Management’s Phillip Toews talks markets and highlights the strategies underlying two Agility Shares ETFs.

ESG investing is becoming very popular; here's why (1:10) - What Is Driving The Growth In ESG Investments? (7:10) - How Has ESG Investing Evolved? (14:50) - Do You Sacrifice Performance With ESG Investments? (18:05) - Does The Underperformance In Energy Benefit ESG? (21:20) - Breaking Down DWS’s Suite of ESG ETFs Podcast@Zacks.com

New ESG S&P Indexes. Top tech stocks, and more! Reviewed include Twillio, Etsy, Pinterest, Xtrackers S&P MidCap 400 ESG ETF, Xtrackers S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF, Humankind US Stock ETF, CropEnergies AG, SunPower Corporation, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., NextEra Energy, Inc., Ørsted A/S, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Tesla, Inc., Iberdrola, S.A. PODCAST: New ESG S&P Indexes. Top Tech Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 53, March 12, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 53 published on March 12, titled “New ESG S&P Indexes, Top Tech Stocks”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Appearing on fool.com Danny Vena wrote an interesting article titled 3 Top Tech Stocks That Will Make You Richer in March (and Beyond). I think these would likely fit in any ethical and sustainable portfolio. I’ll mention the three stocks followed by some brief comments from Mr. Vena. “1. Twilio (NYSE: TWLO) Many consumers have used Twilio's tools without even realizing it. The real-time messages you get from your food delivery service? The updates from your rideshare provider? The ability to reset a password within an app? How about in-app chats with customer service? If you've experienced any of those, there's a pretty good chance it was underpinned by Twilio's technology. 2. Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) While e-commerce platforms Amazon and Shopify stole the headlines last year, they were both outdone by the little engine that could: Etsy. The tailwinds that propelled digital retail also extended to retro and vintage goods, as well as handmade products. Those trends all played right into Etsy's wheelhouse. The company turned these once niche markets into a lucrative enterprise… 3. Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) It seems like it's only a matter of time before antitrust and regulatory concerns catch up with Facebook… Investors looking for exposure to social media growth without all the drama are turning to Pinterest… The platform acts as a digital repository and ‘visual discovery engine’ that allows users to find, save, and organize all their favorite things from around the internet.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- New ESG S&P Indexes Now, this could be something that many ethical and sustainable investors might like. The details are in an article 2 new ESG ETFs bring small- and mid-cap stocks into focus. It’s by Jeff Benjamin and was on investmentnews.com. Mr. Benjamin writes that: “Xtrackers S&P MidCap 400 ESG ETF (MIDE), and Xtrackers S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF (SMLE) listed Wednesday applying sustainable investing screens to the popular indexes. These are the first ETFs to track the environmental, social and governance versions of the indexes… The new listings follow the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE), which launched in June 2019 and has since grown to nearly $450 million. That fund gained 19.9% in 2020 and is up 3.4% this year through Feb. 23, which compares to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 16.3% last year and is up 3.3% so far this year.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Biggest Renewable Energy Companies and Stocks So, here we go again with another analysis of the renewable energy sector titled 15 Biggest Renewable Energy Companies and Stocks. It’s by Ty Haqqi and was found on Yahoo! Finance. I’ll list each company followed by some remarks on that company by Mr. Haqqi. We start going backward. “15. CropEnergies AG (XETRA: CE2.DE) CropEnergies is the leading European producer of ethanol. Ethanol, while not as clean a resource as wind or solar, is still a viable source of renewable energy. The company produces biofuels from renewable raw materials such as sugar syrups, wheat, and raw alcohol from wheat, maize, and barley. 14. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) The Silicon Valley-based energy company SunPower Corp is partially owned by the French multinational oil and gas company Total SE (NYSE: TOT). SunPower develops and manufactures solar panels and photovoltaic cells. The company has received more than 1,000 patents for solar innovation. 13. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA Preference Shares Series B (BVMF: ELET6) Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, this Brazilian power company is among the top global clean energy companies in the world… More than 90% of Eletrobras’ installed capacity comes from sources with low greenhouse gas emissions. 12. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) This US-based company has been providing cleaner fuels including biodiesel, renewable diesel as well as a mixture of the two known as REG Ultra Clean. The company operates 12 biorefineries dispersed across America as well as in Europe. 11. Hanergy Holding Group (Private) It is China's largest privately-held energy enterprise operating on projects of hydro, wind, and solar power. It is known for being the leader in thin-film solar technology. 10. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) Known as one of the world's largest investors in renewable power, this Canadian company operates in the wind, solar, and hydro power sectors of the renewable energy industry. Brookfield Renewable Partner’s parent company, Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) is ranked at 155 on Fortune’s Global 500 Ranking. 9. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) First Solar is an American company established in 2001, most recognized for selling Photovoltaic Systems, and Photovoltaic Modules… First Solar has also recently pledged to power 100% of its global solar PV manufacturing operations with renewable energy by the year 2028. 8. Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) … is (a) solar PV (photovoltaic) module manufacturer. The company has subsidiaries in 20 countries while their products are bought by customers hailing from more than 150 countries. 7. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) JinkoSolar currently stands as the top solar panel manufacturer in the world by market share, distributing solar products to many countries. 6. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) A subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Resources is the world's largest generator of wind and solar renewable energy… They also offer energy storage and energy marketing among other services. 5. Ørsted A/S (CPH: ORSTED.CO) The company has been ranked as the topmost sustainable energy company in the world by Corporate Knights Global 100 Index for three consecutive years. The multinational company is also the largest energy company in Denmark, providing wind power, bioenergy, thermal power, and customer solutions and distributions. 4. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A. (MCE: SGRE.MC) The company was formed as a result of the merger between Siemens Wind Power and Gamesa. Siemens Gamesa is a Spanish-German wind engineering company. The Sustainability Yearbook compiled annually by S&P Global Inc. (NYSE: SPGI) has named this company several times over the years, recognizing efforts made to promote and achieve sustainability. 3. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH: VWS.CO) Vestas Wind Systems stands as the largest installer of wind turbines in the world… Vestas Wind Systems also provides a digital platform known as Vestas Online for wind turbine owners to manage their wind turbine-related self-services including invoices, blade asset management, and service order reports. 2. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) Elon Musk’s electric-car company is also a big leader in the renewable energy industry. The company also sells energy storage, solar roof tiles, and solar panels. Its subsidiary, SolarCity Corporation (also known as Tesla Solar), manufactures these products and is known to be a low-cost provider of solar products. 1. Iberdrola, S.A. (MCE: IBE.MC) Topping our list of 15 biggest renewable energy companies and stocks is none other than the Spanish multinational energy giant, Iberdrola. Beginning as Hartford City Light Company in USA over 170 years ago, Iberdrola has grown to be the number-one producer of wind power in the world.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Humankind Investments Launches First Sustainable ETF—as a Benefit Corporation! Now this one will be fascinating to watch. The details are in this press release Humankind Investments Launches First Sustainable ETF (HKND). Here are some quotes. “Humankind Investments, a quantitatively driven asset manager specializing in socially responsible investments, announced today the launch of its first exchange traded fund (ETF), the Humankind US Stock ETF. ‘Humankind is exclusively focused on socially responsible investing,’ said Katz. ‘This commitment is reflected in the corporate DNA of the Humankind US Stock ETF – to our knowledge it’s the first Registered Investment Company organized as a benefit corporation…’ The Humankind US Stock ETF leverages the firm’s proprietary Humankind US Equity Index to track the top 1,000 US companies that promote healthier, safer, more equitable and longer lives. The Index’s ranking is based on a quantitative analysis of each company’s positive and negative contributions to society as measured by its impact on investors, consumers, employees and citizens - defined as its ‘Humankind Value.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 25 Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks — Income To Feel Good About Now, many of you are interested in dividends from ESG and sustainable stocks and funds. Well, go to this article. And if you feel comfortable sign-up for their free registration to get all their recommendations. Please note, however, I have no idea about who is behind this site and what they may or may not do with your email address though. The article is titled Top 25 Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks — Income To Feel Good About and appeared on etfchannel.com. Here are four that they give away freely. #25. Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) — 4.11% Yield #24. International Business Machines Corp (NYSE: IBM) — 5.43% Yield #23. Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) — 4.49% Yield #22. Texas Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: TXN) — 2.50% Yield. ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “New ESG S&P Indexes. TopTech Stocks.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 26. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Episode 29 - Don't miss this one! Our second ETF Special. This time about ARKK, ESG ETFs, and Silver and Gold. Jump to what you like: 0:50min ETF Recap 4:50min ARKK ETF - The Future? 10:20min Gold, Silver ETFs 14:02min Emerging Markets Asia 17:40min ESG Sustainable Investing 21:30min Moon/Space ETF 24:30min Trading 212, Build your own Pie For more content, follow us on: Instagram: investing_404 Facebook: @investing404 Also available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pocket Cast, Google Podcast, Breaker, Overcast and RadioPublic. Because we like Hashtags: #StockNews #Bitcoin #Gold #Ethereum #Millenials #Alibaba #China #ETFs #CleanEnergy #Nio #Tesla #Amazon #Facebook #Apple #CRISPR #Blockchain #Trading212 # ARKK # ESG #Silver

ESG Fund stock picks covered include Invesco Solar ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, ALPS Clean Energy ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF, First Trust Water ETF, SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF, Sunnova Energy International Inc., Canadian Solar Inc., SolarEdge Technologies Inc., First Solar, and Enphase Energy. More PODCAST: ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden Transcript & Links, Episode 50, January 29, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 50 published on January 29, titled “ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden This first article suggested the title for the podcast. It’s titled 7 ESG Funds to Buy Under a Biden Administration by Debbie Carlson and was on USNews.com. I’ll mention each of the seven funds, followed by some brief comments by Ms. Carlson on each one. “1) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) ETFs that focus on renewable energy already saw a strong run up in 2021. Todd Rosenbluth, senior director of ETF and mutual fund research for CFRA, expects that to continue… Invesco Solar is focused directly on that industry with its mix of technology and semiconductor equipment firms… (The stock) more than doubled in price in 2020. 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) … gives investors diversification at both the geographic and sector level, Rosenbluth says, and includes companies in both the wind and solar energy industries… (It’s) geographic breakdown is nearly a third in the U.S., but it also includes companies based in China, New Zealand, Spain and Canada. (The) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has seen… a nearly 140% return in 2020. 3) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) … gives investors exposure to clean energy companies such as SunPower Corp. (SPWR), but it also holds electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA). (It’s) a newer ETF, having debuted in 2018, but it already has more than $750 million in assets under management. 4) iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) Investor demand for broadly diversified ESG ETFs grew in 2020, and Rosenbluth says he expects that to continue in 2021… This iShares fund includes both Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) among its top holdings, which are considered strong corporate citizens from an ESG perspective, although he points out that those companies' investment merit isn't necessarily driven by ESG revenue growth. 5) Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE) Daniel Milan, managing partner at Cornerstone Financial Services, likes the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF for how well it mirrors the S&P 500. (It) uses an exclusionary screen to keep out tobacco firms and controversial weapons makers, (and) those which score low on the United Nations Global Compact ranking or companies in the bottom 25% of ESG ratings within their industry. 6) First Trust Water ETF (FIW) Milan says that although First Trust Water ETF doesn't have ESG in its name, for people interested in the water sector, this is his choice. The fund holds 36 of the largest water companies in the U.S., Canada and Brazil ranked by market cap and weighted equally within five tiers. 7) SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE) There may be more focus on gender diversity, especially with Nasdaq's push to enforce gender diversity in corporate boardrooms for the companies that are listed on its exchange… Top holdings include PayPal Holdings (PYPL) and Netflix (NFLX).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden You know, I don’t choose the sectors to follow. I let what the analysts write in their news flows do that. And the analysts are just totally in love with solar energy. So, here’s yet another post on that sector, titled, 10 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It’s written by Ozgur Yalcin and appeared on Yahoo! Finance. He used solar stocks most favored by hedge funds as the basis for selection. Here are the stocks each followed by some brief comments from Mr. Yalcin. Incidentally, the stock gains he mentions of this year I believe refer to 2020. 10) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (NYSE: HASI) Hannon Armstrong is a US-based large-cap investment company solely dedicated to investments in climate solutions, providing capital to companies in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets. The business currently has more than $6 billion in managed assets with 208 total investments. The company’s key markets are distributed solar systems, storage, onshore wind and solar land grid connections, stormwater remediation, (and) ecological restoration… Stock gain this year is 116.9% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 34.4%. 9) Sunpower Corp (NASDAQ: SPWR) … is a US-based large-cap company that designs all-in-one residential and commercial solar system solutions backed by personal customer service… Stock gain this year is 290.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is -3.6… Moreover, Goldman Sachs recently lifted its price target for Sunpower stock from $23 per share to $33 per share, another reason behind the latest stock rally." 8) Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ) … is a China-based large-cap company (and a) leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. The company is known for high-purity polysilicon production with a capacity of 70.000 metric tons per year. Stock gain this year is 660.8% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 29.7%. 7) Clearway Energy Inc (NYSE: CWEN) … is a North America-based large-cap… publicly-traded energy infrastructure (company)… focused on modern, sustainable, and long-term contracted assets across North America… Stock gain is 72.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 4.1%. 6. Sunnova Energy International Inc (NYSE: NOVA) … is a US-based large-cap company that provides residential solar and energy storage services, with customers across the US and its territories. With home solar systems, battery storage, roof replacement, monitoring, maintenance, and financing options, the company has more than 100k customers. Stock gain 349.5% and the compound YoY revenue growth rate is 27%. 5) Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) … is a Canada-based large-cap global company that produces and sells solar photovoltaic products and provides energy solutions as well as one of the largest solar power plant developers globally… The company reaches 150 countries with 17 manufacturing facilities. In 2021, it (expects)… a 10% growth in shipment capacity. Stock gain 148.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 4.4%. 4) Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ: RUN) … business focuses on solar panel sales, storage systems, and financing… Sunrun Inc has over 500,000 customers and has sold its solar service in 22 US states. Stock gain 526.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 19.1%. 3) SolarEdge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: SEDG) … is an Israel-based but US-domiciled large-cap smart solutions company that provides power optimizers, solar inverters, and monitoring systems for photovoltaic arrays. Stock gain 231.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 42.1%. 2) First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) … is a US-based large-cap global company that develops, finances, engineers, constructs, and currently operates many of the world’s largest grid-connected PV power plants. Stock gain 84.6% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 6.1%. 1) Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) The Company delivers solutions to residential and commercial solar PV systems as well as storage, accessories, and management app programs. (Enphase) revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Stock gain 573.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 34.3%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden From The Motley Fool site, I found this post, titled, 3 Energy Stocks Positioned to Win in a Renewable Power World. It has three authors each recommending a major energy producer. Reuben Gregg Brewer recommends Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A)(NYSE: RDS.B) He says, “The key, however, is that going forward only 35% to 40% of the capital spending budget is earmarked for oil. The rest is split between its transition and growth businesses. This is a fairly aggressive plan that will work out particularly well if the world makes a decided shift toward renewable power.    Shell appears to be in a better position to transition to the clean energy future while milking its cash cow oil business for as long as it can manage.” End quote. Matt DiLallo likes Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) Mr. DiLallo says, “It aims to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050… The company intends to retire all its coal power plans by 2030 and replace that capacity with cleaner natural gas and renewable energy. Meanwhile, it's investing in emerging technologies like green hydrogen to achieve its ambitious multi-decade plan to produce emission-free energy.” End quote. Neha Chamaria’s pick is NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Neha says, “If you're looking to invest in renewables, look no further than NextEra Energy. It is, after all, the world's largest producer of energy from solar and wind.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a ‘build-better’ post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and enjoy the gains in your ethical and sustainable investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on February 12. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

ESG has been a growing theme over the past three years and the level of interest from investors was illustrated this week this as data on ESG ETF flows in 2020 found AUM in ESG ETFs grew by 220%.Alan Green joins the UK Investor Magazine Podcast to discuss the current dynamics and what it could mean for UK Investors. We also explore three UK-listed companies that have strong ESG credentials. There is also consideration paid to oil majors listed in London and what the future holds for them given the launch of the Saudi Arabian NEOM sustainable city project that plans to build a city some 170km in length that will be careless and run entirely on renewable energy.Companies discussed on the Podcast include Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), NIO (NYSE:NIO), British Honey (LON:BHC), Itaconix (LON:ITX) and Open Orphan (LON:ORPH) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We discuss the 2020 trends and outlook for 2021 (1:00) - Record Growth For ETF Assets (7:20) - What Were The Top Performers Of 2020? (14:05) - Will We Get A Bitcoin ETF In 2021? (17:50) - ARK Invest ETFs Best Performers (22:50) - Active Non-Transparent and ESG ETFs (30:10) - New ETF Launches and Closures (36:00) - Top Picks For 2021 (39:30) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

In our second Fast Fatty, we spoke about Suzanne's PPS account. PPS felt our assessment of their product was inaccurate. We offered them a right of reply. Read their reply here. Pru has had a rough start to her investment career. She had a financial advisor she was struggling to shake off. Just as she worked up the courage to let them go, the advisor got fired for committing fraud. This shocking news encouraged Pru to take a closer look at her investments. She was not happy with what she found. Many of you have expressed your frustration at the returns you're getting from your investments this year. In this episode we help you and Pru figure out exactly what happened. As always, we explain how a high fee puts you at a disadvantage from the outset. Next, we discuss asset allocation, diversification and the general madness of the market.  Being able to read investment documents is an important skill to develop. We wrote three articles to help you make sense of these documents. You can find them here, here and here.  Subscribe to our RSS feed here. Subscribe or rate us in iTunes. Pru  Discovery gave me a call and told me they were doing a forensic investigation into my financial advisor. It turns out they forged my signature on a policy document, as such Discovery did the heavy lifting for me and took them off my policies.  The rage regarding the forgery forced me into action. I started the process of moving my TFSA from Sanlam to Easy. This led to me scrutinising my TFSA portfolio and you two won't believe this! (Or maybe you will) My portfolio has done FUCK ALL (Sorry Sean) since I started it in 2017!!!! I have actually lost R 20 000 of my contributions!!! I am so upset!  Where I have gone wrong and what the FUCK happened????!!! Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my demo portfolio on Easy Equities has made a profit of R5000... There are not enough exclamation marks and expletives in this email to describe how I feel right now.  Thank you again for all the help. The two of you are doing the Lord's work, literally.   Dirk How can I determine how safe my investment is with respect to the investment issuer/provider/platform? Many investments are for the longer term. What guarantee can an investor have that the investment provider will still be around in the future? There seems to be an increasing number of issuers, platforms and providers. How can I determine the risk associated with them? What is the situation in the case where I buy an UT or ETF via a platform (e.g. AG/ABSAStockbrokers/EasyEquities/etc/etc/etc) that is issued by another issuer, for example, AG/Satrix/Sygnia? Rudzani Given that cash is no longer king, what is the implication for people like me who have significant equity in our bonds? Should we looking to invest it elsewhere in the meantime? The bond has served as a mechanism to reduce interest rate expense, bond term and easily accessible large sums of savings.  I have ETFs and max out my TFSAs each year. I sadly hold some unit trusts but I got those before I knew about ETFs and have just left them. What are some strategies with the cash currently sitting in the bond? Do I just leave it? Christiaan is intrigued by the new ESG ETFs from Satrix, but he's not convinced that the money will follow the ethics. He wants to know if we have any strong opinions about it. Brent I am investing in ETFs for the long haul. I'm maxing out tax free first, but I'm referring to non-tax free and non RA investments.  Say I buy shares monthly for the next 30 years and then I want to sell some, how is tax worked out on that? I will have been buying shares at different prices over time and now I'm selling them at whatever the price is at the time of sale. Will SARS tell me how much tax I should pay? Will Easy Equities? If I bought shares in Ashburton 1200 for R50 in 2020, then R300 ten years later, then R1000 another few years after that. If I sell them for R1200 the tax on the first shares I bought would be huge, but not so much on the last shares I bought. Sarel I follow the one ETF strategy, buying the world, bought Asburton 1200 and MSCI world. I have resources to add some spice to the mix. Any opinions regarding Sygnia ISO and 4th IR. Suzanne is wondering whether she should continue investing in ETFs once she's maxed out her R500,000 tax-free allowance? Guy I invest using EasyEquities and focus on ETFs primarily (I've been listening to your guidance). My main investments were Satrix Nasdaq, Emerging Markets and recently the Ashburton 1200 (you mention it so often I couldn't ignore). I invest in shares through my USD account on EE but was wondering if it would be best to move the ZAR to USD and buy the MSCI World ETF from iShares / Blackrock. Jason My question is regarding index fund platform offerings in SA. As you know, this would be different to ETFs - not trading live on the exchange - but trading like unit trusts that have updated NAV daily. The Vanguard Index funds are the prime example, having the same constituents as the ETFs but not trading live. This allows one to purchase these passive instruments on auto instruction, without worrying about losing out a spread due to the product not being live on an exchange, like an ETF would.  I have an account with EE and the recurring investment option often sees this spread resulting in some low volume ETFs being bought at a premium, which puts me off and spoils the opportunity of letting my portfolio function truly passively. Anyway, I hope you guys can help with suggestions or at least expand on the conversation about the recurring auto-invest instructions getting spreads horribly wrong from time to time.

Is it time to short the lockdown winners? Why are ESG ETFs outperforming more than usual?

Is it time to short the lockdown winners? Why are ESG ETFs outperforming more than usual?

In this week’s podcast, Alex Bryan explores the growing landscape of ESG ETFs, Russ Kinnel prepares investors for what they can expect from mutual fund capital gains this year, Aron Szapiro explains how election results can impact policy, and Erin Lash shares opportunities for investors in the consumer defensive sector.

We discuss factor investing and Q4 market outlook (0:45) - Understanding Factor Investing and Smart Beta (10:40) - How Can Investors Use These Strategies To Their Benefit? (17:50) - The Impact Of The Pandemic and Q4 Outlook (25:00) - Why Should You Consider Investing Internationally? (28:45) - Mega Trends of 2020: BlackRock Product Lineup Expansion (36:40) - BlackRock’s Suite of ESG ETFs (42:30) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

In this week's Bloomberg Intelligence Radio show featuring our analysts and their research, Mandeep Singh digs into the explosion of Snowflake's IPO and what it means for the potential offerings by Unity Software, Sumo Logic and other tech companies. When is a loss a win? Anurag Rana says Microsoft scored when it failed to buy TikTok. A Biden administration poses a risk to defense contracting, though Doug Rothacker says the impact might be minor. Adeline Diab explains what ESG ETFs may outperform gold after rising in tandem. Chris Ciolino looks at the impact U.S. agricultural equipment sales in the first phase of the trade agreement with China. Hosts: Alix Steel and Paul Sweeney. Producer: Doni Holloway. The BI Radio show podcasts through Apple’s iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg’s flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 119 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and iPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., provides in-depth analysis and data on more than 2,000 companies and 130 industries. On the Bloomberg terminal, run BI .

On this special edition of the podcast, Jessica Alsford, Head of the Global Sustainability Research Team talks with Michael Zezas about the important role ETFs are playing for ESG investing.

Simon Shares Day 174 of lockdown. Level 1? The Foschini Group (JSE code: TFG) trading update spooked the market, but it was the six months to end September. In other words, all lockdown. African Rainbow Capital (JSE code: AIL) results including an R750million non-renounceable rights issue. Trading at some 75% discount to the net asset value (NAV). Sure some decent assets, but the market has hated this one since listing. Super Group (JSE code: SPG) results were tough, especially as they have vehicle dealerships locally and in the UK. Pan African Resources* (JSE code: PAN) results saw debt halve and profits and cash flow essentially doubling. Remains the best gold miner on the JSE. Very solid Metrofile* (JSE code: MFL) results and I would think the delisting at 330c remains on track. Brexit deals seem stuck again over the hard border. * I hold ungeared positions. Two new ESG ETFs from Satrix. Upcoming events; 08 October ~ JSE Power Hour: Investing in local and global listed property Subscribe to our feed here Subscribe or review us in iTunes Buying after the lockdown South Africa is through the peak of the pandemic. The Lancet Covid-19 Commission classifies 1 case per 100k population as low levels of transmission and WHO says 5 per 100K. The former equates to around 600 new cases per day and the latter 3,000 and we under 1,000. A second wave remains a real threat, but we're in level 2 with rumours that we'll move to level 1 as the president is speaking Wednesday evening. That'll surely mean borders opening (with restrictions) and maybe some lifting on large event restrictions. So, should we be rushing out to buy SA Inc. shares? Certainly, they ran hard last week but have come back a bit since then. Probably we should, but cautiously. Have a shopping list but also have a list of what you want to see; Debt levels. Sure business is returning but high levels of debt remain a risk. So high cash generation is important. Quality. Businesses struggling before the pandemic are best left to their struggles. Valuations still matter. Some sectors will be slower to recover. Leisure will have an initial boom, but what levels will it drop back to? Don't ignore the pandemic winners just because they won already. Some will still have room for more good growth. Also, think about the underlying companies. For example Airbus over airlines. JSE – The JSE is a registered trademark of the JSE Limited. JSE Direct is an independent broadcast and is not endorsed or affiliated with, nor has it been authorised, or otherwise approved by JSE Limited. The views expressed in this programme are solely those of the presenter, and do not necessarily reflect the views of JSE Limited.  

Immer mehr Anleger wollen ihr Geld heute nachhaltig investieren – nach ökologischen und sozialen Kriterien, in Unternehmen, die verantwortungsvoll wirtschaften. So beziffert das Forum für Nachhaltige Geldanlagen das Volumen nachhaltiger Investments in Deutschland auf knapp 270 Milliarden Euro. Das entspricht einem Plus von 23 Prozent gegenüber dem Vorjahr. Wie dynamisch der Trend ist, wie nachhaltige Indizes zusammengesetzt werden und wie sich Angebot und Qualität sogenannter ESG-ETFs entwickeln, darüber spricht Victoria Arnold in unserem Podcast. Sie ist Expertin für nachhaltiges Investieren beim weltgrößten ETF-Anbieter und US-Vermögensverwalter BlackRock. Blog: de.scalable.capital/blog Quant's Perspective: de.scalable.capital/quants-perspective ETF-Ratgeber: de.scalable.capital/etf-leitfaden

Yuni Choi focuses on the investment portfolio of RS Group. She has 14 years of investment experience across public and private equities and in multi-asset portfolio management. Before joining RS Group, Yuni was Vice President at TAU Investment, an impact-driven private equity firm investing in the apparel supply chain.  Prior to TAU, she worked as a Senior Investment Analyst at Mirae Asset Global Investments, focusing on fundamental analysis and investment in Asian public equities. She is also an angel investor and has advised a dozen social entrepreneurs over five years. A native of South Korea, Yuni earned her MBA from Columbia Business School and also holds a BA in Business Administration from Yonsei University. She received her CFA charter in 2011. Highlights: The stages the RS Group - Single family office has gone through and the lessons learned  Total Portfolio Investing and Bended Value Investing in Sustainalytics in 2009 in order to support the mainstream ESG investing community Focus on natural capital and nature based solutions and launching of a design funding window with Convergence Finance. “Its really important to understand the team. We see a lot of ESG funds, with the bigger asset management firms they have very shiny presentations that are very well organised but in the end what gives us the real insights is talking to the managers and understanding how they implement the ESG framework. The magic is really getting to know them” We believe closely monitoring and engaging managers is also our duty as a responsible investor. “One of the fundamental challenges is that positive and negative externalities are not fully priced in. This means coal miners or harmful oil and gas exploration projects can still access funding at a rate not too different from green projects.” When ecosystem services are properly valued, companies will not be able to justify damaging natural resources to increase their profit, such as producing palm oil from cleared lands or overfishing or use of unsustainable fishing methods. “We sincerely hope that sustainable investing does not remain as one type of investing but becomes the only way of investing.” Many investors still think that moving their capital to ESG ETFs is enough, but in our opinion, while ESG ETFs are better than traditional ETFs, they are not the best solutions. There is no active company engagement, no fundamental ESG research investors who need to understand ESG label itself is not enough. They need to move their capital into strategies that have a really robust ESG integration. We want to see more asset managers, more banks actually investing in the ESG talents in the region. Time Stamp: [03:00] What is impact investing? [06:00] What is RS Group  [13:56] Examples of investments made [19:15] Importance of meeting the team [24:10] Investing in multi-asset classes [33:50] Importance of engaging with fund managers [34:00] Challenges of impact investing [40:10] Every family office is different [43:10] A particular challenge in the Asia region [45:30] Yuni’s career path and mentors [46:00] Working in an all women team [49:30] What makes an impact leader? Useful links: RS Group  http://www.rsgroup.asia/ Yuni Choi https://www.linkedin.com/in/yunichoi/ Annie Chen https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-chen-71819b51/ Annie Chen’s case study on the Coutts Bank philanthropy website http://philanthropy.coutts.com/en/reports/2013/hong-kong/case-studies/rs-group.html Jed Emerson https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedemerson RS Group’s report http://report.rsgroup.asia/ Mark Campanale’s podcast episode https://bit.ly/ILMCPT Florian Kemmerich at Bamboo Capital podcast episode https://bit.ly/ILFKBCP Seb Below - Wheb IM podcast episode https://bit.ly/ILSBWHEB SJF Ventures https://sjfventures.com/ Althelia https://althelia.com/althelia-climate-fund/ Generation IM https://www.generationim.com/ Sustainalytics https://www.sustainalytics.com/ Morningstar https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/ Convergence - Blended finance think-tank in Canada https://www.convergence.finance/about Natural Capital Design Funding Window https://www.convergence.finance/design-funding/open-window/asia-natural-capital-open-window Sustainable Finance Initiative http://sustainablefinance.hk/ Hong Kong 2050 https://www.hk2050isnow.org/ Toniic https://toniic.com/ Doug Duckjun Lee of D3 Jubilee https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-duckjun-lee-07482a62/ Bill Gates: “COVID-19 is awful. Climate change could be worse”. But there are lessons from the current crisis that should guide our response to the next one: 1. Let science and innovation lead the way 2. Make sure solutions work for poor countries (too). 3. Start! Now! Read full article here: https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/Climate-and-COVID-19 -------- Connect with JP Dallmann on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-dallmann/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/JPDallmann) , or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbyjp/) . Contact us to help you transition into Sustainable & Impact Investing - ILA & Partners (https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-leaders-advisors) How to incorporate SDGs into your business model - Fast Forward 2030 (http://fastforward2030.com/) Impact Leaders is produced by Podcast Publishing (http://podcastpublishing.help/) -------- Important: The content shared on this podcast does not constitute a request, offer, recommendation or solicitation of any kind to buy, subscribe, sell or redeem any investment instruments or to perform other such transactions of any kind.

We get the Businessweek Agenda with Bloomberg Stocks Editor Dave Wilson and Bloomberg Intelligence Chief Equity Strategist Gina Martin Adams. William Haseltine, Chair and President of Access Health International, discusses his living e-books "A Family Guide to Covid: Questions & Answers for Parents, Grandparents and Children" and "A Covid Back To School Guide: Questions and Answers For Parents and Students.” Bloomberg Businessweek Editor Joel Weber and Bloomberg News Senior Editor John Hechinger talk about a Wall Street titan that tripled its money by buying struggling hospitals. Frances Donald, Chief Economist and Head of Macroeconomic Strategy at Manulife Investment Management, breaks down jobless claims. Ed Rosenberg, Head of ETFs at American Century, talks about investing in ESG ETFs. And we Drive to the Close with Bill Smead, CEO at Smead Capital Management. Hosts: Carol Massar and Jason Kelly. Producer: Doni Holloway. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

We get the Businessweek Agenda with Bloomberg Stocks Editor Dave Wilson and Bloomberg Intelligence Chief Equity Strategist Gina Martin Adams. William Haseltine, Chair and President of Access Health International, discusses his living e-books "A Family Guide to Covid: Questions & Answers for Parents, Grandparents and Children" and "A Covid Back To School Guide: Questions and Answers For Parents and Students.” Bloomberg Businessweek Editor Joel Weber and Bloomberg News Senior Editor John Hechinger talk about a Wall Street titan that tripled its money by buying struggling hospitals. Frances Donald, Chief Economist and Head of Macroeconomic Strategy at Manulife Investment Management, breaks down jobless claims. Ed Rosenberg, Head of ETFs at American Century, talks about investing in ESG ETFs. And we Drive to the Close with Bill Smead, CEO at Smead Capital Management. Hosts: Carol Massar and Jason Kelly. Producer: Doni Holloway.

ESG Stock Market Leaders in pandemic. See the individual stocks and ETFs! Singapore’s pandemic success offers potential sustainable investing profits. Energy stocks to buy? McCormick & Company and Northland Power are ESG stocks that benefit whilst pandemic continues, says Tim Nash. Analyst recommendations from Zacks, The Motley Fool, InvestorPlace, Singapore Business, Corporate Knights and ccmarkets PODCAST: Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Transcript & Links, Episode 32, May 22, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 32 published on May 22 titled “Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Hey, the ESG analysts are back. A few days of up markets have brought them to life! So, let’s rip! ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders We start with an article from InvestorPlace written by Todd Shriber – an old friend of these podcasts – and it’s titled 5 of the Best Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy. I’m going to quote Mr. Shriber stating the name of the ETF followed by a quote for each one. “Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) Expense Ratio: 0.10% per year. The Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF is one of the true success stories in the socially responsible ETF space. At just over a year old, [it] has $1.65 billion in assets under management… Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE) Expense Ratio: 0.11% per year. The Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF is the one ESG ETF that follows the S&P 500 ESG Index — the ESG offshoot of the famed domestic equity benchmark… Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) Expense Ratio: 0.40%. [Its] home to $227 million in assets under management, the Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF is the biggest ESG small-cap ETF on the market. iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) Expense Ratio: 0.10% per year. The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF is the iShares rival to the aforementioned Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF as both funds follow the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index. iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) Expense Ratio: 0.25% per year. The iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF turns 14 years old later this year, making it one of the oldest funds in the socially responsible ETF category.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders In these days of COVID-19, most of you have heard about the great success of Singapore in subduing the pandemic there. And it’s done that without having to shut down its economy! Hence, it’s businesses are likely to generally show better results than in most other countries. So, it could be a place where some of you might consider investing. If that’s you have a look at this article in Singapore Business titled Top 5 ESG stocks outpace STI's blue chips. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Another analyst who I like to quote is Tim Nash. Writing again for Corporate Knights he has penned a post titled Pandemic Portfolio: Two stocks to watch as COVID-19 drags on. The two stocks are McCormick & Company (MKC) and Northland Power (NPI). Regarding McCormick. Mr. Nash says that “With restaurants closed, home chefs are having their moment… McCormick & Company is a spice and flavour manufacturer that sells a wide array of spices, condiments and sauces… Its environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores from the Corporate Knights research arm, as well as MSCI and Sustainalytics, are among the best in its sector…” End quote. Concerning Northland Power, Mr. Nash writes that “Renewable energy utilities are in the enviable position of having consistent cash flows, since they have long-term purchase price agreements that set a fixed price on the electricity they generate. Northland Power, headquartered in Toronto, is one such utility… the company’s cash flows shouldn’t suffer if the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders persist… The stock is expected to pay a 3.91 per cent annual dividend.” End quote. Mr. Nash produces a useful scorecard on the companies that you can review in his article. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Now I have two articles that offer their perspectives on renewable energy. They both appear on The Motley Fool site and have the same contributors. A few of the companies appear in both articles. The authors are Travis Hoium, Tyler Crowe, Jason Hall, Matthew DiLallo, and John Bromels. The first article is titled 5 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now. Since I’ve covered these companies – often many times in this podcast – I’m just going to mention the company names. You can go to the article’s link on my podcast page for greater detail on these analysts’ current thoughts on these companies’ stocks. The companies are Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA), Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP), SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR), and Atlantica Yield (NASDAQ:AY). The second article is titled Looking at Oil Stocks? 5 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Better Buys Right Now. As previously, I’m just going to mention their names and you can follow the link on this podcast page. The companies recommended are First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP), Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN), NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), and Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR). ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders The site cmcmarkets.com has a post titled The 7 top ESG ETFs for ethical investing. I’ll give their names followed by a short description of each one from the post. Incidentally, two of them were previously recommended in this podcast. iShare ETFs “The biggest: iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). With over $1.7 billion in net assets, this is the largest fund in the category… It steers clear of companies that make money from alcohol, tobacco or firearms. Europe’s best performer: iShares MSCI Europe SRI UCITS ETF (ACC) The iShares MSCI Europe SRI UCITS ETF topped Just ETF’s list of best performing ESG ETFs for the 12 months up to 30 April 2020. The fund screens out companies with exposure to fossil fuels through extraction and other activities.  For US stocks: iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) Started in June 2019, this fund tracks US large and medium caps and was up 21.7% since inception at the beginning of February. The emerging markets: iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) The iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF might be less than six months old, but it's already seen huge inflows of cash with Finnish pension-provider IImarien pumping $650 million into the fund. A good sign as Ilmarien has a track-record backing high-performing ESG ETFs. For low emissions: iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN) One for the environmentally-minded, this fund filters companies based on their greenhouse emissions. For clean energy: iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF gives investors access to the clean energy sector, including wind power, solar power and renewable energy. The fund has a global outlook.” SPDR ETF For gender diversity: SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE) This gender-diversity fund tracks the 1000 major companies in the US, looking at the ratio of men and women in senior positions. Of those, it invests in only the top 10%." End quotes. The article itself has more data on each of these ETFs. To read it you’ll have to subscribe to the site. But that’s free. Again, the link to the article is on this podcast’s webpage. ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Zacks has produced another research report titled ESG Stocks Remain Resilient to Virus Slump: 5 Top Picks. Here are the 5 stocks. Quote: “Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 12.8% compared with the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry’s projected earnings growth of 7.1%. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) develops, licenses and supports software, services, devices and solutions. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 19.8% against the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings decline of 4.9%. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), operates as a visual computing company. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 28.7% against the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry’s projected earnings decline of 21%. DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) designs, develops, and commercializes continuous glucose monitoring systems. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 21.2% compared with the Zacks Medical - Instruments industry’s projected earnings growth of 6.8%. Adobe Inc. (ADBE) operates as a diversified software company. Its expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 24.4% against the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings decline of 4.9%." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders. And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy -- and prosperous! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on June 5. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

In this week’s Bloomberg Intelligence Radio podcast, our analysts continue to sort through the coronavirus wreckage: Poonam Goyal discusses the impact on U.S. retailers, Herman Chan lays out the credit pain for U.S. regional banks and Mahesh Bhimalingam shows how European investment grade credit is faring. Shaheen Contractor reveals how ESG ETFs are navigating the crisis and Drew Reading measures the impact on the U.S. mortgage market. The BI Radio show podcasts through Apple’s iTunes, Spotify and Luminary. It broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays at noon on Bloomberg’s flagship station WBBR (1130 AM) in New York, 106.1 FM/1330 AM in Boston, 99.1 FM in Washington, 960 AM in the San Francisco area, channel 119 on SiriusXM, www.bloombergradio.com, and IPhone and Android mobile apps. Bloomberg Intelligence, the research arm of Bloomberg L.P., provides in-depth analysis and data on more than 2,000 companies and 130 industries. On the Bloomberg terminal, run BI .

ESG funds, stocks, outperforming their ‘conventional’ counterparts in markets’ downturn. Several analysts believe now is a good time to buy these stocks and funds. See which ones they recommend! Investors should also consider artificial intelligence and infrastructure stocks too. With companies reducing or eliminating dividends, one dividend-paying socially responsible stock comes highly regarded. And More PODCAST: ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Transcript & Links, Episode 29, April 10, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 29 for April 10, 2020, titled “ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn.”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now with the recent market turnaround, many investors are feeling a sense of relief and thinking beyond the COVID-19 turmoil! With that in mind, the analysts’ research I’m reporting on now might be of interest to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. So, let’s start with the first research comment that illustrates again the ESG funds, stocks, opportunities in this downturn. This comment is titled ESG ETFs Appear Unscathed by the Coronavirus Carnage by Zacks analyst Sanghamitra Saha. She writes that” Wall Street just recorded the worst quarter since the fourth quarter of 2008. But ESG ETFs appeared somewhat resilient to the acute selloffs.” End quote. Ms. Saha cites the following ESG ETFs as having gained significant assets during the sell-off. They are: Global X Conscious Companies ETF (KRMA). Quote “Its top holdings are Regeneron, Clorox, Biogen, Newmont, Netflix and Amazon.” End quote. Next is SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF (SPUS). Quote “The underlying S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index comprises the constituents of the S&P 500 Sharia Index other than those from the following sub-industries: Aerospace & Defense, Financial Exchanges & Data, and Data Processing & Outsourced Services…” End quote. Finally, the Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG). Again, quoting her she says that “It uses a rules-based methodology that provides investment exposure that generally replicates that of mid-cap growth benchmarks through a portfolio of securities that adhere to predetermined ESG, controversial business involvement and low-carbon screening criteria.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Now a post for those ethical and sustainable investors wishing to get back into the markets with individual stocks. Ian Jenkins has written an article titled 6 Stocks Cashing In On The $30 Trillion Impact Investing Trend that appears on the oilprice.com site. Here are his six picks. Now I’m just going to name the company and then follow it with a short quote by Mr. Jenkins on that company. Alphabet (GOOGL). “Is a shining star in the tech world. Despite being one of the largest companies on the planet, in many ways it has lived up to its original ‘Don’t Be Evil’ slogan.” Facedrive Inc. (FD.V). “For the first time in ride-sharing history, Facedrive is giving customers a choice to be more environmentally conscious. That’s because it’s utilizing new technology to calculate the estimated CO2 emissions for each ride and allocating a portion of the proceeds accordingly to local organizations to help offset those emissions.” Apple Inc. (AAPL). “Not only have they decreased their average product’s energy use by 70 percent… They’ve reduced their total carbon footprint by more than 35 percent in just a few short years…” Microsoft Inc. (MSFT). “It’s pushing so hard that it is aiming to be carbon NEGATIVE by 2030. That’s a huge pledge. And if anyone can do it, it’s Microsoft.” NextEra Energy (NEE). “[The] world’s leading producer of wind and solar energy… By 2025, the company aims to reduce their own emissions by 67 percent while doubling their electricity production from a 2005 benchmark.” Lastly, Total (TOT). “One of the world’s largest oil and gas companies… Through its subsidiaries and new investments, Total is making major waves in the ‘green revolution.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Do you favour tech stocks like most ethical and sustainable investors? Then you might want to see the recommendations of Billy Duberstein. His article is titled 3 Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in April and appeared on The Motley Fool site. Here are the stocks he recommends with each followed by a quote from him. Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). “Makes the machines that allow chipmakers to produce smaller, more powerful chips.” Alteryx (NYSE: AYX). “Its main product is an end-to-end, comprehensive software suite, which allows both data scientists and non-data scientists to work together building and deploying machine learning algorithms.” Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU). “Micron's product portfolio will be essential to future artificial intelligence applications, which will require lots and lots of DRAM memory and NAND flash storage. In addition to these products, Micron is also one of only two companies to have 3D Xpoint, a new kind of non-volatile memory that is faster than NAND, though also more expensive. Micron is the only company to have all three technologies.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. It appears that the next big US fiscal stimulus plan may involve huge spending on infrastructure. Due to this many investors are looking for companies engaged in that sector to buy into. In her post on the Motley Fool site, Neha Chamaria writes about 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Watch in April. They are – and again followed by a quote from her on each company. Nucor (NYSE: NUE). “Nucor is North America's largest manufacturer and supplier of critical infrastructure steel and steel products.” Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC). “Vulcan is the nation's largest manufacturer of construction aggregates, primarily crushed stone, gravel, and sand, as well as a major producer of asphalt and concrete.” Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT). “If infrastructure spending picks up, Caterpillar should be a leading indicator as the world's largest construction-and-mining equipment manufacturer.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Ms. Chamaria has also written a post titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in April, also on the Motley Fool site. So, following the same format as previously, I’ll say the company followed by a quote from her. NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP). “NextEra Energy Partners was formed in 2014, when NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) spun-off its solar and wind energy projects to form an exclusive clean-energy focused limited partnership.” Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP). “One of the best diversified renewable energy stocks you can find. While NextEra Energy Partners is focused on wind and solar, Brookfield Renewable specializes in hydropower, or the generation of electricity from water streams.” TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC). “The world's largest independent composite wind-blade manufacturer.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. With this downturn, many investors are finding that dividends they’d become used to from stocks are being cut or even eliminated. Thus, those looking for dividends to provide income has become a real concern! Now, this might be helpful to you in that regard. BNK Invest has published an article titled FirstEnergy a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.9% Yield (FE). They write that “FirstEnergy Corp (FE) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ‘DividendRank’ statistics including a strong 3.9% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment, through analysis of social and environmental criteria.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Tom Lydon of ETF Trends is making the case for green bonds at this juncture. In a post titled Going Green With Bonds Is a Winning Idea he recommends the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB). He writes that “The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF tracks the S&P Green Bond Select Index, which is ‘comprised of labeled green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by the supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally in multiple currencies,’ according to VanEck.” End quote. Here's another interesting item from his article. Mr. Lydon quotes Thomas Wacker, head of credit at UBS Global Wealth and reported in Bloomberg reports as saying that “Sustainable bonds are a ‘defensive opportunity’ that credit investors should favor over non-green, investment-grade corporate notes,’” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Do stay well and healthy – and most wise with your investments at this extraordinary time. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on April 24. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Cleantech and Climate Change Podcast: CEO of TrueMark Investments Talks About New AI and ESG ETFs ( $LRNZ) ( $ECOZ)

New top sustainable companies' rankings: Corporate Knights’ 2020 Global 100 and CDP’s 179 ‘A’ list! More ESG and sustainable ETFs and stocks for 2020. Best water stocks in the Americas, large and small. The most highly rated funds for Canadians appear also in Corporate Knights and the Interactive Investor site for British investors. And more PODCAST: Top Sustainable Companies, Water Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 24, January 31, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 24 for January 31, 2020, titled “Top Sustainable Companies, Water Stocks. And More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Sustainable Companies I’m going to lead this episode with two great new top sustainable companies’ lists. The first one is Corporate Knights’ 2020 Global 100 ranking. This is an annual favourite of mine. Their top five sustainable companies are: Orsted A/S, (ORSTED.CO) in wholesale power, Denmark. Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, (CHR.CO) engaged in food and other chemical agents, also Denmark. Neste Oyj, (NESTE.HE) petroleum refineries, Finland. Cisco Systems Inc., (CSCO.Nasdaq) communications equipment, United States. Autodesk Inc., (ADSK.Nasdaq) software, United States. Now you can see the full list by going to the link on this episode’s webpage. Top Sustainable Companies' Ranked The second compilation of top sustainable companies is CDP’s 179 company ‘A’ list. About this list, CDP says its “Annual A List names the world's most pioneering companies leading on environmental transparency and performance. This year, we recognize more than 170 corporates as the leaders acting to address climate risks and build our future zero-carbon economy - one that works for both people and planet.” End quote. CDP doesn’t actually give them a ranking. They just list who they feel are the companies that meet their criteria. For a link to the full list go to this episode’s webpage at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Incidentally, these top sustainable companies' lists only provide rankings according to various sustainability criteria. They don’t rate the companies as to whether their stocks are worth buying! To do that, you can obviously go to the research section of your broker’s site, ask an advisor, or also check out financial analysts’ opinions on many free online sites. The best ones I’ve found are YahooFinance, Reuters, MarketBeat, Nasdaq Analyst Stock Recommendations, and TipRanks. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy in 2020 My next piece is by Todd Shriber, on the InvestorPlace site, titled 7 Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy in 2020. I’m going to say what his picks are and follow with a quote by him on each company. “1) VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: GRNB). Comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally. 2) Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (BATS: NULG). This socially responsible ETF dispels the notion that virtuous investing can be a drag on returns. Over the past year, the Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF has outpaced the S&P 500 Growth Index by nearly 1,000 basis points. 3) Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (NYSEARCA: SNPE). The rookie ETF is notable for at least two reasons, albeit superficial. First, it is the first ETF to track the S&P 500 ESG Index. Second, it has amassed $110 million in assets since inception, a very impressive start. At just 0.11% per year, the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF is one of the most cost-effective funds in the socially responsible category.” Now, my comment. However, be aware that this ETF is rather unbalanced in that it’s heavily weighted with tech stocks. For many investors that’s fine – but not for all nor for all market conditions. Now, back to quoting Mr. Shriber. “4) Global X Conscious Companies ETF (NASDAQ: KRMA). It follows the Concinnity Conscious Companies Index, and that Global X says it offers exposure to companies achieving positive outcomes for 5 key stakeholders: Customers, Suppliers, Stock & Debt Holders, Local Communities, and notably, Employees. 5) Inspire Corporate Bond Impact ETF (NYSEARCA: IBD). Inspire offers a broad suite of faith-based ETFs, with [this bond fund] being the first corporate ETF dedicated to Christian values. And according to the issuer it’s donating a portion of fees to support Christian ministry projects such as clean water wells, refugee relief efforts, Bible distribution and other worthy causes. 6) Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: NUHY). Applying virtuous filters to high-yield bonds can help investors reduce and avoid trouble spots… [it’s also] the first socially responsible ETF in the high-yield category. 7) VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: SMOG). With its memorable ticker and significant Tesla exposure, [this fund] is a broad-based play on the soaring alternative energy industry.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Making the Low Carbon Call With ETFs Now, if you’re looking specifically for more low carbon investments, Tom Lydon offers more picks with his article Making the Low Carbon Call With ETFs at ETF Trends. He recommends iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEArca: CRBN) and SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEArca: LOWC). ------------------------------------------------------------- More Top Sustainable Companies Now we turn our attention from ESG ETFs to individual ESG stocks. The article is titled, 5 ESG Stocks to Buy as Climate Risk Takes Center Stage by Zacks Equity Research appearing on YahooFinance. Here are the five stocks by Zacks. Quoting directly from the article: “1) Applied Materials, Inc. Symbol AMAT provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display and related industries. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 24%. 2) Keysight Technologies, Inc. Symbol KEYS provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries. This Zacks Rank #1 company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is nearly 10%. 3) NVIDIA Corporation. Symbol NVDA operates as a visual computing company, that offers processors, which include GeForce for PC gaming, GeForce NOW for cloud-based game-streaming service and much more. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the fiscal fourth quarter is more than 100%. 4) The Procter & Gamble Company. Symbol PG provides a range of beauty, grooming, health care, fabric and home care, and baby, feminine and family care products. The company is constantly working toward restricting microfiber release. Every load of washing releases millions of microfibres that are flushed down the drain, and gradually ends up in beaches and oceans where they remain for years and disturb sea creatures’ food chain. Procter & Gamble has an expected earnings growth rate of 9.3% for the current year. And 5) General Mills, Inc. Symbol GIS manufactures and markets branded consumer foods. Among the many sustainability initiatives of the company, its Cheerios brand uses regenerative agriculture and organic farming to source ingredients for products including the legacy cereal brand. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 5.3%.” End quotes. Zacks is proving to be a good source of recommendations! ------------------------------------------------------------- Water Stocks in the Americas Getting increasing attention among ethical and sustainable investors are water stocks. So it’s timely that Debra Fiakas wrote a piece titled Water Stocks in the Americas. There she reviews what she believes to be the best water stocks operating in the Americas. Ms. Fiakas writes about Consolidated Water (CWCO: Nasdaq), American Water Works (AWK: NYSE), and Global Water Resources (GWRS: Nasdaq). However, she includes a chart with four more companies. Best to go to her article to read her insights into this industry and its key players. The link, again, is on this episode’s page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Canadian Funds Now for my Canadian listeners, my great colleague, Toby Heaps at Corporate Knights, has just published The ultimate guide to responsible investing. Mr. Heaps says that I quote,” We ranked over 700 mutual funds and ETFs through a sustainability lens. Here are the top scorers.” End quote. Also, a regular on this podcast, Tim Nash, another insightful analyst, has published The 2019 eco-fund ranking of his top Canadian funds. His article is also on the Corporate Knights site. Again, for links to these articles go to this episode’s podcast page. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best UK Funds For UK ethical and sustainable investors there’s the Interactive Investor site!. It’s a terrific site for you which, they say, quote, “We have identified more than 140 ethical investment options available on our platform.” End quote. Not only do they have all that information and data, but the site takes you through step-by-step to locate the investment option that best matches your personal values! Again, the link to the key page on their site is also on this episode’s podcast page. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on February 14. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

In his annual letter to CEOs earlier this month, BlackRock's Larry Fink pushed business leaders to prioritize climate change as a "defining factor in companies' long-term prospects." For its part, BlackRock will double the number of sustainable ETFs it offers and pressure index providers to create more environmental, social and governance-related benchmarks. How much will these moves ultimately matter, given that ESG ETFs currently have just 0.5% of the overall ETF pie? And what's the more powerful force, pressure from activist consumers or activist investors? Eric and Joel return to the topic of ESG investing to explore its promises and limitations, with guests Annie Massa, a finance reporter with Bloomberg News; Shaheen Contractor, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence; and Graham Sinclair, an ESG strategy consultant, joining to offer their perspectives and insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his annual letter to CEOs earlier this month, BlackRock's Larry Fink pushed business leaders to prioritize climate change as a "defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects." For its part, BlackRock will double the number of sustainable ETFs it offers and pressure index providers to create more environmental, social and governance-related benchmarks. How much will these moves ultimately matter, given that ESG ETFs currently have just 0.5% of the overall ETF pie? And what's the more powerful force, pressure from activist consumers or activist investors? Eric and Joel return to the topic of ESG investing to explore its promises and limitations, with guests Annie Massa, a finance reporter with Bloomberg News; Shaheen Contractor, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence; and Graham Sinclair, an ESG strategy consultant, joining to offer their perspectives and insights.

Some of the best food funds and water stocks. Tim Nash analyzes whether Apple is superior to Samsung in manufacturing sustainability and investment returns. Another two reviews of the top ESG and climate ETFs and solar stocks. Concerned about gun stocks in your funds? Zacks analyst Nitish Marwah has found three funds without them. More PODCAST: Best Food Funds, Water Stocks, and Much More! Transcript & Links October 25, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for October 25, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Food Funds Now we’re all concerned about our own health and that of the environment, and so many of us wonder what are the best food funds and water-related investments. Well, regarding sustainable food, Maria Lettini, writes about three of the best food funds in an article titled, Three funds tapping into sustainable food trends that appear on the Portfolio Advisor site. By the way, Maria Lettini is executive director of the Fairr Initiative, a well regarded global investor network raising awareness of ESG risks and opportunities around intensive livestock production. So, she what the best food funds are! The first fund she writes about is RobecoSAM’s Sustainable Food Equities fund (ROBAGED: LX). She says, that, “This fund invests in potential solutions to the major environmental and social challenges facing the food sector.” End quote. The second fund is Pictet’s Nutrition fund (PFAGRIR: LX). In describing the fund, Ms. Lettini remarks that “This fund invests in companies that are developing solutions to help secure the world’s food supply.” End quote. The third fund, BNP Paribas’ Smart Food fund (PASMFPR: LX). Commenting on this fund, she says, that, “This fund invests in food companies that conduct a significant proportion of their business in the food supply chain and meet sustainability criteria related to issues such as carbon emissions and nutritional content.” End quote. Incidentally, investment in these funds may not be available for purchase in some countries. Also, for a good overview of plant-based protein food manufacturers, David Yaffe-Bellany has written an excellent article in The New York Times, titled, The New Makers of Plant-Based Meat? Big Meat Companies. Companies reviewed include Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Smithfield Foods, Perdue Farms, Hormel (NYSE: HRL) and Nestlé (OTC: NSRGY). ------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding companies engaged in sustainable water resources, Olivia Raimonde, writing for CNBC in a post titled, Money from socially responsible investors flows into US water stocks, discusses her three top related stocks. The first stock she covers is Aqua America (WTR: NYSE) which she says is “up about 33% in 2019”. Though she doesn’t say much more than that about the company. Her second stock is American States Water Co. (AWR: NYSE), She writes about it saying that “If an environmentally-minded fund genuinely wanted to invest based on water scarcity… [then this] is the most sensible investment as the company is based in California, which has been stricken by drought for years.” She adds that its stock price is, “up about 38% percent in 2019.” Ms. Raimonde's last stock pick is American Water Works (AWK: NYSE) which she says, “has always operated with sustainability principles in mind (and) performs slightly better than its peers in ESG ratings… The New Jersey-based company implemented a more comprehensive ESG strategy about two and a half years ago… Its stock is up about 35% in 2019.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, when you look down on your smartphone do you ever wonder if it was manufactured sustainably and whether the company making them is a good ethical investment? Well, Tim Nash in his frequent stock showdown column on Corporate Knights compares Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) and Samsung’s (OTC: SSNLF) phone manufacturing – and how these companies’ rate overall on their sustainability and stock price performance. Comparing the companies, Mr. Nash states that, “Sustainability-wise, while Samsung may have been ahead of the curve ten years ago, it’s starting to fall behind on a few fronts. Meanwhile, Apple still has more to do, but it’s been more aggressive about some of its environmental goals.  I would consider the companies tied for now but it won’t be long before Apple takes the lead if it continues on the current trajectory. From a financial perspective, it’s a bit of a toss-up. Both companies have performed well over the past five years with more potential growth as new innovations emerge that keep consumers lining up for product launches.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG ETFs are hot and I’m going to reference two new articles that each recommend seven ESG ETFs. Now, I don’t have time to quote these articles on each of their recommended funds, so for the links to these articles and fund ticker symbols, go to this podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. The first article is titled, 7 ESG ETFs to Buy for Responsible Profits by Will Ashworth on the Kiplinger investment site. Mr. Ashworth suggests, Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (NYSEARCA: USSG), Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX: US), iShares ESG MSCI EM ETF (NASDAQ: ESGE), Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (BATS: NUSC), Impact Shares YWCA Women's Empowerment ETF (NYSEARCA: WOMN), Columbia Sustainable International Equity Income ETF (NYSEARCA: ESGN), and iShares ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: EAGG). The second article, titled, 7 Great ETFs to Invest in Climate Change, is by Jeff Reeves at USA Today. His recommendations are: Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: PBW), iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQGS: ICLN), Invesco Solar ETF (NYSEARCA: TAN), First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (NYSEARCA: FAN), Invesco Cleantech ETF (NYSEARCA: PZD), SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEARCA: LOWC), and finally the Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQGS: PHO). ------------------------------------------------------------- I’ve covered many analysts in past podcast episodes who’ve recommended solar stocks. So, I was hesitant to include more solar stocks this time. However, when I saw the stocks referred to by Larry Ramer in an article titled, 3 Solar Stocks to Buy for a New Day in Solar Energy on the Investorplace site, I see he added two new companies not previously covered in these podcasts. They are JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) and Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ). On JinkoSolar, Mr. Ramer writes that “As of the end of the second quarter, the holders of JKS stock include… Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Citigroup (NYSE: C), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and UBS (NYSE: UBS).” End quote. Thus, inferring that with such large institutions believing in the company – that you might want to too. And on Daqo New Energy, he comments that “Like JinkoSolar, Daqo New Energy is likely to benefit from the relative cheapness of solar energy in China… [and]… As of June, many Wall Street heavyweights held meaningful amounts of DQ stock.” End quote. His third pick is Sunpower (NASDAQ: SPWR) – which has been recommended by analysts in many of my past episodes. Mr. Ramer says, “SunPower stock should benefit from four strong trends that are boosting solar energy in the U.S.” End quote. Mr. Ramer’s final comment is that “all three names are very cheap.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- With all the concerns around gun violence in many countries, some ethical and sustainable investors would like to invest in funds that don’t have gun-related stocks in them. However, to find such funds is an arduous endeavor. Making it simple for you is Nitish Marwah in a Zack’s article titled, 3 Weapon-Free Funds Socially Responsible Investors Can Buy. The first fund Mr. Marwah writes about is the Parnassus Core Equity Fund Investor Shares (PRBLX). Commenting on this fund he says, that “PRBLX invests in large-cap companies which have long-term competitive advantage and positive performance on ESG criteria… PRBLX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has an annual expense ratio of 0.87%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 13.5% and 10.8%, respectively.” End quote. His next fund is the Green Century Balanced Fund (GCBLX). Quoting him, he says that, it “seeks appreciation of both capital and income by investing in a diverse portfolio of stocks and bonds which meet standards for corporate environmental responsibility set by Green Century… GCBLX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and has an annual expense ratio of 1.48%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 8.9% and 6.8%, respectively.” End Quote. His third and final fund is the Parnassus Fund (PARNX) which Mr. Marwah says, “seeks appreciation of capital by investing in undervalued stocks… The fund invests in companies of any size across different market capitalizations. [and] carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of [1] and has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.6% and 9.5%, respectively.” ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for November 8. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

Etsy, the growing online craft marketplace seen as great ESG stock. Southwest Airlines flies high on its sustainable practices. First ever ESG ‘junk bond’ ETF debuts. Seven renewable energy stock picks. Rising wind power trends of repowering and replacement of turbines offer exciting investing opportunities. New international faith-based ESG ETF launches with global appeal. More PODCAST: Etsy, Southwest Air, ESG Junk Bonds, and more… Transcript & Links October 11, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for October 11, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you have heard of Etsy, the online craft marketplace and perhaps wondered if it’s a good ESG stock. Well, Maria Gallagher says a resounding yes to that in an article on The Motley Fool site titled, ESG Investing: Is Etsy a Responsible Investment? She says, that, quote, “Etsy boasts more than 60 million unique items, 43 million buyers, and 2.3 million sellers on its platform… Etsy scores a 9 out of 10 on The Motley Fool's Framework for ESG Compounders… It is a strong company that appears to strive intentionally to make its marketplace the best it can be for purveyors of handmade goods. There are areas for improvement, but Etsy seems to be balancing profitability, scale, and strong ESG principles.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Another Motley contributor, Dan Caplinger reviews Southwest Airlines and finds it best in the airline sector for ESG practices. His piece is titled, ESG Investing: Is Southwest Airlines a Responsible Investment? Mr. Caplinger says, “Many environmental advocates view global air travel's enormous carbon footprint as needlessly wasteful.” But he goes on saying – and I quote, that, “Currently, Southwest helps travelers visit more than 100 destinations in the U.S. along with 10 countries internationally… and it’s No. 11 on Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies in 2019… Southwest has embraced ESG principles throughout its history, even before most investors paid much attention to those concepts… it's hard to find an industry player that makes a better ESG case than Southwest Airlines… Southwest has put itself in position to thrive for years to come.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Turning to ESG bonds, we know that generally ethical and sustainable investing bonds are of high quality – and sometimes with even lower than average yields because of their great quality. Now we have a departure from that. Nuveen – which already has 9 ESG ETFs – is launching a below investment grade ESG bond fund. Andrea Riquier, in an article titled, The first-ever ESG junk bond ETF debuts, says this about the ETF, quote, “Investors are increasingly drawn to holdings that pay attention to ESG issues and financial-services firms are always on the hunt for new flavors of investments to offer. So, a new fund that seems to offer high yield as well as comply with ESG principles might seem attractive, even though it raises some questions about how appropriate it might be for investors.” End quote. Among the concerns for this type of bond are that the research into their credit-worthiness is often limited as well as the number of bonds that might fit the criterion for inclusion in this ETF. Nonetheless, it might appeal to those investors willing to assume somewhat greater risk for possible greater return on their fixed income portfolio, while still wanting it to be ESG-based. ------------------------------------------------------------- Will Ashworth, in an article titled, 7 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for Sunny Long-Term Returns, appearing on the Investorplace website, recommends some of the same stocks that have been covered here in previous episodes of this podcast. Here are the seven stocks he recommends, much abbreviated from his post, but using his words. Quote, “1) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Not only is NextEra Energy the world’s largest utility, it’s also the largest producer of wind and solar energy anywhere on the planet… [its] the company’s views on energy diversity that makes it an excellent long-term investment. 2) Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP). Brookfield announced that it had increased its ownership (with partners) of TerraForm Power (NASDAQ: TERP) from 51% to 65%… TerraForm Power generates 3,634 megawatts of solar and wind power around the globe… Brookfield Renewable worldwide has 843 renewable power facilities… capable of producing 16,300 megawatts of power annually… If you want to own more than renewable energy assets, you might consider Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) which owns 61% of BEP and is one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers. If I could only own one company’s stock, Brookfield Asset Management would be at the top of my list. 3) TransAlta Corporation (NYSE: TAC). It could be better for U.S. investors to choose TransAlta Corporation as one of the best renewable energy stocks to buy rather than its 64%-owned renewable energy subsidiary TransAlta Renewables (TSE: RNW), which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange… [Then he says] if you’re an aggressive investor, I’d go with TransAlta Renewables. 4) Enviva (NYSE: EVA) Eviva is the world’s largest producer of wood pellets… The pellets themselves are sold to utilities in the U.K. and Europe that use them in place of coal to produce a cleaner electricity source… If you’re an income investor, Enviva is a very safe way to meet your annual income requirements. 5) Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQGS: REGI) Whenever you see one of those trucks sucking out the grease traps at a restaurant, it’s going to one of Renewable Energy’s 13 biomass refineries to be turned into diesel fuel… The demand for biodiesel is tremendous… I believe REGI has got room to move into the $30s on rising demand. 6) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) TPI Composites is the largest independent manufacturer of composite wind blades for turbine manufacturers… Last year, it announced a joint development agreement with Navistar International (NYSE: NAV) to develop a composite tractor and frame rails for a Class 8 truck… With margins moving higher, the profits will follow. 7) Siemens (OTCMKTS: SIEGY) This last one gives you exposure to a global industrial player in Siemens which, amongst its many ventures, owns 59% of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (OTCMKTS: GCTAF), the world’s largest producer of wind turbines and one of the interesting renewable stocks to buy without going all-in on renewables.” End quote. Incidentally, Travis Hoium has published an article in the Motley Fool titled, Why Solar Energy Stocks Are Dropping Like a Rock but he soothes his reader's worries by saying, and I quote, that “Investors are afraid of solar energy right now, but the long-term prospects of the industry are improving.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Continuing on the subject of renewable power, Maxx Chatsko says that wind power trends in the US and around the world have gained a certain level of maturity, and now some new perspectives come into focus. In an article titled, 2 Trends in Wind Power That Investors Need to Know About in The Motley Fool, Mr. Chatsko says, that “The American wind power industry is barreling toward an important inflection point. The production tax credit (PTC), which provides a subsidy for each kilowatt-hour of electricity g enerated from wind farms… is about to be phased out… The phaseout makes sense… [and that] investors interested in renewable energy stocks can't overlook the significance of these two trends reshaping the wind power industry…” End quote. Mr. Chatsko’s says the two big new themes at play are the repowering – or replacement – of wind farms and the recycling of old turbines. Two companies he recommends concerning these trends are General Electric (NYSE: GE) for new turbines and Trex Company (NYSE: TREX) for recycling. ------------------------------------------------------------- For faith-based investors, America’s Inspire Investing has launched a new international ESG ETF with the name Inspire International ESG ETF (NYSEARCA: WWJD). Quoting Tom Lydon, of ETF Trends in an article he wrote titled, Inspire Investing Launches Faith-Based International ESG ETF, he says, that, “With an expense ratio of 0.80%, the Inspire International ESG ETF is a faith-based ESG ETF comprised of 150 biblically aligned large-cap companies outside of the United States, as measured by Inspire’s revolutionary Inspire Impact Score methodology, which measures a company’s positive impact on the world… The new WWJD is comprised of 80% developed markets companies and 20% emerging markets stocks.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for October 25. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

No cost to fossil free investing between 1927 and 2016, says new study. Two top renewable energy stocks in solar power. ESG funds showing outperformance compared to non-sustainable counterparts. Many ESG funds growing fast and attracting substantial assets. Green bond issuance makes new highs. Best US robo advisors for ethical and sustainable investors. And more PODCAST: Fossil Free Investing, ESG Profits, and more… Transcript & Links September 27, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Fossil Free Investing, ESG Profits, and more…  September 27, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Investment ideas in these podcasts are generally gleaned from market participants in the US, Canadian, UK, European, Asian and Australasian financial markets. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Fossil Free Investing Most of us listening to this podcast believe that fossil free Investing might not be a good long-term investment – for many reasons. However, we might not know the details. Well, under the title, Fossil Fuel Divestment: The Financial Case, by Katelyn M. Kriesel, of Hansen's Advisory Services, and president of The Sustainable Economies Alliance, Ms. Kriesel provides a detailed study on those details! Ms. Kriesel says this, and I quote, that, "We compare financial performance of investment portfolios with and without fossil fuel company stocks over the period 1927 -- 2016. Contrary to theoretical expectations, we find that fossil fuel divestment does not seem to impair portfolio performance. These findings can be explained by the fact that, so far, fossil fuel company stocks do not outperform other stocks on a risk-adjusted basis and provide relatively limited diversification benefits." End quote. Thus, we have a compelling case for fossil fuel investing! ------------------------------------------------------------- Continuing on a related theme, Maxx Chatsko of The Motley Fool has his top solar power energy stock picks in a post titled, 2 Top Renewable Energy Stocks in Solar Power, appearing on Nasdaq.com. In my last podcast, Mr. Chatsko picked his top wind energy stocks. By the way, his new stock picks were top choices for analysts in my previous podcasts. It just shows the potential for these stocks. Mr. Chatsko’s two picks are SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG) and Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH). He has this to say about SolarEdge, I quote, “The company develops integrated inverter systems that maximize power output from solar panels and reduce the cost of electricity produced… In the last six quarters, SolarEdge has acquired a provider of uninterruptible power supplies, a maker of lithium-ion batteries, and even a company that develops powertrain and electronics for electric vehicles. That shows the company is eager to maintain and expand its presence in the clean energy markets. With shares trading at just 17 times future earnings after a recent pullback, investors with a long-term mindset might find plenty to like about this solar stock.” End quote. On Enphase Energy, Mr. Chatsko writes, that, “Enphase Energy… develops and supplies microinverter solutions that help maximize the electricity output from solar modules… Enphase, the leader in microinverters, delivered $24.6 million in operating income in the first six months of this year, compared with an operating loss of $3 million in the first half of 2018… Enphase… is preparing to launch the first products with the next-generation IQ 8 microinverter, which boasts a 31% increase in computing power versus [its] IQ 7. That could allow for smaller, more efficient, and even simpler products for customers. Throw in the expected launch of residential energy storage products by the end of 2019, and this solar stock could have multiple growth opportunities.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- More ESG stock picks come from Evan Harvey, Global Head of Sustainability at Nasdaq. They appear in a post titled, This Correlation Between ESG Investing Scores And High Returns May Surprise You, written by Alissa Coram and Justin Nielson on the Investors Business Daily site. The three ESG stocks Mr. Harvey likes are Akamai Technologies (AKAM), Texas Instruments (TXN), and Comcast (CMCSA). On Akamai Technologies, Mr. Harvey says, “Akamai stock is all about the infrastructure for the internet as the largest content delivery network service provider. Between security solutions, e-commerce, and video streaming, they touch on a lot of areas seeing massive growth.” End quote. Concerning Texas Instruments, he says, quote, “Semiconductors are notoriously cyclical so it helps to understand where you are at in the chip cycle. They started the year out great but have had a tough time since China trade war concerns have intensified. But with optimism on the direction of talks on tariffs, chip stocks started showing relative strength.” End quote. And on Comcast, Mr. Harvey says, that, “Comcast is a great example of how top-rated companies exist in the ESG space. While many people focus on the impact of cord-cutting on Comcast's cable business, it's just as important that the cord-cutters still need internet service. Comcast is offsetting losses in video subscriptions with gains in broadband subscriptions. The profit margins on broadband are much higher, leaving little incentive to fight for the lower-value video subscriptions. With a push for expansion in wireless mobile, it's a very different bundle that Comcast stock will be pushing in the future.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Because ethical and sustainable investing is gaining mainstream acceptance, it’s not surprising to read Sanghamitra Saha of Zacks, article, titled, 6 ESG ETFs Close to or Above the $1B Asset Mark, found on Yahoo! Finance. Ms. Saha reviews each of the six ESG ETFs. Here’s what she says about each one. Quote, “1) The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) — AUM $1.61 billion… comprises U.S. large and mid-capitalization stocks of companies with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers. It charges 10 bps in fees. 2) iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) — AUM $1.55 billion… is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the equity performance of U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 25 bps in fees. 3) Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) — AUM $1.50 billion… is a capitalization-weighted index that provides exposure to companies with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers. The fund charges 10 bps in fees. 4) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) — AUM $1.18 billion… comprises U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 25 bps in fees. 5) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) — AUM $969.5 million… comprises large and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 20 bps in fees. 6) iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF (ESGU) — AUM $967.05 million… comprises U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the parent index. The fund charges 15 bps in fees.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, while on the subject of ESG funds, Annalisa Esposito reports on the Morningstar UK site that, ESG Funds Beat Non-Sustainable Sister Funds, and quoting her, she says that “Investors would do better to pick ESG funds rather than their non-sustainable counterparts, according to research by fund supermarket interactive investor. Morningstar data analysed by the firm reveals that funds taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account in their investments have performed better than their non-ESG sister funds.” End quote. Whether the same is true outside the UK hasn’t been demonstrated to my knowledge. However, it’s one more great reason for investing in ethical and sustainable funds compared to their ‘conventional’ equivalents! ------------------------------------------------------------- For the fixed-income side of your portfolio, green bonds are well worth considering according to many analysts. In an article, Green Bonds Are Getting Hot on Wall Street, ETF Trends features the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB). Among green bond funds, the writer of the article states, that, “The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB), the first fixed income ETF offering exposure to green bonds, has been a solid performer this year, gaining nearly 4% while currently yielding around 1.3%. Those are modest, but decent numbers, but the appetite for green bonds is increasing and that could bode well for GRNB going forward.” End quote. Illustrating how big green bond issuance is becoming, financial writer Todd Shriber quotes Bloomberg concerning the huge increase in green bond issuance this year. Bloomberg says, “Global green-bond sales have already beaten last year’s record $135 billion well before the end of 2019. Issuance of the securities has more than quadrupled in the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- To help US ethical and sustainable investors create stock and bond portfolios reflecting their personal values, Investopedia just announced its Best 2019 Robo-Advisors for Socially Responsible Investors. It concluded the four best are: M1 Finance Read review Motif Investing Read review Interactive Advisors Read review Personal Capital Read Review For links to these robo advisors see this podcast’s webpage. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. Incidentally, there is another – and some would say preferable – simple and cheap way to create a portfolio that aligns your investments with your values. Check-out my one-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look down the right-hand sidebar for the link. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for October 11. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.