Original, independent, thought leadership

Franklin Resources completes acquisition of Putnam Investments

The Bottom Line: Investors in Putnam’s 17 sustainable funds are guided to stay the course but monitor post transaction developments before making any investment changes. Top ten managers of sustainable funds and their assets under management at the start 2024 Notes of Explanation: # of funds refers to funds and share classes. Data as of […]

Interest in sustainable investing not diminishing

The Bottom Line:  The campaign against ESG considerations by investment managers and investors shows no evidence so far that interest in sustainable investing is diminishing. Sustainable mutual funds and ETFs net assets:  December 2022 – April 30, 2023 Sources: Morningstar Direct and Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC Observations: The continuing campaign against the use of […]

Sustainable high yield funds add to investing options

The Bottom Line:  An expanding universe of sustainable high yield funds adds to investor options but sustainable strategies can be nuanced and challenging to compare. Expanding universe of sustainable high yield funds adds to investor options Sustainable mutual funds and ETFs across all asset classes ranging from money market funds to equity funds turned in […]

Launches of sustainable funds register strong Q4 and full year 2021

The Bottom Line:  After 133 funds launched last year, 2022 promises growth for sustainable investing.  New funds expand investor options, with more innovation to come. Launches of sustainable funds will record another strong quarter and full calendar year 2021 With 10 fund launches in November, seven ETFs and three mutual funds, it looks like sustainable […]

Sustainable infrastructure funds are coming to market

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable investors considering infrastructure funds on the back of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (BIF) should proceed with caution. Summary Sustainable investors considering investing in infrastructure funds on the back of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (BIF)signed into law by President Biden on November 15th, now […]

Five sustainable ETFs launched in July 2021-all equity

The Bottom Line: New sustainable ETFs are thematic, equity-oriented, actively and passively managed, each emphasizing direct or indirect environmental considerations, subject to higher expense ratios. Summary Five new thematic actively and passively managed equity-oriented ETFs were launched in July 2021, each one emphasizing direct or indirect environmental considerations, either entirely or partially across their portfolios. […]

Sustainable municipal ETFs, all actively managed, still small but growing

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable municipal ETFs, a small investment category, reached over $1.0 billion in October having expanded by $262.9 million over the trailing three-months. A small category, sustainable municipal ETFs reach over $1.0 billion in October Overall, 141 sustainable ETFs with $70.0 billion in assets were on offer in the US at the end […]

Sustainable real estate funds not fully recovered but category has expanded

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable real estate funds still not fully recovered from severe declines during Q1 of 2020, but category expanded, led by ESG Integration. Sustainable real estate funds have still not fully recovered from the severe declines experienced during the first quarter of the year, but category, led by ESG Integration, has expanded Sustainable […]

Research

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

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

Getting started

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

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

Inesting ideas

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

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