This podcast includes these articles: “The Best ESG Funds Of 2023,” by Barbara Friedberg; “5 Best ESG Stocks to Consider in April 2023,” by Benzinga; “Climate Change Stocks – How Investors Can Profit From The Green Revolution,” by Q.ai; and “Five Top Graphite Stocks to Own with the EV Boom,” by Baystreet Staff. And more…

Podcast: Best ESG Funds and Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 103, April 7, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 103 and published on April 7, 2023, titled “Best ESG Funds and 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.

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.

Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them.

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 so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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1) Best ESG Funds and Stocks It’s been a while since I led off talking about ESG funds. So let’s amend that now with this article titled The Best ESG Funds Of 2023. It’s by Barbara Friedberg and found on forbes.com. Here are some of what Ms. Friedberg says about her picks.

“Forbes Advisor has selected what we believe to be the best ESG funds available in the market today…

We began our hunt by paring Morningstar’s master list to 140 funds by excluding options that required minimum initial investments of more than $5,000. Also, we eliminated funds that did not lend themselves to the creation of a well-diversified mix of stock and fixed income investments…

We then screened out any funds with an annual expense ratio that was above 0.60%. For diversity, we selected passively managed as well as actively managed portfolios.

To meet the requirements of a very broad audience, so we deliberately excluded narrowly focused sector funds, geographically specialized funds and age group-specific target date funds. These screens left us with 18 choices.

The final list of the eight best ESG funds includes broadly diversified choices that are suitable for the widest possible group of investors. We included short and core fixed-income funds along with U.S. and international ESG equity funds. You might create an entire ESG portfolio from funds on the list or add a few to an existing investment portfolio.”

Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT) Nuveen ESG Dividend ETF (NUDV) iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Developmental Goals ETF (SDG) Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) Fidelity International Sustainability Index Fund (FNIDX) Calvert US Mid Cap Core Responsible Index Fund (CMJAX) BlackRock Sustainable Advantage CoreAlpha Bond Fund (BIAAX)” End quotes.

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2) Best ESG Funds and Stocks Now, from the best ESG funds to the best ESG stocks with this article titled 5 Best ESG Stocks to Consider in April 2023. It’s by Benzinga and found on benzinga.com. Here are their recommendations with some quotes on each one.

“1. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) The company is organized into three segments, including productivity and business processes (which includes Microsoft Office, Skype, SharePoint and Office 365) (and) cloud infrastructure and platform-as-a-service offering. The last segment is personal computing including Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, laptops and desktops.

2. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) The firms’ chips are used in a variety of end markets such as high-end PCs for gaming, data centers, and automotive infotainment systems.

More recently, the firm has diversified its focus from traditional PC to more complex sectors such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. These sectors increasingly leverage high-performance capabilities in graphics processing units.

3. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) Salesforce.com provides enterprise cloud computing solutions, including Sales Cloud, the company’s main customer relationship management software-as-a-service product.

Salesforce.com also offers Service Cloud for customer……(read more)

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Investors today are increasingly interested in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds and stocks. These investments focus on companies that operate responsibly and have a positive impact on the environment and society. With more and more investors prioritizing ethical and sustainable investing, ESG funds and stocks are becoming increasingly popular. In this article, we will highlight some of the best ESG funds and stocks available in the market today.

ESG Funds

1. iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)

iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF tracks the performance of U.S. companies with strong ESG credentials. The fund screens the MSCI USA Index for companies with high ESG scores and excludes any companies associated with certain industries such as tobacco, weapons, and fossil fuels. SUSA is a low-cost fund with an expense ratio of 0.25%.

2. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV)

Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF invests in companies that have higher ESG scores than their peers. The fund also avoids companies involved in tobacco, weapons, and fossil fuels. ESGV has a low expense ratio of 0.12% and is a good option for investors looking for a low-cost ESG index fund.

3. TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund (TICRX)

TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund invests in companies that meet strict environmental, social, and governance criteria. The fund has a diversified portfolio of U.S. large-cap stocks and has a relatively high expense ratio of 0.44%.

ESG Stocks

1. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Microsoft is a technology company that has invested heavily in sustainability and renewable energy. The company has committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030 and has an ambitious environmental sustainability plan. Microsoft also has a strong focus on social responsibility, with initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion, education, and community empowerment.

2. Nike, Inc. (NKE)

Nike is a global leader in athletic apparel and footwear, and the company has made a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has set goals to reduce carbon emissions, eliminate waste, and use more sustainable materials. Nike also has a strong focus on labor rights and has made significant investments in its supply chain to improve worker conditions.

3. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)

NextEra Energy is a renewable energy company that has a strong commitment to sustainability and ESG issues. The company is the largest producer of wind and solar power in the world and has set ambitious goals to continue to expand its renewable energy portfolio. NextEra Energy also has a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, with initiatives focused on education, community empowerment, and disaster relief.

In conclusion, ESG investing is becoming increasingly popular, and there are a wide range of ESG funds and stocks available for investors. These investments offer the opportunity to invest in companies that are making a positive impact on the environment and society while also generating competitive returns. When considering ESG investments, investors should carefully evaluate the performance, expenses, and ESG criteria of the fund or stock before making a decision. By doing so, investors can align their investments with their values and make a positive impact on the world.