PODCAST: Best ESG Companies, Funds. And More…

enMarch 08, 2024

ethical companies

The Greenest Global Companies

The Greenest Global Companies podcast features Corporate Knights and As You Sow’s 2024 Clean 200 global green company rankings. Plus

Ron Robins, MBA

Transcript & Links, Episode 124, February 23, 2024

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 124 titled “The Greenest Global Companies.” 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.

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 8 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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List of Clean 200 companies captures the green transition in full flight

I’m beginning this podcast with one of my favorite company rankings that has just been released! It’s on corporateknights.com and titled List of Clean 200 companies captures the green transition in full flight. The introduction is by Rick Spence. Here are some quotes by Mr. Spence.

“Released by Corporate Knights and California-based shareholder advocates As You Sow on February 15, the 11th Clean200 ranking captures the green transition in full flight, cataloguing those public companies that are earning the most from sustainable sources. Crucially, it also signals to investors – venture capitalists, institutions and individuals alike – that a wide range of companies are capitalizing on new-economy principles without sacrificing annual returns or opportunities for growth.

Between July 1, 2016, and January 15, 2024, Clean200 companies generated a total return of 103.5%. Although they underperformed the MSCI ACWI broad market index, which grew 114.4%, the Clean200 trounced the key index of global fossil fuel companies (the MSCI ACWI/Energy Index), which gained only 64.5% through those years.

And that’s the big deal, says As You Sow CEO Andrew Behar, who co-authored the 2024 study. ‘In 2016, we created the Clean200 in response to investors saying, if we divest fossil fuels, there is nothing to invest in.’ Eight years later, the message is clear: ‘Investors who are not tilting their portfolios toward a clean future do so at their own peril.’

Top Companies

In first place again is Apple (AAPL)… Other blue-chip names on the list include Tesla (TSLA) (number three), HP (HPQ) (five), Microsoft (MSFT) (six), Daimler (DTG.DE) (12), BMW (BMW.DE) (16), Nissan (NSANY) (36), Nike (NKE) (50), Swatch (UHR.SW) (157) and even the iconic U.S. Steel (X) (177) – which recently committed to being zero-carbon by 2050.

‘Our mission is to shine a light on the heroes of the battle against climate change,’ notes report co-author Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights. ‘The 2024 Clean200 proves there are true sustainability champions out there. The key is to rigorously apply a scientifically inspired method to identify these gems.’

In total, Clean200 companies earned more than $2.2 trillion in sustainable revenue in 2022, deriving on average 54.7% of their revenues from sustainable business activities, versus 13.6% for their MSCI ACWI peers… The ranking excludes firms involved in industries such as fossil fuels, deforestation, prisons, weapons and tobacco – as well as companies that engage in blocking climate policies.

Leading the pack is the U.S., with 39 companies making the list this year. Other blooming centres of corporate sustainability are China (23), Japan (18) and France (13), followed by Brazil, Canada and Germany with 10 companies each.”

End quotes

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13 Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds

Next up is back to energy with this article titled 13 Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. It’s by Fatima Farooq and seen on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Farooq says.

“We selected the names for our list of the best renewable energy stocks to buy by consulting Insider Monkey's hedge fund data for the third quarter… Hedge funds’ top 10 consensus stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here)”.

13. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

It manufactures and sells polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufacturers in China to be used in ingots, wafers, cells, and modules for solar power solutions.

12. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR)

Hedge Fund Holders: 19

Anthony Crowdell at Mizuho holds a Neutral rating and a $34 price target on Avangrid, Inc. as of January 3…

Avangrid… engages in the renewable energy generation business in the US, focusing on onshore wind power, solar, biomass, and thermal.

11. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Clearway Energy… has about 5,500 net megawatts of installed wind and solar generation projects…

Oppenheimer's Noah Kaye maintains an Outperform rating and a $37 price target on Clearway Energy… as of January 19.

10. Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE)

Hedge Fund Holders: 24

Green Plains… produces, stores, distributes, and sells clean fuel…

On January 30, Goldman Sachs analyst Adam Samuelson maintained a Buy rating and a $34 price target on Green Plains.

9. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 26

Sunrun Inc. designs, develops, installs, and sells residential solar energy systems in the US …

A Buy rating and a $28 price target were maintained on Sunrun Inc. on January 3 by Mizuho's Maheep Mandloi.

8. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG)

Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Christopher Souther at B. Riley Securities maintains a Buy rating and a $133 price target on SolarEdge Technologies… as of February 5.

SolarEdge Technologies designs, develops, and sells direct current optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations.

7. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (NYSE:AQN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 28

On January 8, Ben Pham at BMO Capital upgraded Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a $7.50 price target on the stock…

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is a renewable energy and utility company.

6. Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB)

Hedge Fund Holders: 35

Enbridge is an energy company with a proactive Renewable Power Generation segment that operates assets such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery.

5. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Hedge Fund Holders: 40

Enphase Energy designs and manufactures home energy solutions for the solar photovoltaic industry in the US and internationally… A Buy rating and a $140 price target were maintained on Enphase Energy… on February 1 by Philip Shen at Roth MKM.

4. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG)

Hedge Fund Holders: 45

Constellation Energy Corporation is a producer of carbon-free energy with about 32,355 megawatts of generating capacity consisting of nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, and hydroelectric assets.

3. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Hedge Fund Holders: 49

First Solar is a provider of photovoltaic solar energy solutions… On January 3, Maheep Mandloi maintained a Buy rating on First Solar alongside a $196 price target.

2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Hedge Fund Holders: 58

NextEra Energy… generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities.

RBC Capital’s Shelby Tucker reiterated an Outperform rating and a $74 price target on NextEra Energy on January 30.

1. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE)

Hedge Fund Holders: 76

GE… provides green energy solutions by combining onshore and offshore wind, blade manufacturing, grid solutions, hydro storage, hybrid renewables, and more…

Overweight rating and a $153 price target were maintained on General Electric on January 24 by Julian Mitchell at Barclays.”

End quotes

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Profit and Purpose: 7 Standout Stocks for the Ethical Investor

This next article covers some well-known companies. It’s titled Profit and Purpose: 7 Standout Stocks for the Ethical Investor by Josh Enomoto, on investorplace.com. Here are some quotes on each of his picks.

“1. Waste Management (NYSE:WM)

It’s one of the leaders in environmental sustainability with a focus toward waste reduction and renewable energy initiatives. For one thing, the company owns a vast network of recycling facilities…

Second, the company forwards a waste-gas-to-energy project. Per its website.

Analysts rate shares a consensus moderate buy with a high-side target hitting $230.

2. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)

Commanding a presence in 49 states… (and) through its vast network of facilities – including solar and wind turbines – NextEra Energy features about 72 gigawatts (GW) of operating capacity…

Rough economic conditions hurt NextEra Energy bad in the final months of 2023. However, analysts anticipate a recovery, pegging shares a moderate buy with a $69.60 average price target.

3. Costco (NASDAQ:COST)

I don’t think it’s an anecdote to say that most Americans love the open-warehouse-style big-box retailer… But where it really shines is how well Costco treats its employees… In 2022, data from Glassdoor noted that the retailer’s employees rated the business a four out of five regarding worker satisfaction…

Analysts rate Costco stock a strong buy with a high-side target of $825.

4. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Starbucks… appeals to modern investors by emphasizing the ‘S’ component of ESG stocks… the company proudly boasts of its ethical sourcing of its key ingredients, from coffee beans to tealeaves to cocoa. In addition, its manufactured goods – from the merchandise on its shelves to the furniture in its stores – involve ethical sourcing…

Also, I’d be remiss not to mention Starbucks’ youth empowerment, hunger relief, and inclusivity programs… And analysts love it, pegging shares a consensus strong buy.

5. Visa (NYSE:V)

According to a Forbes article in 2023, Visa represents the most carried card, printing a market share of 52.8%... Lots of folks love talking about the ‘E’ and the ‘S’ in ESG stocks. However, governance is also a major component of holistic ethics. Here, Visa’s corporate governance practices help promote long-term value and accountability to its shareholders. Part of this involves ensuring diversity and inclusion and not just in the workforce itself but in the upper echelons of leadership…

Analysts rate shares a consensus strong buy with a $303.74 average price target.

6. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Maintaining high standards of governance, Apple focuses on a range of important issues. In June 2020, the company launched its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, advancing opportunities for many people of color and Indigenous communities….

Also, Apple implements a shareholder voting process focused on executive compensation. That’s one distinct mechanism to keep the company accountable to stakeholders. Overall, analysts peg shares a moderate buy with a $208.07 average price target. Notably, the high-side target hits $250, implying robust bullishness despite a soft start to 2024.

7. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Thanks to the tech giant’s big investments in artificial intelligence, it has steadily rocketed higher since the 2022 doldrums. Further, as AI becomes more ingrained into everyday life, Microsoft stands to be a massive winner.

And when it comes to ethical stocks, the company may be the all-around champion… management set out ambitious environmental targets, most conspicuously being its aim to be carbon negative; that is, it will remove its historical emissions since its founding in 1975.

In addition, it’s a huge player in social equity, promoting directives focused on encouraging women to participate in technology. Finally, MSCI Ratings awarded Microsoft an AAA rating, the highest rating available to organizations. Unsurprisingly, analysts love Microsoft, rating it a consensus strong buy with a $469.45 price target.”

End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1. Title: Top 10: Solar Companies found on energydigital.com. By Maya Derrick.

2. Title: 3 Solar Energy Stocks Poised for a Strong Comeback on investorplace.com. By Faisal Humayun.

3. Title: ESG Funds Bucking The Trend on fa-mag.com. By Ron Delegge.

4. Title: BK Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest.

5. Title: Get Rich Quick with These 7 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now on investorplace.com. By Ian Cooper.

6. Title: 3 Strong Buy Renewable Energy Stocks to Add to Your February Must-Watch List on investorplace.com. By Tomas Levani.

7. Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Own Before the Election Frenzy Begins on investorplace.com. By Jeremy Flint.

8. Title: 3 Hidden-Gem Renewable Energy Stocks Ready to Ride a Massive Market Wave on investorplace.com. By Matthew Farley.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “The Greenest Global Companies.”

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.

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 March 8^th.

Bye for now.

enFebruary 23, 2024

as you sow

responsible companies

Great Sustainable Stocks and Funds for 2024

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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 23^rd.

Bye for now.

enFebruary 09, 2024

responsible companies

The World’s Most Sustainable Corporations

Ron Robins, MBA

Podcast: The World’s Most Sustainable Corporations

Transcript & Links, Episode 122, January 26, 2024

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 122 titled “The World’s Most Sustainable Corporations.” 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.

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 6 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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The Global 100 list: How the world’s most sustainable corporations are driving the green transition

I’m beginning this episode highlighting my favorite sustainable’ Corporations ranking. You can find their just released 2024 ranking in this post titled The Global 100 list: How the world’s most sustainable corporations are driving the green transition. The introduction is by Shawn McCarthy and posted on corporateknights.com. Here are some quotes.

“Now in its 20th year, Corporate Knights’ Global 100 ranking of the world’s most sustainable companies reveals the top firms that are increasing their investments in green solutions such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and the circular economy.

‘When we launched the Global 100 in 2005, the green economy was a quaint idea. Many companies didn’t publish in-house sustainability reports. There were no standardized key performance indicators, and none of the companies were reporting the percentage of their revenue or investments that were green,’ says Corporate Knights co-founder and CEO Toby Heaps…

In the 2024 Global 100 ranking, the top-ranked firms allocated 55% of their investments to sustainable projects, up from 47% the year prior. That compares with sustainable investments at a paltry 17% among the broader universe of publicly traded companies with more than US$1 billion in annual revenue…

The 2024 Global 100 companies earned 51% of their revenues from sustainable sources in the fiscal year 2022, up from 50% the prior year. That compares with just 16% for the broader universe of companies…

Top Companies

Two Australian companies, Sims Ltd. (SMSMY) and Brambles Ltd. (BMBLF) top the 2024 ranking. Sims, this year’s number one company, recycles scrap metal in 30 countries, and Brambles rents reusable pallets and containers around the globe. Both companies score 100% on sustainable revenue and sustainable investment…

The Global 100 also awarded a ‘pivot prize’ to Italian energy firm ERG SpA (ER9.BE), which completed its multiyear transition from black to green halfway through 2023…

The Global 100 rates companies in 38 industry groups… based on 25 metrics. It applies different weighting to certain metrics given the nature of the sector. Sustainable revenue and sustainable investment are key measures…

The Global 100 score far better on overall environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics than do their peers. For example, 79% of Global 100 firms had sustainability-linked pay; only 30% of the broader corporate universe linked executive pay to the achievement of environmental or social sustainability targets…

Between February 1, 2005, and December 15, 2023, the Global 100 saw a return of 287% on a U.S. dollar basis, while the MSCI ACWI had a return of 272%. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index posted a return of 254% over that period.” End quotes.

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Franklin Templeton Positive On Green, Social Bonds In 2024

This second article features a green bond fund by a firm who was one of the pioneers in mutual funds. The article is titled Franklin Templeton Positive On Green, Social Bonds In 2024. It’s by Amanda Cheesley and found wealthbriefing.com. Now some quotes from Ms. Cheesley.

“David Zahn, head of European fixed income at Franklin Templeton, believes that sustainable investing will be a dominant investment trend, with structural tailwinds that could help improve financial returns…

Zahn thinks that green and social bonds, which are typically issued to fund longer-term projects, are a good source of longer-duration investments…

Zahn also believes that an expanding and increasingly diverse sustainable finance market means that attractive returns can go hand in hand with a positive impact on the environment and our communities…

Zahn manages the Franklin Sustainable Euro Green Bond UCITS ETF (FLRG:SWX:EUR) which aims to provide exposure to the European green bond market whilst maximising total returns. It… invests mainly in bonds that are labelled green and denominated in European currencies. The fund… has outperformed the index over a three to five-year period.” End quotes.

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Top 10: Wind Power Companies

Now this next article has an interesting ranking of the top global wind companies. It’s titled Top 10: Wind Power Companies and is by Maya Derrick and seen on energydigital.com. Here are some quotes on the findings of Ms. Derrick’s research.

“Ranked by the latest available annual revenue stats, from year ending 2022, we run through the top 10 leading companies in the wind power industry.

10. Suzlon
Revenue: US$403 million
Country: India

Indian multinational wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon is among the world's leading renewable energy solutions providers revolutionising and redefining the way sustainable energy sources are harnessed. The Suzlon Group has a presence in 17 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

9. Renewable Energy Systems Americas
Revenue: US$1.6 billion
Country: USA

Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES) constructs renewable energy projects for its worldwide customer base. Renewable Energy Systems Americas now has an ever-growing portfolio, made up of 110 solar, wind, transmission and energy storage projects in the US alone and more than 1,000 miles of transmission line.

8. EDP Renewables North America
Revenue: US$2.6bn
Country: USA

Owned by Spanish company EDP Renewables… With 59 wind farms and 12 solar parks in North America alone, EDP Renewables North America works to fulfil its mission of ‘leading the energy transition to create superior value for all’.

7. Avangrid
Revenue: US$7.9bn
Country: USA

A part of the Iberdrola Group, Avangrid provides onshore and offshore wind power and solar power to clients across 20 US states… it has a footprint in 24 states with US$41 billion in assets… The company has… been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for five consecutive years by the Ethisphere Institute.

6. Vestas
Revenue: US$15.5bn
Country: Denmark

Vestas designs, manufactures, installs and services wind turbines in 83 countries and has a workforce of more than 25,000 employees globally. The company has installed in excess of 66,000 wind turbines in its portfolio.

5. NextEra Energy
Revenue: US$21bn
Country: USA

The American energy company that is one of the world’s largest wind and solar energy generators and also operates nuclear power and natural gas plants.

4. RWE Renewables
Revenue: US$41.7bn
Country: USA

Working toward a goal of being carbon-neutral by 2040, RWE is a key driver of the energy transformation, working across data networks, mobility, competitive industries and building infrastructure. The 125-year-old company works to balance the need to meet the growing demand for power while mitigating negative effects of climate change… It has 27 wind farms in operation across the country.

3. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Revenue: US$30.3bn
Country: Japan

Since Mitsubishi Heavy Industries delivered the first equipment for commercial use in Japan in 1982, the group has supplied more than 4,200 units, around 4.4GW, of wind power generators globally… It has a focus on on-shore wind turbines.

2. General Electric
Revenue: US$76.6bn
Country: USA

GE is the largest renewable energy company by a significant margin… GE has installed more than 49,000 wind turbines and enough renewable energy sources to produce 400GW of energy worldwide… As well as this, GE’s battery energy storage solutions can store and deliver electricity produced by their wind turbines.

1. Siemens
Revenue: US$78bn
Country: Germany

(Siemens is) a more than 175-year-old technology company which played a major role in the early years of electricity, Siemens’ wind power offering is extensive. The company established the world’s first offshore wind power plant in 1991 and continues to be a large player in both the onshore and offshore spaces…

Siemens Gamesa… is well-known for its SG 14.0-222 wind turbine… the largest wind turbine in the world.” End quotes.

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3 EV Stocks Cementing Their Status as Top Long-Term Market Picks

Many ethical and sustainable investors are buying EV stocks. Here’s an article on that sector by Dmytro Spilka and found on investorplace.com. It’s titled 3 EV Stocks Cementing Their Status as Top Long-Term Market Picks. Here are some quotes by Mr. Spilka on his picks.

“1. Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI)

At the core of Li’s strong year was an astonishing 182.2% total deliveries growth to 376,030. Cumulative deliveries surpassed 600,000 vehicles. This makes the firm the most prolific among China’s emerging new energy automakers.

With the upcoming launch of Li MEGA, the firm’s flagship new MPV set to roll out in February 2024, the firm appears to be leading the charge to become China’s EV market leader.

Li Auto’s recently announced partnership with semiconductor giant Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) will see Nvidia’s DRIVE Thor centralized car computer power Li’s future EV fleets.

2. Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN)

has endured a fairly torrid time on Wall Street since its debut in late 2021… The news that the auto manufacturer will be supplying its vehicles for AT&T’s (NYSE:T) fleet represents a significant coup for the firm…

In perhaps its biggest statement of intent, Rivian produced 17,541 vehicles in Q4 alone…

Rivian’s management has boldly predicted that the firm will begin turning gross profit positive, making Rivian a solid pick for investors with a long-term outlook.

3. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Tesla… deliveries in Q4 alone hit a total of 484,507.

On top of this, the highly anticipated launch of the Cybertruck has helped to keep the stock in the spotlight. Tesla’s commitment to autonomous driving is likely to ensure that it stays at the forefront of innovation…

One of the stock’s biggest supporters is Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of Ark Invest (ARKK)… Wood claimed that Tesla stock could reach the $4,600 mark. That would be a price target of $1,533.33 when adjusted for the split.” End quotes.

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The Top 3 Stocks to Benefit from Next-Gen Energy Solutions

My final article for this episode is titled The Top 3 Stocks to Benefit from Next-Gen Energy Solutions. It’s by Steve Booyens and also found on investorplace,com. Due to limited space I’m just quoting Mr. Booyens briefly.

“1. Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (NYSE:BEP)

A company with diversified renewable energy exposure with significant scale in store.

2. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Economies of scale and continuous capacity sequencing place First Solar best-in-class.

3. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH)

A buy-the-dip opportunity highly touted by Wells Fargo.”

End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1. Title: 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Power Up Your Portfolio on investorplace.com. By Muslim Farooque.

2. Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Amid Rising Material Cost on finance.yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta.

3. Title: Morgan Stanley a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.7% Yield on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest.

Articles from the UK and Canada

1. Title: Top 200 Ethical Businesses on thegoodshoppingguide.com.

2. Title: The top 20 ESG funds of 2023 on trustnet.com. By Matthew Cook.

3. Title: 2024 Responsible Funds Guide Canada on corporateknights.com. By Tim Nash.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “The World’s Most Sustainable Corporations.”

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.

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 9^th.

Bye for now.

enJanuary 26, 2024

sustainablecorporations

The Most Profitable Clean Energy Stocks. Plus…

Ron Robins

Transcript & Links, Episode 121, January 12, 2024

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 121 titled “The Most Profitable Clean Energy Stocks. Plus…” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. I do hope that you had a wonderful time over the holidays! Now 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.

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 12 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

-------------------------------------------------------------

1) The Most Profitable Clean Energy Stocks. Plus…

Now in this edition, I’m featuring articles covering a broad range of sustainable industries. They include more articles in the renewable energy, tech, and health sectors.

The first article I’m covering is titled 13 Most Profitable Renewable Energy Stocks by Ramish Cheema. It’s seen on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes. Please forgive me regarding the improper pronunciation of some of these companies!

“To make our list of the most profitable renewable energy stocks, we ranked the top 30 holdings of BMO Global Asset Management's BMO Clean Energy Index ETF (ZCLN.TO) by their latest trailing twelve month net income and selected the top 13 stocks. For these stocks we have also mentioned hedge fund sentiment.

13. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Latest Trailing Twelve Month Net Income: $473 million

First Solar is an American company that sells products used in solar power generation systems. Unlike other renewable energy stocks, its shares are up 15.14% year to date.

During Q3 2023, 49 out of the 910 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had held a stake in First Solar, Inc.

12. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR)

Latest TTM Net Income: $536 million

Avangrid is a diversified American utility that generates power from both traditional and renewable power sources. It hasn't been doing well financially as of late by having missed analyst EPS estimates in three out of its fourth latest quarters.

By the end of September 2023, 19 out of the 910 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were the firm's shareholders.

11. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Latest TTM Net Income: $571 million

Enphase Energy makes and sells power systems that work with solar panels…

By the end of this year's third quarter, 40 out of the 910 hedge funds profiled by Insider Monkey had held a stake in Enphase Energy.

10. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG)

Latest TTM Net Income: $774 million

Constellation Energy is an American renewable energy company that uses solar, nuclear, and other clean sources to generate power…

During this year's third quarter, 45 out of the 910 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had held a stake in the company.

9. Energias de Portugal, S.A. (ELI:EDP.LS)

Latest TTM Net Income: $784 million

Energias de Portugal, S.A. is a Portuguese diversified renewable energy company with a presence all over Europe and North America. It is one of the most strongly rated stocks on our list.

8. Corporación Acciona Energías Renovables, S.A. (BME:ANE.MC)

Latest TTM Net Income: $847 million

Corporación Acciona Energías Renovables, S.A. is a Spanish renewable energy firm headquartered in Alcobendas, Spain. It uses solar, hydro power, biomass, and other clean energy sources to generate power.

7. EDP Renováveis, S.A. (ELI:EDPR.LS)

Latest TTM Net Income: $852 million

EDP Renováveis, S.A. is another Spanish renewable energy company. The firm has thousands of megawatts of power generation capacity in the U.S., Brazil, Spain, and other countries. Despite a broader slowdown in the renewable energy industry, it has done well on the financial front.

6. Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobrás (NYSE:EBR)

Latest TTM Net Income: $940 million

Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobrás is a Brazilian renewable energy utility with dozens of dams and two nuclear power plants in its power generation portfolio…

Insider Monkey dug through 910 hedge fund portfolios for their September quarter of 2023 shareholdings and found seven shareholders.

5. CPFL Energia S.A. (BVMF:CPFE3.SA)

Latest TTM Net Income: $1 billion

CPFL Energia S.A. is one of the oldest companies on our list since it was set up in 1912. Headquartered in Campinas, SP, Brazil, the firm provides electricity to all kinds of users in its home country… Its shares are rated Buy on average.

4. Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (NYSE:CIG)

Latest TTM Net Income: $1 billion

Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais is a Brazilian utility headquartered in Belo Horizonte. It is one of the biggest energy companies in Brazil and accounts for more than ten percent of the country’s power generation capacity.

During Q3 2023, 15 out of the 910 hedge funds covered by Insider Monkey’s research had bought and owned [the company].

3. Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE:BEPC)

Latest TTM Net Income: $1.5 billion

Brookfield Renewable Corporation is an American renewable energy utility with a presence in several countries and a power generation capacity of more than twelve thousand megawatts… the shares are rated Strong Buy.

2. Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated (OTC:CHUEF)

Latest TTM Net Income: $2.73 billion

Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated is a Japanese utility headquartered in Nagoya, Japan… the firm has been in business [since] 1889. Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated generates electricity through nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and other clean sources. December 2023 has been a controversial month for the firm as a Japanese regulator is fining it for engaging in bribery.

1. China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. (SHA:600900.SS)

Latest TTM Net Income: $3 billion

China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. is a Chinese utility company with a presence in several Asian and South American countries. It is one of the biggest renewable energy companies in the world, known particularly for generating power through hydroelectric plants.”

End quotes.

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2) The Most Profitable Clean Energy Stocks. Plus…

Next, we have this article. It’s titled Green Giants: 7 ESG Stocks Leading the Way in Sustainable Investing by Muslim Farooque and found on investorplace.com. Here are some brief quotes by Mr. Farooque on each company.

“1. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

The tech giant’s early and substantial investments in generative AI have positioned it at the vanguard of the AI revolution… Simultaneously, Microsoft’s dedication to ESG principles has earned it accolades as one of the top ESG stocks.

2. Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA)

is a giant in the field of renewable geothermal energy technology… The company’s achievements include constructing more than 190 power plants and installing more than 3,200 megawatts (MW) of capacity.

Ormat stock has fallen out of favor with investors… However, the future looks promising.

3. Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC)

is… bolstering the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market through its powerful energy storage solutions and AI-driven energy management systems. These competencies are critical for the development of efficient EV charging infrastructure and the integration of renewable energy into the power grid…

This optimistic outlook underscores Fluence’s potential as a key player in the energy storage and EV market, making it a compelling, sustainable option.

4. Bunge (NYSE:BG)

Operating in agribusiness, refined & specialty oils, and milling, the company profits mainly from agribusiness. With a presence in 40 countries, Bunge is positioned remarkably well amidst growing global food shortage concerns, and its business model champions sustainable food supply chains by supporting agricultural communities efficiently…

It offers a forward dividend yield of 2.61%, with a notable 22-year history of consistent dividend payments.

5. Altus Power (NYSE:AMPS)

is a key player in the solar energy space, which is elevating its game with Atlus IQ, an AI-powered, cloud-based tool revolutionizing energy usage insights and solar savings.

6. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)

with its unique positioning as both a leading utility company and a solar and wind energy pioneer, presents a fascinating investment opportunity… Recent economic shifts, particularly high bond yields, have cast a shadow over utility firms and their dividends. However, this situation presented NextEra Energy as a strong contrarian choice, especially given its dividend yield consistently above the 2.5% mark…

7. Host Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ:HST)

It’s a distinguished real estate investment trust (REIT), which continues to make strides in the luxury and upper-upscale hotel market. With an enviable portfolio boasting names such as Grand Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and others, the company has established itself as a heavyweight in the hospitality sphere. What sets this company apart, however, is its unwavering commitment to ESG principles…

In addition to its ESG credentials, HST has demonstrated impressive financial performance… Additionally, its forward yield stands at an attractive 2.9%.”

End quotes.

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3 Healthcare Technology Stocks to Improve Lives in 2024

Now to the article on healthcare. It’s titled 3 Healthcare Technology Stocks to Improve Lives in 2024. It’s by Jeremy Flint and found also on investorplace.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Flint on each of his picks.

“1. Crispr Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP)

made waves earlier this month as its sickle cell treatment, Casgevy, became the first gene-editing therapy approved by the FDA. The implications… are staggering. FDA approval for an ailment as serious as sickle cell opens the floodgates for long-term gene editing and CRISPR tech treatments, ranging from complex chronic diseases to routine wound repair.

Investors’ lack of enthusiasm is primarily due to Casgevy’s short-term operational and financial implications rather than what the approval stands for conceptually.

2. Teladoc Health (NYSE:TDOC)

Teladoc… trades more than 90% below past highs. But that fall from grace isn’t an indictment of Teladoc’s model or viability…

Teladoc’s market share has lots of room to improve… Teladoc is neck-and-neck with direct competitors Amwell (NYSE:AMWL) and Doxy.me. As medical needs evolve, so do delivery and interaction mechanisms, making Teladoc one of the best healthcare technology stocks for 2024.

3. Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG)

captures another long-term healthcare trend, increased reliance on robotics during surgical procedures. Intuitive Surgical… is a healthcare technology giant in the NASDAQ-100 and S&P 500.

Despite its relative overvaluation, analysts are nearly all bullish on Intuitive Surgical… EquitySet, staking $409 as a fair price target, putting shares 18% undervalued at current levels…

If you want to anchor a basket of healthcare technology stocks, a stable but innovative giant like Intuitive Surgical stands as a strong cornerstone.”

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1) Title: Jefferies initiates coverage on solar energy stocks on yahoo.com. By Rad Smith and Nicholas Jacobino.

2) Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist Right Now on yahoo.com. By Travis Hoium.

3) Title: 5 ESG Funds That Rebounded in 2023 on morningstar.com. By Mahi Roy.

4) Title: 5 Best Solar Energy Stocks For 2024 on forbes.com. By Jason Kirsch.

5) Title: 3 Renewable Energy Growth Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist Before 2024 on fool.com. By Matthew DiLallo, Tyler Crowe, and Jason Hall.

6) Title: Eclipsing Expectations: 3 Solar Stocks Offering Hidden Value for 2024 on investorplace.com. By Terel Miles.

7) Title: 12 Best Solar Power Stocks To Invest In According to Financial Media on finance.yahoo.com. By Usman Kabir.

8) Title: Alternative Energy Explorers: 3 Stocks Investing in a Greener Future investorplace.com. By Faisal Humayun.

9) Title: Top 10 renewable energy companies Energy Magazine on energydigital.com. By Maya Derrick.

10) Title: 3 ESG Stocks That Are Sustainable and Profitable on investorplace.com. By Steve Booyens.

11) Title: 3 Eco-Friendly Stocks Leading in Sustainable Supply Chains on investorplace.com. By Muslim Farooque.

12) Title: 8 Best Energy Stocks to Buy in 2024 on usnews.com. By Matt Whittaker.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: The Most Profitable Clean Energy Stocks. Plus…”

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!

I’ll talk to you next on January 26^th.

Bye for now.

enJanuary 12, 2024

esg

renewable energy

clean energy

healthcare stocks

solar stocks

Podcast: Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks

Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock Picks. Includes unusual climate tech stock recommendations and terrific analyst picks in other sectors.

Transcript & Links, Episode 120, December 15, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 120 titled “Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Please note that I’m taking a break over the holidays so my next podcast will be Friday, January 12^th, 2024.

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.

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 11 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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1) Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks

Now, I’m always trying to find articles with new investing ideas with an ESG and sustainable focus. In that vein, I’m presenting this article titled These 8 Small-Cap Impact Stocks Tap into the Rapidly Growing Climate Tech Market in Support of a Net-Zero Future. It’s by Ari Zoldan and found on nasdaq.com.

Here’s some of what Mr. Zoldan says about his picks.

“1. FuelCell Energy (FCEL)

manufactures stationary fuel-cell platforms to help with decarbonizing power and producing hydrogen using fuel cells… The company specifically targets large industrial sources like factories and other large facilities that produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide.

2. Gevo (GEVO)

produces decarbonized fuels and chemicals… The company states it is ‘commercializing the next generation of renewable gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel with the potential to achieve zero carbon emissions…

Gevo… sees commercial opportunities for other renewable hydrocarbon products like renewable natural gas and other fuels, chemicals, and plastics.

3. Ideal Power (IPWR)

has developed and patented a bidirectional semiconductor power switch designed for use in electric vehicles, EV chargers, renewable energy, energy storage, data centers, solid-state circuit breakers, and other industrial and military applications… two examples utilizing the company’s technology (are:) improves the range of EVs and the kilowatt hours harvested from a renewable energy installation.

4. Mullen Automotive (MULN)

is an EV manufacturer that designs and builds commercial trucks, passenger vehicles and solid-state polymer battery technology. Interestingly, while most other EV makers build cars that use lithium-ion batteries, Mullen actually uses lithium-sulfur batteries, describing them as being ‘lighter, more efficient,’ and having ‘greater range than most EVs in the market.’

At this stage, it's still the very early days for Mullen Automotive, although it did see its first recorded revenue in June from the sale of 22 electric cargo vans to the Randy Marion Automotive Group.

5. OPAL Fuels (OPAL)

provides complete renewable natural gas solutions for landfills, dairies, and fueling station construction and service. The company uses a vertical waste-to-energy model that combines the upstream production and downstream marketing and distribution of renewable natural gas, providing a scalable, low-cost solution to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation…

So far, OPAL Fuels has completed more than 350 fueling stations, renewable natural gas landfills, and dairy projects across the U.S.

6. Sunworks (SUNW)

describes its mission as ‘to help businesses and homeowners take control of their electric costs while championing the future of solar.’ The company serves customers in 15 states and provides solar services via partner organizations…

Sunworks also provides energy storage solutions that work with its commercial solar systems.

7. The Metals Company (TMC)

The company describes its mission as ‘to build a carefully managed metal commons that will be used, recovered and reused again and again…’

The company mines polymetallic nodules, which are rich sources of the base metals required for battery making and building the infrastructure needed to make the energy transition… They are found unattached to the bottom of the abyssal seafloor, and they don’t contain toxic levels of heavy elements like land ores do…

Polymetallic nodules are also known as manganese nodules, although they also contain three additional critical metals used in batteries. In addition to manganese, these nodules contain cobalt, nickel and copper, all in a single ore.

The Metals Company believes mining these nodules could have a much lower environmental footprint than other forms of mining necessary to obtain the metals needed for making batteries.

8. Workhorse Group (WKHS)

stands apart from the generalists in the space by manufacturing electric trucks and drones to support last-mile deliveries…

In September, Workhorse announced that it had received approval from the Internal Revenue Service as a qualified manufacturer for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit. The approval means Workhorse customers are eligible for a credit of up to $40,000 on their purchases of all Workhorse vehicles in 2023 and beyond.” End quotes.

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2) Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks

This next article is titled 7 Best ESG Stocks to Buy Now. It’s by Matt Whittaker and found on money.usnews.com. Now some quotes and details.

“If ESG investing interests you, consider these seven ESG stocks, several of which have turned in an impressive year-to-date performance:

*ESG STOCK*	*YTD RETURN AS OF NOV. 30*
Cadence Design Systems Inc.	70.1%
Panasonic Holdings Corp.	23.1%
Tesla Inc.	94.9%
Intel Corp.	73.1%
These last three stocks may fall into the category of bargains for buy-and-hold investors, as renewable energy companies have been in a slump but may have a bright future. First Solar Inc.	5.3%
Sunrun Inc.	-46.3%
Orsted A/S	-46.9%

1. Cadence Design Systems Inc. (CDNS)

provides software, hardware and intellectual property used to design electronic systems…

Trends including artificial intelligence and autonomous driving are fueling electronic design activities and demand for the company's products.

2. Panasonic Holdings Corp. (OTC: PCRFY)

This Japanese multinational electronics company is focused on its automotive battery business. It's also involved in green hydrogen, which, unlike the majority of hydrogen produced today, is made with renewably produced electricity instead of fossil fuels…

Although Panasonic's stock took a big dip in October, it has been recovering and is now up 23.1% year to date as of Nov. 30.

3. Tesla Inc. (TSLA)

this company is the world's biggest EV manufacturer based on its market capitalization of about $758 billion.

During the third quarter, the company produced more than 430,000 electric vehicles and delivered more than 435,000.

Its revenue grew by 9% on increased vehicle deliveries and growth in other parts of the business. But its net income dropped 44%, in part because of increased operating expenses connected with its Cybertruck and artificial intelligence projects and lower average selling prices.

3. Intel Corp. (INTC)

This semiconductor company scores highly on governance and overall ESG metrics in the 2023 JUST Capital ESG rankings…

The company also ‘commits to an independent and diverse board governed by 90% independent directors and led by an independent board chair,’ JUST Capital says.

4. First Solar Inc. (FSLR)

Solar and wind companies have been hit by inflation… [and] rising interest rates…

First Solar's shares are down 8.5% over the past 12 months, but they have begun to rebound.

In addition to being a renewable energy company, First Solar's ESG chops include that it uses cadmium telluride technology for its solar cells in a process that has a smaller carbon footprint than that of other manufacturers who use polysilicon. Additionally, First Solar isn't reliant on Xinjiang, a polysilicon-producing region in China where the U.S. says Muslim minorities are forced to work against their will.

5. Sunrun Inc. (RUN)

This photovoltaic solar and battery storage company hasn't fared as well as First Solar… Its shares are down about 46% year to date as of Nov. 30.

But the clouds may part for the stock. According to Stock Analysis, the average 12-month price forecast from 22 stock analysts for Sunrun is $24.95, or roughly double where shares are trading now.

During the third quarter, the company added nearly 34,000 customers, a 19% increase year on year.

Also, Sunrun is shifting its focus to installing more storage systems, which have better margins than solar panels.

6. Orsted A/S (OTC: DNNGY)

which is the largest offshore wind developer in the world, has certainly been facing headwinds. Its shares are down 46.9% so far in 2023.

In addition to having trouble with inflation and rising interest rates, Orsted has been hit by supply chain disruptions, especially in the U.S…

The company has had to cancel plans for two U.S. offshore wind projects as tax credit and construction permit issues also hampered the plans. But it is continuing with a third.

In the long run, the U.S. is relying on offshore wind farms to help power coastal cities, and Orsted is well positioned if industry dynamics change.”

End quotes.

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3) Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks

A favorite sector for ethical and sustainable investors is healthcare. So, I thought this article would interest many of you. It’s titled 3 healthcare companies whose social impact is the key to financial performance. It’s by Faizan Farooque and seen on equities.com. Here are some brief quotes.

“1. Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

which emphasizes patient-focused healthcare.

2. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

which is dedicated to achieving net zero carbon emissions and prioritizing environmental health equity.

3. UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

which focuses on ‘zero distance’ from patients.

Central to these companies’ ethos is the focus on patient-centric healthcare… This patient-first approach is often complemented by green healthcare technology, ensuring that advancements in health solutions also consider environmental sustainability.”

End quotes.

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4) Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks

From another potentially profitable perspective, we have this article titled Investing in the Circular Economy: 3 Sustainable Stocks. It’s by Will Ashworth and seen on investorplace.com. Here are some key quotes from the article.

“I’m selecting my three sustainable stocks from the holdings of a Canadian mutual fund — the IA Clarington Inhance Global Equity SRI Class (CCM5010.CF).

1. LVMH (OTCMKTS:LVMUY)

is the 8th-largest holding of the mutual fund…

‘The percentage of women in key positions at LVMH [grew] from 23% to 45% between 2007 and 2022,’ Bloomberg reported earlier this year. Even better, 65% of its executives and managers are women.

2. Costco (NASDAQ:COST)

is the 17th-largest holding…

As for the 15 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the company has committed to the ones that most closely align with its business.

3. Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK)

is the 23rd-largest holding...

Autodesk provides cloud-based and desktop software products that help companies design and make things. Businesses using its products include architecture, engineering, construction, media, entertainment and manufacturing…

From a sustainability standpoint, Autodesk believes its software products help construction-related businesses save time, energy and costs while reducing waste and carbon emissions.” End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1) Title: 3 Top-Rated ESG Stocks That Analysts Are Loving Now on investorplace.com. By Steve Booyens.

2) Title: You Don't Have to Pick a Winner in Clean Energy. Here's Why. On fool.com. By Travis Hoium.

3) Title: Harness the Sun: 3 Must-Own Stocks in the Solar Industry on investorplace.com. By Rick Orford.

4) Title: Green Energy Innovators: 3 Stocks Leading the Sustainable Revolution on investorplace.com. By Steve Booyens.

5) Title: 3 Wind Stocks to Buy for a Sustainable and Profitable Future on investorplace.com. By Rick Orford.

6) Title: Best Clean Energy Stocks — December, 2023 on cleantechnica.com. By Carolyn Fortuna.

7) Title: Green Technology Stocks That Look Cheap on morningstar.com. By Muskaan Hemrajani.

8) Title: America's Most Responsible Companies 2024 on newsweek.com. Cover article by Nancy Cooper.

9) Title: The 3 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in December on investorplace.com. By Chandler Capital.

UK Articles

1) Title: The sustainable global funds so good they’re worth adding ahead of mainstream funds on trustnet.com. By Emma Wallis.

2) Title: Our Pick Of The Best Ethical Stocks And Shares ISAs on .forbes.com/uk/. By Jo Thornhill and Kevin Pratt.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Analysts' Impact, ESG, and Healthcare Stock, Picks.”

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.

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!

Please note that I’m taking a break over the holidays so my next podcast will be Friday, January 12^th, 2024!

Have a wonderful time over the holidays.

Bye for now.

enDecember 15, 2023

Podcast: Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds! covers an unusually diverse range of ESG stocks and funds.

Transcript & Links, Episode 119, December 1, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 119 titled “Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds.” 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.

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 6 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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1. Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

In this podcast, I’m going to cover a few articles with some unusual ESG and sustainable stock recommendations. The first article is titled 3 Sustainable Fashion Stocks Set to Redefine the Industry. It’s by Muslim Farooque and found on investorplace.com. Now some quotes from Mr. Farooque.

“In the realm of the clothing sphere, notorious for its environmental footprint, a transformation is underway. Global brands that are typically part of the problem are now passionately championing the cause of sustainable fashion.

1) Tapestry (NYSE:TPR)

is the parent company behind popular luxury brands in Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman.

Tapestry’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its ‘Fabric of Change’ ESG strategy. According to its 2022 sustainability report, the company aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42.5% by 2030, targeting net zero by 2050. Tapestry’s social responsibility efforts include aligning executive compensation with equity, inclusion, and diversity goals. These dual focuses on financial performance and sustainability make Tapestry a compelling choice for investors targeting long-term growth and corporate responsibility.

2) PVH (NYSE:PVH)

housing popular brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, is one of the most noteworthy players sustainably and ethically. PVH’s ‘Forward Fashion’ strategy represents an active transformation. Further, it focuses on climate action, human rights, and diversity, incorporating a comprehensive climate risk scenario analysis. The company has achieved 60% renewable energy usage in its facilities…

PVH is deeply invested in social equity by launching a global mentorship program focusing on diversity… This balance of solid financials marked by impressive profitability metrics and a steadfast commitment to sustainability and diversity makes PVH a standout in the apparel sphere.

3) Lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU)

is a renowned athletic apparel maker, making remarkable strides in both financial performance and sustainable business practices…

Lululemon’s shares are soaring in value lately, approaching an all-time peak as it joins the prestigious S&P 500 index…

In tandem with its financial achievements, Lululemon is ardently pursuing its ‘Impact Agenda’, committed to sustainability and equitable business operations. The company aims to achieve full diversity and pay equity within the next couple of years. This proves their commitment to the well-being of over 100,000 supply chain workers…

Recently, it pledged a $75 million investment towards global social impact by 2025 while setting ambitious targets. The first is ensuring 100% sustainable materials in their products by 2030 and achieving 75% by 2025. Moreover, it is committing to… reducing carbon emissions in its supply chain by 60% by 2030.

Therefore, its dual focus on solid financial growth and impactful sustainability initiatives positions Lululemon as a leader in both the business and environmental spheres.” End quotes.

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2. Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

Now many investors will consider infrastructure stocks in their portfolios. So, this article caught my attention. It’s titled 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy as They Build the Future. The author is Noah Bolton and found on nasdaq.com. Here are some quotes from the article.

“1) Fluor (NYSE:FLR)

is a construction company based in Irving, Texas. They engage in energy markets, including decarbonization, renewable fuels and nuclear power. They also serve the oil and gas industries and provide management services for the industrial, information technology and healthcare industries…

Year-to-date, their share price has risen 12%. They are a solid infrastructure company with strong fundamentals, and having multiple segments of its business offers diversification within one company.

2) Limbach Holdings (NASDAQ:LMB)

is a building solutions business based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. They design, fabricate, install and provide maintenance for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Limbach Holdings services hospitals, colleges, laboratories and other facilities.

Over the past year, their share price has increased 300%...

They have a robust balance sheet, which still offers investors projected growth.

3) CECO Environmental (NASDAQ:CECO)

located in Dallas, Texas, is a pollution reduction company in industrial air quality and water treatment. CECO designs and manufactures flow control products, expansion joints, dust collectors, filtration systems and other water treatment technology…

CECO Environmental has had a great year so far… and a 78% growth in their stock price within the last year. It’s a great pick for investors looking for companies helping to reduce the effects of climate change and pollution.” End quotes.

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3. Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

Now it’s been a while since I had an article on renewable energy funds, and this one comes from a highly regarded source. It’s titled 10 Clean Energy Funds to Freshen Up Your Portfolio by Alyssa Stankiewicz on morningstar.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Stankiewicz says.

“These funds are well regarded by Morningstar’s analysts and deliver high exposure to climate impact. Data as of October 2023 except for the Morningstar Medalist Rating, which is effective as of September 2023…

Table showing top ten clean energy funds in terms of Medalist Ratings and exposure to climate action impact

*Climate Action Impact Exposure refers to the percentage of each portfolio that is covered by Sustainalytics and determined to be involved in Climate Action impact. End quotes.

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4. Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

And back to a sector that’s top of mind for ethical and sustainable investors with this article titled Unlocking Incredible Solar Energy Potential: 3 Stocks to Invest in Now. It’s by Chandler Capital and found on investorplace.com.

“While large giants like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) have begun paving the way in renewable energy, in this article, we wanted to highlight three more hidden gems with the potential to be the next dominant leader in the solar energy space.

1) Enphase Energy *(NASDAQ:**ENPH*)

is the world’s leading supplier of game-changing micro-inverter technology. With 765 patents globally and a customer base across over 145 different countries, Enphase Energy finds itself ahead of the competition in solar innovation. In fact, Yahoo Finance analysts estimate it will trade around at a one-year price average of $116.09.

2) First Solar *(NASDAQ:**FSLR*)

is one of the leading providers of solar panels and utility-scale power scales as the company continues to pave the next generation of solar technology. Yahoo Finance analysts estimate it will trade within a one-year price range of $157.56 to $326, averaging at around $232.34.

3) Altus Power *(NYSE:**AMPS*)

is a prominent player in the energy sector, contributing to the shift to solar energy through managing commercial and community-wide solar facilities.

Altus Power just recently revealed its new Atlus IQ, an AI-powered cloud-based tool that gives insights on energy usage and generates solar savings. From real-time monitoring and solutions to comprehensive reports and seamless portfolio integration, Atlus IQ will only accelerate Atlus Power’s growth.” End quotes.

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5. Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!

Continuing on the renewable energy theme is this post titled The 3 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy: November 2023. It was written by Faisal Humayun and seen on investorplace.com. Here are some brief comments on each of his picks.

“These are the undervalued renewable energy stocks to buy for robust returns

First Solar (FSLR)

Positioned for accelerated growth as new facilities are operational and I expect margin expansion to sustain.

Plug Power (PLUG)

Even with financing challenges coupled with doubts on execution capabilities, PLUG stock is deeply oversold.

SolarEdge (SEDG)

Operating losses are a concern, but there is ample scope for growth in emerging markets in the coming years”.

End quotes.

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7 Dividend Stocks With Good ESG Scores

In this next article titled 7 Dividend Stocks With Good ESG Scores – will appeal to many investors. It’s by Jeff Reeves and discovered on money.usnews.com. Some quotes and a table follow.

“According to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which utilizes S&P Global's ESG Scores, the following seven stocks all are among the top 10% of corporations globally based on ESG scores. They also are all more than $40 billion in market value, showing they can achieve these social goals at scale.

*ESG STOCK*	*S&P GLOBAL ESG SCORE*	*TRAILING DIVIDEND YIELD at Nov. 15 close*
ASML Holding NV (ticker: ASML)	82	1.2%
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)	78	2.3%
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)	64	0.4%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)	55	0.9%
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)	43	2.3%
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH)	65	1.3%
Visa Inc. (V)	61	0.8%

1) ASML Holding NV (ASML)

Dutch semiconductor company ASML… is head and shoulders above its peers when it comes to ESG metrics. By 2030, ASML aims to send zero waste from operations to landfills or incinerators… It also has invested heavily in a diverse global workforce.

2) AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)

U.K.-based Big Pharma giant AstraZeneca stands out as a worldwide leader in environmental, social justice and corporate governance programs… It also has roughly 50% female representation on its board, and has already achieved a roughly 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2015 and 2022.

3) Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)

Hilton stands out as a leader in the corporate world thanks to its broad-based approach to ESG… The organization is also focused on world-class standards for sustainable sourcing and human rights in every area where it operates around the globe.

4) Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)

is regularly among the most-respected corporations in the world as measured by ESG criteria. Just a few features of its policies include plans to be carbon negative by 2030 and to be a zero-waste organization by that same year.

5) Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

What makes Toyota an ESG leader is its actions outside of the showroom, guided by principles of environmentalism and social justice. For instance, in North America the automaker recycled 93% of waste materials in fiscal year 2022. And this year, its key Long Beach port is exclusively using 100% of electricity from renewable sources.

6) UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH)

Insurance giant UnitedHealth is among one of the most progressive organizations on Wall Street when it comes to ESG measures. On the social justice side, the firm has committed to investing $100 million to create a new philanthropic program and partnerships that will measurably advance a diverse health workforce by 2033. UnitedHealth also plans to invest and source 100% of its global electricity demand with renewable sources by 2030.

7) Visa Inc. (V)

Payments processing giant Visa is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040… What is noteworthy is its other ESG efforts, including a push to increase the number of individuals from historically underrepresented groups at the vice president level and above to 50% by the end of 2023.” End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1) Title: 3 ESG Stocks to Profit While Making a Positive Impact on investorplace.com. By Marie Brodbeck.

2) Title: The Future Is Green: 3 Must-Have Renewable Energy Stocks for 2024 on investorplace.com. By Rick Orford.

3) Title: What is Impact Investing and 7 Companies That are Transforming the Future on finextra.com. By Shoshana Weizenblut.

4) Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Power Up Your Profits on investorplace.com. By Larry Ramer.

5) Title: The Ethical Investor: Buy this kind of mining stock if you love both profit and the environment on stockhead.com.au. By Eddy Sunarto.

6) Title: 11 Best Halal Dividend Stocks To Buy on yahoo.com. By Vardah Gill.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Great ESG Fashion, Infrastructure, and Clean Energy Stocks and Funds!”

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.

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 December 15^th!

Bye for now.

3) Title: Renewable Energy Stocks Got Crushed in 2023. 3 Top Stocks You Won't Regret Buying on the Dip on fool.com. By Jason Hall, Tyler Crowe, and Matthew DiLallo.

enDecember 01, 2023

Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys. Stocks to buy and hold. Stocks making social change. Undervalued solar stocks. And more…

Podcast: Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

Transcript & Links, Episode 118, November 17, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 118 titled “Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys.” 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.

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) Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

This first article lists three stocks, it says, are for the long-term sustainable investor. The title Building a Sustainable Portfolio: 3 ESG Stocks to Buy and Hold. It’s by Josh Enomoto and found on investorplace.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Enomoto says about his picks.

“1. Iron Mountain (NYSE:IRM)

An enterprise information management services firm, Iron Mountain focuses on records management and data backup and recovery services… According to Investor’s Business Daily, Iron Mountain ranks as number 50 on its list of 100 best ESG companies of 2023. In particular, the information management specialist seeks to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040…

Analysts rate shares a unanimous strong buy with a $67.20 price target.

2. Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU)

Intuit can mitigate our pain through tax-related financial software… And it turns out, people appreciate Intuit for another reason: it’s one of the ESG stocks to buy and hold… Per IBD, the software specialist places as number 58 on the top 100 conscientious companies for this year…

Analysts peg Intuit as a strong buy with a $580.41 price target.

3. Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH)

A provider of environmental and industrial services… shares have soared robustly higher since the beginning of this year. Per its public profile, Clean Harbors focuses on myriad services, including hazardous waste disposal for companies, small waste generators, and government agencies…

Clean Harbors slots in the number 39 spot on IBD’s top 100 conscientious companies.

Analysts rate Clean Harbors a consensus moderate buy with an average price target of $186.57.” End quotes.

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2) Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

My second article is unusual and you’ll see why in a moment. It’s titled These 5 small-cap impact stocks are making social change. Written by Ari Zoldan and found on marketbeat.com. Now some of what Mr. Zoldan says about the stocks that are specifically publicly listed.

“1. Vision Marine Technologies (NASDAQ:VMAR)

The company offers electric outboard motors for boats. Vision Marine enjoys a first-mover advantage, as its E-Motion outboard motor, announced at the Paris Boat Show in December 2022, is the only turnkey solution available to boat manufacturers…

2. Ideal Power (NASDAQ:IPWR)

The company offers a proprietary semiconductor switch that's much more energy-efficient than most other offerings on the market… [It] offers significant benefits to energy-efficient devices and products, electric vehicles and EV charging, green energy and energy storage, utility infrastructure, and data centers.

3. Verde Bioresins

Verde Bioresins is expected to go public via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). [That company] TLGY Acquisition Corp. is trading under the ticker ‘TLGY,’ but after the merger, its name will change, and Verde Bioresins will trade under the ticker ‘VRDE.’

Verde's PolyEarthylene^TM bioresin is a high-performance alternative to many petroleum-based plastics… The company estimates the total addressable market for its product at around $300 billion, or roughly half of the total market for petroleum-based plastics.

4. Draganfly (NASDAQ:DPRO)

Although it might seem like drones have only been around for the last five to 10 years or so, Draganfly has been in the business for over 20 years...

Today, drones have many uses across multiple industries, including humanitarian efforts, public health and safety, military and government, environmental and energy-related industries, agriculture, and insurance. As a result, Draganfly's offerings present dozens of potential social impacts.” End quotes.

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3) Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

And now back to our familiar clean energy theme with this article titled 3 Clean Energy Stocks That Can Survive Anything. It’s by Tyrik Torres and found on investorplace.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Torres from his article on his recommended stocks.

“1. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP)

is one of the largest renewable power companies in the world. Its portfolio boasts over 21,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity across hydroelectric, wind, solar, and storage facilities.

The company is majority owned by Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM), an alternative investment manager equity firm…

Higher interest rates have negatively impacted Brookfield Renewable Partners near-term share price growth. However, as clean energy stocks come back into favor, buying Brookfield Renewable Partners’ [stock now] is a smart move.

2. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)

A number of earnings beats throughout 2023 should keep First Solar on clean energy investors’ watchlists…

First Solar announced a new manufacturing site in the U.S., adding to manufacturing capacity… First Solar could see its intrinsic growth rate boosted in the long term.

3. Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA)

primarily engages in the geothermal and recovered-energy power business in the U.S., Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Honduras. Last year, Ormat derived approximately 86% revenue from generating electricity through its geothermal plants and recovered energy-based power plants…

With valuation multiples essentially halved since January, Ormat looks like an attractive investment opportunity.” End quotes.

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4) Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

With so many solar stocks down, this article might add some light to the gloom. It’s titled 11 Most Undervalued Solar Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. I found it on finance.yahoo.com and it’s by Hamna Asim. Here are some quotes from his article.

“We made an extensive list of the most popularly traded solar stocks and shortlisted 11 stocks with P/E ratios under 35 and the highest hedge fund sentiment. While some P/E ratios might seem high, they are lower than the green and renewable industry average P/E of 83, which was calculated by NYU Stern. We have assessed the hedge fund sentiment from Insider Monkey’s database of 910 elite hedge funds tracked as of the end of the second quarter of 2023…

[Note: P/E ratios are as of November 2.]

11. Emeren Group Ltd (NYSE:SOL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10

P/E Ratio: 25.25

Emeren Group specializes in the development, construction, and operation of solar energy initiatives. The company is involved in the creation of community solar installations and the sale of project rights worldwide.

10. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS)

Hedge Fund Holders: 12

P/E Ratio: 3.19

JinkoSolar is involved in the design, production, and marketing of photovoltaic products, including solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, silicon materials, and silicon ingots.

9. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ)

Hedge Fund Holders: 16

P/E Ratio: 3.51

Canadian Solar is engaged in the creation, development, production, and sale of solar materials and battery storage items worldwide… On October 30, the company said that it intends to invest $800 million in constructing a solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing facility in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

8. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR)

Hedge Fund Holders: 17

P/E Ratio: 10.24

SunPower Corporation is a solar technology and energy services provider offering solar, storage, and home energy solutions in the United States and Canada. The company offers post-installation monitoring and maintenance services, catering to homeowners and new home builders.

7. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ)

Hedge Fund Holders: 22

P/E Ratio: 2.05

Daqo New Energy produces and distributes polysilicon to manufacturers of photovoltaic products in China. This polysilicon is utilized in the production of ingots, wafers, cells, and modules for solar energy applications.

6. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLS)

Hedge Fund Holders: 24

P/E Ratio: 14.87

Shoals Technologies offers electrical balance of system (EBOS) solutions and components for solar, battery energy, and electric vehicle charging applications in the United States. On October 11, Goldman Sachs upgraded Shoals Technologies to a Buy rating with a $28 price target.

5. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 24

P/E Ratio: 23.62

Sunrun specializes in residential solar energy solutions in the United States, including design, installation, sales, ownership, and maintenance.

4. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 29

P/E Ratio: 32.62

Clearway Energy is a renewable energy company in the United States, operating through Conventional, Renewables, and Thermal segments. The company manages wind and solar generation projects, as well as natural gas generation facilities.

3. Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY)

Hedge Fund Holders: 32

P/E Ratio: 34.04

Array Technologies manufactures and markets ground-mounted tracking systems utilized in solar energy initiatives worldwide, including the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Australia… On September 19, Bank of America included Array Technologies in its US 1 List and maintained a Buy rating with a $30 price target.

2. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Hedge Fund Holders: 50

P/E Ratio: 19.50

Enphase Energy creates, manufactures, and sells home energy solutions for the solar industry in the United States and internationally. The company provides semiconductor-based microinverters that operate at the individual solar module level, along with proprietary networking and software for energy monitoring and control.

1. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Hedge Fund Holders: 59

P/E Ratio: 15.88

NextEra Energy produces, transmits, and distributes electricity in North America. They generate power from different sources including wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas. NextEra Energy develops and manages long-term contracted assets involving clean energy solutions like renewable facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission.” End quotes.

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5) Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys

And more on clean energy stocks with this article titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q3 Earnings Estimates. By Aparajita Dutta of Zacks but found on nasdaq.com. Now some quotes from her article.

“We are focusing on stocks that have the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold)… Earnings ESP provides the percentage difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

1. Constellation Energy (Constellation Energy Corporation Quote)

It is the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services…

The company, [has] an Earnings ESP of +1.36% and a Zacks Rank #1.

2. Enlight Renewable Energy (Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. Quote)

It provides a renewable energy platform that develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates utility-sale renewable energy projects.

The company, [has] an Earnings ESP of +22.22% and a Zacks Rank #2.

3. TC Energy (TC Energy Corporation Quote)

It is a premier energy infrastructure provider in North America. In September 2023, the company announced the successful completion of the Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) Unit 6, which fully returned to service, thereby surpassing a significant milestone in Ontario’s largest clean-energy initiative. We may expect this to have favorably contributed to TC Energy’s third-quarter results.

The company, [has] an Earnings ESP of +0.37% and a Zacks Rank #3.” End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1) Title: Top 10: Renewable Energy Companies in the USA on energydigital.com. By Charlie King.

2) Title: Canada's Technology Fast 50™ program on deloitte.com. By Deloitte.

4) Title: This Is the Best Solar Stock. But Is It a No-Brainer Buy Right Now? On fool.com. By Jason Hall and Tyler Crowe.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Impact, Solar, and ESG Stock Buys.”

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.

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 December 1^st!

Bye for now.

enNovember 17, 2023

Podcast: The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains. Includes 2023 ranking of best ESG companies and best solar and renewable stocks.

Transcript & Links, Episode 117, November 3, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 117 titled “The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains.” 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.

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 3 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

-------------------------------------------------------------

1) The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

I’m beginning with this article titled 13 Best ESG Stocks To Buy Now by Syed Ijaz seen on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Ijaz has to say.

“We selected 40 companies from the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD). We then picked the largest companies in terms of capitalization and then ranked them based on Insider Monkey’s database of 910 hedge funds tracked at the end of Q2 this year…

13. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 106

In 2022, JPMorgan Chase financed and facilitated about $197 billion in climate, community development and sustainable development projects and initiatives.

12. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE)

Hedge Fund Holders: 109

The company has developed and implemented ESG initiatives over the years… The company thoroughly focuses on its diversity, equity and inclusion activities.

11. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Hedge Fund Holders: 111

UnitedHealth Group is a part of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the US Health Sector and expects to reach operational net-zero target by 2035.

10. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)

Hedge Fund Holders: 114

In terms of ESG, the firm plans to halve its emissions by 2030.

9. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)

Hedge Fund Holders: 122

In its fiscal 2023 ESG report, the California-based company said that it maintained net zero residual emissions and provided more than $82 million as grants and donations to partners and communities globally.

8. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Hedge Fund Holders: 135

By 2030, the technology giant expects to manufacture all products carbon neutral.

7. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Hedge Fund Holders: 139

It intends to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and support its suppliers' decarbonizing strategies.

6. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)

Hedge Fund Holders: 152

Alphabet has planned to commit to net-zero emissions throughout all of its operations and value chain by 2030.

5. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

Hedge Fund Holders: 171

Starting in 2020, Visa achieved carbon neutrality throughout its operations and transitioned to 100% renewable electricity.

4. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Hedge Fund Holders: 175

NVIDIA has set a target to achieve and maintain 100% renewable electricity across its operations and data centers by fiscal 2025.

3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)

Hedge Fund Holders: 225

In its 2023 sustainability report, Meta’s Vice President of Data Center Strategy Rachel Peterson said that the firm is moving towards the goals of net zero emissions throughout the value chain and becoming water positive across its operations, anticipating to attain both of these benchmarks in 2030.

2. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Hedge Fund Holders: 278

The company intends to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and empower its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.

1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Hedge Fund Holders: 300

By 2030, Satya Nadella-led Microsoft Corporation expects to be carbon negative and by 2050, it intends to eliminate its emissions.”

End quotes.

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2) The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

Next, we have this great ESG ranking. The article is titled IBD's 100 Best ESG Companies For 2023. It’s by Adam Shell on investors.com. This is some of what Mr. Shell has to say.

“Topping the list this year is Microsoft (MSFT). Applied Materials (AMAT) took second place. In third place is Woodward (WWD).

Best ESG Companies Methodology

To build the 2023 100 Best ESG Companies list, we started with each company's ESG sustainability score created by Dow Jones Newswires, an IBD affiliate. These scores capture a broad spectrum of information on the ESG profile of more than 6,000 global companies.

On Aug. 24, IBD asked Dow Jones for an ESG-scored list of all the U.S.-traded companies it tracks, a total of 2,067. We then cut the list to 1,559 companies on Aug. 25 by removing nonpublic companies and companies with stock prices below $10 a share. We also removed any companies that lacked sufficient data to create an IBD Composite Rating.

We further qualified the list by removing those companies that did not meet or beat the S&P 500 in the past five years. [From which] We selected the 100 with the highest IBD Composite Rating — all with scores of 81 or better.” End quotes.

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3) The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

Now we have another similarly titled to the first article above. This article is titled 13 Best Solar Energy Stocks To Invest In Heading Into 2024. It’s by Ramish Cheema and found at finance.yahoo.com. Here are some of the points Mr. Cheema made.

“To compile our list of the best solar energy stocks to invest in, we used the top 20 stock picks of the Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:TAN) that are traded on American stock exchanges and ranked them by the number of hedge funds that had bought the shares as of June 2023 using data from Insider Monkey's database of 910 hedge funds.

13. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 17

SunPower is an American solar company that sells household solar power devices in the U.S. and in Canada.

12. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc (NASDAQ:AY)

Hedge Fund Investors: 18

Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure is a global British energy company with a renewable energy division.

11. Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS)

Hedge Fund Investors: 19

Altus Power is a small utility company that operates solar power generation systems used by both private and industrial users.

10. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA)

Hedge Fund Investors: 19

Sunnova Energy International is an American company with more than a thousand megawatts of solar power generation capacity in its portfolio.

9. Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MAXN)

Hedge Fund Investors: 20

Maxeon Solar Technologies is a Singaporean pure play solar power hardware firm that makes and sells solar panels.

8. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ)

Hedge Fund Investors: 22

Daqo New Energy is a Chinese semiconductor manufacturer that provides products to solar panel manufacturers.

7. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLS)

Hedge Fund Investors: 24

Shoals Technologies is a solar hardware company that sells products used to charge batteries and monitor solar power generation systems.

6. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)

Hedge Fund Investors: 24

Sunrun. is a solar power hardware firm that sells solar panels and energy storage systems.

5. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN)

Hedge Fund Investors: 29

The firm generates thousands of megawatts of electricity through renewable power plants which include solar facilities

4. Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY)

Hedge Fund Investors: 32

Array Technologies sells hardware products that enable solar panels to track the Sun’s movements.

3. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG)

Hedge Fund Investors: 43

SolarEdge Technologies is a backend solar power firm that sells inverters and other associated products.

*2. Enphase Energy, Inc**. (NASDAQ:ENPH*)

Hedge Fund Investors: 50

Enphase Energy is one of the largest solar companies in the U.S. It provides micro inverters, batteries, and other solar power products.

1. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Hedge Fund Investors: 51

First Solar sells solar panels to industrial and other large scale users.” End quotes.

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4) The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

Continuing on the energy theme is this next article titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Rising Wind Turbine Cost. It’s by Aparajita Dutta and on Nasdaq.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Dutta has to say about her picks.

“1. Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG)

Based in Baltimore, MD, the company is the nation's largest producer of carbon-free energy and provides sustainable solutions to homes, businesses and public-sector customers… It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

2. Crescent Energy Company (CRGY)

Based in Fort Worth, TX, the company is an independent oil and natural gas company that acquires, explores, develops, exploits and produces crude oil and natural gas properties… It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

3. Enlight Renewable Energy (ENLT)

Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, the company provides a renewable energy platform that develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates utility-sale renewable energy projects… It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.”

End quotes.

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5) The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains

Yes, yet another listing of 13 stocks. This one is titled 13 Best Alternative Energy Stocks To Buy Now. It’s by Faiq Zafar and found on finance.yahoo.com. Her’s part of what Mr. Zafar Has to say.

“To compile our list of the 13 best alternative energy stocks to buy now, we first made a list of the 30 largest alternative energy companies in the world in terms of their market capitalization… The stocks have been ranked based on the number of hedge funds which hold stakes in them.

13. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 13

As of 2022, Brookfield Renewable Partners owns more than 200 hydroelectric plants, 150 wind farms, more than 600 solar facilities, and four storage facilities across the world.

12. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 19

Sunnova Energy International is an American solar energy company which was founded in 2012.

11. Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 20

Plug Power is an American company which focuses on the production of hydrogen fuel cell systems which are geared to replace conventional batteries in electrical equipment and vehicles.

10. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 22

Daqo New Energy is a Chinese alternative energy company which focuses on the manufacture of monocrystalline silicon and polysilicon, which is an essential in the production of solar photovoltaic cells.

9. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 24

Sunrun is an American company which manufactures photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage products, specifically for residential consumers.

8. Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp. (NYSE:AQN)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 29

Algonquin Power and Utilities is a Canadian clean energy and regulated utility conglomerate with multiple assets across the North American continent.

7. SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 43

SolarEdge Technologies is an Israeli company… the company was one of the first clean energy companies in the world to successfully commercialize power optimizers, small devices placed behind each solar panel to allow for module-level MPPT and panel-level monitoring.

6. Constellation Energy Corp (NASDAQ:CEG)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 46

Constellation Energy. is an American energy company which focuses on the production of electric power, natural gas, and energy management services.

5. Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 50

Enphase Energy is an American energy technology company which produces and manufactures solar micro-inverters, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations.

4. First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 51

First Solar is an American energy company which focuses on the manufacture of solar panels, and provides utility-scale PV power plants.

3. NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 59

NextEra Energy is an American energy company. It is the largest electric utilities holding company in the world by overall market capitalization. As of 2022, more than 60% of NextEra’s generating capacity was from clean energy sources.

2. General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 71

GE is an American multinational conglomerate which is spread across multiple divisions.

*1. Tesla Inc**. (NASDAQ:TSLA*)

Hedge Fund Holdings: 79

Tesla is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company which manufactures electric vehicles, stationary battery storage devices from home to grid-scale, solar panels, and other related products.” End quotes.

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Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order.

1) Title: White House Investment Bodes Well for This Clean Energy ETF on etftrends.com. By Ben Hernandez.

2) Title: Union Pacific a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.5% Yield (UNP) seen on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest.

3) Title: Top 10: Renewable Energy Companies in the USA on Energy Magazine energydigital.com. By Charlie King.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “The Best ESG Stocks for Potential Gains.”

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.

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 November 17^th!

Bye for now.

enNovember 03, 2023

Podcast: Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks

Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks. Plus great Australian ESG stocks, and the best global ethical banks ‘leading the ESG revolution’

Transcript & Links, Episode 116, October 20, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 116 titled “Top Global Renewable Energy 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.

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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks

I’m beginning this podcast with an article on likely your favorite industry. The article is titled Top 20 Renewable Energy Companies in the World. It’s by Sobiya Fahad and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Fahad says about these stocks.

“To determine the top renewable energy companies we have included information regarding market capitalization, generating capacity, and number of employees for each company… We have ranked the companies based on their market capitalization.

20. Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $1.50

Generating Capacity (GW): 19 GW

No. of Employees: 13,487

Specializing in the design and manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules… Canadian Solar serves customers in over 160 countries.

19. Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE:JKS)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $1.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 32.5 GW

No. of Employees: 31,030

Jinko Solar boasts customers throughout the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Chinese solar energy company manufactures and sells solar products such as silicon ingots, wafers, cells, and modules and provides solar system integration services.

18. Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $3.93

Generating Capacity (GW): 2.5 GW

No. of Employees: 3,353

Plug Power, a crucial player in the hydrogen fuel cell sector, is one of the best renewable energy companies in the world… the company has partnered with major corporations such as Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot to deploy its fuel cell technology in over 40,000 vehicles worldwide.

17. Suzlon Energy (NSE:SUZLON)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $4.29

Generating Capacity (GW): 20 GW

No. of Employees: 5,800

One of India's top renewable energy companies, Suzlon Energy, develops, manufactures, sells, and installs wind turbines and solar panels… with operations in over 30 countries.

16. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (NASDAQ:GCTAF)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $12.93

Generating Capacity (GW): 12 GW

No. of Employees: 27,604

Siemens Gamesa is a global leader in renewable energy and offers a diverse range of equipment and services for onshore and offshore wind turbines, turbine gearboxes, and off-grid systems.

15. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $13.47

Generating Capacity (GW): 31 GW

No. of Employees: 3,400

Based in Canada but operating global projects, Brookfield Renewable owns and operates… hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, and storage facilities.

14. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $15.57

Generating Capacity (GW): 7.8 GW

No. of Employees: 2,821

With expertise in designing and manufacturing solar micro-inverters, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations for residential customers, Enphase Energy, Inc. has made a name for itself in the American renewable energy sector.

13. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $16.15

Generating Capacity (GW): 6.5 GW

No. of Employees: 5,500

First Solar is an American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced, eco-efficient solar modules advancing the fight against climate change.

12. Adani Green (NSE:ADANIGREEN)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $18.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 8.3 GW

No. of Employees: 500

Adani Green Energy Limited is an Indian renewable energy company, which develops, builds, owns, operates, and maintains utility-scale grid-connected solar and wind farm projects, with a current project portfolio of 20,434 MW.

11. Orsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $20.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 15.1 GW

No. of Employees: 6,836

Orsted A/S, a global leader in offshore wind, has established wind farms in… the UK, the US, Germany, and Taiwan… The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and demonstrates its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship.

10. Vestas (CPH:VWS)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $21.25

Generating Capacity (GW): 13.1 GW

No. of Employees: 29,427

The Danish wind energy company… is one of the top renewable energy companies globally.

9. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: CEG)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $33.73

Generating Capacity (GW): 33 GW

No. of Employees: 13,370

Constellation Energy is an energy company based in Baltimore… The company strives to provide a diverse range of energy services, including electricity, nuclear, and natural gas, to businesses, residents, and public sector customers.

8. Exelon Corp (NASDAQ:EXC)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $36.87

Generating Capacity (GW): 31 GW

No. of Employees: 19,063

Exelon Corporation is a leading American energy company. The company has a portfolio of renewable energy assets that includes wind, solar, and nuclear power.

7. ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE (NYSE:EDF)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $56.09

Generating Capacity (GW): 3.6 GW

No. of Employees: 171,490

Known for its generation, transmission, distribution, supply, trading and provision of energy services, Electricite de France SA (EDF) is a comprehensive energy company. It produces electricity from various sources, including nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, fuel oil, coal, and renewable energy.

6. Enbridge (NYSE:ENB)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $67.26

Generating Capacity (GW): 5.18 GW

No. of Employees: 11,100

Enbridge Inc., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, owns and operates a vast network of pipelines across North America, transporting crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The company also generates renewable energy.

5. Iberdrola SA (BME:IBE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $68.12

Generating Capacity (GW): 41.25 GW

No. of Employees: 38,702

Iberdrola is a Spanish multinational electric utility company… It specializes in clean energy, such as onshore and offshore wind, pumped hydro, solar photovoltaic, and battery storage.

4. Equinor (NYSE:EQNR)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $93.84

Generating Capacity (GW): 18.5 GW

No. of Employees: 22,000

A Norwegian multinational energy company, Equinor, has a growing presence in renewable energy. The company has set a goal of becoming net-zero by 2050.

3. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $106.81

Generating Capacity (GW): 58 GW

No. of Employees: 15,300

NextEra’s diversified energy company generates and sells electricity wholesale to retail and municipal electricity providers, industrial corporations, and power cooperatives. It invests heavily in renewable energy.

2. General Electric (NYSE:GE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $117.28

Generating Capacity (GW): 60 GW

No. of Employees: 172,000

GE is one of the largest American multinational corporations and a Fortune 500 company. GE operates in multiple industries, including healthcare and aviation, but is best known for its power and renewable energy innovations.

1. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $782.48

Generating Capacity (GW): 6.9 GW

No. of Employees: 127,855

Tesla Energy Operations, Inc. is the renewable energy division of Tesla, Inc. that develops, manufactures, sells, and installs photovoltaic solar energy generation systems, battery energy storage products, and other related products and services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.”

End quotes.

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Three Australian ESG stocks worth watching

This next article is from Australia, but features stocks that non-Australians might also like to consider for their portfolios. It’s titled Three ESG stocks worth watching and is by Grady Wulff. It’s seen on moneymag.com.au. Here’s some of what Mr. Wulff says about his picks.

“1. Woolworths (ASX:WOW)

The supermarket giant has taken significant ESG actions from both environmental and social perspectives such as replacing its petrol-fuelled delivery fleet with electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and the launch of Mini Woolies, a program supporting the education and skills of young Australians with disabilities…

The dilution of Woolworths' association with gambling, alcohol and tobacco was a major step in achieving the company's ESG goals.

Morgans recently upgraded Woolworths to a buy rating while Citi and UBS also have respective buy ratings on the supermarket giant on the back of strong FY23 results, particularly earnings growth in Australian Food.

2. Perpetual (ASX:PPT)

The Perpetual Private Investment research team is accountable for the Responsible Investment related reporting and reviewing of all Perpetual Private portfolios which includes ensuring that all ESG factors are appropriately considered throughout the entire investment process…

Furthermore, Perpetual offers thematic investing options that enable clients to align their portfolios with ESG elements that resonate most with their objectives.

The global financial services firm is also a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) to incorporate ESG issues into all investment analysis and decision making.

3. Transurban Group (ASX:TCL)

Operates a diversified suite of Australian toll road assets and toll roads in Northern Virginia in the United States, has also been a popular investment choice among investors and brokers for its ESG commitments.

Transurban boasts ESG-related awards and recognition from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency of Australia, Equileap and the Ethibel socially responsible investment register. It's also had an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA for the past five years and it became the first ASX20 company to be validated by the Science Based Targets initiative…

UBS and Macquarie both have buy ratings on Transurban and the company's shares are up 16% over the last five years. In the recent high inflationary environment companies like Transurban have been the beneficiaries of rising inflation as it has an inflation-linked revenue stream with annual escalators through toll road concessions being inflation-linked.” End quotes.

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2023's Top 10 Ethical Banks Leading the ESG Revolution

Next, I have this article on ethical banks around the world, titled 2023's Top 10 Ethical Banks Leading the ESG Revolution. It’s by Louis Thompsett and found on fintechmagazine.com. Here are some of Mr. Thompsett’s comments.

“10. Lloyd’s Bank

Lloyd’s Bank is enabling its different divisions to build an inclusive society and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

9. Deutsche Bank

Leading German financial institution Deutsche Bank places its commitment to the environment in supporting its financing and advising clients on a path to meet the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

8. DBS Bank

Singapore’s DBS Bank is the first in the country to sign up for the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a dedicated alliance to realise a net-zero future by 2050 or sooner.

7. Bank of America

One of the largest national banks in the US, Bank of America has a series of ESG initiatives that make it one of the most important banks when it comes to ESG.

6. Barclays

Another leading UK bank, Barclays has its own ESG Resource Hub – a central website page of information and disclosures to ensure transparency for analysts, ESG investors, rating agencies, suppliers and other stakeholders.

5. JPMorgan

One of the oldest and most successful investment banks, JPMorgan aims to promote sound governance, and serve its customers and communities, all while investing in its employees’ growth and advancing sustainable development.

4. HSBC

Global banking organisation HSBC manages a robust ESG programme, focusing on sustainability risk, climate strategies, and people and communities – all overseen by its leadership and governance structure.

3. Citi

Citi Bank differentiates itself in the ESG space, centralisng ESG as a core part of its business – not issues managed by separate company entities.

2. Standard Chartered

Leading bank Standard Chartered offers a robust sustainable investment programme for its clients, which it can tailor to match a company’s personal values.

1. BNP Paribas

Top of our list is BNP Paribas, which adopts an ESG-first approach across its investment strategies.” End quotes.

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Articles from the UK

1. Title: Which? reveals Britain's greenest banks on which.co.uk. By Chiara Cavaglieri.

2. Title: Sustainable funds to invest in on moneyweek.com. By Holly Thomas.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Top Global Renewable Energy 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.

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 November 3^rd!

Bye for now.