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

Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By!

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.

Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts.

Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein.

Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 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…

*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.

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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!”

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Bye for now.

© 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul