I en ny artikel skriver Merrill Lynch, at der er beviser på, at virksomheder, der scorer højre på et “ESG-Scorecard”, kan præstere lige så godt eller endda bedre end det bredere marked.
Yderligere vækst opstår fra det voksende udvalg af valgmuligheder, som investorer nu har for at få adgang til investeringer med fokus på bæredygtighed, der omfatter individuelle aktier, grønne obligationer, indekserede fonde og mange flere.
Og mens kvinder, personer med høj nettoværdi og især Millennials har været i spidsen for bevægelsen, vinder bæredygtige investeringer indpas blandt en bred vifte af investorer. En undersøgelse blandt finansielle rådgivere foretaget af Nuveen viste, at de tre generationer, der er mest tilbøjelige til at spørge om bæredygtig investering, var Gen X, Baby Boomers og Millenials i nævnte rækkefølge. Baseret på disse demografiske tendenser mener Merrill, at momentumet bag bæredygtig investering fortsat bør bygges op langt ud i fremtiden.
De fremlægger en række grunde til denne udvikling:
Investing in what matters most to you …
“These days we’re all more aware of critical issues facing humanity: climate change, health care, how employers are providing safe and secure working environments and benefits like paid leave, to name a few. Investors may be looking for companies that are taking steps to find solutions to these types of challenges—such as reducing their carbon footprint or expanding the diversity of their board—while avoiding or divesting from those that are not. In this way, investors can honor their personal concerns, in effect aligning their portfolios with their values.”
… while also focusing on potential returns …
“In a stark contrast to the recent past, when values-based investors might have expected lower returns, we have seen ample evidence that corporations scoring high on an “ESG scorecard” may perform as well as or even better than the broader market.”
“The evidence can help make investing sustainably seem like a clear choice. Or, in the words of Jackie VanderBrug, head of Sustainable and Impact Investment Strategy in the Chief Investment Office for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank, “If all things are equal in terms of risk and returns, the real question investors might ask is, why not add a sustainability lens to your portfolio and invest in companies that are potentially poised for longer-term success?”
…and keeping an eye on risk
In addition to evidence of competitive returns, the desire to manage risk has driven interest in sustainable investing, according to Anna Snider, head of Due Diligence in the Chief Investment Office for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank. “Looking at a company’s ESG data may also help investors spot potential problem areas—and understand their consequences. They can then use that information to help manage risk in their portfolios.” What would they look for? If a company is failing to provide safe conditions for its employees, it may find itself unable to operate due to regulatory constraints. A corporation that’s failing to address gender inequality could potentially be sued by employees.
