Sustainable ETFs for Sustainable Investors. More… It also covers top Zacks ranking alternative energy stocks such as Talen Energy Corporation. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 140, October 18, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to this podcast episode 140 published October 18, 2024, titled “Top Sustainable Companies 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. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don’t receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any 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 articles and more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Climate & ESG Investment Funds to Know About Now, I’m leading this podcast with this article titled 10 Climate & ESG Investment Funds to Know About. It’s by Trinity Sparke and can be seen on onegreenplanet.org. Here’s some of what Ms. Sparke says about her picks. “1. The Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth Fund (BAFWX) The Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth Fund, part of the Brown Advisory Funds family, boasts total assets of $9.9 billion as of June 30, 2024. This large growth fund has consistently aimed to deliver significant returns while aligning with sustainable investment principles. Over the past year, it has achieved an impressive return of 17.11%. 2. Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF (NWLG) With a focus on long-term capital appreciation, the Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF seeks out high-quality companies that demonstrate above-average earnings growth potential… The fund takes an integrated approach to ESG investing, incorporating environmental, social, and governance considerations, as well as assessing controversy inputs to mitigate risks. 3. Praxis Growth Index Fund (MMDEX) The Praxis Growth Index Fund is designed to pursue capital appreciation through a thoughtfully curated portfolio of stocks that mirror the performance of the U.S. large-cap growth equity market. It operates under a stewardship investing framework, incorporating responsible investment criteria into its selection process… The Praxis Growth Index Fund is ideal for investors looking to balance growth potential with ethical investing. 4. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF stands out with its low expense ratio of just 0.09% and an appealing dividend yield of 1.08%. Since its inception in September 2018, the fund has delivered an average annual return of 13.31%. With nearly 1,500 holdings, the ETF offers a highly diversified portfolio predominantly composed of U.S. stocks… The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF is an excellent choice for investors seeking growth alongside sustainability. 5. Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT) The Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF is designed to preserve capital while maximizing income for its investors. With an expense ratio of 0.24% and an appealing dividend yield of 5.05%, this actively managed ETF emphasizes high-quality, short-term, dollar-denominated debt… [This fund] focuses on securities from issuers whose ESG practices align with PIMCO’s investment strategy, making it a strong option for socially conscious investors. 6. iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) The iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF is dedicated to investing in companies that contribute positively to addressing significant social and environmental challenges, as identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With an expense ratio of 0.49% and a dividend yield of 1.82%, this fund has delivered an impressive average annual return of 8.16% since its inception in April 2016. 7. Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) The Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund offers a cost-effective option for ESG investors, featuring an impressively low expense ratio of 0.11% and a dividend yield of 0.99%. This passive index fund is designed to track the MSCI USA ESG Index, providing broad exposure to a diverse array of U.S. companies across various industries and market capitalizations. As of the latest data, [this fund] has delivered a robust average annual return of 15.65% over the past five years… The Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund has outperformed its large-cap blend category average over the past two, three, and five years. 8. Calvert US Mid Cap Core Responsible Index Fund (CMJAX) Established nearly 50 years ago, the Calvert US Mid Cap Core Responsible Index Fund is a strong contender for investors seeking significant exposure to mid-cap stocks. With an expense ratio of 0.49% and a dividend yield of 0.81%, this fund emphasizes responsible investing in businesses committed to positive social and environmental practices… Over the past five years, [the fund] has achieved an average annual return of 9.48%. 9. BlackRock Sustainable Advantage CoreAlpha Bond Fund (BIAAX) The BlackRock Sustainable Advantage CoreAlpha Bond Fund offers an actively managed approach to fixed-income investing, emphasizing bonds that not only provide income but also have the potential for positive societal impact. With an expense ratio of 0.54% and a dividend yield of 3.78%, this fund aims to balance capital appreciation with income generation. However, it has faced challenges in the current interest rate environment, with an average annual return of -0.47% over the past five years. 10. American Century Sustainable Growth ETF (ESGY) The American Century Sustainable Growth ETF is designed to provide a total return that surpasses its benchmark over market cycles by employing a growth-oriented U.S. equity strategy that integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. As of September 27, 2024, the fund boasts a year-to-date total return of 34.45%, reflecting its strong performance in a competitive market.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- The 10 Largest Funds Aligned to Sustainable Development Goals The second article I’m covering might appeal to European investors in particular. It’s titled The 10 Largest Funds Aligned to Sustainable Development Goals by Liz Angeles and found on morningstar.com. Note: the ESG Risk Rating Assessments below. Five globes are the best, and one globe is the worst. “1. Northern Trust UCITs Common Contractual Fund — NT World SDG Screened Low Carbon Index Fund A EUR ACC Morningstar Rating: 5 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 4 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to closely match the risk and return characteristics of the MSCI World Select ESG Leaders Low Carbon Impact G Series Index with net dividends reinvested… 2. DWS Invest SDG Global Equities XC Morningstar Rating: 4 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 4 Globes While it does not have as its objective a sustainable investment, it will invest a minimum proportion of its assets in sustainable investments as defined by the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation… The subfund is actively managed and is not managed in reference to a benchmark, according to fund literature. 3. NT Europe SDG Screened Low Carbon Idx Fd A EUR Inc Morningstar Rating: 4 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 4 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to closely match the risk and return characteristics of the MSCI Europe Select ESG Leaders Low Carbon Impact G Series Index with net dividends reinvested, according to fund literature… Over the past two years, it beat the category index by an annualized 2.1 percentage points and outperformed the category average by 4.6 percentage points. And more importantly, when looking across a longer horizon, the strategy outpaced the index, according to Morningstar Manager Research. 4. Robeco Global SDG Engagement Equities I EUR Capitalisation Morningstar Rating: 2 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 3 Globes The subfund aims to provide long-term capital growth while at the same time promoting certain ESG characteristics and integrating sustainability risks in the investment process. A primary objective is to drive a clear and measurable improvement in a company’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals over three to five years. 5. Federated Hermes SDG Engagement Equity Fund Class X USD Accumulating Morningstar Rating: 3 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 3 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation alongside positive societal impact. The fund will seek to achieve its investment objective over a rolling period of any five years, by investing at least 80% in equity and/or equity-related securities of, or relating to, small- and mid-capitalization companies domiciled in, or that derive their income from, developed and emerging markets, according to fund literature. 6. Northern Trust UCITS FGR Fund—Emerging Markets SDG Screened Low Carbon Index FGR Fund A EUR Dis Morningstar Rating: Not available ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 4 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to closely match the risk and return characteristics of the MSCI Emerging Markets Select ESG Leaders Low Carbon Impact G Series Index with net dividends reinvested… The fund aims to avoid or minimize holdings in companies breaching international norms, including the U.N. Global Compact or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, according to Morningstar Manager Research. 7. Northern Trust UCITS FGR Fund — North America SDG Screened Low Carbon Index FGR Fund A EUR Morningstar Rating: Not available ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 5 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to closely match the risk and return characteristics of the MSCI North America Select ESG Leaders Low Carbon Impact G Series with net dividends reinvested. 8. CT (Lux) SDG Engagement Global Equity XR EUR Acc Morningstar Rating: 4 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 5 Globes The portfolio aims to achieve long-term capital growth and support sustainable development, according to fund literature… The fund aims to avoid, or limit exposure to, companies in violation with international norms, such as the U.N. Global Compact or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. No companies held by this fund are recognized as being involved in controversies at a high or severe level, according to Morningstar Manager Research. 9. NEF Ethical Global Trends SDG I Cap Morningstar Rating: 3 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 2 Globes The subfund seeks an attractive long-term rate of return, measured in euros, through investment primarily in equity securities of companies domiciled in developed countries, but investment may be made in equity securities of companies domiciled in emerging countries. The subfund seeks to invest mainly in stocks issued by companies with high-quality ESG profiles and that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations, according to fund literature. 10. Northern Trust UCITS FGR Fund — Europe SDG Screened Low Carbon Index FGR Fund A EUR Morningstar Rating: 4 Stars ESG Risk Rating Assessment: 4 Globes The investment objective of the fund is to invest at least 85% of its assets in the master fund, the investment objective of which is to closely match the risk and return characteristics of the MSCI Europe Select ESG Leaders Low Carbon Impact G Series Index with net dividends reinvested… The fund aims to avoid, or limit exposure to, companies in violation with international norms, such as the U.N. Global Compact or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- IBD's 100 Most Sustainable Companies For 2024 This third article is about one of my favorite companies' rankings. It’s titled IBD's 100 Most Sustainable Companies For 2024. It’s by Annie Stanley and found on investors.com. Here are some quotes from Ms. Stanley. “More than three quarters (77%) of individual investors around the world say they want to invest in companies or funds that aim to achieve market-rate financial returns while also considering positive social and/or environmental impact, according to a recent report from Morgan Stanley… To build IBD's 2024 list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies, we started with Morningstar's U.S. and global Low Carbon Transition Leaders Indexes… The indexes target the best-scoring 50% of companies from each sector, by market capitalization… We selected the companies with the highest IBD Composite Rating — all with scores of 80 or better, putting them in the top 20%. Finally, we ranked the companies by the climate management score, using the IBD Composite Rating to break any ties. Topping the list this year is Moody's (MCO), demonstrating that a company that provides data on ESG factors can itself be a model of sustainability best practices. U.S. gas and electric utility Southern Co. (SO) is next on the list, and consumer giant Colgate-Palmolive (CL) is third… Two more utility companies, Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG), finished fourth and fifth, respectively, on this year's IBD 100 Most Sustainable Companies list.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Articles 1. Title: Sustainable Investing Replaces ESG. See The Top Green Stocks By Industry Category on investors.com. By Annie Stanley. 2. Title: The top 10 best-performing ESG funds of the decade on financial-planning.com. By Rob Burgess. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast “Top Sustainable Companies and Funds for 2024.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons 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 troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast will be November 1st. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Sustainable ETFs for Sustainable Investors. More… It also covers top Zacks ranking alternative energy stocks such as Talen Energy Corporation. By Ron Robins, MBA Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to this podcast episode 139 published October 4, 2024, titled “Sustainable ETFs for Sustainable Investors. More…” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don’t receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any 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 articles and more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Sustainable ETFs for ESG Investors For this podcast, I have three articles to cover. The first is titled Best Sustainable ETFs for ESG Investors. It’s by Sumedha and can be seen on sfctoday.com. Here’s some of what the author says about their picks. “1. TCW Transform 500 ETF (VOTE) Unlike traditional ETFs that exclude companies based on specific ESG criteria, the TCW Transform 500 ETF takes an inclusive approach, using shareholder engagement to encourage better corporate governance and sustainability practices. By including major companies and influencing their behavior, investors in this ETF can help drive long-term value creation in the US economy. The ETF tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Select TR USD Index, a market cap-weighted index that reflects the performance of the largest US companies. 2. Xtrackers MSCI USA Climate Action Equity ETF (USCA) As the world increasingly moves toward sustainability, the Xtrackers MSCI USA Climate Action Equity ETF is positioned to capture investment opportunities aligned with this shift. The ETF tracks the MSCI USA Climate Action Index, which includes large- and mid-cap U.S. companies recognized as leaders in climate action within their respective sectors. The ETF’s rigorous selection process evaluates companies based on their emissions intensity, climate risk management, and commitments to reducing carbon footprints… For investors who want to capitalize on the long-term growth potential of the transition to a low-carbon economy, [this ETF] provides exposure to companies that are leading in this space. 3. iShares ESG Screened S&P 500 ETF (XVV) The iShares ESG Screened S&P 500 ETF provides exposure to large-cap US equities while adhering to ESG criteria. This ETF tracks the S&P 500 Sustainability Screened Index, which excludes companies involved in controversial industries such as tobacco, coal, and weapons. Managed by BlackRock, a leader in sustainable investing, the fund aims to balance financial returns with a positive societal impact… At an expense ratio of just 0.08%, iShares ESG Screened S&P 500 ETF is a cost-effective option for those who want to invest sustainably without significantly deviating from the performance of the traditional S&P 500 index. 4. Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF (ESGV) The Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF is one of the most popular options for investors looking to combine broad market exposure with ESG principles. It tracks the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index, which includes large-, mid-, and small-cap U.S. companies that meet stringent ESG standards. Companies involved in activities such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and fossil fuels are excluded… Launched in September 2018, the Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF has gained popularity for its low expense ratio of just 0.09%. 5. NYLI Candriam U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (IQSU) The NYLI Candriam U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF offers a passive investment approach with a focus on U.S. large- and mid-cap equities that meet specific ESG criteria. It tracks the NYLI Candriam U.S. Large Cap Equity Index, which leverages Candriam’s leading ESG research to provide a diversified portfolio across various sectors. With an expense ratio of just 0.09%, the NYLI Candriam U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF stands out as a cost-effective, tax-sensitive investment option for those seeking to invest sustainably. The ETF has earned a Bronze rating from Morningstar, a testament to its strong management team and reliable investment process. Its strategy focuses on high liquidity and volatility exposure, offering greater flexibility in managing the portfolio. For investors seeking a resilient core holding with a strong ESG focus, the NYLI Candriam U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF provides an excellent option.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy The second article is titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy by Aparajita Dutta. Her work features regularly in these podcasts and is found on zacks.com. Here are some quotes from her article. “1. Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) Based in Houston, TX, the company owns and operates power infrastructure, principally in the United States. On Sept. 5, 2024, Talen Energy announced that its board of directors has approved the upsizing of its previously announced share repurchase program, increasing the remaining capacity to $1.25 billion through the fourth quarter of 2026. This reflects the company’s solid financial position.  Talen Energy boasts a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 140.71%... Talen currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. FuelCell Energy (FCEL) Based in Danbury, CT, the company develops and markets ultra-clean power plants that generate electricity with up to twice the efficiency of conventional fossil fuel plants with virtually no air pollution and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. On Sept. 5, 2024, FuelCell Energy released its third-quarter fiscal 2024 results. Its generation revenues increased 22% year over year. As of July 31, 2024, its backlog increased approximately 12.6% to $1.20 billion.  FuelCell Energy boasts a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 18.75%. The consensus estimate for the company’s 2025 sales is pegged at $2.29 billion, implying an improvement of 84.5% from the previous year’s estimated figure. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3. TXNM Energy (TXNM) Based in Albuquerque, NM, TXNM is an energy holding company that delivers energy to homes and businesses across Texas and New Mexico. TXNM boasts a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 1.96%. The stock holds a long-term earnings growth rate of 2.5%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Sustainable Investing ETFs for Ethical Portfolios The third article is also about sustainable ETFs. It’s titled 3 Sustainable Investing ETFs for Ethical Portfolios and by Abhishek Bhuyan appearing on stocknews.com. Here’s a brief quote from the article. “Sustainable investing involves aligning investments with ethical and environmental values, focusing on companies that meet ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria. Large-cap blends are a good choice because they offer stability, diversification, and long-term growth potential. Companies with solid track records and ESG practices can provide strong returns while minimizing risk. To that end, investors could look to invest in sustainable large-cap ETFs such as the iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI - Get Rating), Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV - Get Rating), and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU - Get Rating) for an ethical portfolio.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast “Sustainable ETFs for Sustainable Investors. More…” Please click the like and subscribe buttons 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 troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast will be October 18th. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Great Sustainable Food Stocks, Plus… best ESG stocks to buy now based on hedge fund holdings. Solar stocks to review. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 138, September 20, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to this podcast episode 138 published September 20, 2024, titled “Great Sustainable Food Stocks, Plus…” 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. 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 at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don’t receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any 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 articles for more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Sustainable Food-Related Stocks for Long-Term Investors This first article refers to an industry that’s one of my favorites, the food industry! It’s titled 5 Sustainable Food-Related Stocks for Long-Term Investors. It’s by Leslie P. Norton and found on morningstar.com. Here are some brief quotes from the article. “We talked with Edinburgh-based Stewart Investors, a global asset manager that practices sustainable investing, about the charms of food-related stocks. (The firm has a Morningstar ESG Commitment Level of Leader.)… The firm [Stewart Investors] tends to hold for the long term, and all the food-related companies that Wood mentions left cheap behind a while ago, as you’ll see in the table below. Still, they have merits galore. I talked with Wood about why they’re worth considering for the long haul. Stewart Investors' Food Stock Picks Source: Morningstar. Data as of Sept. 9, 2024. The star ratings for Mahindra & Mahindra, Novonesis, Totvs, and Unicharm are quantitative.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Best ESG Stocks To Buy Now My next article comes from Insider Monkey. It’s titled 10 Best ESG Stocks To Buy Now and is by Sheryar Siddiq. Here are a few quotes from him. “Our Methodology To create the list of top ESG stocks to buy now, we chose companies from the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and ranked them by their percentage weight in the fund, listed in ascending order. In addition, we used hedge fund sentiments regarding each stock to illustrate how well these stocks hold up in the eyes of hedge fund investors. These were taken from Insider Monkey’s Q2 2024 database… Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds… (see more details here). 10. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85 Tesla’s earnings for the second quarter fell short of expectations, driven by a decline in automotive sales for the second consecutive period. Despite a 2% revenue increase to $25.43 billion compared to the same quarter last year, automotive revenue dropped by 7% to $19.9 billion from $21.27 billion… Despite Tesla’s recent challenges, Truist Securities analyst William Stein remains optimistic about the company’s shift from traditional car manufacturing to AI, which he believes could unlock significant value. On August 14, he reaffirmed his ‘hold’ rating on Tesla with a price target of $215, representing a 6.76% potential upside.” 9. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) Hedge Fund Holders: 111 JPMorgan Chase operates globally across sectors like Consumer & Community Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Asset & Wealth Management. In 2023, the firm achieved a 15% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 levels, advancing toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. JPMorgan Chase also facilitated over $200 billion in green financing, including renewable energy projects and green bonds, contributing to its $2.5 trillion sustainable development financing target by 2030… Following the earnings release, Citi raised its price target for JPMorgan Chase from $205.00 to $215.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating. BMO Capital also reaffirmed its Market Perform rating with an unchanged price target of $205.00. 8. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) Hedge Fund Holders: 130 Broadcom [is] a global leader in technology, specializes in designing, developing, and supplying a wide range of semiconductor, enterprise software, and security solutions… The company plans to reassess its baseline and set new Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. According to the company’s ESG report, these new targets will align with the UN Paris Agreement and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goal to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In a recent note, TD Cowen identified Broadcom as a stock poised to benefit from the surge in AI spending… Cantor Fitzgerald maintained an Overweight rating and set a new price target of $200. 7. Eli Lilly And Company (NYSE:LLY) Hedge Fund Holders: 100 Eli Lilly is a global pharmaceutical firm renowned for its innovative medications. This past year, the company released its 2023 ESG report, highlighting significant strides toward its sustainability goals. The company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20% between 2020 and 2022, despite notable business growth. The report also showcases Eli Lilly’s commitment to diversity, with minority group members now holding 25% of U.S. management positions and women occupying 49% of management roles globally… In a recent update to its large-cap rankings, Wells Fargo analysts highlighted Eli Lilly’s robust pipeline and potential to surpass market expectations in the coming years. The firm named Eli Lilly as its new top pick among large-cap pharmaceutical stocks, anticipating the company will outperform 2025 consensus estimates. 6. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Hedge Fund Holders: 216 Alphabet the parent company of Google, has introduced the Google Renewable Energy Addendum, a new initiative asking its largest hardware manufacturing suppliers to commit to matching 100% of their energy use with renewable sources by 2029… The company has set ambitious environmental goals for 2030, including achieving net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain, and reducing its combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 50% from 2019 levels… Analysts have set a price target of $203.74, indicating a potential upside of 25.03% as of August 20… 5. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Hedge Fund Holders: 219 The social media giant achieved net-zero emissions across its global operations in 2020 and is now focused on reaching net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2030… On August 8, Loop Capital raised its price target for Meta from $550 to $575, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock… Citi subsequently raised its price target for Meta from $550 to $580. 4. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Hedge Fund Holders: 308 Amazon initially aimed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and power its operations with 100% renewable energy, a goal it claims to have achieved seven years ahead of schedule… In the first half of 2024, Amazon saw its operating income surge 141% year-over-year, reaching a record high… Amazon is also a dominant force in digital advertising, surpassing a $50 billion annual run rate with 20% growth… Morgan Stanley recently reiterated its positive outlook on Amazon maintaining an Overweight rating and a $210 price target. 3. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Holders: 179 NVIDIA leads the market in designing and selling Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), a sector that has surged due to the growing demand for artificial intelligence models. The company’s Blackwell GPUs are up to 20 times more energy-efficient than traditional CPUs for specific AI and high-performance computing (HPC) tasks. Additionally, by the end of FY25 and each year after, NVIDIA aims to achieve and maintain 100% renewable electricity for its offices and data centers under operational control… 2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Holders: 279 Microsoft stands out as a leading ESG stock, much in part due to its strategic investment in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which has strengthened its position across hardware, software, and global cloud services. The company is committed to sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2025, becoming carbon negative by 2030, and offsetting all historical carbon emissions since its founding in 1975 by 2050… BMO Capital Markets maintained its positive outlook on Microsoft, keeping an Outperform rating and a $500 price target. 1. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Hedge Fund Holders: 184 Apple is an obvious choice for ESG investors, given its strong commitment to labor rights, environmental responsibility, and ethical business practices across its supply chain. The tech giant has reduced its overall greenhouse gas emissions by over 55% since 2015, marking significant progress toward its ambitious Apple 2030 goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by the decade’s end… On August 2, Goldman Sachs raised its price target for Apple from $265 to $275 while maintaining a Buy rating… End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These 3 Companies Are the Solar Power Leaders, But Should You Invest in Them? Now what would a podcast episode be without an article on solar power companies? So here it is titled These 3 Companies Are the Solar Power Leaders, But Should You Invest in Them? By Jordan Chussler and found on 247wallst.com. Here is some of what Mr. Chussler says in his article. “1. First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) has amassed an impressive $21.98 billion market cap and is considered by many to be the solar industry leader. The company manufactures solar panels, but also provides utility-scale photovoltaic power plants while also provides support services like financing, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling programs… In the second quarter of 2024, First Solar beat earnings forecasts for the fifth consecutive quarter by posting earnings per share (EPS) of $3.25 versus analysts’ expectations of $2.70. The company also beat on revenue by reporting $1.01 billion versus analysts’ expectations of $939.71 million… Analysts at the Wall Street Journal give First Solar’s stock a median, one-year price target of $286. Shares are currently trading for $205.36, meaning, the stock is expected to have strong upside potential of 39.26% over the next 12 months.  2. Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) is a clean energy technology company with a $13.95 billion market cap that specializes in the development and manufacturing of solar micro-inverters and battery storage systems… Since beating earnings forecasts during the third quarter of 2023, Enphase has missed for the past three consecutive quarters, posting a disappointing EPS of 43 cents in the second quarter of 2024 versus analysts’ expectations of 49 cents… Shares of Enphase are currently trading around $112, but one-year price targets are incredibly spread out. The Wall Street Journal‘s analysts give a median price target of $130, but a high-end target of $170 and a low-end target of just $45.82.  3. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) has the smallest market cap of all three companies, with just $3.8 billion. The San Francisco-based company provides photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage solutions primarily for a residential customer base.   Sunrun shocked Wall Street in the second quarter of 2024 by posting an EPS of 55 cents versus analysts’ expectations of -33 cents in earnings. That was the first quarter since Q2 2023 that the company posted a positive EPS… Currently trading at $18.17, Wall Street Journal analysts give shares of Sunrun a median, one-year price target of $20, but a high-end target of $38 and a low-end target of just $7.78.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast “Great Sustainable Food Stocks, Plus…” Please click the like and subscribe buttons 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 troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast will be October 4th. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Eco-Friendly Stocks are from the Corporate Knights rankings. Plus, Reddit’s best ethical companies and an article listing Shariah-compliant stocks. By Ron Robins, MBA Podcast: Top Eco-Friendly Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 137, September 6, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to this podcast episode 137 published September 6, 2024, titled “Top Eco-Friendly 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. 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 at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don’t receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal 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 articles for more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Ethical Companies To Invest In According to Reddit The first article I’m reviewing is titled 7 Best Ethical Companies To Invest In According to Reddit. It’s by Affan Mir and found on insidermonkey.com. Here are some quotes. “Our Methodology The companies are listed in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders as of the second quarter of 2024. The hedge fund data was taken from our database of over 900 elite hedge funds… Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. 7. HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HASI) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16 The company invests in behind-the-meter (BTM) building or facility-specific distributed energy projects, which are tailored to reduce energy consumption or costs for specific buildings or facilities. 6. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Hedge Fund Holders: 42 Ecolab Inc. … initially, the company focused on innovative cleaning products but has since become a major player in the water, hygiene, and energy sectors. The company serves various industries, including food processing, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, by offering technology and services that ensure water quality and safety… In 2024, it was recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the 18th consecutive year. 5. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) Hedge Fund Holders: 49 Waste Management, Inc. … Over the years, the company has evolved into a comprehensive waste management company with a vast operational footprint. 4. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 66 First Solar is an American company in the solar energy industry that specializes in manufacturing solar panels and developing utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants. 3. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Hedge Fund Holders: 71 Costco Wholesale Corporation is a warehouse club that operates on a membership basis, offering a wide range of products. 2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Hedge Fund Holders: 73 NextEra Energy, Inc. … company operates a diverse portfolio through its subsidiaries, which include Florida Power & Light (FPL), NextEra Energy Resources (NEER), and NextEra Energy Partners. 1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Holders: 179 NVIDIA Corporation is a California-based prominent tech company… recognized for its groundbreaking advancements in graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 25 Eco-Friendly Companies in 2024 Now this next article should interest most of you. It’s titled Top 25 Eco-Friendly Companies in 2024. It’s by Meerub Anjum and found on finance.yahoo.com. Due to my time restrictions, the 25 companies are covered briefly. Go to the link on this episode’s podcast page for the full article. Here are my brief quotes. “Methodology To compile our list of the top 25 eco-friendly companies in 2024, we utilized the sustainable investment ratio data for the global 100 companies from Corporate Knights. We then used the purchasing power parity revenue of companies as of 2023 to calculate the absolute sustainable revenue of companies. Finally, we ranked the top 25 eco-friendly companies in 2024 in ascending order of their absolute sustainable revenue. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into… Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). 25. Henkel AG & Co. (OTC:HENOF) In 2023, over 20% of its revenue was from sustainable products or services. 24. Risen Energy Co. Ltd. (SHE:300118) In 2023, Risen Energy Co Ltd generated 100% of its revenue from sustainable products and services. 23. Yadea Group Holdings Ltd. (OTC:YADGF) is an investment holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of two-wheeled electric vehicles and related accessories in China. 22. Kering SA (OTC:PPRUF) in 2024… it generated 26.5% of its revenue from sustainable products in 2023. 21. Nordex SE (OTC:NRXXY) The company is involved in the manufacturing and distribution of onshore wind turbines. 20. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) is one of the most sustainable companies, boasting a sustainable revenue of 33.1%. 19. Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) In 2023, Li Auto Inc generated 100% of its revenue from sustainable products. 18. Ricoh Company, Ltd. (OTC:RICOY) Ricoh Company, Ltd.'s sustainable revenue was 50.8% of its total revenue in 2023. 17. NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) is involved in the manufacturing and sale of smart electric vehicles in China. 16. Ørsted A/S (OTC:DNNGY) 65% of its revenue was from sustainable products and services in 2023. 15. SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) SAP SE generated nearly 30% of its revenue from sustainable products and services. 14. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) In 2023, 46.8% of its revenue was generated from sustainable services and products. 13. Banco do Brasil S.A. (OTC:BDORY) generated 28.6% of its revenue from sustainable products and services in 2023. 12. Neste Oyj (OTC:NTOIY) Its renewable products include renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable solvents, and feedstock for bioplastics. 11. Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) In 2023, 27.2% of its revenue was from eco-friendly products and services. 10. Alstom SA is involved in the manufacturing of monorails, light rails, metros, commuter trains, regional trains, high-speed trains, and locomotives. 9. Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. (KRX:006400) provides lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices including electric bikes and scooters. 8. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and also incorporate circularity in 100% of its new products and packaging by 2025. 7. Vestas Wind Systems (OTC:VWDRY) 100% of its revenue is generated from eco-friendly products. 6. Bank of China Limited (OTC:BACHF) Nearly 17% of its revenue, which amounts to $25.9 billion, was from sustainable sources in 2023. 5. XPeng Inc. (NYSE:XPEV) 100% of its revenue is generated from sustainable products and services. 4. Schneider Electric S.E. (OTC:SBGSY) is involved in the production of inverters, solar panels, solar equipment, wind farm microgrids, power metering systems, and smart monitoring solutions, among others. 3. HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 62% in 2023. 2. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) In 2023, 100% of its revenue was generated from sustainable products and services. 1. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) In 2023, it generated nearly 70% of its revenue from sustainable products and services.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 Shariah Compliant Stocks by Market Cap Many ethical investors might not know that Shariah investing has similarities to ethical investing. This article briefly explains Shariah-based investing and the ethical stocks favored by the article’s authors. It’s titled Top 10 Shariah Compliant Stocks by Market Cap. Author(s) not mentioned, but found on amalinvest.com. Here are some quotes. “Islamic finance has grown significantly in recent years, with more investors seeking stocks that align with Shariah principles. Let's explore the top 10 Shariah compliant stocks by market capitalization, examining what makes them attractive to ethical investors and how they stack up in the global market… Shariah law prohibits investment in companies involved in certain activities, such as alcohol, gambling, pork products, and conventional financial services. Additionally, there are financial ratios that companies must meet to be considered compliant. Compliance vs. Halal It's crucial to note that ‘Shariah compliant’ doesn't necessarily mean ‘halal.’ Compliant companies may still have some activities that aren't permissible under Shariah law, but they don't exceed certain thresholds that would make them impermissible for investment. Now, let's examine our top 10 list: 1. Apple Inc. (AAPL) Compliance: Halal The tech giant Apple leads our list with an impressive market cap of $3.45 trillion. 2. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) Compliance: Halal NVIDIA, a leader in GPU technology and AI computing, comes in second with a market cap of $3.11 trillion. Its focus on cutting-edge technology and strong financial position contribute to its Shariah compliant status. 3. Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) Compliance: Doubtful Google's parent company, Alphabet, holds the third spot. Despite its massive market cap, its compliance status is marked as doubtful. This could be due to its diverse range of services, which may include activities not fully aligned with Shariah principles. Bottom of Form 4. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) Compliance: Doubtful E-commerce giant Amazon is fourth on our list, but also carries a doubtful compliance status. This might be related to its involvement in streaming services that could include content not aligned with Shariah principles, or its financial services offerings. 5. Meta Platforms Inc. (META) Compliance: Doubtful Facebook's parent company, Meta, rounds out our top five. Its doubtful status could be due to concerns about content moderation and potential involvement in activities not fully aligned with Shariah law. 6. Eli Lilly and Co (LLY) Compliance: Halal Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, is the first non-tech firm on our list. Its focus on healthcare and strong financial position contribute to its Shariah compliant status. 7. Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Compliance: Halal Broadcom, a designer, developer, and global supplier of semiconductor devices, maintains a Shariah compliant status due to its focus on technology and solid financials. 8. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Compliance: Halal Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is Shariah compliant, likely due to its focus on sustainable transportation and energy solutions, as well as its financial structure. 9. Walmart Inc. (WMT) Compliance: Doubtful Retail giant Walmart makes the list but with a doubtful compliance status. This could be due to the sale of products not permissible under Shariah law, such as alcohol or pork products. 10. Visa Inc. (V) Compliance: Halal Rounding out our top 10 is Visa, a financial services company. Its Shariah compliant status might surprise some, but it's likely due to its business model focusing on payment processing rather than traditional banking activities.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Green ETFs With Promising Upside And Long-Term Potential Now an article from Canada. It’s titled 3 Green ETFs With Promising Upside And Long-Term Potential. It’s by Pierre Raymond and seen on theglobeandmail.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Raymond says about his picks. “1. iShare Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA (USCLi) One of the key objectives of the fund is to track the performance and investment results of large and mid-cap U.S. companies that are actively contributing to the low-carbon economy transition. Overall, the fund has delivered a one-year return of 23.10%, slightly below the benchmark of 23.16%. 2. Carbon Transition U.S. Equity ETF (JCTR) provides investors exposure to the broader U.S. market by positioning the fund to benefit from companies that invest in the low-carbon economy transition… The fund delivered one-year quarterly returns of 24.40%, similar to that of the JPMAM Carbon Transition U.S. Equity Index. 3. Xtrackers Net Zero Pathway Paris Aligned US Equity ETF (USNZ) which seeks to track the performance of the Solactive ISS ESG U.S. Net Zero Pathway Enhanced Index… The current one-year return is 24.44% versus 24.54% of the underlying index, and 24.56% of the S&P.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- One other great article that time didn’t allow me to review here. 3 Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds for Sustainable Returns. It’s by Zacks Equity Research and was found on finance.yahoo.com.  ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast “Top Eco-Friendly Stocks.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons 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 troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast will be September 20th. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

Top Food and Healthcare stocks. And more… Includes a 100-company ranking of companies producing the most favorable human life impacts. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 136, August 23, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. It’s good to be back after my summer break! So, welcome to this podcast episode 136 titled “Top Food and Healthcare stocks. And more…” Presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. 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 at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don’t 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 articles for more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Plant-Based Food Stocks That Could Be Multibaggers in the Making: July Edition I’m starting with this article on food stocks as it’s a segment that many of you are interested in. It’s titled 3 Plant-Based Food Stocks That Could Be Multibaggers in the Making: July Edition. It’s by Philippa Main and found on investorplace.com. Now some quotes from the article. “Investors have many reasons for investing in plant-based food stocks… But there are also a lot of ups and downs in the vegan-friendly and plant-based industries. Even one of the most recognizable names in the vegan meat industry, Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND), has been down consistently over the last five years, with very few times of sustained value. However, the overall sector’s potential for growth remains robust… The plant-based food market value is currently at $46.7 billion and could expand to $96.6 billion by 2033. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%... 1. Laird Superfood (NYSEAMERICAN:LSF) Specializes in providing plant-based coffee creamers, hydration supplements and other foods. The stock topped out at $57 in 2020 but has since dropped dramatically. It is now trading at around $4 a share. However, recent quarterly results prove that the company is back on the upswing…  The company’s 22% net sales growth during the first quarter was among the top results for any company in the food industry. The company saw at least a 40% gross margin. While the company still operates at a net loss, its balance sheet remains strong with no debt. The company raised its outlook for net sales thanks to the positive Q1 results. Laird Superfood stock is affordable for investors looking to enter the vegan-friendly and plant-based food stocks segment. Laird Superfood has many potential growth opportunities on the horizon… It recently received a $32 million influx of funding from WeWork. All this combined means investing now could see great returns in the long term. 2. SunOpta (NASDAQ:STKL) has been producing plant-based food and beverages for over 50 years. In the past three years, the company has committed over $200 million to expanding production capacity and reaching its goal of doubling its plant-based business by 2025. Across the several segments the company operates in, there is a $22 billion addressable market. The company’s nutritional beverages sector saw the largest year-over-year (YOY) growth at 20%. The company also partners with other major names in the food retail industry. These include Costco (NASDAQ:COST), Walmart (NYSE:WMT) and Target (NYSE:TGT). Partnering with big retail brands helps increase the exposure of its products and, in turn, generates higher sales volume. SunOpta stock has had its ups and downs over the past five years but currently has a 93% upside. 3. Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) One of the most well-known chicken brands in the U.S. may not seem like a good pick for a list of plant-based food stocks. For investors who want to feel good about investing in companies working toward making more plant-based options but don’t want to gamble on a company solely focused on that sector, Tyson Foods is a good way to diversify.  Though down substantially over the last five years, Tyson Foods stock has seen a rally of 10% in the last 12 months and 6.5% year-to-date (YTD). In the previous five years, Tyson has been increasing its plant-based offerings through its brand, Raised and Rooted, and has 10 plant-based products. These include plant-based patties, ground meat substitutes, sausages and nuggets. As inflation dampens demand for meat as prices soar, Tyson’s presence in the plant-based industry will give it a head start compared to its competitors.  Though there have been some financial troubles for the company in the last year or so, things are starting to turn around.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The energy transition from fossil fuels will power these stocks - including Big Oil Now, this next article acknowledges the energy transition, however, some of the comments and companies suggested will not appeal to many ethical and sustainable investors. I wondered long and hard as to include this article or not. However, since the European Commission is likely to include natural gas in its preferred funding energy financing initiative, I ‘dared’ to include it. The article is titled The energy transition from fossil fuels will power these stocks - including Big Oil. It’s by Jakob Wilhelmus, provided by Dow Jones, and found on morningstar.com. Here are some quotes. “Modernizing the grid The International Energy Agency estimates that to power itself primarily with renewable energy, the world would need to add or replace nearly 50 million miles of transmission lines by 2040… For investors, that creates opportunity around the complementary infrastructure that is needed to build out the grid. Companies such as Eaton (ETN) that provide essential components - including inverters or substations for transmission lines - are well-positioned to take advantage of these ambitious goals. Their central role in the energy transition over coming years may not be fully appreciated today, but markets might soon catch up. Shifting to the greener end of fossil fuels Fossil fuels will certainly continue to be a component of the energy system of the future…  Indeed, global demand for liquified natural gas (LNG) is expected to grow by more than 50% by 2040 as the coal-to-gas transition expands in China and South Asia… For investors, it is critical to seek energy-sector companies that are forward-looking and are finding ways to remain energy providers regardless of what the primary energy sources might be. Two such companies are TotalEnergies (TTE) and Shell (SHEL), which are expanding natural-gas production and transport capabilities. Pipelines are another way to take advantage of the global shift to natural gas. Often these firms have long-term purchase agreements in place, providing investors with an attractive ‘toll collection’ that provides a differentiated risk-return proposition in the natural-gas space: exposure to booming demand with less exposure to short-term price volatility. These characteristics and accompanying cash flows make major pipeline players including Enbridge (ENB) and Kinder Morgan (KMI) particularly interesting for debt investors. Getting smart on energy use Investors should also pay close attention to innovation around managing demand and using energy supplies more efficiently… This has created a two-way system, where customers actively manage their energy consumption through smart appliances or storage, while system operators have increased capabilities to manage electricity distribution and generation. This development might benefit companies, such as Schneider Electric (SBGSY), that provide smart sensors and devices all the way to the software that allows grid operators to optimize supply and demand… Global renewable capacity grew by 50% in 2023 and these sources offer some of the lowest cost of producing electricity today. But even this pace of growth in renewables may not be enough to account for the steep rise in energy demand.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The 3 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy in August 2024 Now, here’s an article on another favorite sector, healthcare, and it’s titled The 3 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy in August 2024. It’s by investorplace.com and was seen on markets.businessinsider.com. Here are some interesting quotes. “The healthcare industry has been a critical part of the economy for a long time. According to a McKinsey & Company report, the healthcare industry is expected to grow at 7% from 2022 to 2027. 1. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY). The pharmaceutical powerhouse consistently ranks as one of the top companies on the market, and has several drugs that generate billions of dollars in revenue. Furthermore, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a number of drugs currently in clinical trials that could bring in huge success over the next decade. Among these is schizophrenia treatment Eliquis KarXT. The drug is expected to receive a recommendation from the FDA as early as next month. If it gets approved, it will be the first newly developed treatment for schizophrenia. That is a market that is estimated to grow to more than $7 billion in just four years. Right now, the stock is down over 10% this year alone and 20% year-over-year. Investors should buy while the stock is down.  2. AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AMN) is a medical care facilities company. It supplies healthcare workers, including nurses and industry professionals, on a temporary basis. It experienced huge success from high healthcare worker demand when there was a worker shortage. For those investors who are looking for high-risk, high-reward healthcare stocks, AMN should be on their radar. The company’s recent earnings reports look very promising. In Q2 2024, AMN reported earnings per share (EPS) of 98 cents, beating analyst’s estimates by almost 20 cents. This was the fourth consecutive quarter that AMN Healthcare Services beat the earnings estimate. Furthermore, AMN trades at 13.64 times forward price to earnings ratio, which is lower than the majority of its competitors in the market. Before it bounces back to its peak price from 2022, investors should buy the stock. 3. Rapport Therapeutics (NASDAQ:RAPP), a biotech company that is backed by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). The company went public on June 7th of this year, and it raised $154 million in initial public offering. The stock price ended up to over $20 on the first day it went public, and as of writing, it goes for $19.05. While there is still lots to learn about the company as it is new to the market, there are certainly things that will attract many investors.  Rapport Therapists is currently developing a focal epilepsy drug. The phase two trials should begin in the next few months, which means that there is going to be exciting news for the biotech startup for the upcoming years. This is especially exciting considering that in the U.S. alone, there are more than three million adult epilepsy patients, which means that it is a sizable market with room to explore.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The 2024 Humankind 100 List This next article is a company ranking I watch every year as its methodology is fascinating. It’s the Humankind 100 List and the 2024 edition has just been published. I found it on businesswire.com. Here are some quotes. “As the challenges of creating transparency around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data and rankings become increasingly apparent, Humankind developed a holistic, quantitative way to calculate impact in terms of human benefit versus human suffering… This year, Alphabet (GOOGL)… scored highest in the ranking. The positive value of creating free digital tools for consumers outweighs the negative impact of factors like data harvesting in Humankind’s analysis. Other companies rounding out the top 10 include: Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), Merck & Co. (MRK), Procter & Gamble (PG), Pfizer (PFE), Amgen (AMGN), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). The complete rankings… can be found at rankings.humankind.co.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, here’s one other article that will interest some of you. It’s titled Bank of New York Mellon a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.9% Yield. It’s by BNK Invest and found on Nasdaq.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast titled: “Top Food and Healthcare stocks. And more…” Please 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 troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast will be September 6th. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

The next podcast – after this one – is August 23rd. This episode covers great high-yielding ESG stocks and funds related to renewable energy, plus… By Ron Robins, MBA Hello, Ron Robins here. Just a quick note before I start. I’m taking some time off so my next podcast – after this one – will be on August 23rd. So, welcome to this podcast episode 135 titled “Great High-Yielding ESG Stocks, Plus…” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 High-Yielding Global Renewable Energy Stocks Besides capital gains, many of you also want income from your ethical investments. So, this article should interest you. It’s titled 5 High-Yielding Global Renewable Energy Stocks and it’s by Quinn Rennell and published on morningstar.com. Here are some points from the article. However, much more information is quoted on this episode's webpage. Quote. “For this article, we looked at the Morningstar Global Markets Renewable Energy Index… We screened for stocks covered by Morningstar analysts and then sorted them by forward dividend yield to find the five with the highest payouts. All these stocks are undervalued, carrying Morningstar Ratings of 4 or 5 stars. Top-Yielding Global Renewable Energy Stocks Data as of 7/12/2024. Here’s a closer look at the five stocks: 1. Proximus PROX Fair Value Estimate: EUR 10.50 Price/Fair Value: 0.73 Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: Medium Economic Moat: Narrow With a forward dividend yield of 18.23%, this Belgian telecom operator tops our list. Proximus’ stock is down 1.53% this year. Over the last 12 months, it is up 21.14%. 2. Vodafone Group VOD Fair Value Estimate: GBP 1.25 Price/Fair Value: 0.57 Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: Medium Economic Moat: None European telecom giant Vodafone has the second-highest forward dividend yield in the index, at 10.76%. Vodafone’s stock is up 9.47% in the year to date and 11.16% in the last 12 months.” 3. Engie ENGI Fair Value Estimate: EUR 18.00 Price/Fair Value: 0.79 Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: Medium Economic Moat: None Engie is a global energy firm that operates Europe’s largest gas pipeline network in France and a global fleet of conventional and renewable power plants. The stock yields 10.1%. The shares are down 2.06% in the year to date but up 4.50% over the last 12 months. 4. Volkswagen VOW3 Fair Value Estimate: EUR 352.00 Price/Fair Value: 0.3 Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: High Economic Moat: None German auto giant Volkswagen has a forward dividend yield of 8.46%. Its stock has risen 3.94% in the year to date. Over the last 12 months, its stock has fallen 5.32%.” 5. Mercedes-Benz Group MBG Fair Value Estimate: EUR 117.00 Price/Fair Value: 0.55 Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: High Economic Moat: Narrow Rounding out our list is another German auto giant, Mercedes-Benz, with a forward yield of 8.28%. Its stock is up 10.79% so far this year. Over the last 12 months, its stock is down 4.26%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Sustainable Investing ETFs for Eco-Conscious Investors This next article will likely interest most investors. It’s titled 3 Sustainable Investing ETFs for Eco-Conscious Investors and it’s by Shweta Kumari. It was seen on stocknews.com. Here are some quotes. “1. American Century Sustainable Growth ETF (ESGY - Get Rating) This fund targets the U.S. public equity markets, focusing on companies across various sectors, including growth and value stocks of large-cap companies, specifically those within the market capitalization range of the Russell 1000 Growth Index. American Century Sustainable Growth ETF emphasizes investing in socially conscious businesses that actively promote environmental responsibility. The fund has $19.70 million in assets under management (AUM)… American Century Sustainable Growth ETF has an expense ratio of 0.39%, compared to the category average of 0.37%... The fund pays an annual dividend of $0.16, translating to a 0.28% yield at the prevailing price level… The ETF’s overall A rating equates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system… 2. Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF (NWLG - Get Rating) The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies with market capitalizations exceeding $4 billion at the time of purchase. It focuses on companies that exhibit sustainable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) characteristics… The fund has an expense ratio of 0.65%... Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF has gained 34.7% over the past year and 20.9% over the past six months… It has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. 3. Ishares ESG Aware MSCI USA Growth ETF (EGUS - Get Rating) It invests in growth stocks of socially conscious companies promoting environmental responsibility and aims to track an index of U.S. large- and mid-cap equities with positive ESG characteristics… The ETF’s expense ratio is 0.18%... The fund pays an annual dividend of $0.11, which translates to a 0.27% yield at the current price level… Ishares ESG Aware MSCI USA Growth ETF has gained 34.9% over the past nine months and 30.9% over the past year… The fund has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Green Mutual Funds to Fight Climate Change This next article features some green US mutual funds. It’s titled 7 Best Green Mutual Funds to Fight Climate Change and is by Jeff Reeves and reviewed by John Divine. It’s found on money.usnews.com. Here are some brief highlights on each of the picks from the article. “1. Parnassus Core Equity Fund (PRBLX) Assets under management: $30.1 billion Expense ratio: 0.82% Minimum investment: $2,000 The Parnassus Core Equity Fund is the leader among green mutual funds when it comes to assets under management. That said, it's not perfect or particularly flashy. It… is designed to be a core large-cap fund as much as a green mutual fund. That said, investment manager Parnassus has made a name for itself by linking traditional fundamental analysis with an overlay of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors… Parnassus Core Equity Fund is well established with the largest asset tally of this group, making it a logical starting place for many investors. 2. Calvert Equity Fund (CSIEX) Assets under management: $6.8 billion Expense ratio: 0.91% Minimum investment: $1,000 Calvert is an investment adviser that prioritizes ESG in its approach, with a 40-year track record of ‘responsible’ investing that takes into account sustainability and environmental factors, among other criteria… The fund is not designed to hold solar stocks or wind turbine manufacturers but rather large-cap domestic stocks that rank highly for their internal programs such as purchasing carbon offsets or building LEED-certified headquarters. Still, if you want to look beyond conventional index funds, then [this fund] is a good green mutual fund to consider. 3. Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund (PNOPX) Assets under management: $6.6 billion Expense ratio: 0.92% Minimum investment: None This Putnam offering is another of the largest and most respected sustainable investing options out there. It's also a focused… as it ‘invests in companies that have demonstrated leadership in key sustainability issues that are financially material to their business context,’ according to official documentation from its manager Franklin Templeton. One notable downside that investors should consider before buying in: There are some high front-end costs associated with [the fund], which has a maximum initial charge of 5.75%. 4. Amana Growth Fund (AMAGX) Assets under management: $2.8 billion Expense ratio: 0.91% Minimum investment: $100 Very accessible with just a $100 minimum investment, this Amana Growth fund from Saturna Capital is incredibly unique in that it bills itself as ‘halal’ – or fitting the religious requirements of Islam… That means you won't find businesses that focus on alcohol, pornography or gambling. And interestingly enough, you won't find a penny in finance because strict Islamic law prohibits demanding interest on loans. 5. Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) Assets under management: $4.2 billion Expense ratio: 0.11% Minimum investment: None A cost-effective option, Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund… is a sustainability-focused mutual fund that charges just a fraction of what the other funds on this list charge. It is also the most wide-ranging of the green mutual funds so far, with 285 total stocks in its portfolio. That doesn't mean it's all that more diversified, however, as it is weighted by size – so mega-cap stocks like Microsoft (MSFT) and Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) dominate the portfolio. 6. Calvert Small-Cap Fund (CCVAX) Assets under management: $2.9 billion Expense ratio: 1.19% Minimum investment: $1,000 Calvert Small-Cap Fund is definitely the most expensive fund on this list from an annual fee perspective. That's in part because mutual funds generally have higher costs than their exchange-traded cousins, but it's also because this is a boutique offering with an active approach. 7. Parnassus Mid Cap Fund (PARMX) Assets under management: $3 billion Expense ratio: 0.96% Minimum investment: $2,000 With a focus on mid-sized corporations and an average market value of about $30 billion, this investment vehicle offers a way to invest sustainably in established firms but not necessarily duplicate positions you might own in a traditional large-cap fund. End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy at 52-Week Lows in July As we know renewable energy stocks are frequently having a rough time this year. However, buying low and selling high is generally the best approach when buying investments. So, for those of you who favor this approach and are interested in renewable energy stocks, this article is for you. It’s titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy at 52-Week Lows in July by InvestorPlace and seen on markets.businessinsider.com. Here are some quotes. “While buying stocks that are at their 52-week lows is risky, on the other hand, it could present a massive upside opportunity. Thus, it is important for investors to understand exactly why the stock is down before jumping into buying. For investors looking for cheap green energy, below are the three best renewable energy stocks to buy at an all-time low in July. 1. Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) specializes in hydrogen fuel systems which are used to replace traditional batteries powered by electricity… Currently, its stock price is almost at an all time low – it dipped to $3.07 per share compared to $12.76 per share just a year ago… The company recently finished deploying 13 hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) in Europe, making Plug Power the largest owner of hydrogen refueling stations with over 250 stations globally. 2. Array Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) The stock is down -41.14% year to date… As the largest solar tracker company globally, Array Technologies offers various services including the DuraTrack system, which is a single-axis tracker technology that helps maximize PV panel energy production. Recently, Citigroup upgraded the average one-year price target for Array Technologies to $19.52 per share… 3. Shoals (NASDAQ:SHLS) is the largest provider of electrical balance of systems (EBOS) solutions for utility-scale solar… Even though Shoals stock is down more than 70% year over year as of writing, Shoals has reasons to make investors feel confident about buying [it].” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1) Title: 5 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Solid Industry Rally on finance.yahoo.com. By Nalak Das. 2) Title: Top 20 Halal Stocks to Invest In on discoveroptions.com. By Gloria. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast titled: “Great High-Yielding ESG Stocks, Plus…” Now please 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. Now I’m taking some time off so my next podcast will be August 23rd. I’ll talk to you then! Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More, covers investments in renewable energy, Canadian sustainable companies, water investments, women’s empowerment, plus… By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 134, July 12, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 134 titled “Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More.” 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. 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 3 article links below that time didn’t allow for me to cover here. ------------------------------------------------------------- These 50 Canadian corporations are betting big on green Now nearly all the articles covered in this episode relate to renewable energy investments – except this one. Though it’s about Canadian companies, many of them will be of interest to ethical investors globally. Hence, I’m beginning with it and it’s titled These 50 Canadian corporations are betting big on green. The editorial is by Rick Spence and appears on corporateknights.com. “Now in its 23rd year, the Best 50 helps track how Canadian businesses are meeting the low-carbon and green-transition challenge – as well as where they’re getting stuck in the process… The companies that made the Best 50 are mostly corporations with more than $1 billion in annual revenues, as well as Crown corporations, large co-ops and members of the S&P/TSX Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Index. What sets them apart is their commitment to doing business differently – they’re companies that derive significant revenue from greener products and services, invest in increasingly sustainable projects, and prioritize equity in their operations. Crucially, the companies’ average sustainable investment (as a percentage of total investment) hit 58.9% this year, up 9% over last year’s 49.7% – that’s compared to just 8.4% for the average large Canadian corporation.” End quotes. Among the top public companies on the list are Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE:BEP), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM), Cascades Inc. (CAS.TO), and BCE Inc. (BCE.TO). ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More So, back to the renewable energy sector with this first article titled 3 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in July 2024, According to Analysts. It’s by Sheryl Sheth and seen on nasdaq.com. Here are some of her comments. “1 Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC) is engaged in empowering the global clean energy transition by providing energy storage solutions. The company also offers cloud-based software solutions for renewables and energy storage. Importantly, Fluence Energy has the backing of two industry-leading companies, Siemens (DE:SIE) and AES Corp. (NYSE:AES)… On TipRanks, Fluence Energy stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 12 Buys and three Hold recommendations. The average Fluence Energy price target of $30.21 implies an impressive 83.9% upside potential from current levels. Meanwhile, Fluence Energy shares have plunged 31.1% so far in 2024. 2. ReNew Energy Global (NASDAQ:RNW) India-based ReNew Energy Global is one of the largest renewable companies in the world, with a clean energy portfolio of roughly 15.6GW (gigawatts) on a gross basis as of May 31. The company provides innovative and sustainable decarbonization solutions for corporates. Plus, it engages in the production of wind, solar, and hydropower and manufactures solar PV (photovoltaic) cells… With six unanimous Buy ratings, ReNew Energy Global stock commands a Strong Buy consensus rating on TipRanks. The average ReNew Energy Global price target of $8.82 implies 45.1% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, ReNew Energy Global shares have lost 19.5%. 3. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) claims to own one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the U.S. The company has approximately 6,200 net MW (megawatts) of installed wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems. Plus, it owns another 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities. The company believes in rewarding shareholders with generous dividend payments… With six Buys and one Hold rating, Clearway Energy stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating on TipRanks. The average Clearway Energy Class C price target of $31 implies 27.6% upside potential from current levels. Clearway Energy shares have declined 8.4% so far in 2024.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Renewable Energy Stock Picks – and More Also, related to renewable energy is this article titled 3 ESG Funds to Buy As Sustainable Investing Gathers Steam. It’s by Zacks Equity Research and found at au.sports.yahoo.com. Here are some comments on their picks from the Zack’s analysts. “All of these funds carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 (Buy). In addition, the minimum initial investment for these funds is within $5,000. We expect these funds to outperform their peers in the future… Unlike most of the fund-rating systems, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank is not just focused on past performance but also on the likely future success of the fund. 1. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) The fund invests… in securities of companies mostly engaged in activities related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support services. The non-diversified fund invests in U.S. and non-U.S. issuers alike… Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%, which is below the category average of 1.09%. It has returned 4.9% over the past five years. 2. Parnassus Core Equity Fund - Investor Shares (PRBLX) aims for capital growth and current income through its investments… (It)… invests in large-capitalization companies in the United States that have long-term competitive advantages and relevancy, quality management teams and positive performance in the ESG criteria… Parnassus Core Equity Fund - Investor Shares has an annual expense ratio of 0.86%, which is below the category average of 0.93%. It has returned 9.1% over the past five years. 3. TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class (TSBRX) The fund invests (most of) … its assets in bonds. TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class gives particular consideration to environmental, social and governance criteria… TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class has an annual expense ratio of 0.65%, which is below the category average of 0.80%. It has returned 3.2% over the past five years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More And here is my next renewable energy article. It’s titled The 3 Smartest Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now and is by Rich Duprey and found on investorplace.com. Now some brief quotes from Mr. Duprey on each of his picks. 1. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) is the first renewable energy stock that investors should consider buying. It is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a top-tier stock in battery storage. At the end of 2023, NextEra had approximately 72 gigawatts (GW) of total capacity in its portfolio. Of that amount, half or 36 GW came from renewables, some 70% more than its nearest competitor with wind power represented as two-thirds of the total renewable capacity… NextEra Energy will be one of the top renewable energy stocks to buy that leads the way. 2. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) is the leading provider of hydropower in the country. It operates as one of the world’s largest publicly traded platforms for renewable power and decarbonization solutions. Yet where 85% of Brookfield’s portfolio was once hydropower generation, today it stands at about 50% as the company grew through mergers and acquisitions… Although it primarily has projects in North America and Latin America, more recently as the Neoen acquisition shows, it is expanding more towards Europe and Asia. Brookfield Renewable Partners is a renewable energy stock to buy because of its hydro sector dominance that cannot be easily, or readily, replicated. 3. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) is the world’s leading manufacturer of thin-film solar panel technology and a pure-play in the solar panel space. It focuses on the U.S. and Indian markets where the greatest booking potential lays, particularly in the domestic utility-scale market… First Solar has built a solid financial foundation and a strong balance sheet to weather future storms. Its thin-film cadmium telluride technology is distinctive in the industry that benefits from its simple manufacturing process. First Solar should also benefit from the Biden administration’s protectionist trade policies. It recently imposed high-import barriers on cheaper Chinese panels.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More This last article takes us away from renewable energy. It’s titled 6 impact investing firms and funds that are top picks from U.S. News. The article’s authors are staff at equities.com. Now some brief quotes from the article. “Impact investing firms 1. Eaton Vance Corp. (EV) When this investment management firm bought Calvert Investment Management in 2016, it acquired a company that’s been involved in responsible investing for years. It launched an ESG bond portfolio in 1987 and a non-U.S. ESG portfolio in 1992. In 1995, it debuted Calvert Impact Capital. Now, Calvert Impact offers notes targeting community investment, carbon reduction and a more inclusive banking system. It also offers several small business recovery funds. 2. Impax Asset Management Group PLC. (IPXAF) This is another firm that grew its impact investing offerings through an acquisition. In 2017, it announced that it would buy Pax World Management. Impax has worked with the World Bank to structure an impact bond to finance 300,000 water purifiers for schools and other institutions in Vietnam… 3. Trillium Asset Management. This ESG-focused fund provider offers impact investing strategies targeting sustainable agriculture, low-income housing, job creation and retention, Native American community development, financial services that help people avoid predatory payday lenders, environmental sustainability, development of domestic and international communities and child care. It typically directs investments to nonprofit loan funds or development banks and credit unions targeting historically underserved sections of society. Impact investing funds 1. First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) This alternative energy fund tracks an index of securities issued by companies involved in advanced materials, energy intelligence, renewable electricity generation and renewable fuels, and energy storage and conversion. The $702 million fund has an expense ratio of 0.59%, or $59 per year for every $10,000 invested. It also paid a 30-day SEC yield of 1.2% as of the end of May. (It)… is up more than 60% over the past five years, though the last few years have been rough going for the fund. 2. Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO) This ETF tracks an index of companies involved in the conservation and purification of water for homes, businesses and industries. Most of its holdings focused on resource security and basic needs, with a smaller percentage allocated to climate action. The $2.1 billion fund has an expense ratio of 0.6% and is up more than 80% over the past five years. 3. YWCA Women’s Empowerment ETF (WOMN) This fund hits on a theme that is big in the impact investing community: women’s empowerment. (It)… tracks an index of companies that ‘have strong policies and practices in support of women’s empowerment and gender equality,’ the fund’s website says. Impact Shares donates all the net advisory profits from (the fund) to the YWCA. The $56 million ETF has an expense ratio of 0.75% and is up more than 74% over the past five years, beating its category average.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions that time didn’t allow me to cover here 1. Title: 7 Investments That Make You Feel Good While You Make Money on aol.com. By Laura Bogart. 2. Title: Top 10: Climate Tech Unicorns on sustainabilitymag.com. By Marcus Law. Honorable Mentions From the UK 1. Title: Top 10 most-purchased ETFs in June 2024 on ii.co.uk. By Sam Benstead. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Renewable Energy Stock Picks -- and More.” Now please click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps to improve these podcasts’ ratings and 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. I’ll talk to you next on July 26th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Stocks covered include those related to renewable energy, vegan foods, climate tech, and more.

Podcast: Renewable Energy and Sustainable Bank Stock Buys include articles “The Top 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Targeting 50% Upside by 2028” and “Top 10: Sustainable Banks” from sustainabilitymag.com, and more.   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 132, June 14, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 132 titled “Renewable Energy and Sustainable Bank 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. 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Top 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Targeting 50% Upside by 2028 As we approach the summer holiday period the number of suitable articles for this podcast usually declines. And that’s what’s beginning to happen now. However, there are still some great articles worth covering for you. I’m going to start with this one titled The Top 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Targeting 50% Upside by 2028. It’s by Terel Miles and found on msn.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Miles says about his picks. “1. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) The company has skyrocketed more than 60% year to date, and it is just getting started. First Solar’s expertise spans the entire solar value chain, from module manufacturing to project development and energy services. Moreover, artificial intelligence is set to boost demand for solar and energy storage solutions in data centers. In Q1 FY24, revenue increased 45% year-over-year (YOY) to $794 million. Earnings per share (EPS) skyrocketed 456% YOY to $2.20 per share, with gross margins up sequentially. As the company ramps up manufacturing capacity in 2024, First Solar stock should certainly be kept on your radar. 2. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) As the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, NextEra is at the forefront of the clean energy transition.  NextEra Energy’s focus on innovation coupled with its strong financial performance, position it as a reliable investment choice… In the 2023 fiscal year…. revenue swelled 34% YOY to $28.11 billion, with EPS up 71% to $3.60 per share. They delivered extremely impressive results, amid inflation and higher interest rates. Its backlog also remains robust, as the company’s subsidiaries, FPL & NextEra Energy Resources, deliver best in class services… Management has forecast 10% dividend growth through 2026. This makes NextEra Energy’s stock one of the best renewable energy stocks to buy now. 3. ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON) is a global leader in power management and sensing solutions, playing a critical role in the advancement of renewable energy technologies. The company’s products are essential components in various renewable energy applications, from solar inverters, to electric vehicles and energy storage systems.  ON Semiconductor is having a tough year in 2024. It is still up against the slump in the EV market, as well as the broader slowdown in renewable energy projects. However, this is only temporary, and they have an exciting long term growth trajectory ahead. ON Semi’s powerful silicon carbide (SiC) platform appeals to a wide variety of industries. This includes automation, industrial, healthcare, and aerospace. ON Semi is laying the foundation for accelerated growth over the next decade.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These Alternative Energy Stocks Are Poised for Takeoff Continuing on this renewable energy theme is this second article titled These Alternative Energy Stocks Are Poised for Takeoff. It’s by Michael Lebowitz. It appeared on investing.com and offers his assessments of companies engaged in many aspects of the alternative energy sector. Here are some quotes from him. “1. Battery Diversification May Be Critical Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT) is far and away the largest (of this sector’s etfs), with nearly $1.5 billion AUM. While it invests in companies with new battery technology, it also ‘invests in the full lithium cycle, from mining and refining the metal, through battery production.’ Its top three holdings are lithium producers. Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (NYSE:BATT) is the second largest ETF with a mere $89 million in AUM. Like Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF, they invest in lithium producers like BHP (BHP) and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). If you want to make investments in individual companies, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) (battery technologies), LG Chem (051910.KS) and Samsung SDI (006400.KS) are well-positioned in the industry. 2. Lithium Miners Assuming lithium remains a crucial component in electricity storage batteries, its miners should do well, especially given the recent decline in lithium prices and the related stocks. Albemarle (ALB) is the world’s top lithium producer and the largest producer by market cap. It is the only lithium producer of size based in the US. Like the rest of the alternative energy sector, its stock has traded poorly recently. However, with a forward P/E of 16, there is value if its revenues continue upward at their recent pace. We caution you that lithium deposits are being actively explored. Assuming success, the lithium supply may limit the price appreciation of lithium. 3. Utility and Grid Operators Utilities will generate more power, thus increasing their revenue. However, they must invest significant capital to modernize, expand, and reduce greenhouse emissions. (Here are some companies the author comments on.) Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) in Virginia and Entergy (NYSE:ETR) in Texas are the two utility companies that may be the biggest beneficiaries of the growth of AI data centers. Both stocks have relatively low forward P/E’s of approximately 14 and dividend yields of 4.25% for Dominion Energy and 5.50% for Entergy. It will be crucial to follow their margins to see how effectively they offset the expansion costs with rising revenue. Constellation Energy (CEG) and NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) are also worth tracking as they invest heavily in renewable energy infrastructure and will benefit from increased demand. We would add Duke (DUK) and Southern Company (NYSE:SO) to the list of companies to follow. 4. Technology and AI Firms Companies specializing in AI software for energy efficiency and management will find opportunities in this evolving landscape. Some of the more prominent names in this sector include IBM (NYSE:IBM), Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), and GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV). 5. Physical Plant Expansion Companies that supply utility plants with generators, transformers, circuit breakers, and switchboards, among many other parts, will undoubtedly benefit from power grid expansion. (These include.) GE Vernova, Eaton (NYSE:ETN), Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR), Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR), and Siemens (ENR.DE). 6. Water/Cooling The average data center uses 300,000 gallons of water a day to cool its equipment. That is the equivalent of the water used by 100,000 homes. Therefore, companies that can develop cheap cooling solutions for data centers will be in high demand. (Companies so engaged include.) Vertiv Holdings (NYSE:VRT)… a leader in this segment. Its shares have risen tenfold since it went public in 2019 and now trades at a P/E of 100. It’s a high-risk, high-reward stock, not for the faint of heart. 7. Infrastructure ETFs There are many other businesses set to profit from the coming infrastructure boom. Those looking for a diversified investment approach in the power grid may want to explore thematic ETFs. For example, the First Trust Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Fund (GRID) holds 103 positions. Beyond diversification and portfolio manager expertise, the fund can buy stocks in foreign markets, which many US investors do not have access to or are uncomfortable with. iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) is a similar fund with a different basket of stocks and approach toward investing in the industry. The bottom line is we are confident the expansion and modernization of the power grid will be highly profitable for some companies… Diversification will prove to be essential for investors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- MTB Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock Now many of you also like dividend-paying stocks, so I’m including this recent article on a socially responsible bank stock. It’s titled MTB Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Just2Trade and found at j2t.com. Here are some brief quotes from the article. “M & T Bank Corp (Symbol: MTB) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ‘DividendRank’ statistics including a strong 3.7% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment… According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, M & T Bank Corp is a member of the iShares USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA), making up 0.10% of the underlying holdings of the fund, which owns $4,322,259 worth of MTB shares. The annualized dividend paid by M & T Bank Corp is $5.4/share.” ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10: Sustainable Banks On the subject of banks, I thought to share this article with you as I know many of you are interested in banking with a bank or banks that prioritize social responsibility, ESG, and sustainability issues. The article is titled Top 10: Sustainable Banks. It’s by Charlie King and seen at sustainabilitymag.com. Now some brief quotes by Mr. King on his picks. “10. Nykredit Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark Founded in 1851 and based in Copenhagen, Nykredit is a customer-owned bank and Denmark’s biggest lender with 35% market share. With ESG at the heart of its operations… Nykredit has made a special commitment to offer financial solutions in urban and rural districts alike at all times.  On the environmental side, Nykredit was the first Danish systemically important financial institution (SIFI) to join the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and announced tighter restrictions on financing gas and oil companies in 2023.  9. UOB (U11.SI) Headquarters: Singapore “It is our responsibility to build a sustainable future for generations to come,” says Wee Ee Cheong, CEO. 8. SpareBank 1 (B4M1.F) Headquarters: Oslo, Norway A collection of Norwegian banks, SpareBank 1 prides itself on its strong local ties. The alliance is built on the foundation of being local, committed and responsible social actors. “Climate change is increasingly affecting our world and making our future uncertain,” says Benedicte, CEO. 7. Banco Pichincha (BVL:BPICHC1) Headquarters: Quito, Ecuador South American company Banco Pichincha not only serves six countries in Latin America, but also works to preserve the country's heritage and promote art and culture. 6. The City Bank Limited (DSE:CITYBANK) Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh Founded in 1983, City Bank serves more than 1.7 million customers. Governance and compliance is at the heart of City Bank’s sustainability strategy, as it works to reduce risk for itself and its stakeholders.  In 2022, City Bank joined the UN’s Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and has since been recognised for its sustainability by Bangladesh Bank, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Global Finance for its sustainability. 5. TSKB (XIST: TSKB.E) Headquarters: Istanbul, Turkey Investment banking specialist Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi (TSKB), or Turkey Industrial Development Bank, uses a sustainable banking model to provide a qualified contribution to climate and environmentally friendly investments, equal opportunities in employment and inclusive economic growth.  4. Amalgamated Bank (AMAL) Headquarters: New York, US Self-defined as ‘the bank for change-makers’, Amalgamated Bank is committed to environmental and social responsibility and uses its funds to support sustainable organisations, progressive causes and social responsibility.  3. Triodos Bank It prides itself on publishing details of every organisation it finances on its website, so customers can see how their money is delivering positive change for people and the planet.  In 2023, its €23.2bn (US$25.2bn) in assets were used to create social, environmental and cultural value in a transparent and sustainable way. 2. ProCredit Holding (ETR: PCZ) Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany ProCredit Holding is part of ProCredit, an international group of development-oriented commercial banks dedicated to its ethical corporate mission. Aiming to drive forward the creation of transparent, inclusive financial sectors in developing countries and transition economies, ProCredit supports SMEs and has a strong focus on human ethics. 1. Vancity Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada Founded in 1946, Vancity is a Canadian financial co-operative that uses financial tools to stimulate social and environmental progress. Having achieved carbon neutrality in 2008, a first for a North American-based financial institution, it is now working towards net zero by 2040 – a slight sooner than many others.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions that time didn’t allow me to cover here Title: Biodiversity Funds: Top Biodiversity Funds to Consider on sustainabletreasure.com. By sustainabletreasure. From Canada Title: Seven U.S. renewable energy stocks well-positioned to benefit from future rate cuts on theglobeandmail.com. Requires login though does show stock symbols of 3 of the 7 companies. By Christine Elegado. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Renewable Energy and Sustainable Bank Stock Buys.” Now please 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on June 28th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Sustainable and Infrastructure Stocks Analysts Adore podcast: Covers stocks related to renewable energy, data infrastructure, waste management, retail, and others.   By Ron Robins, MBA Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 131 titled “Sustainable and Infrastructure Stocks Analysts Adore.” 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. 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 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 sustainable UK stocks that Fools love The stock picks in my first article, though from the UK, are likely available and applicable to investors globally. It’s titled 5 sustainable UK stocks that Fools love. By Fools it's referring to the famous Fools investors, site, and is written by the The Motley Fool Staff and found at fool.co.uk. Here are some quotes from the article. “1. Croda International (LSE:CRDA) By Oliver Rodzianko. What it does: Croda International sustainably creates speciality chemicals to enhance products in a wide range of industries. Croda International has ‘committed to becoming the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients on the planet’… Not only is the company leading in environmental preservation efforts, but it’s also making a handsome profit in the process. Over the past 10 years, the shares have grown 78% in price. It also has a net margin of 10%, which is great for its industry… Now, I must mention that in the past, it has faced legal action over negative effects on the environment from a plant it operated. There’s some chance that something like this could happen again, which would be bad reputationally. But overall, this company looks very strong to me. I appreciate its efforts in getting toward a cleaner, safer work culture. 2. Gore Street Energy Storage Fund (LSE:GSF) By Royston Wild. What it does: Gore Street Energy Storage Fund invests in power retention assets across Europe and the US. This small cap invests in utility-scale power storage assets with the aim of providing regular dividend income to its shareholders. Today its objective is to provide annual dividends equivalent to 7% of net asset value (NAV) per ordinary share, or 7p per share, whichever is higher. It’s a strategy that creates a chunky 5.1% dividend yield for the current financial year… At current prices I think the trust is worth serious consideration. At 60.3p per share, it trades at a whopping 43% discount to its estimated NAV. 3. Renewi (LSE: RWI) By Christopher Ruane. What it does: Renewi is a European waste management company that uses most of the waste collected for recycling or energy production. The share price has… grown by an impressive 72% over the past five years. Renewi shares trade on a price-to-earnings ratio of 12, which I think looks cheap. Whether that turns out to be the case depends partly on Renewi maintaining or growing its earnings. The past couple of years have been good, however the track record is inconsistent. The business is highly cash generative but has a net debt that outstrips its market capitalisation. That is a risk to long-term profitability. I like the business’ clear strategic focus, its extensive operational footprint and its proven business model. I see long-term revenue growth opportunities. If the company can reduce its indebtedness, I think those revenues provide a solid basis for profitability. 3. Tesco (LSE:TSCO) By Mark David Hartley. What it does: British multinational high street supermarket chain selling groceries and general merchandise. Founded in London in 1919, Tesco is now one of the largest retailers in the world… Overall, it scores higher than most of its competitors when it comes to ESG. I think it strikes a good balance of committing to realistic sustainability efforts without threatening its bottom line. 4. The Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE: TRIG) By Ben McPoland. What it does: The Renewables Infrastructure Group is an investment trust with a portfolio of onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks in the UK and Europe. [It’s] a FTSE 250 stock that I’ve been buying opportunistically over the past year. It’s down 27% in two years. One silver lining to this falling share price is that the dividend yield now stands at 7.3%. And the forecast yield for this financial year is a very attractive 7.6%. Beyond the passive income potential, what I like here is the diversification in both assets (wind and solar farms and battery storage assets) and geography (six countries)… The shares are trading at a whopping 23.1% discount to the estimated value of the firm’s assets. Overall, I think there is a lot of value on offer here for patient investors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Data Infrastructure Stocks Poised to Soar on Skyrocketing Demand My second article appeared on the highly productive analyst site investorplace.com. It’s titled 3 Data Infrastructure Stocks Poised to Soar on Skyrocketing Demand by Larry Ramer. Now some quotes from that article. “1. Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM) announced that its content delivery network would start offering cloud-computing services. So, it seems that the company is turning into a de facto owner and operator of datacenters… With Akamai becoming a datacenter operator and benefiting from competitive advantages compared to most existing datacenters, its long-term outlook appears bright. Akamai has a low forward price-earnings ratio of 13.6 times. 2. Vertiv (NYSE:VRT) provides monitoring systems and power management products for datacenters. As a result, the company is ideally positioned to get a big boost from the proliferation of datacenters. Last quarter the company’s orders soared 60% versus the same period a year earlier, bringing its backlog to a huge $6.3 billion. Further, its operating profit climbed 42% year-over-year. And if the firm’s adjusted operating profit comes in at the midpoint of its guidance range, the metric will increase 28% compared with 2023. The company is also benefiting from AI-driven demand. Last month, prominent investment bank Oppenheimer started coverage of Vertiv stock with a $96 price target and an ‘outperform’ rating. Oppenheimer referred to Vertiv as an AI infrastructure player… Vertiv’s strong financial results and powerful, positive catalysts make it one of the top data infrastructure stocks to buy. 3. Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET) sells datacenter hardware, such as switches, routing products and VPNs. The company is well-positioned to gain market share in the $45 billion Ethernet network switches market. Its switches are able to integrate more easily into the most advanced chips than Cisco’s (NASDAQ:CSCO) switches… Also importantly, Arista has a market-leading 35% share of the high-speed switching market, which are becoming much more prevalent in datacenters. Moreover, the latter trend is expected to intensify in the coming years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Renewable Energy Stocks That Could Put You in the Green The third article is back to everyone’s favorite sector with the title 2 Renewable Energy Stocks That Could Put You in the Green. It’s by Demetris Afxentiou and found on msn.com. Now some of what he says about his picks. “1. Innergex Renewable Energy (TSX:INE) is one of those stocks that go unnoticed by investors… Innergex operates a portfolio of 85 facilities with a generating capacity of over 4,200MW. The company also has a backlog of projects in various stages of development comprising over 9,300MW of capacity… Innergex has taken an aggressive stance on expansion. Innergex has operations across North America, South America, and Europe. In terms of facilities, Innergex’s portfolio comprises hydro, wind, and solar elements. While its portfolio of facilities also includes battery energy storage systems… Despite the company’s aggressive growth and juicy dividend (more on that in a second), Innergex’s stock is down 25% year to date… Still, the company remains a stellar long-term pick that also boasts a healthy 5.89% [dividend yield?], making it a great option for growth and income-seeking investors alike. 2. Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN) is an intriguing option worthy of mention. Brookfield Renewable currently has operations across 20 countries, boasting a well-diversified portfolio of wind, solar, and hydro facilities across those markets… That revenue stream is backed by long-term regulated contracts which often span decades. The company is also expecting to continue growing its portfolio through rate increases and expansion. Turning to income, Brookfield offers investors a juicy 5.22% yield. This fact, along with the expected growth of the renewable energy market alone, makes Brookfield a superb buy-and-forget candidate for almost any portfolio Throw in the substantial discount on the stock right now, which shows a 30% drop over the trailing 12-month period, and you have a great discounted buy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- What are the best solar companies of 2024? And in the same theme is this article titled What are the best solar companies of 2024? It’s by Tom Horton and found at cbsnews.com. “The best solar companies of 2024 offer quality equipment, budget-friendly financing options, and top-notch customer service. Take a look at our top picks below. Best overall: SunPower Best high-quality: Palmetto Solar Best referral program: Blue Raven Solar Most flexible financing options: Sunrun Most affordable: Tesla” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Responsible Investing, Rewarding Returns: 3 ESG Stocks to Feel Good About And my last article is this one titled Responsible Investing, Rewarding Returns: 3 ESG Stocks to Feel Good About. It’s by Josh Enomoto and again found on investorplace.com. Here are some of Mr. Enomoto’s comments on his picks. “1. Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) Per its public profile, the company engages in the provision of manufacturing equipment, services and software to the semiconductor, display and related industries. Analysts rate shares a consensus moderate buy with a $234.91 price target, implying about 11% upside potential. What makes Applied one of the ESG stocks to buy is the underlying efforts toward sustainability… In the past four quarters, its average positive earnings surprise came out to 8.15%. For fiscal 2024, covering experts anticipate a rather slow year. However, for fiscal 2025, EPS could rise to $9.53 on sales of $29.65 billion. 2. Target (NYSE:TGT) As a general merchandise retailer, it has evolved into a one-stop shop. Many if not most of its stores offer apparel, jewelry and accessories, shoes, beauty and personal care products, electronics, groceries and several other home goods categories. A mainline initiative of the company centers on inclusion and diversity efforts… Some of the company’s efforts have aroused criticism yet it maintains its commitment. The current fiscal year may be a challenging one. While EPS may rise to $9.43 (from last year’s $8.94), revenue might only reach $107.13 billion. That’s down slightly from the prior year. Still, looking out to the next 12-month cycle, EPS could improve to $10.52 on revenue of $111.1 billion. Thus, Target is one of the ESG stocks to buy. 3. Prologis (NYSE:PLD) is structured as a real estate investment trust. According to its corporate profile, Prologis the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. Analysts rate Prologis stock a consensus strong buy with a $130.80 price target, implying over 17% upside potential… Financially, the company has enjoyed an impressive track record over the past four quarters. During this cycle, the average positive earnings surprise clocked in at 26.88%. For fiscal 2024, analysts anticipate revenue to reach $7.65 billion. That’s up 12.2% from last year’s print of $6.82 billion. It’s an intriguing idea for ESG stocks to buy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions that time didn’t allow me to cover here. 1. Title: Top 10: ESG Fund Managers on sustainabilitymag.com. By Charlie King. 2. Title: Is First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) the Best Alternative Energy Stock to Buy Now? On yahoo.com. By Meerub Anjum. 3. Title: Is Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) the Top Alternative Energy Stock Pick of Analysts? On yahoo.com. By Meerub Anjum. 4. Title: The best solar companies of 2024 on cnn.com. By Tony Carrick, Roxanne Downer, and Alora Bopray. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Sustainable and Infrastructure Stocks Analysts Adore.” Now please 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on June 14th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Renewable Energy Stock Picks podcast includes some great renewable energy stock analyses from Zacks, The Motley Fool, InvestorPlace, and others.   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 130, May 17, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 130 titled “Renewable Energy Stock Picks.” 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. 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Renewable Energy Stock Picks I’m beginning with this article which is from the famous Zacks research team. It’s titled 4 Stocks to Watch in the Path to Decarbonize the Future and is by Rimmi Singhi and found at sg.news.yahoo.com. Here are brief quotes by the author on each stock. “1. Clearway (CWEN) along with its subsidiaries owns and operates a diverse portfolio of contracted renewable and conventional generation, along with thermal infrastructure assets in the United States. Furthermore, Clearway’s asset portfolio includes more than 9,000 megawatts (MW) of wind, solar, thermal, and natural-gas-fired power generation facilities as well as distract energy systems… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Clearway’s 2023 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 15% and 149%, respectively… It boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 10%. Clearway currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. NextEra (NEE) is a leading provider of wind and solar energy in the United States. The company also operates in Canada and has a growing presence in Latin America. NextEra has many renewable projects in its backlog and their completion will ensure reduced emissions. The company expects to be able to add 33-42 gigawatts (GW) of new renewables in the 2023-2026 time frame to the generation portfolio via clean energy investments… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NextEra’s 2023 and 2024 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8% and 8.2%, respectively. The same for 2023 and 2024 revenues indicates a year-over-year uptick of 27% and 9%, respectively. The company surpassed earnings estimates in the last four quarters, the average surprise being 6.2%. It boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 9%. NextEra currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3. Brookfield (BEP) is a renewable energy firm that operates hydro, wind, solar, and storage assets in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Hydroelectric power comprised 50% of its portfolio in 2022. The firm remains focused on the expansion of its expertise in wind, solar, and energy storage capabilities through acquisitions and development projects. Over the past decade, Brookfield's earnings have witnessed a CAGR of around 10%. Brookfield is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet to support further expansion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brookfield’s 2023 and 2024 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 120% and 275%, respectively… The firm boasts a dividend yield of more than 4% and has increased its payout five times in the last five years. Brookfield currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 4. Vestas (VWS.CO) is a global leader in the wind energy sector. It has a wide range of expertise, including the design, manufacture, installation, development, and servicing of wind energy and hybrid projects worldwide. With over 157 GW of wind turbines installed in 88 countries, Vestas is a major player in the industry… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vestas’ 2023 and 2024 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 126% and 189%, respectively. The same for 2023 and 2024 revenues indicates a year-over-year uptick of 7% and 25%, respectively. Vestas currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Renewable Energy Stock Picks This second article is again by the prodigious research output group, InvestorPlace. It’s titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Capitalize on the Sustainability Surge. It’s by Rick Orford and found on investorplace.com. Now some of what Mr. Orford says about his stock picks. “1. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) The continued growth in solar power as an alternative energy source has made companies like First Solar an important part of the government’s plan to transition to a green economy.  The company is one of the top producers of photovoltaic cells (PV) used in building CdTe solar modules that transform sunlight into electricity, making it an invaluable component of the solar power production chain. The growing demand for solar energy has led to First Solar’s acquisition of an Ohio facility that serves as its distribution center, enabling it to scale manufacturing… Looking forward, First Solar expects net income per diluted share to end between $13.00 and $14.00 — almost doubling 2023 results — and net sales to be around $4.4 billion and $4.6 billion for 2024. With the government’s strong push to go green, First Solar has tremendous potential, making it one of the best choices for renewable energy stocks to buy. 2. Broadwind (NASDAQ:BWEN) specializes in wind energy equipment, clean energy structures and clean technology used by different sectors. The company agreed with MarketAxess Holdings (NASDAQ:MKTX) to ‘sell earned Advanced Manufacturing Production Credits’ which will help significantly improve its liquidity profile. Broadwind’s latest results showcased impressive growth in FY’23. Revenue reached $203.5 million, 15% higher than the previous year’s reported revenue of $176.7 million… Despite a slight decrease in orders and backlog from last year, Broadwind is still optimistic about future prospects, especially with expectations of accelerating wind development in the latter half of 2024.  3. Beam Global (NASDAQ:BEEM) is a clean technology innovator that designs advanced solutions for energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy infrastructures.  Its patented infrastructure product EV ARC (Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger) uses integrated battery storage and solar power that provides a power source for electric vehicle charging stations. The company also offers street furniture and street lighting products globally… The company finished FY’23 with a record revenue of $67.4 million, a 206% growth compared to last year’s $23 million. Earnings for the year improved to a net loss of $1.30, an increase of 34.6% compared to the previous year’s loss of $1.99. In addition, the company reported positive full-year gross profit and remained debt-free with an unused $100 million line of credit. Its significant backlog and contracts mean the company should have ample cash flow to fund its future operations.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Renewable Energy Stock Picks This third article is titled SunPower Stock Has 87% Upside, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst. It’s by Rich Smith and found on fool.com. Here are some of his comments. “Is SunPower (SPWR) stock a buy in 2024? Quoted on The Fly Monday, Richardson explained he cut SunPower's price target because green energy stocks have been underperforming this year and inventories are still bloated. But the analyst remains optimistic that ‘inventory channel clearings are nearly complete’ and so the bottom is not far off. Combined with rising electricity rates, that's going to create more demand for cheap solar power, and create the potential for SunPower's sales to turn around. Is he right? As the saying goes, it's hard to make predictions -- especially about the future. Still, if the ‘bottom’ has truly already arrived for solar power stocks, then it's arrived remarkably quickly. In related cyclical industries such as semiconductors for example, oversupply cycles ordinarily take six to 18 months to reverse. But SunPower's sales have only been falling for a couple of quarters. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, sales were still on an upswing as recently as the second quarter of 2023! While it's possible SunPower's going to get away with just a six-month downturn, therefore, I wouldn't bet on it. And I wouldn't bet on a company valued at $380 million, and burning more than half that amount ($201 million) in cash every year, doubling over the next 12 months either. More than likely, SunPower stock still has at least a few more rough quarters ahead of it.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Renewable Energy Stock Picks The last article is titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Will Make Other Investors Green With Envy. It’s by Rick Orford, and found on investorplace.com. Here are some comments by Mr. Orford. “For this analysis, I’ve started with a screen of the top 30 Renewable Energy Companies based on the Market Cap. Then, I filtered the list for the following criteria: Year-on-year quarterly net income growth of over 30%, Analyst rating of 4 and above (moderate to strong buy) and An upside potential of over 50% based on high target prices. This list of renewable energy stocks to buy is sorted in descending order based on upside potential. 1. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) drives the global transition to renewable energy by harnessing the sun’s power. The company manufactures thin-film PV solar modules, which offer a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules.  First Solar’s business operations include manufacturing cadmium telluride solar modules, project development activities, operations and maintenance services. The company has a presence in France, Japan, Chile and, of course, the United States…  First Solar’s Q4FY’23 financial report is a relief for many investors. Its revenue Increased to $1.16 billion from $1 billion YOY. EPS also recovered considerably from a 7-cent loss to a $3.27 profit per share.  Its metrics, including its YOY net income growth of 84.65%, make it easy to understand why analysts rate the stock a strong buy, with a high target of $269 — over 52.6% upside potential from its current levels.  2. Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC) is a driving force in integrating renewable energy into power grids. It delivers highly modernized energy storage solutions worldwide. The company offers various energy storage products like Gridstack Pro, Gridstack, Sunstack, Edgestack and Ultrastack. It caters to applications such as large-scale front-of-the-meter, DC-coupled solar + storage, commercial and industrial use cases, and more… Fluence Energy’s Q1’24 financials are pretty decent despite minor setbacks in metrics. Its revenues increased from $363.95 million to $310.46 million YOY. Its gross profit increased from $12 million to $36.39 million. However, Fluence Energy’s net quarterly income loss was $25.55 million, an improvement from $37.19 million last year.  Analysts rate FLNC stock a strong buy, targeting a high price of $37, which translates to 107% upside potential from its current levels.  3. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) is a prominent player in the renewable energy sector and owns various assets worldwide. The company’s portfolio includes hydroelectric, wind, solar and energy storage facilities, with an operating capacity of approximately 33,000 megawatts.  Moreover, Brookfield Renewable Partners has a significant development pipeline and invests in sustainable solutions such as renewable natural gas, carbon capture and storage, recycling and nuclear services… Brookfield Renewable Partners reported pretty decent Q4’23 financial results with its all-positive YOY performance. Its revenue slightly increased to $1.32 billion from $1.20 billion. On top of that, the company’s net income significantly increased to $264 million from $60 million, placing its EPS in a recovering trajectory of $0.01 from the -$0.16 loss reported in FY’22. Analysts rate Brookfield Renewable Partners stock a strong buy with a high target of $52, reflecting over 152% upside potential.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- One Honorable Mention Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Sell in May Before They Crash & Burn on investorplace.com. By Achintya Pasricha. One article from Australia Title: Does Australian Ethical Investment (ASX:AEF) Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? On yahoo.com. By Simply Wall St. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Renewable Energy 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. 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on May 31st. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, for 2024. Covers stocks from AI, to tech, to healthcare, renewable energy, healthcare, and many more.   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 129, May 3, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 129 titled “Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, 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. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, for 2024 I’m starting this episode with this article, 13 Best Ethical Companies to Invest in 2024. It’s by Ramish Cheema at Insider Monkey and appeared on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Cheema from his article. “We ranked the top 30 most valuable holdings of the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) by the number of hedge funds that had bought the shares during the fourth quarter of 2023 and picked the top stocks… 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. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 105 Its Photoshop software is one of the best known image editing software in the world, and in April 2024, Adobe shared that it will add artificial intelligence features to Photoshop later this year. 12. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 111 Thermo Fisher Scientific is one of the biggest medical instruments and devices companies in the world. The shares are rated Buy on average. 11. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 113 UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare benefits provider and plan manager in the U.S. 2024 has been quite a controversial year for the firm after it was targeted through a cyber attack earlier this year that disrupted healthcare services across America. 10. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 120 Advanced Micro Devices is an American semiconductor designer that makes and sells CPUs, GPUs, and other silicon products… Wall Street appears to be quite optimistic about the firm's future prospects, as it has rated the shares Strong Buy. 9. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 131 Salesforce is an American enterprise software company that enables firms to manage their customer relationships… the shares are up after reports indicate that Salesforce is no longer pursuing a multi billion dollar acquisition to grow its business operations. 8. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 131 April 2024 hasn't been a great month for the firm, as not only have its shares proved to be lackluster in gains, but multiple reports share that consumer interest in the Apple Vision Pro headset is declining. 7. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 141 Mastercard is a financial technology firm that acts as a gateway between merchants and consumers. It's… rated (a) Strong Buy on average. 6. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 162 Visa Inc. is another payment gateway platform and services provider. Like Mastercard, it was also at the center of a bullish analyst note from Morgan Stanley in April 2024 that indicated that Visa Inc. was benefiting from the surge in global travel. 5. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 173 NVIDIA Corporation is Wall Street’s artificial intelligence darling. Its shares are up by 198% over the past year… 4. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 214 Alphabet Inc. is one of the biggest technology companies in the world. The firm was out with an announcement worthy of its size in April 2024 when it announced that it would invest $640 million to set up a new data center in The Netherlands. 3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 242 Meta Platforms, Inc. is the biggest social media and communications company in the world. Its CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared to have thrown a curve ball in the AI market in April 2024 when Meta Platforms announced its Llama 3 model which it claims is one of the most powerful open source AI platforms in the world. 2. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 293 Amazon.com is one of the biggest eCommerce retailers in the world. Like other mega cap stocks, it is also focusing heavily on AI, and announced plans in April through which its AWS business division seeks to host other businesses’ AI models. 1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Shareholders: 302 Microsoft is a global consumer software and enterprise computing giant. The firm scored a big win in April 2024 when beverages giant Coca Cola signed a $1.1 billion deal with it to use Microsoft’s AI and cloud computing platforms.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, for 2024 This next article comes from investorplace.com, a site with a prolific output of articles related to renewable energy. This new article is titled The Power of the Sun: 3 Solar Energy Stocks Primed for 5X Gains. It’s by Faizan Farooque. Now some quotes from Mr. Farooque. “1. Array Technologies (NASDAQ:ARRY) has surpassed Wall Street projections four times… Despite tremendous success, Array stock is down 31% in 2024 due to lower-than-expected annual expectations. The company’s reduction of its annual prediction has lowered the stock’s price, making it ideal for investors looking for inexpensive solar stocks. Analysts predict a 68% upside. 2. Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ) The company has missed profit expectations seven times in a row, with the most recent miss being 350%. All it can do is focus on its business and grow. To do this, Canadian Solar is constructing a 5GW solar cell factory in Jeffersonville, Indiana, at a cost of $800 million… Investors will hope the expansion into China and the new $800 million plant will help realize the stock’s 84% upside potential. 3. First Solar’s (NASDAQ:FSLR) path forward will depend on its aggressive expansion in the solar business. It’s spending $1.2 billion to expand its U.S. manufacturing capabilities… First Solar also paid $38 million to buy the Swedish perovskite expert Evolar. It is hoped that this buy will speed up the creation of very efficient tandem photovoltaic (PV) technology… The potential upside of over 22% reflects this narrative, placing it highly among solar stocks.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, for 2024 This third article comes by way of a new website to me, techopedia.com. The article is titled Best ESG Stocks to Invest in 2024 and it’s by Jim Halley. Now some brief comments by Mr. Halley on each company. “1. ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) The Dutch company has a monopoly on EUV lithography machines that are used to imprint patterns on silicon chips. 2. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) The tech company hasn’t let its profit goals get in the way of ESG progress and has invested heavily in renewable energy. It has set ambitious goals for reducing water use and to be carbon neutral. 3. Hermes International (OTC: HESAF) The luxury goods retailer sells longer-lasting goods to protect the environment and has a science-based target to lower greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain and operations. 4. Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) The cybersecurity company has lowered its carbon footprint, avoiding 455 tons of CO2 emissions by using eco-friendly packaging. It also uses 100% renewable energy in 80% of its owned sites. 5. Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ: CHKP) The Israeli company focuses on cybersecurity services. It said it’s looking to be carbon neutral by 2040. It also focuses on charitable work and gender equality. 6. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) Founded in 1806, it’s one of the oldest companies in the US stock market. It has a diverse workforce, with 42% of its senior managers and directors being minorities (Black, Asian or Latino). 7. Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) The software company gets high sustainability scores by using renewable energy sources and reducing waste. It also has several diversity and inclusion initiatives.  8. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) It develops and operates renewable power and sustainable assets, including hydroelectric, wind, utility-scale solar power. It pays an above-average dividend.  9. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) The electrical power and natural gas management services provider has the US’s largest carbon-free nuclear presence after investing in the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station.  10. Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) The world’s No. 1 semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment maker gets high ESG scores because it uses 100% renewable energy – wind and solar power – in the US, and 70% globally.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, for 2024 The fourth article is another one from the investorplace.com site titled 7 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy on the Fossil Fuel Fallout. It’s by Josh Enomoto. Here are some quotes from Mr. Enomoto on each of his picks. “1. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. Per its public profile, the company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas and other clean energy... It’s one of the alternative energy stocks to keep on your radar. 2. Cameco (NYSE:CCJ) provides uranium for electricity generation. It operates through multiple segments, with its mainline uranium unit involved in the exploration for, mining, milling, purchase and sale of uranium concentrate. It also features a fuel unit that engages in the refining and fabrication of the commodity… It’s an unignorable component of alternative energy stocks to buy. 3. Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA) (Is engaged in geothermal energy production.) Geothermal is exactly what it sounds like — extracting energy from the earth’s core. It’s sustainable, renewable and doesn’t involve building ugly wind turbines that could impact wildlife. Notably, the company is a strong financial performer. Last fiscal year, it posted an average positive earnings surprise of 22.58%. 4. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile and internationally. Per its public profile, the company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules… It’s still risky but it could be a compelling wager for alternative energy stocks. 5. Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN) Per its corporate profile, Clearway has approximately 6,000 net megawatts (MW) of installed wind, solar and energy generation projects. It also features approximately 2,500 net MW of natural gas-fired generation facilities… The most optimistic analyst believes that Clearway Energy has… over 62% upside potential. 6. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC) owns and operates a portfolio of renewable power and sustainable solution assets primarily in the U.S., Europe, Colombia and Brazil. According to its corporate profile, Brookfield operates hydroelectric, wind, solar and distributed energy and sustainable solutions with an installed capacity of approximately 19,161 MW… Shares feature a moderate buy consensus view. 7. Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ:CLNE) provides natural gas as alternative fuels for vehicle fleets and related fueling solutions in the U.S. and Canada… Clean Energy Fuels ranks as the highest-risk, highest-reward prospect on this list of alternative energy stocks. Analysts rate shares a consensus strong buy… projecting over 215% upside potential.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1. Title: Qualcomm a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.1% Yield (QCOM) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 2. Title: This ESG ETF Is Bucking the Trend on etftrends.com. By Nick Peters-Golden. 3. Title: 10 Best Brokers For ESG Investing in 2024 on benzinga.com. By Sam Boughedda. 4. Title: Invest in the Planet: 3 Sustainable Stocks for Earth Day 2024 on investorplace.com. By Andrea van Schalkwyk. 5. Title: 3 Renewable-Focused ETFs Just Hit 3-Year Lows. Are They Worth Buying Now? On fool.com. By Daniel Foelber. 6. Title: 7 stock picks for ESG-conscious investors on equities.com. By Faizan Farooque. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best Ethical, ESG Stocks, 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. 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on May 17th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Includes SRI ETFs, sustainable carbon capture stocks, analysis on Enphase or Plug Power?   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 128, April 19, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 128 titled “Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More…” 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. 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 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… It’s been a while since I included an article focusing on ESG ETFs, so here’s one from a good publication that just appeared on aol.com. It’s titled Best ESG ETFs: Top funds for socially responsible investing. It’s by Brian Baker at The Banker. Here are some quotes from the article. “1) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF tries to match the performance of the FTSE U.S. All Cap Choice Index and screens for certain ESG criteria. Certain companies in the following industries are excluded from the fund: adult entertainment, alcohol, fossil fuels, gambling, nuclear power, tobacco and weapons. 5-year return (annualized): 14.6 percent Expense ratio: 0.09 percent 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF seeks to track the performance of an index of global stocks from the clean energy sector. These companies produce energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind. 5-year return (annualized): 8.0 percent Expense ratio: 0.41 percent 3) iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF gives investors exposure to large- and mid-cap stocks that score highly on ESG issues relative to their sector peers. The fund avoids holding companies with low ESG ratings or severe controversies. 3-year return (annualized): 11.5 percent Expense ratio: 0.10 percent 4) Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF uses a passive approach to invest in large-cap companies with value characteristics that also meet certain ESG criteria. 5-year return (annualized): 7.9 percent Expense ratio: 0.26 percent 5) SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (SPYX) The SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF gives investors focused on climate change exposure to the S&P 500 while eliminating companies that own fossil fuel reserves. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for fairly traditional investment exposure with a slight focus on climate change. 5-year return (annualized): 14.4 percent Expense ratio: 0.20 percent 6) iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) The iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF seeks to track the performance of an index made up of companies that derive the majority of their revenue from products and services that address at least one of the world’s major social and environmental challenges as defined by the United Nations. 5-year return (annualized): 7.1 percent Expense ratio: 0.49 percent 7) iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF tracks the results of an index of U.S. companies with ESG features that show a similar risk and return profile as the overall MSCI USA Index. The fund includes large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks, and those looking for exposure to high-performing stocks with an ESG-bent may find what they’re looking for here. 5-year return (annualized): 14.2 percent Expense ratio: 0.15 percent” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Now carbon capture has been gaining increasing attention as a means to reduce CO2. Hence, this article might interest many of you. It’s titled TOP 5 CARBON CAPTURE STOCKS FOR SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT. It’s by the Ritz Herald and found on their site at ritzherald.com. Here are some quotes from the article commenting on some of the leading companies in this sector. “Carbon capture technology has emerged as a promising avenue for mitigating the impact of greenhouse gasses on the environment… Research shows that the carbon capture market is predicted to hit $7.7 billion by 2025, further emphasizing the potential for growth in this sector. With governments worldwide implementing stricter regulations on emissions and offering incentives for carbon capture initiatives, the market is ripe for investment… The top five carbon capture stocks identified herein not only offer potential returns for investors but also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. 1) Dotz is a leading nanotechnology company traded on the ASX [Australian Securities Exchange], is at the forefront of innovation with its carbon-based nanotechnologies… Dotz’s primary focus is on DotzEarth, a revolutionary CO2 capture carbon-based sorbent technology designed for industrial decarbonization, which addresses two major environmental challenges – 1) industrial carbon emissions and 2) plastic pollution. 2) Aker Carbon Capture is a specialized enterprise dedicated to carbon capture, offering an array of solutions, services, and technologies tailored for various industries. These encompass sectors such as cement, bioenergy, waste-to-energy, gas-to-power, and blue hydrogen… Its distinctive post-combustion capture technology is the culmination of an extensive eight-year research and development endeavor known as SOLVit. Throughout this program, numerous solvent mixtures were meticulously tested and compared to refine the innovation. The resulting plants boast several key advantages, including minimal energy demands, a highly durable solvent, and outstanding performance in health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE) metrics. 3) FuelCell Energy delivers efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly solutions for energy supply, recovery, and storage… These systems cater to utilities, industrial entities, and large municipal power users, offering a diverse range of solutions including utility-scale power generation, on-site power, carbon capture, local hydrogen production for transportation and industry, and long-duration energy storage… 4) Equinor is a global energy enterprise dedicated to fostering lasting value creation in a future characterized by low-carbon initiatives… As a key player on the Norwegian continental shelf and with substantial international operations, Equinor is deeply involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources, alongside expanding interests in wind and solar power. 5) Delta CleanTech has been at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art technology for pre/post-combustion CO2 capture from industrial sources since 2004… Central to Delta’s portfolio is its CO2 capture system, known as Low-Cost Design or LCDesign®. This innovative system is designed to significantly reduce various key parameters, including CAPEX & OPEX (CO2 Cost), emissions, effluent, waste, chemical, and water consumption, as well as plant size and labor requirements.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… The next article appeared on the renowned Morningstar.com site. It’s titled 2 Sustainable Index Stocks With Room to Grow and is by Muskaan Hemrajani and Leslie P. Norton. Here’s a little of what they said about their picks. “WestRock and Carnival surged in 2023 but still look cheap today… That’s our conclusion after perusing the Morningstar US Sustainability Index, which seeks to reduce ESG risk while tracking the Morningstar US Large-Mid Cap Index… 1) WestRock WRK  Morningstar Rating: 3 Stars Fair Value: $55.00 ESG Risk Rating: Medium Price (as of April 8, 2024): $49.25 WestRock manufactures corrugated packaging and consumer packaging products, such as folding cartons and paperboard. It accounts for roughly 20% of the North American containerboard market and is the second-largest producer. The company has returned nearly 60% in the past year… Spencer Liberman, Morningstar equity analyst, writes: ‘WestRock is exposed to some environmental, social, and governance risks, including carbon emissions from the firm’s operation and sizable water usage for production. However, we don’t believe these risks could result in material value destruction.’ 2) Carnival CCL Morningstar Rating: 5 Stars Fair Value: $27.50 ESG Risk Rating: Medium Price (as of April 8, 2024): $15.66 Carnival is trading at a 45% discount. Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 92 ships in service at the end of fiscal 2023. Carnival’s brands attracted nearly 13 million guests in 2019, prior to covid-19, a level it has reached again in 2023… Writes Jamie Katz, equity analyst at Morningstar, in a report. ‘Carnival’s first-quarter performance suggests continuing demand momentum. Net yields were up 18%, helped by an 11% increase in occupancy, along with ticket and onboard gains.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… Many of you are likely invested in the stocks covered in this next article titled Enphase Energy vs. Plug Power: Which Alternative Energy Stock Does Wall Street Like Best? It’s by Ebube Jones at Barcharts and found on theglobeandmail.com site. Now some quotes from the article. “The Case for Enphase Energy Stock (ENPH) With a market cap of $16 billion, Enphase Energy is a big name in the solar energy game. They're all about making solar power more efficient and user-friendly, offering tech like microinverters and energy storage systems to both homeowners and business customers… At current levels… Enphase stock is priced at a discount… Out of 34 analysts… Enphase has landed a ‘moderate buy’ rating overall… The average target price is pegged at $125.38, suggesting a potential 4.4% upside from here.  The Case for Plug Power Stock (PLUG) Plug Power is making waves in the hydrogen and fuel cell tech scene, focusing on creating hydrogen fuel cell systems that could replace the usual batteries in electric-powered equipment and vehicles. They've got a lineup of tech that includes fuel cells, hydrogen fueling stations, and even their own green hydrogen production.  Wall Street's take on Plug Power is a cautious ‘hold.’ The average target price for PLUG is $5.30, about 79% north of current levels.  The Verdict: Enphase Edges Out Plug Power Enphase Energy seems to be the Wall Street favorite of these two clean energy stocks… Plug Power, on the other hand, is stuck at a ‘hold,’ and has yet to turn a profit… But, keep an eye on Plug Power too - if they can get those hydrogen plants up and running and start turning a profit, they could be a serious contender in the longer haul.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More… I’m going to end with this article titled Al Gore's Hedge Fund Loves This $445 Billion Stock. It’s by the Motley Fool and seen on theglobeandmail.com. “Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president, co-founded Generation Investment Management in 2004. Today, the firm manages nearly $50 billion, all of which is directed to investments that the firm believes won't destroy the planet… Where is Al Gore's investment firm putting money to work today? One of its biggest investments -- a stake worth roughly $560 million -- is in a company nearly everyone knows well: Mastercard (NYSE: MA)… During the past two decades, Mastercard stock has risen more than 10,000% in value… Gore's firm has owned Mastercard stock since the second quarter of 2022. Don't be surprised to still see it in the portfolio many years down the road.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title: How First Solar Crushed Its Solar Energy Rivals on finance.yahoo.com. By Travis Hoium, The Motley Fool. 2) Title: 4 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Buoyed by Solid Investments on finance.yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 3) Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Ride the Mega Trend Higher on investorplace.com. By Terel Miles. 4) Title: Wall Street Favorites: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings for April 2024 on investorplace.com. By Faizan Farooque. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best ESG ETFs, Carbon Capture Stocks, More…” 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on May 3rd. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Climate-Smart Stocks includes one article with 26 global picks. Another article refers to ESG companies in ‘unassailable’ market positions.   By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 127, April 5, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 127 titled “Top Climate-Smart 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. 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 26 climate-smart stocks shine in new BMO screen I’m beginning with this article from Canada, but its recommended stocks are pertinent to investors globally. It’s titled 26 climate-smart stocks shine in new BMO screen. It’s by Freschia Gonzales and found on wealthprofessional.ca. Here are some quotes from the article. “BMO Nesbitt Burns analyst Doug Morrow has launched a new ‘climate opportunities screen’ targeting stocks positioned to thrive in the fight against climate change, as reported by The Globe and Mail… The selection process started with 432 stocks rated as outperform at BMO, evaluating them against criteria such as net-zero emissions policies, transparency in carbon emissions, and board oversight of climate targets…” Here are the first 5 of the final 26 stocks on the list. Adobe Systems (ADBE) AstraZeneca (AZN) Avery Dennison (AVY) Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) BHP (BHP).” End quotes. For the rest of the companies go to this podcast edition’s web page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and click the link to this article. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Cheap Sustainable Stocks With Moats The next article appeared on the renowned morningstar.com site. It’s titled 5 Cheap Sustainable Stocks With Moats and it’s by Muskaan Hemrajani and Leslie P. Norton. Now some quotes from the authors. “These companies not only have low ESG risk scores, indicating that the companies are exposed to fewer environmental, social, and governance risks, but they are also trading at a price 50% lower than their fair values, according to Morningstar. In addition, all five have been assigned a Morningstar Economic Moat Rating of wide or narrow by the analyst covering the stock… Note: quoted stock prices are as of March 22, 2024. 1) Etsy ETSY Fair Value: $140 Morningstar Rating: 4 stars Price: $67.82 Etsy is trading at a 51% discount. Etsy is a top-10 e-commerce marketplace operator in the US and the UK, with sizable operations in Germany, France, Australia, and Canada. The firm dominates an interesting niche, connecting buyers and sellers through its online market to exchange vintage and craft goods. 2) BorgWarner BWA Fair Value: $72 Morningstar Rating: 5 stars Price: $33.20 BorgWarner is trading at a 54% discount. BorgWarner is a Tier I auto-parts supplier with three operating segments: An air management group, a drivetrain and battery systems group, and an e-propulsion segment. 3) Sirius XM Holdings SIRI Fair Value: $7.50 Morningstar Rating: 5 stars Price: $3.88 This stock is trading at a 48% discount. Sirius XM Holdings consists of two businesses: SiriusXM and Pandora. SiriusXM transmits music, talk shows, sports, and news via its satellite radio network, primarily to consumers who pay a subscription fee, often tied to a vehicle. Pandora, acquired in February 2019, is a streaming music platform that offers an ad-supported radio option and a paid on-demand service. 4) Aptiv PLC APTV Fair Value: $148 Morningstar Rating: 5 stars Price: $78.72 This stock is trading at a 46% discount. Aptiv is an automotive supplier. Its signal and power solutions segment supplies components and systems that make up a vehicle’s electrical system, including wiring assemblies and harnesses, connectors, electrical centers, and hybrid electrical systems. 5. Charter Communications CHTR Fair Value: $550 Morningstar Rating: 5 stars Price: $290 This stock is trading at a 46% discount. Charter owns cable TV networks. It is the product of the 2016 merger of three cable companies: Legacy Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. The firm now holds networks capable of providing television, internet access, and phone services to roughly 56 million US homes and businesses, around 40% of the country. End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Ethical Investor’s Dream: 7 Socially Responsible Stocks With Skyrocketing Potential Now Investor Place has produced some interesting research articles with many ESG and sustainably oriented stock picks. Their latest article is this one titled The Ethical Investor’s Dream: 7 Socially Responsible Stocks With Skyrocketing Potential. It’s by Josh Enomoto. “1) Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) While Microsoft ranks among one of the biggest technology companies in the world… it ranked as number one on Investor’s Business Daily’s (IDB) 100 Best ESG Companies for 2023 list. Judging from its nearly 16% upside performance since the beginning of January, it’s ethical and viable… Experts rate Microsoft a strong buy with a $470.30 average price target. That implies about 10% upside potential. 2) Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Another world-renowned tech giant, Alphabet came in at number 25 on IDB’s list for top ESG companies last year. Fundamentally, the company should benefit from its ownership of the Google ecosystem. Commanding an overwhelming market share of the search engine space, Alphabet probably isn’t going anywhere but up… Alphabet carries a strong buy consensus view with a $165.37 price target, implying about 10% upside. 3) TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) TJX Companies is a discount retailer… it specializes in off-price apparel, shoes and accessories. It made number 22 on IDB’s list of top ESG businesses in 2023. On a fundamental note, the gradual return to normalization could see increased demand for cheap business casual attire… Analysts rate TJX a strong buy with a $110.84 average price target, implying over 11% growth potential. 4) Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services throughout the world. On IDB’s ESG list last year, Air Products came in at number 18. To be fair, it’s one of the riskier ideas on this list, with shares losing 13% year-to-date… Air Products and Chemicals also carries a moderate buy view with a $272 price target, implying 15% upside potential. If you want a potentially discounted opportunity among socially responsible stocks, this might be it. 5) Mondelez (NASDAQ:MDLZ) A multinational confectionary, food, beverage and snack company, offers everyday relevance for investors and consumers. And if the economy gets a bit wobbly, Mondelez should rise as a beneficiary of the trade-down effect. Notably, Mondelez ranked as number 15 on IDB’s top ESG list… Experts rate Mondelez a strong buy with an $83.47 price target. 6) Bunge (NYSE:BG) A critically important name among socially responsible stocks, Bunge operates as an agribusiness and food company worldwide. It conducts operations through four segments: Agribusiness, Refined and Specialty Oils, Milling and Sugar and Bioenergy. On IDB’s ESG list, Bunge came in at number 11… Analysts are optimistic with Bunge’s chart performance, rating it a moderate buy with a $115.30 target. That implies more than 16% growth potential. 7) Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) Another top-tier technology enterprise, Adobe is a software giant. It’s perhaps best known for its Photoshop program and other products aimed at the creatives community. Because of the rise of the gig economy, Adobe could be more important than many people realize. As for its inclusion as one of the socially responsible stocks, Adobe ranked as number 14 in IBD’s top ESG list… Analysts rate Adobe a moderate buy with a $620.63 target, implying over 24% upside potential.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits of Sustainable Investing and 3 Companies Paving the Way! This next article comes from a site I haven’t seen before – techbullion.com. Its author, Adriaan Brits, offers some good insights backing his stock picks. It’s titled Benefits of Sustainable Investing and 3 Companies Paving the Way! Here’s some of what Mr. Brits says about his picks. “1) AGCO: Advancing Agricultural Sustainability  AGCO, an American agricultural machinery manufacturer, has emerged as a compelling option for sustainable investing. AGCO integrates sustainability into its core business strategy, emphasizing innovation and technology to make agriculture more efficient, productive, and environmentally friendly.  2) ICL Group: Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition  ICL Group, a leading global specialty minerals company, and one of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world, offers another attractive opportunity for sustainable investment. ICL’s operations center around producing a sustainable food supply, focusing on soil health, plant nutrition, and food quality.  3) John Deere: Pioneering Precision Agriculture  John Deere, a familiar name in agricultural machinery, has been pushing boundaries to make farming sustainable and efficient. The company’s focus on innovations to improve machinery efficiency and promote agriculture makes it a promising prospect for sustainable investors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Why I Keep Loading Up on These High-Yielding, Renewable-Energy Dividend Stocks Lastly, is another article by an analyst who is frequently covered in these podcasts: Matt DiLallo at The Motley Fool. This article is titled Why I Keep Loading Up on These High-Yielding, Renewable-Energy Dividend Stocks and it’s seen on finance.yahoo.com. Quotes… “The transition to renewable energy is one of the biggest investment megatrends of our lifetime. Over the coming decades, the world needs to invest trillions of dollars to decarbonize the economy. That should power above-average growth for companies focused on those sectors in years to come. I want to cash in on this megatrend. That's why I've been loading up on renewable-energy stocks. I recently bought a few more shares of NextEra Energy Partners and Brookfield Renewable. Here's why I believe they could generate powerful total returns over the long term. 1) NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP)  NextEra Energy Partners has hit a speed bump in recent years. Surging interest rates have driven up its cost of capital. Not only have borrowing costs risen, but its stock price has lost nearly 70% of its value from the peak in early 2022, driving its dividend yield up to 13%. That has made it more difficult to secure new funding at an attractive rate to refinance existing financing as it matures and obtain new capital for acquisitions. Because of that, the company has had to alter its strategy… If NextEra Energy can execute its plan, it could produce powerful total returns. It would pay a very lucrative and growing dividend. On top of that, it has significant stock-price appreciation potential as its share price recovers. While there's a high risk of a dividend cut due to its high payout ratio, a reduction could accelerate its recovery by enabling it to retain more cash to fund growth and strengthen its balance sheet. This high upside potential is why I continue loading up on its stock. 2) Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP) Brookfield Renewable has gotten caught up in the growth concerns weighing on NextEra Energy Partners. Its shares are more than 55% below their high in 2022. That pushed its dividend yield up over 6%. However, its issues were more a matter of timing than problems with financing. The company grew its funds from operations by 7% per share last year despite rising rates and supply chain issues. That was slightly below its target of 10%, largely due to later-than-expected transaction closings in the fourth quarter. It also had one that didn't close because shareholders voted against the deal… Brookfield's dividend income and earnings growth alone could power total annual returns in the mid-teens from here. Add in a recovery in its stock price, and the upside potential is even more significant.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- One Other Honorable Mention 1) Title: Strong Buy Renewable Energy Stocks to Add to Your Q2 Must-Watch List on investorplace.com. ByVandita Jadeja.   One Article from Australia 1) Title: 10 ASX Cleantech Stocks (Updated 2024) on nasdaq.com. By Melissa Pistilli. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Top Climate-Smart 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. 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on April 19th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Analysts’ Sustainable Stock Picks. Infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable stocks with high dividend yields, that analysts say to buy now. By Ron Robins Transcript & Links, Episode 126, March 22, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 126 titled “Analysts’ Sustainable Stock Picks.” 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. 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 is also 1 article link below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in March by Lee Samaha Infrastructure is an investment that most ethical and sustainable investors like to invest in. So I want to begin with this article. It’s titled 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in March and by Lee Samaha. It’s found on fool.com. Here are some brief quotes from the article. “1. Trimble (TRMB) With Trimble… infrastructure projects can be precisely managed with a significant reduction in waste and the kind of cost overruns the industry is famous for. It's a key player in digitally transforming how infrastructure is built and maintained… Based on Wall Street analyst estimates, Trimble will trade at slightly less than 20 times the estimated free cash flow in 2025, a highly attractive multiple… 2. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)  The (copper) miner has the resources and the financial flexibility to invest in increasing supply, and to benefit from increased prices for copper. That's why it's the best mining stock to buy in 2024. 3. Atkore (ATKR)  Atkore [is] a leading manufacturer of products used in electrical power systems in its electrical segment. It also manufactures metal frames and pipes -- among other things -- in its safety and infrastructure segment. Atkore's earnings could significantly improve in the coming years, and so the stock looks like a good value trading on 10 times its estimated 2024 earnings.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Sustainable Stocks With a High Yield by Muskaan Hemrajani Sustainable stocks with high yields are also in demand by investors. Hence, I thought this article would be of interest. It’s titled 5 Sustainable Stocks With a High Yield by Muskaan Hemrajani on morningstar.com. Now some of what Mr. Hemrajani has to say about his picks. “1. Best Buy (BBY) January 2024 Dividend Yield 5.08% Price: $78.21 as of March 6, 2024 Fair Value Estimate: $90 Morningstar Rating: 3 stars Morningstar ESG Risk Rating Assessment: Low According to Morningstar senior equity analyst Sean Dunlop, ‘Best Buy’s dividend should be safe, with its 5%-plus yield looking quite attractive to income investors.’ 2. Prudential Financial (PRU) January 2024 Dividend Yield 4.77% Price: $109.61 as of March 6, 2024 Fair Value Estimate: $108 Morningstar Rating: 3 stars Morningstar ESG Risk Rating Assessment: Low ‘Overall, the company has returned approximately $26 billion to shareholders in the past eight years through dividends and share repurchases,’ Morningstar equity analyst Suryansh Sharma wrote in a report… Prudential Financial provides a variety of financial-services products. 3. Exelon (EXC) January 2024 Dividend Yield 4.14% Price: $36.68 as of March 6 Fair Value Estimate: $39 Morningstar Rating: 4 stars Morningstar ESG Risk Rating Assessment: Medium Exelon is a pure-play electric and gas transmission and distribution utility that provides investors with a stable earnings profile. 4. Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) January 2024 Dividend Yield 3.76% Price: $31.85 as of March 6. Fair Value Estimate: $39 Morningstar Rating: 4 stars Morningstar ESG Risk Rating Assessment: Negligible Interpublic Group is one of the global Big Five advertising holding companies… IPG has consistently increased its dividend, posting 7% average annual growth over the past five years. 5. HP (HPQ) January 2024 Dividend Yield 3.7% Price: $30.23 as of March 6 Fair Value Estimate: $27 Morningstar Rating: 3 stars Morningstar ESG Risk Rating Assessment: Low ‘We don’t anticipate HP improving its midcycle growth potential or margin profile, but we do expect it to continue generating heady cash flow and sending nearly all of it back to shareholders between its dividend and repurchase program,’ Morningstar equity analyst William Kerwin (said).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Screaming Buys in March by Matt DiLallo And back to a usual favorite with this article titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Screaming Buys in March. It’s by a familiar analyst in this space: Matt DiLallo -- and seen on finance.yahoo.com. “1. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Shares of NextEra Energy have slumped 25% over the past year. That price drop has driven its dividend yield up to around 3.7%, its highest level over the past decade… The company should have plenty of power to continue growing its earnings at a healthy rate. 2. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC) (NYSE: BEP) Brookfield Renewable stock has shed about 17% of its value over the past year, driving its dividend yield up to 5.8%. Growth drivers include renewable-energy development projects, inflation-driven rate increases, margin enhancement activities, and mergers and acquisitions. 3. Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) (NYSE: CWEN.A) Clearway Energy's stock has tumbled nearly 30% over the past year, driving its dividend yield to an eye-popping 7.3%... Given the growth ahead for renewable energy, there should be plenty of investment opportunities.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Biggest Wind Energy Companies in the World by Meerub Anjum This analysis of wind energy companies will interest many of you too. It’s titled 15 Biggest Wind Energy Companies in the World by Meerub Anjum and found on finance.yahoo.com. Now some brief quotes by Ms. Anjum. “Please note that we converted market caps in foreign currencies to USD according to their respective exchange rates, as of March 13. 15. Northland Power Inc. (OTC:NPIFF) Market Cap: $4.41 billion The company operates offshore and onshore wind facilities in Europe and Canada. 14. Suzlon Energy Ltd (NSE:SUZLON) Market Cap: $6.13 billion Suzlon Energy Ltd. is one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world. 13. Acciona S.A. (OTC:ACXIF) Market Cap: $6.76 billion Acciona, S.A… is a leading infrastructure and renewable energy company. 12. Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE:BEPC) Market Cap: $9.18 billion The company provides wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy solutions. 11. Siemens Energy AG (ETR:ENR) Market Cap: $12.29 billion The company provides renewable energy services through its subsidiary, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. 10. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) Market Cap: $13.81 billion The company serves more than 7 million people and has developed 8.7 GW of renewable energy capacity. 9. EDP Renováveis, S.A. (OTC:EDRVY) Market Cap: $14.79 billion The company has over 270 wind farms and operates in 28 international markets across the world. 8. Ørsted A/S (OTC:DNNGY) Market Cap as of March 13: $21.42 billion Ørsted A/S is a leading renewable energy company, specializing in the development, construction, and operation of offshore and onshore wind farms. 7. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (OTC:VWDRY) Market Cap: $28.59 billion Vestas Wind Systems A/S… specializes in the designing, manufacturing, and installing of wind turbines. 6. GE Vernova Expected Revenue (2024): $35 billion With an experience of more than 130 years, GE Vernova helps in the generation of nearly 30% of the world's electricity and has a significant role in energy transition. 5. Adani Green Energy Limited (NSE:ADANIGREEN) Market Cap: $37.42 billion The company has 12 wind power plants all over India. 4. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG) Market Cap: $53.37 billion The company operates 27 wind projects across 10 states, with the ability to produce nearly 1,400 MW of energy. 3. Enel SpA (OTC:ENLAY) Market Cap: $69.12 billion The company is a leader in renewable energy, providing wind, hydro, and energy storage services. 2. Iberdrola, S.A. (OTC:IBDRY) Market Cap: $75.62 billion The company installed 1,793 MW of offshore wind facilities at the end of 2023. An additional 3,000 MW will be in operation before 2027. 1. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Market Cap: $117.29 billion The leading renewable energy company specializes in wind and solar energy. The company has tripled its wind energy production over the last decade. It has over 119 wind farms in operation.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Biggest Solar Companies in the World by Meerub Anjum Similarly to the above article is this one but on solar companies. It’s also by Meerub Anjum and found on finance.yahoo.com. It’s titled 15 Biggest Solar Companies in the World. Again, some brief quotes on each company. “The biggest solar companies in the world are ranked in ascending order of their market caps, as of March 12, 2024. Please note that we have converted the market caps of foreign companies to USD according to their respective exchange rates as of March 12. 15. ReNew Energy Global Plc (NASDAQ:RNW) Market Cap: $2.42 billion The company specializes in solar and wind energy. Its projects contribute to 1.9% of the total power capacity in India. 14. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Market Cap: $2.55 billion  The company boasts a diversified portfolio of renewable and conventional generation assets in the US, including solar and wind power generation. 13. Risen Energy Co Ltd (SHE:300118) Market Cap: $2.66 billion  Risen Energy Co Ltd specializes in the research and development, production, sales, and service of solar modules, solar terminal application and integration, and photovoltaic technology. 12. Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co Ltd (SHA:600732) Market Cap: $4.04 billion The company specializes in the manufacturing of photovoltaic products, solar cells, ABC modules, battery storage, inverters, and energy management systems. 11. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Market Cap: $4.12 billion  The company specializes in solar energy solutions, DC-optimized inverters, PV power optimization, monitoring, and energy storage solutions. 10. GCL Technology Holdings Limited (OTC:GCPEF) Market Cap: $4.44 billion GCL Technology Holdings Limited is a leading renewable energy company, specializing in the manufacturing of solar materials and advanced solar technologies. 9. Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited (OTC:XISHY) Market Cap: $7.31 billion Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited is a leading solar company, specializing in the sale and production of solar products, the development and operation of solar farms, engineering and procurement, and construction services. 8. Nextracker Inc. (NASDAQ:NXT) Market Cap: $8.21 billion Nextracker specializes in solar tracking systems, monitoring and control, utility-scale solar power, solar power plant performance, solar software, and risk mitigation. 7. Trina Solar Co Ltd (SHA:688599) Market Cap: $8.22 billion Trina Solar Co Ltd specializes in smart energy solutions, solar PV modules, and solar projects. 6. Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE:BEPC) Market Cap: $9.18 billion The company operates and develops renewable power facilities and has $52 billion in power assets under management. 5. JA Solar Technology Co Ltd (SHE:002459) Market Cap: $9.20 billion JA Solar Technology Co Ltd… specializes in the manufacturing of high-functioning photovoltaic products including solar panels, PV modules, solar modules, and solar projects. 4. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Market Cap: $16.43 billion Enphase Energy… specializes in solar energy, solar storage, solar power, microinverters, solar panels, PV modules, solar distributors and installers, residential and commercial solar systems, solar batteries, and energy storage. 3. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Market Cap: $17.03 billion The company provides solar technology solutions and produces eco-efficient solar modules. 2. Adani Green Energy Ltd (NSE:ADANIGREEN) Market Cap: $37.42 billion  Adani Green Energy Ltd… is a leading renewable energy company in India. It develops and operates utility-scale grid-connected solar power plants among other renewables. 1. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Market Cap: $117.29 billion  NextEra Energy… is a leading utilities and renewable energy company, specializing in solar and wind energy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Can retail clients be impact investors? By David Kitai Now there’s a particular reason I’m including this article titled Can retail clients be impact investors? It’s by David Kitai on wealthprofessional.ca. The fund appears to now be available to both US and Canadian investors. You’ll see why I’m including this article when you hear these quotes from it. “Within the world of values based investing — which includes both ESG and socially responsible investing (SRI) — impact investing has largely been the remit of billionaires and foundations. Unlike ESG or SRI, which seek to avoid social harm in an investment portfolio, impact investing seeks to fund positive social changes. That sort of investing requires consensus on what constitutes positive change and relatively heavy involvement on the part of the impact investor, which is why it’s been largely left outside the reach of retail investors… Late last year, Franklin Templeton Canada launched the Franklin Martin Currie Improving Society Fund, which explicitly aims to provide Canadian retail investors with an impact strategy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1) Title: 3 Stocks That Are Capitalizing on the Shift to Renewable Energy on investorplace.com. By Muslim Farooque. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Analysts’ Sustainable 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. 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on April 5th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Transcript & Links, Episode 125, March 8, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 125 titled “Top Ethical Companies and ESG Dividend 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. 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 5 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 The first article for this episode is another great company ranking I’ve been following for many years. A press release titled World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 best describes this ranking. It was found on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from it. “Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, today announced the 136 companies that have earned the coveted designation of the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024. This year’s honorees span 20 countries and 44 industries. 2024 marks the 18th annual World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition. As in previous years, honorees have demonstrated a commitment to ethical business practices through robust programs that positively impact employees, communities, and broader stakeholders, as well as contributing to sustainable, long-term business growth. The full list of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be found on Ethisphere’s website. There are also six companies—Aflac (AFL), Ecolab (ECL), International Paper (IP), Kao Corporation (KAO0.MU), Milliken & Company (Private), and PepsiCo (PEP)—that have been recognized 18 times, every year since the inception of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® in 2007… The Ethics Premium: Integrity Outperforms Ethisphere’s Five Year Ethics Premium for 2024 is 12.3% This represents the margin by which publicly traded companies recognized in this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies outperformed a comparable index of global companies over a five-year period from January 2019 to January 2024… Methodology The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient®, an extensive questionnaire that requires companies to provide over 240 different proof points on their culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, & inclusion efforts; and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify truly best-in-class practices from organizations across industries and from around the world…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. 13 Best Environmental Dividend Stocks To Invest In According To Analysts The next two articles are by Vardah Gill who does a terrific job of identifying the top ESG dividend-paying stocks from two perspectives. This first article focuses on dividends from stocks that also have at least a 15% stock price gain potential according to analysts. It’s titled 13 Best Environmental Dividend Stocks To Invest In According To Analysts and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from this first article by Ms. Gill, starting with how she conducted her research. “We scanned the holdings of Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV), which is a market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies located in the United States that are screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the index provider, which is independent of Vanguard. From the index, we picked 13 stocks that pay dividends and have a projected upside potential of over 15% based on analyst price targets. The stocks are ranked according to their upside potential, as of February 23. Note: the quoted upside potentials and dividend yields are as of February 23. 13. S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) Upside Potential: 15.2% S&P Global Inc. is a leading provider of financial market intelligence, including credit ratings, indices, data, and analytics… (It) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share…  The stock's dividend yield: 0.83%. 12. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Upside Potential: 15.4% An American biotech and pharmaceutical company… The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.05%. 11. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) Upside Potential: 15.9% Mid-America Apartment Communities is a real estate investment trust company that focuses on the acquisition, development, redevelopment, and management of multifamily apartment communities… The stock has a dividend yield of 4.65%. 10. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Upside Potential: 16.4% Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm that provides a wide range of related services to its consumers… Morgan Stanley…  currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.93%. 9. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Upside Potential: 16.5% Becton, Dickinson and Company is a global medical technology company that specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sale of medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents… The stock's dividend yield… came in at 1.54%. 8. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) Upside Potential: 16.69% It currently pays a monthly dividend of $0.2565 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.81%. 7. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Upside Potential: 16.8% Microsoft Corporation… pays a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.73%. 6. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) Upside Potential: 17.04% The global food processing and commodities trading company… currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.74%. 5. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) Upside Potential: 17.60% NIKE is a multinational corporation that designs, develops, markets, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services worldwide… currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.40%. 4. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) Upside Potential: 18.16% Air Products and Chemicals is an American gases company that specializes in producing and distributing atmospheric gases, process gases, and specialty gases… the stock has a dividend yield of 3.04%. 3. Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) Upside Potential: 22.08% Albemarle Corporation is a global specialty chemicals company that develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of chemicals and chemical-based products… The stock’s dividend yield: 1.33%. 2. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Upside Potential: 22.3% AT&T is an American multinational telecommunications conglomerate… It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.61%. 1. American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT) Upside Potential: 26.6% An American real estate investment trust company, American Tower Corporation tops our list of the best environmental dividend stocks… The company… currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.70 per share… the stock offers a dividend yield of 3.58%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. 12 Best ESG Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds This second article by Ms. Gill is titled 12 Best ESG Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. The companies – though also derived from the Vanguard U.S. Stock ETF – are ranked by hedge fund ownership. The only duplicate company in the two lists is Microsoft. So, here’s Ms. Gill’s description of her methodology and edited brief quotes about the selected companies. “We scanned the holdings of Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) which is a market capitalization-weighted index composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies located in the US that are screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the index provider, which is independent of Vanguard. From the index, we picked 12 stocks that pay dividends and have garnered the most attention from hedge fund investors by the conclusion of Q4 2023, using data from Insider Monkey’s database. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in them. 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). Note: quoted dividend yields are as of February 28. 12. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71 The Procter & Gamble Company is an Ohio-based multinational consumer goods company… (It) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.9407 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.36%. 11. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) Hedge Fund Holders: 76 The global biopharmaceutical company’s… dividend yield: 3.46%. 10. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) Hedge Fund Holders: 91 Broadcom is a multinational technology company that designs, develops, and supplies a broad range of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $5.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.62%. 9. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Hedge Fund Holders: 98 Merck & Co. is an American multinational pharmaceutical company… The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.77 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.39%. 8. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Hedge Fund Holders: 102 An American pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly… offers a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share… The stock's dividend yield came in at 0.68%. 7. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) Hedge Fund Holders: 103 JPMorgan Chase & Co. provides a wide range of banking services to individuals, businesses, and institutions… it pays a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.29%. 6. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Hedge Fund Holders: 113 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated… offers a per-share dividend of $1.88 every quarter… the stock has a dividend yield of 1.52%. 5. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Hedge Fund Holders: 131 Apple declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on February 1… The stock’s dividend yield: 0.53%. 4. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Hedge Fund Holders: 141 The global financial tech company… offers a quarterly dividend of $0.66 per share… with a dividend yield of 0.56%. 3. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Hedge Fund Holders: 162 It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.74%. 2. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Holders: 173 On February 22, the company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share… The stock has a dividend yield of 0.02%. 1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Holders: 302 Microsoft Corporation tops our list of the best ESG dividend stocks… The company… pays a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share. The stock’s dividend yield: 0.74%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. 4 Clean Energy Stocks That Have Defied the Odds Now, since clean energy stocks have had such a hard time recently, I thought that this article would interest many of you. It’s titled 4 Clean Energy Stocks That Have Defied the Odds. It’s by Avi Salzman and seen on barrons.com. Here’s a key chart from the article. “Clean energy stocks had a miserable 2023… The WilderHill Clean Energy Index is down 47% in the past year… It’s worth understanding what has set the handful of winning stocks apart. Several of them help facilitate clean energy projects, without being on the hook for financing them. Green Energy Winners Company / Ticker Recent Price Market Value (billion) YTD Price Change 2024 P/E Nextracker / NXT $57.94 $8.4 23.7% 20 MYR Group / MYRG 163.66 2.7 13.2 25 Quanta Services / PWR 234.39 34.2 8.6 28 Gentherm / THRM 55.68 1.8 6.3 21 Source: FactSet” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1. Title: 12 Best Wind Power and Solar Stocks To Buy on yahoo.com. By Fahad Saleem. 2. Title: 7 Renewable Energy Stocks That Could be Overlooked Gems on investorplace.com. By Chris Markoch. 3. Title: 5 Biggest Clean Energy ETFs in 2024 on nasdaq.com. By Melissa Pistilli. 4. Title: 8 Best Green Stocks and ETFs to Buy for 2024 on money.usnews.com. By Matt Whittaker. 5. Title: The Top 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in March 2024  on investorplace.com. By Charles Munyi. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Top Ethical Companies and ESG Dividend 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. 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 deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I’ll talk to you next on March 22nd. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 8 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 deeply 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 March 8th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 13 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 deeply 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 February 23rd. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Ron Robins 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. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 deeply 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 February 9th. Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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.” ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 26th. Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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 12th, 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. 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 11 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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! Please note that I’m taking a break over the holidays so my next podcast will be Friday, January 12th, 2024! Have a wonderful time over the holidays. Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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! Talk to you next on December 15th! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 PolyEarthyleneTM 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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. 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. 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! Talk to you next on December 1st! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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! Talk to you next on November 17th! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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. 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 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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! Talk to you next on November 3rd! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets. Down markets provide stock buying opportunities in some infrastructure and renewable energy stocks. Transcript & Links, Episode 115, October 6, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 115 titled “Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets.” 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 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets I’m beginning with this article which reflects the title of this episode. The article is titled These 4 Stocks Will Thrive Even if There’s a Recession. It’s by Nicholas Jasinski and published on barrons.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Jasinski writes. “A trio of U.S. government programs—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—will help keep the money flowing, come economic rain or shine. Together, the three represent hundreds of billions of dollars in spending and subsidies targeted at upgrading the nation’s roads and bridges, expanding domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, and modernizing the electrical grid, among many other things… Many of the obvious beneficiaries have already seen their stocks surge in anticipation. Those include the construction and engineering contractors who will be doing a lot of the planning and construction work for the plethora of projects coming up. Take Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) … a 2023 Barron’s Roundtable pick in January when shares were around $32. The stock has climbed 126% this year, to a recent $74. Quanta Services (PWR) … the 800-pound gorilla in the space, is up 33% this year and trades for 27 times forward earnings, versus its five-year average of around 16.5 times. Chasing these infrastructure and electrification winners now seems tough, and there may be a better entry point should markets pull back. Some, though, might be worth considering despite big gains. Daniel Skubiz, a portfolio manager at Ziegler Capital Management, points to  MYR Group (MYRG) … which sits in the sweet spot for the investments that the U.S. government, utilities, and companies are making—recession or not. The stock, up 47% year to date, has been no slouch, and shares trade at a premium multiple of 21 times forward earnings. But that’s well deserved for the builder of large-scale electrical infrastructure, including transmission and distribution power lines, substations, and for a variety of commercial and industrial applications. Other stocks in the group appear cheaper, and many are small-caps, which as a group have had a tough 2023… MasTec (MTZ) and Aecom (ACM) … are other construction and engineering companies that have sat out the group’s 2023 rally and are trading at reasonable valuations. They’re worth a look even if there’s a recession.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets Continuing along these lines is this video podcast titled These Solar Energy Stocks Have Dropped 60%+ but They May Be Good Buys Now. It’s by Travis Hoium and found on fool.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Hoium says. The stocks he covers are Enphase, SolarEdge, SunPower, and Sunrun. “Solar energy stocks have had a tough year, despite improving subsidies and technology in the industry. Is a recovery coming? Solar energy stocks have been on a downward slide all year as interest rates and falling demand hit the industry. In this video, Travis Hoium covers the challenges and opportunities for some solar companies in the future.  *Stock prices used were end-of-day prices of Sept. 20, 2023.” End quotes. You can find the video by clicking this link https://youtu.be/27BJlOyAtrg ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets And we have more on renewable energy in this next article. It’s titled 2 Renewable Energy Stocks That Could Put You in the Green and it’s by Demetris Afxentiou on fool.ca. Now some brief comments by Mr. Afxentiou from his article. “Clean energy: long-term potential and a healthy yield Innergex Renewable Energy (TSX:INE) … is one of those stocks that go unnoticed by investors. It’s also one of the renewable energy stocks that could bolster your long-term portfolio. Innergex operates a portfolio of 85 facilities with a generating capacity of over 4,200MW. The company also has a backlog of projects in various stages of development comprising over 9,300MW of capacity. Part of that is because, unlike many other renewable operators, Innergex has taken an aggressive stance on expansion. Innergex has operations across North America, South America, and Europe. In terms of facilities, Innergex’s portfolio comprises hydro, wind, and solar elements. While its portfolio of facilities also includes battery energy storage systems. So then, what makes Innergex one of the renewable energy stocks to buy right now? Despite the company’s aggressive growth and juicy dividend (more on that in a second), Innergex’s stock is down 25% year to date. Some of that drop can be attributed to the rise in interest rates and spill-on effect it has on borrowing. Still, the company remains a stellar long-term pick that also boasts a healthy 5.89% (dividend), making it a great option for growth and income-seeking investors alike. (Next) An established name for a great, green investment Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN) … is an intriguing option worthy of mention. Brookfield Renewable currently has operations across 20 countries, boasting a well-diversified portfolio of wind, solar, and hydro facilities across those markets. The stable, if not lucrative, business model that Brookfield and other renewable energy stocks adhere to provides a recurring source of revenue. That revenue stream is backed by long-term regulated contracts which often span decades. The company is also expecting to continue growing its portfolio through rate increases and expansion. Turning to income, Brookfield offers investors a juicy 5.22% yield. This fact, along with the expected growth of the renewable energy market alone, makes Brookfield a superb buy-and-forget candidate for almost any portfolio Throw in the substantial discount on the stock right now, which shows a 30% drop over the trailing 12-month period, and you have a great discounted buy. Final thoughts No investment is without some risk, and that includes the otherwise superb renewable energy stocks noted above. Fortunately, both Brookfield and Innergex have the funds and growth options to not only weather market volatility but continue to grow for years. In my opinion, one or both would do well as part of any well-diversified portfolio.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets Now here’s an article that gives good ESG analysis into a stock in almost all ethical and sustainable portfolios -- whether they know it or not. The article is titled Does Coca-Cola's ESG Strategy Make It a Buy for Ethical Investors Seeking Sustainability With Dividends? It’s by Nicholas Robbins – no relation to me – and seen on fool.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Robbins says. “Striking the right balance between financial returns and ethical considerations remains a growing concern for many investors. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles can offer a guiding light for ethical investors. Coca-Cola (KO) … the beverage giant, offers an intriguing proposition in this regard. It's worth a look into whether Coca-Cola's stock provides an appealing choice for investors who prioritize sustainability and responsible corporate practices while seeking stable dividend income. A beacon of ESG commitment Essentially, ESG principles are a set of criteria that investors use to evaluate a company's impact on the world. In Coca-Cola's case, this translates into a commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, promoting social responsibility, and adhering to high governance standards. And all of this can impact the company's financial performance.  Coca-Cola's ESG strategy appears deeply embedded in the company's DNA. According to Morningstar Sustainalytics, the company ranks 29th for sustainability in the category of food products, beating out rival PepsiCo, which ranks 39th out of 624 companies.  Sustainability drives profitability Coca-Cola's initiatives to reduce plastic use, enhance water efficiency, and improve energy efficiency all have financial benefits… The company's 2021 sustainability goals included reducing the creation of new plastic from nonrenewable sources by 20% of its 2020 figures over the following five years…Less plastic means less raw material expense and less energy required for production, ultimately resulting in higher profit margins. Coca-Cola's adoption of ultra-lightweight technology for its packaging, which extends shelf life while saving on packaging costs, provides an excellent example of how sustainability and cost-efficiency can go hand in hand. Such innovations are not just about being environmentally responsible; they make business sense, too… Water replenishment provides sustainability Coca-Cola continues to deliver on its water leadership goals, having replenished more water than it consumed since 2015, according to its 2022 ESG report. This not only aligns with ethical concerns, but also helps ensure the company's long-term viability, as water remains a crucial ingredient in its offerings. Coca-Cola's water replenishment initiatives, such as the Living Danube Partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, contribute to environmental conservation and secure access to a crucial resource for its operations. This partnership includes efforts to restore water to the Danube River Basin, which covers 10 countries in Eastern Europe, where local wetlands fell to 20% of their historical area, according to the WWF… Forging a path to net-zero emissions Coca-Cola, together with its bottling partners, has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040… A sustainable dividend can't hurt Coca-Cola's commitment to ESG principles isn't just about doing the right thing; it also presents an enticing prospect for dividend-seeking investors. The company has a remarkable track record of increasing dividends annually for over six decades… Potential risks and rewards While Coca-Cola's sustainability initiatives appear impressive, there are potential challenges to consider. Continued transition to sustainable practices can involve upfront costs, which may impact short-term profitability. The Living Danube grant, for example, cost the company $4.4 million, not including the costs of establishment and implementation. Additionally, consumer preferences and regulatory changes can vary over time, potentially affecting product demand and supply chain dynamics. Such shifts can delay or even derail sustainability initiatives. Coke notes the challenge of building better consumer recycling habits have hampered its efforts to meet its World Without Waste goals, which sought to recycle one can or bottle for each one sold by 2030 and have seen little progression to date.  Investors should weigh these factors alongside the benefits of Coca-Cola's sustainable journey when evaluating its long-term investment appeal. Still, Coca-Cola's stock offers new investors a refreshing blend of sustainability and profitability for those who value both their financial and ethical bottom lines.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title: Can the U.S. Make Solar Panels? This Company Thinks So. On nytimes.com. By Ivan Penn. 2) Title: Faith-Based Investing Gathers Momentum on morningstar.co.uk. By James Gard. 3) Title: Top 10: Renewable Energy Companies on energydigital.com. By Tom Swallow. 4) Title: 15 Climate Tech Companies to Watch in 2023 MIT Technology Review on technologyreview.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Analysts Like These Stocks in Today’s Markets.” 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! Talk to you next on October 20th! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks. Prepare for a carbon-free future with these lithium and hydrogen stocks. Investors like these socially responsible ESG ETFs and funds. Transcript & Links, Episode 114, September 22, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 114 titled “Top Lithium and Hydrogen 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. 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 is also 1 article link below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks Now many ethical and sustainable investors are excited about investing in battery metals, so I thought to begin this podcast with this article. It’s titled What are the top five largest lithium companies in the world? It’s by Joseph Morton and found on mugglehead.com. Here’s some of what he has to say. “1. Ganfeng Lithium (SZSE: 002460) (SEHK: 1772) Largest lithium salt producer in China, and third in the world Ganfeng Lithium is a global company specializing in the production of lithium, lithium-based products, various metals and batteries. Established by Li Liangbin in the year 2000, the company is headquartered in Xinyu, Jiangxi, China and operates both domestically and internationally… With a market capitalization of approximately $35 billion, it holds a significant presence in the lithium industry. The company doesn’t just have one property, but instead actively engages in overseas investments in lithium companies and projects as part of its strategy to secure long-term competitive resources. The company holds ownership of three lithium brine projects located in Argentina and serves as the largest shareholder of Lithium Americas (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC). 2. Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) World’s largest supplier of lithium for EV Albemarle Corporation is a U.S.-based specialty chemicals manufacturing company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company operates in three main divisions: lithium, bromine specialties, and catalysts… When it comes to global lithium and lithium storage product production, Albemarle, along with lithium companies SQM  Sociedad Quimica y Minr de Chile SA  (NYSE: SQM) and Livent Corporation (NYSE: LTHM), collectively account for slightly over half of the total production. Meanwhile, just under half of the world’s lithium supply is produced by various entities within China. Greenbushes in Western Australia is one of Albemarle’s largest projects. It’s a joint venture mine shared with Talison Lithium, a subsidiary of the Tianqi Lithium Corporation (SZSE: 002466) (SEHK: 9696)… Albemarle’s market capitalization is roughly $30 billion. 3. SQM (Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA) Largest lithium producer in the world (SQM) is a Chilean chemical company renowned for its role as a prominent supplier of plant nutrients, iodine, lithium and various industrial chemicals… For the fiscal year 2019, SQM reported lithium-related revenues amounting to USD$505 million. Notably, in 2021, the company witnessed a substantial increase in its lithium revenues, reaching a total of USD$936.1 million. 4. Tianqi Lithium Controls over 46 per cent of global lithium production The Tianqi Lithium Corporation hails from Sichuan, China, and operates primarily in mining and manufacturing… The company has a market cap of approximately $16.5 billion. 5. Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) Operates two significant properties in Western Australia In recognition of its significant market presence and capitalization, Mineral Resources earned a coveted spot in the S&P/ASX 50 in June 2022, designating it as one of the 50 largest companies trading on the ASX. Its market capitalization is in the range of $11 billion. Mineral Resources operates primarily in the iron ore sector, but is also actively engaged in the mining of hard rock lithium, with operations in two significant locations within Western Australia: Mount Marion in the Goldfields and Wodgina in the Pilbara.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks A second article with a related theme is this one titled EV Stocks vs. Battery Metal: Which Green Investment Should You Choose? It’s written by Adam Othman and seen on fool.ca. Here’s some of what Mr. Othman says. “1. Lion Electric (TSX:LEV) … is a $559.76 million market capitalization vehicle manufacturer, primarily focusing on the production of electric school buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. With little competition in the EV space in Canada, its focus on commercial EVs gives it a niche it can enjoy without competing against industry giants… That said, it is not a profitable company right now… Despite its small presence, this EV stock can deliver stellar long-term returns as the broader industry grows. 2. American Lithium (TSXV:LI) … is a metals and mining company primarily engaged in the exploration stage. The Canada-based company focuses on acquiring, exploring, and developing lithium deposits. A small name in the mining industry, it has a $450.78 million market capitalization. American Lithium stock is not the biggest Canadian lithium stock, but it’s worth watching closely.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors Diversifying internationally is often considered a good idea, hence I bring these articles from Canada, for investors both inside and outside Canada. This article is titled 2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors. It’s by Christopher Liew and also found on fool.ca. These are some comments by Mr. Liew. “1. Capital Power Corporation’s (TSX:CPX) mission is to provide responsible energy to the world. The $4.7 billion growth-oriented company is well-positioned to support the low-carbon energy system. Its thermal and renewable assets have a combined generating capacity of around 7,500 MW. On March 13, 2023, Ethisphere named the Edmonton-based power producer one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fifth straight year… In the first half of 2023, revenue and net income rose 76.9% and 88.7% year over year respectively to $2.1 billion and $370 million. Capital Power has raised dividends for 10 consecutive years and provided dividend growth guidance of 6% annually through 2025. Capital Power pays a hefty 6.12% dividend. 2. Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG) is at the front and centre in the automotive industry’s drive to deliver more electric vehicles (EVs). The Canadian auto parts maker raised its sales forecast for fiscal 2025 because of the sustained, if not increasing, demand for parts, sensors, and electrified powertrain systems. The $22.8 billion company’s primary goal is to create a better world of mobility and achieve net-zero by 2050. According to its CEO, Swamy Kotagiri, Magna can achieve the target by addressing the emissions in their manufacturing facilities and the entire supply chain… Magna will use 100% renewable electricity in Europe and globally by 2025 and 2030, respectively… In the first half of 2023, Magna’s sales rose 14% year over year to US$21.7 billion, while income jumped 128% to US$548 million… Magna also pays a decent 3.06% dividend.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Top Lithium and Hydrogen Stocks Now this next article talks about the opportunities in the hydrogen industry. It’s titled These 2 Dividend Stocks Are Investing in This Niche Industry. Should You Do the Same? It’s by James Brumley and found on fool.com. Now here are some quotes from Mr. Brumley. “Market veterans will likely recall that hydrogen fuel cell stocks like Plug Power (PLUG) and Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) were all the rage at one time. This alternative energy was going to change the world, after all. And then, nothing happened. As it turns out, the world wasn't quite ready for fuel cells. This industry's stocks have mostly struggled for the past couple of decades. You might want to put these tickers back on your radar, though. A couple of major oil companies recently made investments in hydrogen-based power solutions, thinking the movement will eventually displace the oil and gas business… Chevron (CVX) recently acquired a majority stake in a young company called ACES (Advanced Clean Energy Storage) Delta, while BP (BP) just led a wave of funding for Advanced Ionics, which develops energy-efficient electrolyzers that ultimately generate hydrogen, which can then be converted into electricity… Carmakers are on board, too, and have been for a while. They're ramping up development, and Toyota (TM) is leading the way. With its hydrogen engine technology now well refined, the company hopes to sell 200,000 such vehicles by 2030. If the concept proves successful, look for other automakers to augment their current EVs with yet another alternative to carbon-fuel cars. Pragma Market Research estimates the world's hydrogen-powered vehicle market will swell from last year's $1 billion to more than $43 billion by 2030… One hydrogen fuel cell stock to buy now So if hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen power in general are finally moving into the mainstream, which of the related stocks are worth owning? The aforementioned Ballard Power Systems and Plug Power are two tickers at least worth adding to your long-term watch list. Anyone interested in jumping into the hydrogen power movement at its current stage, however, might do best with… Bloom Energy (BE) It's not one of the more familiar names in the business, although it arguably should be. It's a $3.5 billion organization, and while not currently profitable, it's nearing that point. In fact, the analyst community is calling for a swing to a per-share profit of $0.39 on revenue growth of 30%. Then things are projected to really start to take off… Bloom's systems are also readily scalable, meaning their users can fine-tune the amount of power they're producing, and then add or subtract capacity as needed. Its customers include Honda Motor (HMC), Alphabet's Google (GOOG), Walmart (WMT), and IBM (IBM). The advent of artificial intelligence and the giant data centers it requires is proving a particular boon for Bloom. Although most of its customers only need these fuel cells for backup power now, as hydrogen production initiatives like BP's Advanced Ionics and Chevron's ACES Delta gain traction, don't be surprised to see hydrogen fuel cells evolve into a primary power source… The only catch with Bloom or its rivals? Buckle up for plenty of continued volatility, and be prepared to hang on to any of these stocks for a while. Hydrogen power is here to stay, but it's hardly on a reliably firm footing yet.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds Now our last article brings us back to familiar territory. It’s titled 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds. It’s by Jeff Reeves and found on money.usnews.com. Here is a quote from Mr. Reeves and his picks. “There are no easy answers when it comes to how to invest in a world like this. But thankfully, there are a group of socially responsible funds out there that try to focus your cash behind some of the better companies and leave out some of the bad actors. It's not perfect, of course, and the goal of most investors remains to make money and not just feel good about their portfolio. That said, the following investments are well-established and diversified ways to invest with environmental, social and governance priorities in mind – or ESG for short. FUND ASSETS EXPENSE RATIO iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ticker: ESGU) $12.8 billion 0.15% Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) $6.8 billion 0.09% Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) $1.3 billion 0.26% Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) $1.6 billion 0.26% iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) $7.3 billion 0.20% iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) $3.5 billion 0.41% Parnassus Core Equity Fund (PRBLX) $27.4 billion 0.82%” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- One Other Honorable Mention Title: Solar Power Stocks: The Winners and Losers of 2023 So Far on barrons.com. By Avi Salzman. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Top Lithium and Hydrogen 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. 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! Talk to you next on October 6th! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Great Sustainable Stock Buys include everything from automakers to waste management to renewable energy stocks. Four articles reviewed, eleven referenced! Transcript & Links, Episode 113, September 8, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 113 titled “Great Sustainable 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. 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 11 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Sustainable Stock Buys - 1 The first article reflecting today's theme is titled 3 Sustainable Companies Helping to Solve Global Warming. It’s by Leslie Norton and seen on morningstar.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Norton has to say. “Zoetis ZTS About two thirds of Zoetis’ sales come from the pet business, which has doubled over the past four years… The rest of Zoetis’ sales comes from its livestock-related business… Morningstar Fair Value Estimate: $170 Morningstar Rating: 3 stars Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: Medium Morningstar Economic Moat Rating: Wide Morningstar Comment: Zoetis enjoys a wide moat and secular tailwinds, notes senior analyst Debbie Wang. Stellantis STLA Stellantis is one of the world’s top five automakers, with brands like Chrysler, Peugeot, Jeep, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo… Galvanize Global Equities thinks Stellantis’ profitability can ‘well’ exceed what the market expects, even with the company’s big investments. The stock trades at 1 times earnings, according to Galvanize, creating ‘a compelling entry point’ as the auto industry evolves for the low-emissions era. Morningstar Fair Value Estimate: $43 Morningstar Rating: 5 stars Morningstar Uncertainty Rating: High Morningstar Economic Moat Rating: None Morningstar Comment: Stellantis’ revenue and profit margins ‘continue to impress,’ notes senior analyst Richard Hilgert. GFL Environmental GFL This Canadian waste management company services residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and institutional customers. It is North America’s fourth-largest environmental services company… Recently, GFL announced a series of efforts to boost the capital it will commit to clean technologies and plans to align its executive compensation with climate targets. Morningstar Quantitative Fair Value Estimate: $36.11 Morningstar Quantitative Rating: 3 stars Morningstar Quantitative Uncertainty Rating: High Morningstar Quantitative Economic Moat Rating: None” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Sustainable Stock Buys - 2 Now the majority of articles on sustainable companies continue to focus on renewable energy stocks. This is the first of two on that subject covered in today’s podcast. It’s titled Top Solar Stocks for Q3 2023. By Timothy Smith and found on investopedia.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Smith writes. “1) Best Value Solar Stocks The solar stocks presented in the table below have the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio… Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ): The Chinese-based company produces ultra-pure polysilicon used in solar cells, modules, ingots, and wafers. The trailing P/E ratio is 2.6. JinkoSolar Holding Co. (JKS): It offers solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, recovered silicon materials, and silicon ingots… The company reported in August that its second-quarter module shipments increased 36.2% sequentially, and 74.4% from a year earlier. The trailing P/E ratio is 4.9. Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ): It is known for its innovative photovoltaic technology and project development expertise. The trailing P/E ratio is 7.2. 2) Fastest-Growing Solar Stocks The top three solar stocks ranked by a growth model that scores companies based on a 50/50 weighting of their most recent quarterly year-over-year (YOY) percentage revenue growth and most recent quarterly YOY EPS growth… Canadian Solar: See company description above. EPS Growth 750%. Revenue Growth 36%. SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (SEDG): Manufactures and sells solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power and battery storage products globally. EPS Growth 681%. Revenue Growth 35%. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc. (HASI): Provides capital and services to the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets in the U.S. EPS Growth N/A. Revenue Growth 155%. 3) Solar Stocks with the Most Momentum These… solar stocks… have delivered the highest total return over the past year… First Solar Inc. (FSLR): Provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy products globally. 12-Month Trailing Total Return 69%. Array Technologies Inc. (ARRY): Specializes in solar tracking systems for utility-scale projects. 12-Month Trailing Total Return -7.1%. Shoals Technologies Group Inc. (SHLS): Provides electrical balance of systems (eBoS) products for solar energy projects. 12-Month Trailing Total Return -17.5%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Sustainable Stock Buys - 3 And the next article with this theme is titled Top 10 Renewable Energy Stocks To Invest In. It’s by Jonathan Schramm and found on securities.io. Now some of what Mr. Schramm has to say about each of his picks. “This list was made to reflect the diversity of the sector, and is organized by market capitalization at the time of writing of this article. China Power Co., Ltd. (600900.SS) China Yangtze Power is the largest electric power company in China and the largest hydropower company in the world, with 71.7 GW of total capacity installed. The company also has hydropower businesses in Brazil, Sudan, Pakistan, and Malaysia, and wind power generation in Germany. Iberdrola, S.A. (IBE.MC) Iberdrola is one of the world leaders in green energy generation… Iberdrola operates mostly in Spain, with operations in the rest of Europe, North America, and Brazil… Ørsted A/S (DNNGY) The Danish energy producer has gone through a massive transformation, from 2006 when it produced 83% of its power from fossil fuels to 2022 with only 8% left over, and on track to reach 99% renewable production by 2025. Half of this power generation is from offshore wind farms, with the rest roughly equally split between solar and onshore wind farms… Orsted has wind farms in Denmark, the UK, Germany, the US, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWDRY) Vestas is a designer, manufacturer, and installer of wind turbines… It controls 35% of the wind manufacturing market excluding China, up from only 20% in 2010… It is also the only one with a (strongly) positive EBIT (Earnings Before Interests and Taxes), thanks to its economies of scale… Vestas has recently unveiled a new epoxy chemistry allowing for full recycling of wind turbine blades. First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) First Solar is the largest solar panel manufacturer in the USA and in the whole Western hemisphere… The company… uses its proprietary thin-film photovoltaics. Based on cadmium-telluride, they are more efficient, are produced at a lower cost, and can be easily mass-manufactured. Thin-film solar panels are also more durable, retaining 89% of the original performance after 30 years… Thin-film panels can also have high recycling rate. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) Brookfield Renewable Partners, or BEP, is part of the massive asset management firm Brookfield, handling $625B in assets, which owns 48% of BEP… The current assets are a mix between hydropower, wind, and solar, with the bulk of the future production growth planned to be in solar, followed by energy storage and wind… Another important development for BEP in 2023 is the closing of the acquisition of Westinghouse, the leading nuclear plant builder in North America… BEP  has generated annualized returns of 16% for its shareholders since 1999… It also… distributes a rather generous dividend. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (ORA) Ormat is the 2nd largest geothermal owner and operator, and the largest publicly traded. The company has assets in the US, Kenya, Indonesia, and Central America+Caribbean… Ormat is also entering the energy storage market… Revenues grew by 10.7% in 2022, maintaining a strong growth trajectory since 2017… Geothermal is… able to provide stable baseload power and benefit from quickly improving technology. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) Shoals is specialized in EBOS (Electrical Balance of System), or all the systems surrounding the solar panel themselves and which are required to make it work. This does not include inverters, but cables, switches, fuses, electric boxes, etc.... Between 2020 and 2022, Shaols has grown its revenues by 36% CAGR and its gross profit by 40% CAGR. Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ) This Chinese company is one of the world's leaders in polysilicon production, the central component for solar panel manufacturing… In 2023, the stock is trading very cheaply compared to P/E or cash flow. This is partially due to controversies, with the company linked to the use of forced labor in Xinjiang, and talks in Washington DC of additional sanctions against companies operating in the region. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) Jinko is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world, based mostly in China. The company is diversifying its manufacturing base, with silicon wafer manufacturing in Vietnam, and solar cell manufacturing in Malaysia and the US… Module shipments to China have doubled year-to-year, and increased 50% for Europe. Jinko's most advanced solar cell, the N-type, achieves a remarkably high 25.8% energy efficiency.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Sustainable Stock Buys - 4 And we have this from Australia. It’s titled 3 ASX shares for sustainable investment returns and it’s by Damian Cottier and seen on raskmedia.com.au. Here are some quotes from Mr. Cottier about his picks. “Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: TLX) The global sales of its Illucix product for the imaging of prostate cancer continue to exceed market expectations… and urologists are seeing patient benefits from the technology… Telix’s product, which aims to distinguish between benign and malignant renal lesions, had previously received ‘Breakthrough Designation’ from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Current imaging cannot reliably make this distinction, leading to invasive biopsy procedures that are not always necessary as up to 80% are not malignant. Alpha HPA Ltd (ASX: A4N) Specialises in low-cost, low-carbon, high-purity alumina. These ingredients have applications mostly across lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, and LED lights, all critical to decarbonisation. Earlier in the year Alpha HPA announced it reached an agreement with Austrian-based global industrial company Ebner Industrieofenbau Gmbh, to enable Alpha to produce synthetic sapphire glass which is a downstream product of the company’s high-purity alumina (‘HPA’) production process. Calix Ltd (ASX: CXL) It is an industrial solutions company dedicated to solving global sustainability challenges, including: Calix’s LEILAC technology assists in CO 2 mitigation in the global lime and cement industry. Joint Venture with Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) for more efficient and less carbon intensive processing of lithium ore. Adapting the core LEILAC technology for other applications with support from government agencies globally including Zero Emissions Steel, sustainable marine and aviation fuels and zero emissions shipping.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1) Title: UN SDGs ‘seriously off track’ as investors question portfolio alignment on etfstream.com. By Theo Andrew. 2) Title: guidingdirection.com on abyok.com. By Conscious Capital. 3) Title: How a Top-Performing ESG Fund Invests in Energy Stocks on barrons.com. By Lewis Braham. 4) Title: AMCR Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 5) Title: Why PNC Financial Services Group is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (PNC) on j2t.com. By just2trade. 6) Title: Top 10 Wind Turbine Manufacturers in Energy Magazine on energydigital.com. By Charlie King. 7) Title: Top 10 Solar Companies in Energy Magazine on energydigital.com. By Charlie King. 8) Title: Green Bonds Can Drive EM Renewables Adoption on etftrends. By Tom Lydon. 9) Title: Enphase Energy: A Solar Power Gem Trading Below Its True Worth (NASDAQ:ENPH) on seekingalpha.com. By The Beginner Investor. 10) Title: These Five Small-Cap Impact Stocks Are Punching Above Their Weight In Addressing Social and Economic Challenges nasdaq.com. By Ari Zoldan. 11) Title: 3 expert-picked funds that want to grow your money sustainably on fidelity.co.uk. By Nafeesa Zaman. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Great Sustainable 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. 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! Talk to you next on September 22nd! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

(Note: next podcast September 8th!) This podcast: Best Hydrogen ETFs And Stocks. Plus… includes these articles: “7 Hydrogen Stocks You Better Be Buying on Each and every Dip”; “3 Alternative Energy Stocks With Multibagger Potential”; “Benefits of Sustainable Investing: 3 Companies Leading The Way”; and “15 Biggest Green Tech Companies in the World.” Transcript & Links, Episode 112, August 11, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Now before I begin, I want to mention that I’m taking a one-episode break so my next podcast after this one will be September 8th. So, welcome to this podcast episode 112 titled “Best Hydrogen ETFs And Stocks. Plus…” 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 totally 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 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Hydrogen ETFs And Stocks. Plus… Today, I’m starting with the article 7 Hydrogen Stocks You Better Be Buying on Each and Every Dip, by Ian Cooper, on investorplace.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Cooper says about his picks. “1) Global X Hydrogen ETF (NASDAQ:HYDR) It’s up to $10 a share and could test $12 a share, all because of the growing demand for hydrogen… as I noted on July 17, with an expense ratio of 0.50%, this one invests in companies involved in all aspects of hydrogen production, distribution and use. 2) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (NYSEARCA:ACES). With an expense ratio of 0.55%, the ETF offers diversification and exposure to companies involved with renewables and clean technology… While it’s finding resistance above $50, eventually I’d like to see it test $60 a share again soon. 3) Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF (NYSEARCA:HDRO). With an expense ratio of 0.30%, the ETF invests in companies that generate at least 50% of their revenue from involvement with hydrogen-based energy sources, fuel cell technologies and industrial gases. While it’s been volatile, it has a strong history of bouncing back from excessively oversold conditions. 4) Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE:APD) Owns more than 100 hydrogen plants around the world and is involved in more than 250 projects. Air Products & Chemicals [has] a yield of 2.32%. The company is also working on a $7 billion hydrogen joint venture in Saudi Arabia. 5) Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) Is another one of the hot ‘must own’ hydrogen stocks… Analysts at RBC Capital are also bullish… the firm just initiated coverage with an outperform rating with a price target of $24 a share. 6) Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) Has traded essentially flat this year, but it’s still a solid long-term bet on hydrogen… Northland Securities analysts just upgraded the stock to ‘outperform’ from ‘market perform’ with a price target of $22 a share. 7) Fusion Fuel Green (NASDAQ:HTOO) Is still a pre-revenue company, but it has some impressive contracts. For one, it signed a 10-year offtake contract with European developer Hydrogen Ventures for 30 tons of green hydrogen per year.’’ End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Hydrogen ETFs And Stocks. Plus… Now continuing with the alternative energy theme is this piece titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks With Multibagger Potential. It’s by Faisal Humayun and found on investorplace.com. Mr. Humayun includes these points about his picks. “1) Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) PLUG stock has trended lower in the last 12 months and it’s a golden opportunity for long-term investors to accumulate. With the company providing end-to-end solutions in the hydrogen economy, the growth visibility is robust… With significant expansion plans, revenue is likely to increase to $5 billion in 2026 and further to $20 billion by 2030… I believe that PLUG stock is poised for multi-bagger returns. 2) First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) stock has surged by 135% in the last 12 months. However, considering the growth momentum, First Solar stock remains undervalued at a forward price-earnings ratio of 27.1. 3) Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) stock has been trending lower and I see this downside as a good accumulation opportunity. At a forward price-earnings ratio of 30.5, the growth stock looks attractive with an investment horizon of five years… Enphase identifies itself as the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Sustainable Agricultural Related Stocks Many investors wonder what sustainable agricultural-related stocks there might be. Well, this article is for you. It’s titled Benefits of Sustainable Investing: 3 Companies Leading The Way by Shoshana Weizenblut on finextra.com. Now a few comments by Ms. Weizenblut on her picks. “1) AGCO: Advancing Agricultural Sustainability AGCO integrates sustainability into its core business strategy, emphasizing innovation and technology to make agriculture more efficient, productive, and environmentally friendly. For instance, AGCO's Fendt Vario tractors leverage fuel-efficient designs and advanced technology to reduce environmental impact. The company's Precision Planting solutions help farmers optimize planting and yield, thereby minimizing waste and enhancing food security. 2) ICL Group: Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition ICL Group, a leading global specialty minerals company, and one of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world, offers another attractive opportunity for sustainable investment. ICL's operations center around producing a sustainable food supply, focusing on soil health, plant nutrition, and food quality. ICL's innovative fertilizers are designed to increase crop yields while decreasing the environmental footprint. They are advancing Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRFs) and Water-Soluble Fertilizers (WSFs), which help maximize nutrient uptake and reduce nutrient leaching, thus protecting water sources. Furthermore, ICL's commitment to recycling industrial by-products into useful resources, such as phosphate, magnesium, and bromine among others, illustrates their dedication to a circular economy and resource efficiency.  3) John Deere (really Deere & Co): Pioneering Precision Agriculture John Deere, a familiar name in agricultural machinery, has been pushing boundaries to make farming sustainable and efficient. The company’s focus on innovations to improve machinery efficiency and promote agriculture makes it a promising prospect for sustainable investors. John Deere's smart farming technologies, such as precision ag technology, allow farmers to utilize resources more effectively. This technology involves the use of GPS and data analytics to optimize crop planting, irrigation, and harvesting, reducing waste and environmental impact. Furthermore, John Deere's advancements in electric and autonomous farming machinery reflect their commitment to reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Biggest Green Tech Companies in the World And now for your interest and which you might want to investigate are the 15 Biggest Green Tech Companies in the World. It’s by Afifa Mushtaque and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Mushtaque says about these companies. “To list the biggest green tech companies in the world, we targeted pure play companies in green technologies and made a list of 20 such companies. Out of those, the 15 companies with highest annual revenue in 2022 were selected and have been ranked in ascending order of high revenue… 15. Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE:ORA) Annual Revenue: $734.16M Ormat Technologies, Inc… specializes in providing alternative and renewable geothermal energy technology. With over 190 power plants constructed and 3,200 MW installed, it owns and operates 933 MW of geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants as of January 2021. 14. Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE) Annual Revenue: $1.20B Bloom Energy Corp… is known for manufacturing solid oxide fuel cells that generate on-site electricity… Benefiting from government incentives for green energy, the company has installed approximately 600 megawatts worth of fuel cells as of 2020. 13. TPI Composites Inc. (NYSE:TPIC) Annual Revenue: $1.52B TPI Composites Inc. is the largest U.S-based independent manufacturer of composite wind blades, serving global wind turbine manufacturers. 12. EDP Renováveis (EDPR) Annual Revenue: $2.21B EDP Renováveis is a renewable energy company based in Madrid, Spain. It was established in 2007 as part of Energias de Portugal (EDP Group) and operates wind and solar power plants in 13 international markets. EDPR is the world's fourth-largest wind energy generator. 11. Sunrun, Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) Annual Revenue: $2.32B Sunrun Inc. … is an American provider of residential photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage products. 10. Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ:ENPH) Annual Revenue: $2.33B Enphase Energy… [produces] solar micro-inverters, battery storage, and EV charging stations for residential customers worldwide, shipping over 63 million microinverters to over 145 countries. 9. First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) Annual Revenue: $2.62B First Solar, is an American solar panel manufacturer and utility-scale PV power plant provider. They use rigid thin-film modules with cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor. 8. SolarEdge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SEDG) Annual Revenue: $3.11B SolarEdge Technologies Inc. … is the pioneer of utilizing DC optimized inverter systems and commercialized Power Optimizers. These devices enable module-level maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for solar photovoltaic systems to improve energy production compared to traditional central inverters. 7. Daqo New Energy Corp (NYSE:DQ) Annual Revenue: $4.61B Daqo New Energy Corp. is a Chinese company that manufactures monocrystalline and polysilicon used in solar photovoltaic systems. They operate a manufacturing facility in Shihezi, in the Xinjiang Province of China… Daqo New Energy Corp is one of the most economical producers of high-purity polysilicon for the solar PV industry. 6. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS.CO) Annual Revenue: $14.49B Vestas Wind Systems AS is a global leader in sustainable energy solutions that specializes in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines worldwide. With over 166 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, they have the largest wind power installation globally. 5. Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited (0968.HK) Annual Revenue: $17.69B Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited… is the world’s largest solar cover glass producer with a 30% market share. It is headquartered in Dongguan and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since December 2013. 4. NextEra Energy, Inc (NYSE:NEE) Annual Revenue: $20.98B NextEra Energy, Inc is the world’s largest utility company with a market capitalization over $100 billion, based in America. They lead the industry by generating more wind and solar energy than any other company globally. 3. NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) Annual Revenue: $31.54B NRG Energy, Inc. … is a Texas-based American energy company… NRG is engaged in energy generation and retail electricity and offers a diverse portfolio including natural gas, coal, oil, nuclear, wind, utility-scale, and distributed solar generation. 2. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Annual Revenue: $81.46B Tesla, Inc. … designs and manufactures electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage systems, solar panels, and related products and services. As of 2023, it is the world’s most valuable automaker that leads the battery electric vehicle market with an 18% share in 2022. 1. JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd (NYSE:JKS) Annual Revenue: $83.53B JinkoSolar Holding Co … is a Shanghai-based solar panel manufacturer… It went public on the NYSE in 2010. As a member of the Silicon Module Super League, JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd distributes solar products to utility, commercial, and residential customers in multiple countries.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1) Title: 3 Clean Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q2 Earnings Estimates on nasdaq.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 2) Title: 5 Best Energy ETFs: Top Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Funds on insidermonkey.com. By Hamna Asim. 3) Title: Better High-Yield High-Growth Renewable Energy Buy: Hannon Armstrong Or NextEra? (HASI) on seekingalpha.com. By Samuel Smith. 4) Title: The Ultimate Guide to Vegi ETF: Investing in Vegetarian and Vegan-Related Companies on nnn.ng. By NNN. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best Hydrogen ETFs And 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. Now, as I said earlier, I’m taking a one-episode break so I’ll talk to you next on September 8th. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The Sustainable Stocks The Rich Invest In! Includes the following articles: “10 Sustainable Investing Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On”; “The 2023 Humankind 100 Rankings”; “4 ESG Stocks With Net-Zero Emissions Target in the Spotlight”; “What is Renewable Energy? Benefits, Sources, and Top Companies”; “'America is going to lead again': Biden says wind and solar are already 'significantly cheaper' than coal and oil — 3 top US clean energy stocks to watch”; and “The Importance Of Sustainable And Impact Investing And 3 Companies That Shine!” Transcript & Links, Episode 111, July 28, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 111 titled “The Sustainable Stocks The Rich Invest In!” 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 totally 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 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Sustainable Stocks The Rich Invest In! I’m beginning with this fascinating article titled 10 Sustainable Investing Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On. It’s by Ramish Cheema and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Cheema has to say. Note: the number of billionaires quoted is at the end of Q1 2023. Quote. “To compile our list of billionaire sustainable stock picks we first used the Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF (ERTH) and picked out the top forty companies. Then, the number of billionaires that had invested in them as of Q1 2023 was determined and the final list of top ten sustainable stocks according to billionaires is as follows. 10. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA) Number of Billionaire Investors: 9 Ormat Technologies is a utility company that focuses primarily on generating power through geothermal sites and solar cells… Out of [24 hedge funds], the firm's largest investor is Ian Simm's Impax Asset Management (IPX.L) with a stake worth $178 million. 9. NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE:NEP) Billionaire Investors: 9 NextEra Energy Partners is an energy company that operates in the natural gas and renewable power industries. The firm announced in May 2023 that it plans to reach Real Zero emissions by 2025 and sell natural gas assets to finance future growth. 8. NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) Billionaire Investors: 9 NIO is an electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, China. It makes and sells both SUVs and sedans and the firm is one of the dominant players in the growing Chinese electric vehicle market. However, a slowdown in the Chinese economy [reduced] vehicle deliveries [by] a sharp 17% annual drop… NIO's largest hedge fund investor [out of 18 hedge funds] is Jim Simons' Renaissance Technologies since it owns ten million shares that are worth $113 million. 7. KB Home (NYSE:KBH) Billionaire Investors: 10 KB Home is an American construction company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. As part of its sustainability push, particularly since construction uses high volumes of timber, the firm announced in July that it will partner up with a nonprofit to fund efforts seeking to preserve landscapes and forest habitats… Among [29 hedge funds], Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management is the biggest shareholder with an investment of $110 million. 6. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Billionaire Investors: 10 Sunrun is a solar power equipment provider which serves the needs of residential customers in the U.S. by providing products such as panels and energy systems… William B. Gray's Orbis Investment Management is the largest investor [out of 27 hedge funds], courtesy of a $265 million stake that comes via 13 million shares. 5. Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH) Billionaire Investors: 10 Meritage Homes Corporation is a construction company that builds different kinds of single family homes in several American states. The firm’s shares… are rated Buy on average… The largest [out of 27 hedge funds] is Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management with a stake worth $128 million. 4. Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR) Billionaire Investors: 11 Darling Ingredients is a food raw materials firm that focuses its efforts on ensuring that no portion of an animal is wasted during the slaughtering process… [Out of 29 hedge funds] Darling Ingredient’s largest investor is Ian Simm’s Impax Asset Management since it owns $240 million worth of shares. 3. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Billionaire Investors: 12 Enphase Energy sells solar power products such as microinverters, charging solutions… to residential users… [Out of 55 hedge funds], the biggest shareholder is Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies through a $198 million investment. 2. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Billionaire Investors: 13 First Solar is an international solar power company that sells products including solar modules to large scale users such as utilities, commercial, and industrial users. Its shares are rated Buy on average… [Out of 39 hedge funds] First Solar’s largest investor [is] Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies with a $312 million stake. 1. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Billionaire Investors: 15 The firm has been facing mixed sentiment from Wall Street in July 2023 after a spectacular stock rally earlier this year. [Out of 82 hedge funds] D. E. Shaw’s D E Shaw is the biggest shareholder through its $1.2 billion investment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The 2023 Humankind 100 Rankings The corporate ranking data in this next piece The 2023 Humankind 100 Rankings will be of great interest to most of you. Here’s a brief description of what it's about. Quote. “Humankind 100 companies tend to contribute positively to humanity, for example by providing access to food, clean water, healthcare, or free digital services. Meanwhile, companies that hurt people, for example by contributing significantly to climate change or selling toxic products, tend to not make it on to the list.” End quotes. Do have a look at the ranking! The top five companies are Alphabet (GOOG), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Eli Lilly & Company (LLY.TI), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and Abbvie Inc. (ABBV). ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 ESG Stocks With Net-Zero Emissions Target in the Spotlight Next, we have this article titled 4 ESG Stocks With Net-Zero Emissions Target in the Spotlight. It’s by Ritujay Ghosh and found on 247wallst.com. Here’s some of what the writer says about their stock picks. “1. Salesforce, Inc. (CRM Quick Quote CRM - Free Report) has successfully attained net-zero residual emissions throughout its value chain. Salesforce has also accomplished its objective of operating solely on 100% renewable energy… Salesforce’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 42%... Salesforce currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP Quick Quote PEP - Free Report) the global beverage giant, is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. As part of its sustainability efforts, PepsiCo is actively promoting regenerative agricultural practices… Another key target for PepsiCo is to ensure that all its packaging materials become recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. PepsiCo’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.9%... PepsiCo currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3. Adobe Inc. (ADBE Quick Quote ADBE - Free Report) aims to attain a zero-carbon operational footprint, emphasizing the development of digital products that have a positive environmental impact. Adobe is actively working toward achieving a 100% renewable energy target by 2035… Adobe’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 14.5%... Adobe currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. 4. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT Quick Quote MSFT - Free Report) is actively pursuing various initiatives to achieve a net-negative carbon footprint by 2030… Microsoft’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 4.8%. Shares of Microsoft have gained 23.7% in the past three months. Microsoft currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- What is Renewable Energy? Benefits, Sources, and Top Companies Now to another new article on renewable energy picks. The article is titled What is Renewable Energy? Benefits, Sources, and Top Companies. It’s by Jennifer L. located on carboncredits.com. Now to some quotes from the analyst. “1. General Electric Co. (GE) General Electric has been at the forefront of wind energy technology, consistently enhancing turbine designs and improving efficiency… GE has installed over 49,000 units that generate wind electricity across the globe… GE has also invested in other renewable energy technologies, such as solar power, hydroelectricity, and hybrid. 2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Running with a whopping $147 billion market cap, NextEra Energy has been investing billions in developing renewable energy sources. As one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world, the company leads the charge in solar and wind energy production… 3. Iberdrola SA (IBDRY) With a market cap of over $72 billion, Spain-based multinational electric utility company Iberdrola SA has more than 170 years of history. The company is a global leader in the generation, distribution, and trading of clean energy. 4. Orsted A/S (ORSTED.CO) Renewable energy company Orsted A/S excels in developing, building, and operation of offshore wind farms. The Danish firm currently owns the prestigious title of being the world’s biggest offshore wind power developer, with a total capacity of over 7.5 GW.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 'America is going to lead again': Biden says wind and solar are already 'significantly cheaper' than coal and oil — 3 top US clean energy stocks to watch And more on renewable energy with this article 'America is going to lead again': Biden says wind and solar are already 'significantly cheaper' than coal and oil — 3 top US clean energy stocks to watch. It’s by Vishesh Raisinghani on finance.yahoo.com. “1. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) First Solar is one of the nation’s largest utility-scale solar energy producers. The company’s competitive edge stems from its proprietary, advanced thin-film module technology… Investors seeking a high-growth bet in this sector should add FirstSolar to their watchlist. 2. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEP) If you’re looking for a less risky and more established player in the renewable energy sector, Brookfield Renewable might be a wise bet. The Canada-based asset manager operates one of the largest green energy portfolios in the world… Brookfield is a dividend juggernaut. The stock offers a dividend yield around 4.6% at the moment. 3. SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) SolarEdge has rapidly become one of the most well-known and valuable solar energy firms on the market. The company offers an end-to-end system that generates, stores and manages solar energy from home. Nearly three million homes across the globe were equipped with SolarEdge systems by the end of 2022.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Importance Of Sustainable And Impact Investing And 3 Companies That Shine! And I finish up with this article titled The Importance Of Sustainable And Impact Investing And 3 Companies That Shine! It’s by Finance Monthly and published on finance-monthly.com. Now some quotes on their recommendations. “1. ICL Group (NYSE: ICL) ICL Group is global specialty minerals company and one of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world. ICL focuses on creating sustainable solutions… includes developing innovative fertilizers to increase crop yields while decreasing environmental impact, recycling industrial by-products into useful resources, which aligns with several UN SDGs… 2. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) NextEra Energy specializes in harnessing wind and solar energy across North America… Beyond renewable energy, they also engage in physical contracts, trading activities, and marketing. Their primary income source is distributing gas and electricity to Florida residents. 3. Republic Services (NYSE: RSG) Republic Services specializes in waste management and recycling. As the second-largest waste management company in the United States, its mission is to produce renewable energy through recycling.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1) Title: Vegan investments: Are you putting your money where your mouth is? On veganfoodandliving.com. By Phil Davis. 2) Title: Why Fastenal is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (FAST) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 3) Title: 12 Best Solar Energy and Battery Stocks To Buy Now on finance.yahoo.com. By Hamna Asim. 4) Title: Revolutionizing the Future: “Emerging Green Technology Stocks” to Watch Now! – CLNV, GEVO, ADN, HYSR found on digitaljournal.com. By The Street Reports. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “The Sustainable Stocks The Rich Invest In!” 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. Talk to you next on August 11th. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

This podcast includes covering these articles: “These 50 Canadian corporate citizens are a cut above,” by Rick Spence; “3 ESG Stocks to Buy With Focus Growing on Net-Zero,” by Abhinab Dasgupta; “2 Renewable Energy Stocks (With Dividends) That Could Put You in the Green,” by Jitendra Parashar; and “3 ESG Stocks in Focus for the Socially Responsible Investor,” by Tirthankar Chakraborty. And more... Transcript & Links, Episode 110, July 14, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 110 titled “These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above.” 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 totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! So, 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 5 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above I’m going to start with an article as it provides insight into what ethical and sustainable investors might look for when investing in individual companies that reflect their personal values. Though renewable energy companies rank high on the list there are others from diverse industries that are also found here. Do read the article which is titled These 50 Canadian corporate citizens are a cut above. It’s by Rick Spence and found on the corporateknights.com site. Here are some quotes by Mr. Spence. “Since 2002, Corporate Knights’ ranking of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens has been tracing public and private companies as well as Crown corporations with more than $1 billion in revenues. Our researchers probe 25 key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess how firms manage their resources, employees and finances in comparison to their peer group, with 50% of each company’s score tied to the percentage of their revenue and investments that qualify as sustainable. For the Best 50, that percentage keeps climbing. Tellingly, the 2023 list is dominated by renewable-energy players high in sustainable revenue. Topping the Best 50 this year (up from second place in 2022 and 20th in 2021) is a pure-play clean energy company: Innergex Renewable Energy (INE.TO) The Longueuil, Quebec–based renewable-power producer operates 40 hydroelectric facilities, 35 wind farms, 11 solar farms and one energy-storage facility in Canada, the U.S., France and now Chile… In second place this year (up from third in 2022 and 14th in 2021) is: Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) the renewable-energy platform of Brookfield Corporation, the former Brascan empire (which got its start providing electricity in Brazil). With a market cap of $20.2 billion, more than seven times Innergex’s $2.7 billion, Brookfield Renewable produces 25,400 megawatts of electricity through hydro, wind and solar facilities in Canada, the U.S., Colombia, Brazil, Europe and Asia. The company’s latest annual report says it’s also focusing on investing in ‘emerging transition asset classes’ such as carbon capture and storage, recycling and biogas, ‘where our initial investment positions us for potential future large-scale decarbonization investment.’ In third place is: Hydro-Québec (state-owned corporation) which was the top company in 2022, 2021 and 2018. While the company largely maintained its sustainable revenue from last year, competition is growing fiercer as more renewable-energy companies jump ahead. The ‘most improved’ company on the list is: Canadian National Railway (CNI) It climbed from 35th place to seventh this year thanks to a notable increase in investments mainly aimed at rail network safety and integrity, as well as track infrastructure network resiliency and information technology initiatives. These investments totaled $2.5 billion, or 85% of Canadian National Railway’s total investments, in 2021. (Now) Edmonton engineering firm Stantec (STN) scored highest on the Best 50 when it came to the percentage of its executives’ variable pay linked to sustainability targets. With 26,000 employees and 350 offices on six continents, CEO Gord Johnston says the fast-growing company has been focused on building better communities for more than a decade. Best 50 bring home higher returns Corporate Knights researchers compared the stock performance of the public companies on the 2023 Best 50 versus that of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Since 2002 (the year we published our first Best 50 list), Best 50 companies have rewarded their shareholders with 128% higher returns than the overall composite index. It’s evidence that the ‘triple bottom line’ (profit, people and planet) doesn’t compromise the single bottom line – but expands it.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above My second article picks three big-cap names and is titled 3 ESG Stocks to Buy With Focus Growing on Net-Zero. By Abhinab Dasgupta and seen on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Dasgupta on each of his picks. “These companies broadly pass the ESG standard required to dub them as leaders in the sector, i.e., they regularly set, revisit and report on their ESG targets. [And they] flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), have lucrative earnings potential, and should be looked into. 1) Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) This company provides customer relationship management technology, has already achieved net-zero residual emissions across its value chain and met its goal of 100% renewable energy in operations. It has targeted the removal of all carbon emissions by 2040 and has innovated a custom-built platform to track its own carbon footprint… The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved 4.6% north over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 42%. 2) NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) This mega-cap semiconductor company, which provides graphics and networking solutions, has reduced emissions by 15% per employee as of 2022 and has set a target to have 65% of its electricity usage come from renewable sources by the end of 2025. It has also made significant strides in the study of climate change by embarking on a project to help predict and mitigate environmental disasters. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved 71% north over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 129.3%. 3) PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) This global beverage giant has a set target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and is working to promote regenerative agricultural practices. It has a target of making all its packaging materials recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above Now another Canadian article with relevance to our global audience. It’s titled 2 Renewable Energy Stocks (With Dividends) That Could Put You in the Green. It’s by Jitendra Parashar at fool.ca. Here are some brief quotes by Mr. Parashar. “1) Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN) Could arguably be the most attractive renewable energy stocks listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange today. This Hamilton, Bermuda-headquartered renewable power-focused company has a market cap of $11.2 billion. Its stock currently trades at $30.82 with about 13.2% year-to-date gains, outperforming the TSX Composite, which has advanced by 1.8% in 2023 so far. Interestingly, Brookfield Renewable has been posting attractive double-digit positive YoY (year-over-year) growth in its total revenue for the last 11 quarters in a row… As the renewable energy company continues to focus on new acquisitions and growth initiatives to expand its business presence worldwide, you can expect its share prices to soar further in the coming years. In addition, Brookfield Renewable stock offers an attractive 4.7% annual dividend yield. 2) Northland Power (TSX:NPI) is another fundamentally strong Canadian renewable energy stock you may want to consider in 2023. It currently has a market cap of $6.9 billion, as its stock trades at $27.24 per share after losing nearly 26.6% of its value so far in 2023. This Toronto-headquartered firm has a large, well-diversified portfolio of clean power infrastructure assets, primarily in North America, Europe, and Latin America, and has more than three decades of experience working on power projects. Last year, the offshore wind segment accounted for over half of Northland Power’s total revenue, while the remaining came from other segments like onshore renewables, efficient natural gas, and utility. The recent correction in Northland Power stock could be attributed to its earnings miss in the first quarter of 2023. Northland Power’s sales from the offshore wind segment fell 13% YoY to $346 million last quarter. This YoY decline was mainly because the unusually high market prices it benefited from in the first quarter of 2022, particularly from its Gemini and Spanish projects, didn’t happen again in the first quarter of 2023. That said, you can expect its YoY financial growth trend to improve in the coming years as the market prices gradually stabilize, which should help its share prices recover sharply. Besides the expected recovery, a decent annual dividend yield of 4.4% makes this renewable energy stock really attractive to buy on the dip.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above And I’ll end with this article titled 3 ESG Stocks in Focus for the Socially Responsible Investor. It’s by Tirthankar Chakraborty and published on zacks.com. Now here’s some of what Mr. Chakraborty says about his recommendations. “1) Pool Corporation (POOL Quick Quote POOL - Free Report) This company is one of the biggest distributors of swimming pool equipment. Pool Corporation aims at waste reduction and provides effective energy solutions to lessen its environmental footprint. Pool Corporation not only donates through the National Forest Foundation but also participates in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Sense program. POOL provides customers ample guidance to handle wastewater sensibly… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 5.9%. Its shares have already gained 32.7% over the past five-year period. Pool Corporation has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 2) Salesforce, Inc. (CRM Quick Quote CRM - Free Report) The company is one of the primary providers of customer relationship management software that helps manage cumbersome operations. Salesforce achieved 100% renewable energy from its operations. The company aims at purchasing renewable energy to increase access to clean power, especially in emerging economies. It also aims at net-zero carbon emissions and has established equal pay initiatives… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 42%. Its shares have already gained 28.1% over the past five-year period. Salesforce sports a Zacks Rank #1. 3) Microsoft Corp (MSFT Quick Quote MSFT - Free Report) … has become a solid ESG stock. This tech behemoth and one of the leaders in cloud computing is also known as a leader in energy conservation. Microsoft, along with Volt Energy, is aiming at achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025. And by 2050, the company aims at getting rid of all carbon emissions… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 4.7%. Microsoft shares have already gained 22.3% over the past five-year period. Microsoft currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of Pool Corporation, Salesforce and Microsoft, by the way, have gained 22.8%, 61.3%, and 41%, respectively, so far this year.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions 1) Title: 3 Stocks to Buy for The Continued Growth of Solar Energy on zacks.com. By Shaun Pruitt. 2) Title: VZ Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock etfchannel.com. By ETF Channel Staff. Articles from Canada, UK, and Europe 1) Title: Three investment trusts to take advantage of climate change - on investorschronicle.co.uk. By John Baron. 2) Title: 3 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors on yahoo.com. By Adam Othman. 3) Title: Iberdrola, the Spanish company with the best corporate governance according to World Finance on atalayar.com. By Atalayar. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “These ESG Stocks Are A Cut Above.” 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. Talk to you next on July 28th. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Great Green Energy Stock Picks includes these articles: “How Green Energy Players Are Making Big Waves in the Stock Market,” by Christopher Liew; “2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors,” by Adam Othman; “Why This Under-the-Radar Renewable Energy Stock is a 'Strong Buy,’” by Benjamin Rains; “5 Top UK Sustainable Investment Trusts To Consider In H2 2023,” by Gaurav Sharma; and “20 Biggest Infrastructure Companies in the US,” by Ty Haqqi. Transcript & Links, Episode 109, June 30, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 109 titled “Great Green Energy Stock Picks.” 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 totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! So, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Links to an additional 3 articles are included below. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Great Green Energy Stock Picks Now the first two articles are from Canada, but they detail opportunities relevant to a global audience. The first article is titled How Green Energy Players Are Making Big Waves in the Stock Market, by Christopher Liew, on fool.ca. Here’s some of what Mr. Liew has to say about his three picks. “1. Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLDP) Market analysts recommend a hold rating. Their 12-month average price target is $22.91, or a 293% return potential. Ballard’s competitive advantages include experience in manufacturing fuel cell products (40 years), top-tier long-term customers, and strategic shareholders… The latest product and potential growth driver is next-generation, thin, flexible graphite bipolar plates. Ballard plans to invest around $18 million in manufacturing the plates this year through 2025. 2. Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX:NANO) Nano One outperforms the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) year to date (+18.85% versus +1.11%). Market analysts recommend a buy rating, with an average price target of $6.50 (+124%) in 12 months. This $302 million company’s contribution to the fight against climate change is the production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. According to management, the company’s technology applies to electric vehicles, energy storage, and consumer electronics. Besides reducing costs, the low-carbon intensity improves environmental impact. Nano One owns Canada’s only LFP (lithium ferrous phosphate) battery production facility. 3. Exro Technologies (OTC:EXRO.F) Exro Technologies develops new-generation power electronics that expand the capabilities of electric motors and batteries… The significant upside will come from continued focus on innovation in e-transition and energy storage market verticals. The addressable markets for its lead products, Coil Driver (motor controllers) and Cell Driver (energy storage), should reach US$133 billion and US$224 billion by 2030, respectively… Market analysts recommend a strong buy rating, forecasting 55% price appreciation in one year.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Great Green Energy Stock Picks Now, the second article is titled 2 Canadian ESG Stocks for Ethical Investors, by Adam Othman on fool.ca. Among Mr. Othman’s comments on his two picks are these. “1. Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) might not seem like an ESG stock… However, this Canadian Dividend Aristocrat can be an excellent investment for this purpose. The $105.92 billion market capitalization company headquartered in Montreal is vital to the North American economy. Boasting the only 18,600-mile railway network connecting three coasts in North America… It generates solid financial results. In 2022, it increased its revenue by 18.2% and net income by 4.5%, increasing its free cash flow by 29.2% compared to the previous year…. Sustainalytics gives Canadian National Railway stock a low ESG risk rating due to its Climate Action Plan aligning with international ESG standards. 2. Innergex Renewable Energy (TSX:INE) The $2.73 billion market capitalization company develops, owns, and operates run-of-river hydroelectric facilities. It also has a substantial number of wind and solar energy farms located in North and South America and France. …Operating as an electricity utility company, it has a low-risk business model. 2022 saw Innergex reduce its net loss from $185.4 million in 2021 to $91.1 million. Its free cash flows rose by almost 60% year over year… As of this writing, Innergex Renewable stock trades for $13.39 per share, down by 34.55% from its 52-week high. Currently, it pays its shareholders their payouts at a juicy 5.38% dividend yield.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Great Green Energy Stock Picks And now to a company that’s often overlooked according to this Zacks analyst. The article is titled Why This Under-the-Radar Renewable Energy Stock is a 'Strong Buy'. It’s by Benjamin Rains and found on zacks.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Rains says about Arcosa, Inc. “Arcosa, Inc. (ACA - Free Report) provides infrastructure-related products and solutions across construction, engineered structures, and transportation markets. Arcosa is benefitting from megatrends such as aging infrastructure, as well as the ‘continued shift to renewable power generation, and the expansion of new transmission, distribution, and telecommunications infrastructure…’ Arcosa crushed Zacks Q1 earnings estimate in late April and provided hugely upbeat guidance. Arcosa’s fiscal 2023 consensus estimate has surged by 44% since its report, with FY24’s figure 38% higher. Arcosa’s bottom-line positivity helps it grab a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)… Arcosa’s engineered structures division includes utility structures, telecom structures, wind towers, and beyond. Arcosa’s wind tower business is booming… since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act… The gusts at Arcosa’s back include grid-hardening, electrification of vehicles, connecting renewable energy to the grid, the wireless 5G telecom buildout, and more… Other Fundamentals Zacks estimates call for Arcosa’s adjusted 2023 earnings to surge by 27% and then jump another 18% higher in 2024 to reach $3.26 per share… Overall, Arcosa appears to be a somewhat under-the-radar and strong way to gain exposure to multiple long-term trends in the U.S. and global economy. And its recent slip sets up a better entry point.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Great Green Energy Stock Picks Next is this article, also applicable to a global audience. It’s titled 5 Top UK Sustainable Investment Trusts To Consider In H2 2023. It’s by Gaurav Sharma and seen on forbes.com. Here are some quotes. “Typically listed on UK and Japanese markets, investment trusts are public-listed pooled investment vehicles that generate income by investing in stocks of other companies, bonds (both corporate and government issued), real estate, infrastructure and privately held enterprises, etc.… Based on current dividend yields*, NAV discounts** and exchange rates***, for me the following five UK-listed sustainable investment trusts stand out: 1. Triple Point Energy Transition Plc (LON: TENT) Dividend Yield: 8.27% Listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, Triple Point Energy Transition Plc invests in UK and European renewable energy projects touting its credentials as a stable dividend-paying trust that aims to enable a pan-European transition to a low carbon economy. Furthermore, its 7-8% average dividend yield not only ranks it among the highest in its category but also puts it on the list of the 20-highest dividend-yields among all UK-listed investment trusts. 2. NextEnergy Solar Fund (LON: NESF) Dividend Yield: 7.52% NextEnergy Solar Fund is listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. As the name suggests, it invests in a diversified portfolio of solar energy and energy storage infrastructure assets. Most of its long-term cashflows are inflation-linked via UK government subsidies, and it offers an attractive dividend yield. 3. Renewables Infrastructure Group (LON: TRIG) Dividend Yield: 5.97% Renewables Infrastructure Group has been listed on the London Stock Exchange for over a decade and is also a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. The company focuses on onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks in the UK and Europe. 4. Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (LON: ORIT) Dividend Yield: 5.52% With its management trail leading to one of Europe's largest renewable energy investors – Octopus Energy – the Octopus Renewable Energy Infrastructure Trust aims to provide both capital appreciation as well as sustainable dividends by building and operating a diversified portfolio of renewable energy assets in Europe and Australia. 5. Greencoat UK Wind Plc (LON: UKW) Dividend Yield: 5.51% Greencoat UK Wind has the honor of being the first UK renewable infrastructure fund to list on the London Stock Exchange. It is also a constituent of the FTSE 250 index and is focused on UK wind power generation.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Biggest Infrastructure Companies in the US Now, the US economy is currently being lifted by two massive spending bills related to infrastructure. Many ethical and sustainable investors see infrastructure companies as having a place in their portfolios. So, this article might be of interest to many of you. It’s titled 20 Biggest Infrastructure Companies in the US. It’s by Ty Haqqi and is seen on finance.yahoo.com. Only the public companies and non-fossil-fuel related are included here... and quotes about these companies are limited. “14. Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI) Total revenue (in billions): $58.1 Crown Castle provides shared communications infrastructure in the U.S. including small cells, cell towers and fiber, and counts itself among the largest U.S. infrastructure companies. 13. Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) Total revenue (in billions): $13.8 Fluor Corporation is one of the biggest engineering companies in Texas… The share price of Fluor Corporation has stayed the same over the last one year with its gains being wiped out over the last few months. 12. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) Total revenue (in billions): $12.7 Norfolk Southern Corporation is one the biggest railroad companies in the U.S., not to mention among the largest infrastructure companies in the U.S. Norfolk Southern Corporation has been in the news the past few months for a massive derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in the release of tons of toxic chemicals, and has recently been sued by the Department of Justice for the same. 11. American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT) Total revenue (in billions): $10.7 American Tower Corporation owns and operates wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure not just in the U.S. but in several other countries as well. 6. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) Total revenue (in billions): $14.9 CSX Corporation is engaged in the business of real estate and rail transportation, and is headquartered in Florida. CSX Corporation's ROE has exceeded the industry average in the past though part of that is because of the company's high debt portfolio. 3. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Total revenue (in billions): $24.9 Union Pacific Corporation is the largest railroad company in the country, and one of the largest infrastructure companies in the U.S., and has provided a return of 61% to its investors in the last 5 years. 2. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Total revenue (in billions): $120.7 AT&T Inc. is one of the biggest telecom and mobile telephone services company not just in the U.S., but also the world. Recently, AT&T Inc. raised over $4.2 billion in an attempt to buy out wireless minorities. 1. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) Total revenue (in billions): $121.4 Comcast Corporation is among the most valuable telecom companies in the world and its stock is favored by institutional owners who own around 85% of the company’s stock.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Two Other Honorable Mentions 1. Title: 5 Top Alternative Energy Companies on builtin.com. By Margo Steines. 2. Title: Why T. Rowe Price Group is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (TROW) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. One Article from Australia Title: The Ethical Investor: El Niño is back! But there’s one ASX company that could benefit from a potential drought. By Eddy Sunarto on stockhead.com.au. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Great Green Energy 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening and wishing you a wonderful Independence Day if you live in the US and a terrific Canada Day should you live in Canada. Talk to you next on July 14th. And, again, look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

This podcast, “Socially Responsible Companies Investors Like,” includes these articles: “22 Socially Responsible Companies to Know,” by Jeff Rumage; “These are Canada’s 50 fastest-growing green companies of 2023,” by Rick Spence; and “Buy The Dip - 2 'Strong Buy' Renewable Energy Stocks,” by High Yield Investor… Transcript & Links, Episode 108, June 16, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 108 titled “Socially Responsible Companies Investors Like.” 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 totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! So, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Socially Responsible Companies to Know I’m beginning with this article titled 22 Socially Responsible Companies to Know. It’s by Jeff Rumage and found on builtin.com. Here are some of Mr. Rumage’s remarks about the 15 public companies he covers. “1. Cisco (CSCO) Cisco has donated $494 million in cash and in-kind contributions to community programs, including its career training program. The company has also committed to investing $150 million for technology education and technology modernization at historically Black colleges and universities, and it has provided technology equipment and donations to Ukraine, too. Cisco plans to reach net zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040. 2. Allbirds (BIRD) Allbirds, a direct-to-consumer shoe and apparel company, uses natural materials like wool instead of synthetic materials. A certified B Corp, it pledged in 2021 to cut its carbon footprint in half by the end of 2025. 3. Warby Parker (WRBY) Warby Parker has been selling prescription glasses and sunglasses online since 2010. A certified B Corp, the company donates a pair of glasses or sunglasses for every pair sold. 4. HP (HPQ) HP reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 59 percent compared to 2015 levels, and it plans to reach net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040… More than 110 million ocean-bound plastic bottles have been retrieved and reused in HP’s ink cartridges. 5. Intel Corporation (INTC) Intel derives 93 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, and it aims to reach 100 percent by 2030. The company expects to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. 6. Qualcomm (QCOM) Qualcomm, which manufactures semiconductors and wireless technology, has pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and reduce power consumption in its flagship Snapdragon products by 10 percent every year. 7. Salesforce (CRM) Salesforce announced in 2021 that it had reached net zero carbon emissions across its value chain and that it purchases enough renewable energy to match its electricity usage… The company has also committed to donate $200 million to racial justice causes, spend $100 million with Black-owned businesses, and double its Black leadership in the U.S. 8. Stitch Fix (SFIX) Stitch Fix, an online clothing retailer that makes personalized outfit recommendations, is more than halfway to meeting its goal of using environmentally preferred materials in its private label products by 2025. 9. Microsoft (MSFT) Microsoft has pledged to go beyond carbon neutral and become ‘carbon negative’ by 2030… It also advocates for human rights, teaches in-demand digital skills and provides rural communities with affordable broadband access. 10. Google (Alphabet) (GOOG) Google has been carbon neutral since 2007 and is now working to transition to carbon-free energy sources by 2030. Since 2014, Google has invested more than $90 million to achieve equity in computer science and higher education, more than $400 million to create economic opportunities for communities of color and more than $45 million to support racial justice organizations. 11. adidas North America Athletic apparel brand Adidas (ADS.DE) strives to make its operations carbon neutral by 2025… The company also aims to use environmentally preferred materials in 90 percent of its products by 2025. 12. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer health products, gets more than half of its electricity from renewable energy sources. The company aims to be completely powered by renewable energy sources by 2025 and expects its operations to be carbon neutral by 2030. 13. Lemonade (LMND) Lemonade is a digital insurance company that has shaken up the industry’s business model. After covering the cost of claims and operational expenses, Lemonade distributes any leftover money from your insurance premium to the nonprofit of your choice. 14. Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Levi’s has pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company estimates its Water has saved nearly 13 billion liters of water between 2011 and 2020... Levi’s also created a worker well-being program in 2011 to provide health education, family welfare programs and financial empowerment for its apparel workers. 15. Nike (NKE) Nike budgets 2 percent of its previous year’s income for community investment, and it has donated nearly $70 million out of a planned $125 million to organizations working to address racial inequality, according to its latest impact report. About 93 percent of the electricity for Nike’s owned-and-operated facilities comes from renewable sources… The company also diverts 99 percent of all shoe manufacturing waste from landfills, and it converts its waste into new products, playgrounds, running tracks and courts.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These are Canada’s 50 fastest-growing green companies of 2023 Now though these are Canadian companies, many investors from the US and elsewhere might find of interest the companies mentioned in this article. It’s by Canada’s terrific Corporate Knights group and the article is titled These are Canada’s 50 fastest-growing green companies of 2023. It’s by Rick Spence and found on corporateknights.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Spence. “The Future 50 ranks 25 public companies based on their short-term revenue growth (the rise in 2021 sales over 2020)… Topping the ‘public’ list is Li-Cycle (LICY), which provides end-of-life recycling and resource recovery for lithium-ion batteries. Between 2020 and 2021, the Toronto-based company grew its sales from $1.05 million to $9.1 million – a gain of 766%. Possibly even more remarkable are the three giant companies on the public list that achieved 2021 revenue numbers in the nine figures: Vancouver healthcare-services provider CloudMD Software (DOC.V) ($102 million); Toronto plant-protein producer Global Food and Ingredients (PEASF) ($124 million); and Delta, B.C., greenhouse growers Village Farms International (VFF) ($339 million). (While greenhouses aren’t usually considered energy-efficient, Village Farms heats its Delta facilities with methane from local landfills.)… Fourteen firms offer sophisticated new specialty business-management services, such as Kontrol Technologies’ (KNR.NE) smart-building controls… New to the Future 50 this year, ElectraMeccanica (SOLO), a B.C.-based manufacturer of sporty, one-person electric cars, recalled 429 of its three-wheel ‘Solo’ models in February, due to both performance (occasional losses of power) and regulatory issues. Now CEO Susan Docherty is plotting to disrupt the four-wheel world: ‘We believe that major opportunities remain for an experienced maker of smaller, nimbler EVs with eye-catching design and personalized features.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Dip: 2 'Strong Buy' Renewable Energy Stocks Now back to familiar territory with this article titled Buy The Dip: 2 'Strong Buy' Renewable Energy Stocks. It’s by High Yield Investor and seen on seekingalpha.com. Here’s some of what is said in the article. “The four (mostly) pure-play renewable energy producers on US stock exchanges are: Brookfield Renewable (BEP, BEPC) -- Part of the Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) family, domiciled in Canada… NextEra Energy Partners (NEP) -- majority owned and sponsored by the largest renewables developer in the US, NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE)… Clearway Energy Inc. (CWEN, CWEN.A) -- minority owned but controlled and sponsored by Clearway Energy Group, a renewable energy developer co-owned by Global Infrastructure Partners and TotalEnergies SE (TTE)… Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY) -- no sponsor, minority owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN)… Brookfield Renewable has generated the strongest total returns across long time periods… Although these four stocks generally follow the same trajectory, there are multiple significant differences between them… Brookfield Renewable is by far the biggest player in the space… by enterprise value, the other three companies combined still aren't as big as Brookfield’s $55 billion. Brookfield's size, global scale, and multi-decade experience, and expertise in zero-carbon power production make it the go-to decarbonization partner for large corporations around the world… When it comes to the balance sheet, Brookfield Renewable boasts the best in the business: BBB+ credit rating. 97% of total debt with fixed interest rates. 36% total debt to total capitalization. 12-year weighted average term to maturity. NextEra Energy Partners … 9.3 GW portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage assets in 30 states across the country is only slightly smaller than Brookfield's non-hydro portfolio. Like Brookfield, NextEra Energy Partners' portfolio enjoys long contract lives… and an average customer credit rating of BBB+. And despite being externally managed by NextEra Energy, Inc., the managers of NextEra Energy Partners have displayed extraordinary alignment with NextEra Energy Partners unitholders over the years… Finally, rather than lower their ambitious 12-15% annual distribution per unit target when the unit price dropped, management announced a plan to sell NextEra Energy Partners’ natural gas pipelines in order to become a pure-play renewables producer and avoid the need to issue further equity. Clearway Energy Like NextEra Energy Partners, Clearway Energy's 8.1 GW renewable energy portfolio is concentrated exclusively in the United States. Around 75% of Clearway Energy's portfolio cash flow derives from renewables assets, while the remaining 25% comes from gas-fired power plants in California and Connecticut… After selling its thermal power facilities in 2022 at a favorable price, Clearway Energy has a tremendous cash pile to put to work. Most of it has already been committed to new projects, but there still remains enough cash available to prevent the need for Clearway Energy to raise equity capital anytime in the next year or so. Clearway Energy's sponsor, Clearway Energy Group, continues to increase the size of its development pipeline, which now sits at 29.3 GW… Clearway Energy now has a 12-quarter record of consecutive dividend hikes at around 2% per quarter. Management believes they can achieve their targeted 6-8% annual dividend growth plan through at least 2026. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure … has a globally diversified portfolio of power generation and transmission assets, 70% of which are renewables and 90% of which are denominated or hedged in USD. That last 10% of non-hedged, non-USD revenues, however, can cause some fluctuations in results that don't always reflect the underlying fundamental strength of the assets. Only 40% of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's assets are located in North America (the lowest of its peers), while 34% are in Europe, 18% in South America, and 8% in the rest of the world. Like its peers, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's portfolio enjoys an average remaining contract life of 14 years, and 100% of its non-recourse project-level debt fully amortizes (principal fully paid off) before the end of each respective project's contract term expiration. About 43% of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's project-level debt will be paid down through this mechanism in just the next five years. And ~80% of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's total debt is in these overwhelmingly fixed-rate, project-level loans. The other ~20% is in corporate-level debt… We think Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure has underperformed mainly because of currency fluctuations and the lack of a marquee sponsor to provide a robust development pipeline for drop-down acquisitions. But the poor share price performance masks Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's underlying strength.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Socially Responsible Companies Investors Like.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 30th. And, again, look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023 includes these articles: “Top 5 Picks for the Best ESG Stocks to Buy In 2023 by industryleadersmagazine.com,”; “12 Best Software Infrastructure Stocks to Buy,” by Fahad Saleem; “Best Green Stocks to Invest In,” by Yarka; “Top 10 Renewable Energy Companies,” by Lucy Buchholz; and references to several more articles. Transcript & Links, Episode 107, June 2, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 107 titled “Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023.” 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 totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! So, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also ? article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023 I’m starting this podcast with this article titled Top 5 Picks for the Best ESG Stocks to Buy In 2023: Sustainable Investment Funds. It’s by and found on industryleadersmagazine.com. Here are their picks with some quotes on each of them. “1. Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) Has a very clear ESG policy that has previously helped it achieve the 3rd rank out of 100 companies. The company caters data and risk management solutions to the financial industry. Analysts believe that Verisk Analytics dominates a monopoly in the property and casualty insurance market.  2. Microsoft Corporation (MFST) The largest and most popular software company in the world, Microsoft Corporation has a variety of segments in cloud computing, digital infrastructure, and personal computing. The company has committed to transforming into carbon-negative by 2030. 3. Adobe (ADBE) Adobe has been a dominant player in digital content creation, software, publishing, and cloud storage with its flagship Photoshop software. Marketing analytics tools for business and subscriptions to premium Adobe software make for a brimming multi-billion revenue stream… With a global gender pay parity, Adobe’s half income is owed to renewable sources with goals of 100 percent attainment by 2035.  3. Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) Nvidia manufactures graphics processing units (GPUs) for the gaming sector. The company is positioned at strongholds in supercomputers (AI), autonomous cars, and gaming. This is one of the best ESG companies to invest in.  4. JB Hunt Transport Services Inc. (JBHT) … primarily operates in the trucking and rail carrier segments of the United States… JB Hunt has been increasing its dividend payments in recent years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023 Now an article in a segment that most ethical and sustainable investors would consider. The article is titled 12 Best Software Infrastructure Stocks to Buy, by Fahad Saleem, and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Saleem on each of his picks. “12. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides software-define infrastructure (SDI) solutions for businesses to help them manage their networking, storage, automation, and overall software development and deployment. 11. Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) Hedge Fund Holders: 38 Zscaler focuses on the security side of software infrastructure since it’s primarily a Cloud security company. It’s known for its Cloud infrastructure modernization solution called The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange. Zscaler also provides Infrastructure as Code services to provide Cloud security. 10. Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLK) Hedge Fund Holders: 49 Splunk Inc. is known for its infrastructure monitoring solutions that help businesses see their systems’ backend in real time, detect and resolve solutions. 9. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) Hedge Fund Holders: 49 IBM is the biggest provider of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions. IBM provides consultancy and deployment solutions related to Cloud infrastructure, storage, networking, AI infrastructure deployment, among other services. 8. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) Hedge Fund Holders: 61 Cisco Systems provides various solutions for software infrastructure related to virtualization, networking, data centers, performance optimization and more. It is one of the oldest and strongest players in the industry. 7. Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ:ORCL) Hedge Fund Holders: 67 Oracle Corporation is a one-stop shop for software infrastructure solutions and services. The Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) provides complete solutions for Cloud deployment, including services related to servers, storage, network, applications and services. 6. VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) Hedge Fund Holders: 68 VMware provides various solutions for software infrastructure deployment and management, including desktop hypervisor solutions, Cloud infrastructure solutions for Azure, AWS and other Cloud platforms, Cloud automation and more. 5. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) Hedge Fund Holders: 72 Cybersecurity and Cloud services company CrowdStrike Holdings provides Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Cloud infrastructure and infrastructure monitoring services. IaC includes automating infrastructure provisioning, deployment, configuration, and management, orchestrating infrastructure components, configuring and monitoring all systems. 4. Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NYSE:PANW) Hedge Fund Holders: 87 Palo Alto Networks provides Cloud security services that help businesses protect their software infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks Inc.’s Cloud NGFW solutions allows easy deployment of firewalls on Cloud platforms. 3. ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW) Hedge Fund Holders: 96 ServiceNow provides products and solutions that help businesses keep a smooth flow of operations. ServiceNow Inc.’s services allow Cloud monitoring, IT management, automated deployment of software, easy integrations and more. 2. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Hedge Fund Holders: 243 Amazon dominates the Cloud markets. It provides software infrastructure solutions and services to small and large businesses. In the first quarter Amazon Web Services revenue jumped 16% on a YoY basis to $21.4 billion… Amazon recently announced that it plans to invest a massive $12.7 billion in cloud infrastructure in India. 1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Holders: 289 Microsoft Corporation is the second biggest player in the Cloud market… As of the end of the first quarter, Microsoft Corporation’s market share in the Cloud markets stands at 23%, much higher than Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). Most importantly, Microsoft Azure grew faster than Amazon Web Services in the first quarter.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023 And back to a favorite sector with this article titled Best Green Stocks to Invest In: In-Depth Analysis, by Yarka and seen on cryptosoho.com. Yarka has this to say about his picks. (Note: just brief comments by Yarka are included here.) “1. Tesla (TSLA) Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) giant, is widely regarded as a compelling investment for several reasons. Market Leadership Technological Innovation Sustainable energy ecosystem Gigafactories and production capacity Global Market Potential Network of superchargers and infrastructure Strong financial performance 2. NIO Inc. (NIO) NIO is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer specializing in premium electric SUVs. They have gained popularity for their innovative designs, advanced autonomous driving capabilities, and battery swapping technology. 3. General Motors Company (GM) General Motors offers a range of EVs, including the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the upcoming GMC Hummer EV. 4. SunPower (SPWR) SunPower Corporation is a leading solar energy company that designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance solar panels and associated solar energy solutions… In addition to solar panel manufacturing, SunPower… offers installation, maintenance, and monitoring solutions to ensure optimal performance and customer satisfaction. Business advantages of investing in SunPower Corporation Vertical Integration Strong brand recognition Diverse Geographic Presence Focus on Energy Storage 5. Beyond Meat, Inc. (BYND) Beyond Meat produces plant-based burgers, sausages, and other meat alternatives that closely resemble the taste and texture of animal-based meat products. Beyond Meat’s products are made from plant proteins, such as peas and soy, and have gained popularity among consumers seeking plant-based options. 6. Impossible Foods, Inc. (Private) Impossible Foods is another leading plant-based meat company that specializes in creating realistic meat substitutes. Their flagship product, the Impossible Burger, is made from plant ingredients, including soy protein and heme, which give it a meat-like flavor and texture. 7. Oatly AB (OTLY) Oatly is a Swedish company that produces a range of plant-based dairy alternatives, primarily based on oats. They offer oat milk, oat-based ice cream, yogurt, and other oat-based products. Oatly focuses on sustainable production practices and aims to provide consumers with delicious, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023 And now to a best-loved industry with this article titled Top 10: Renewable Energy Companies, by Lucy Buchholz, found on sustainabilitymag.com. Here are some of her comments on each company. “10. Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) Market cap: US$2.74bn Canadian Solar specialises in the design and manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules while offering comprehensive energy solutions. The company undertakes the management of solar power projects and provides operation and maintenance services… Canadian Solar serves customers spanning more than 160 countries. 9. Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) Market cap: US$8.18bn Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Latham, New York, Plug Power has grown to become a significant player in the hydrogen fuel cell industry. 8. Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) Market cap: $5.16bn Brookfield Renewable Partners operates renewable power facilities worldwide. The company's electricity generation comes from a diverse range of sources, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, pumped storage, cogeneration and biomass. 7. Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) Market cap: $5.2bn Based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Algonquin Power & Utilities delivers regulated utility services and renewable energy solutions to a customer base exceeding one million across North America. The company actively invests in a diverse range of clean and renewable energy sources, including solar power, wind energy, hydroelectric power and thermal energy. 6. Siemens Gamesa (GCTAF) Market cap: $12.97 With a presence in over 90 countries, Siemens Gamesa offers a range of equipment and services related to onshore and offshore wind turbines, turbine gearboxes, and off-grid systems. 5. Vestas (VWS.CO) Market cap: $29.58bn Based in Denmark, Vestas Wind Systems is a wind energy company that specialises in the design, manufacturing and installation of wind turbines. With a global presence, the company has successfully deployed wind turbines in numerous countries worldwide, by harnessing the collective expertise of 29,000 employees.  4. Orsted A/S (ORSTED.CO) Market cap: $36.19bn Renewable energy company Orsted A/S excels in the development, construction and operation of offshore wind farms. The Danish company holds the prestigious title of being the world's largest developer of offshore wind power. 3. Iberdrola SA (IBDRY) Market cap: US$72.67 Iberdrola SA is… headquartered in Bilbao, Spain. It holds a prominent position as one of the largest utility providers globally… Iberdrola primarily engages in the generation, distribution and sale of electricity, and boasts a diverse energy portfolio, encompassing sources such as wind, hydro, nuclear and natural gas. 2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Market cap: US$147.57bn Headquartered in Florida… NextEra Energy is… one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world… By 2025, NextEra Energy aims to decrease its carbon dioxide emissions rate by 67% in comparison to 2005 levels. 1. General Electric (GE) Market Cap: US$89.02bn The company has made significant strides in the development of green energy solutions and has emerged as a key player in the industry. GE's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its focus on renewable energy sources, particularly in the development of wind turbines… GE has also invested in other renewable energy technologies, including solar power and hydroelectricity.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mention – not in any order 1. Title: Insiders Show Confidence in Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital with Stock Purchases Despite Stake Reduction by California Public Employees Retirement System on beststocks.com. By Elaine Mendonça. 2. Title: Investing in iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF: A Unique Edge in an Ever-Changing Investment Landscape on beststocks.com. By Yasmim Mendonça. Article from Australia 1. Title: 3 ASX All Ordinaries shares I don’t think will stay cheap for long on fool.com.au. By Tristan Harrison. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best ESG Stocks to Buy for 2023.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 16th. And, again, look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think! Bye for now.   © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy includes the following articles: “10 Best Socially Responsible Stocks to Buy According to Analysts,” by Fahad Saleem; “Top Infrastructure Stocks - From An Engineer's Perspective,” by Financial Engineering; “Top Utilities Stocks for May 2023, by Noah Bolton; “3 Sustainable Investing Stocks to Buy for Socially Responsible Gains,” by Joel Baglole Transcript & Links, Episode 106, May 19, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to my podcast episode 106 titled “Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy.” 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 totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! So, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 7 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy I’m starting with this article titled 10 Best Socially Responsible Stocks to Buy According to Analysts by Fahad Saleem. Article found on insidermonkey.com. Here are a few of Mr. Saleem’s quotes on each of his picks. “For this article we first scanned the Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Investor Shares (VFTSX) which seeks to track the performance of the FTSE4Good US Select Index… The fund… uses ESG criteria to screen stocks. We picked 10 stocks which have a strong upside potential based on their average analyst price targets.  10. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62 Analyst Price Target: $340 The Home Depot also mentions its ESG goals and ESG-related plans on its website. 9. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Hedge Fund Holders: 66 Analyst Price Target: $545  Last year, Costco voted in favor of a proposal put forward by Green Century Capital Management which suggested that the company should set targets for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 8. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) Hedge Fund Holders: 71 Analyst Price Target: $138 NIKE’s slogan in the ESG space is ‘Move to Zero,’ which shows its commitment to becoming carbon neutral. 7. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Hedge Fund Holders: 75 Analyst Price Target: $46.50 Pfizer plans to achieve the Net-Zero Standard by 2040. 6. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 91 Analyst Price Target: $186.20 Despite short-term headwinds, analysts believe Tesla has a lot of room to run. 5. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Holders: 106 Analyst Price Target: $355 NVIDIA Corporation has pledged to use advanced technologies to fight the climate change problem… NVIDIA plans to source 65% of its global electricity from renewable sources by 2025. 4. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) Hedge Fund Holders: 110 Analyst Price Target: $600 UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s ESG risk score is 15.3, according to Sustainalytics, which comes under the low risk category. 3. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Hedge Fund Holders: 177 Analyst Price Target: $300 A strong ESG score and investments in the ESG space makes Visa Inc. a key part of the Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund. 2. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) Hedge Fund Holders: 209 Analyst Price Target: $130  Alphabet Inc. is famous for investing heavily into the ESG space and environment-related projects. 1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Holders: 259 Analyst Price Target: $304 Microsoft Corporation has secured solid ESG ratings from several independent agencies because of its investments in the ESG space and sustainable business practices.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy Now, an article that might interest many of you. It’s titled Top Infrastructure Stocks - From An Engineer's Perspective, by Financial Engineering. Seen on seekingalpha.com. Here’re some comments from the article. “1. American Tower Corporation (AMT) (Is) one of the largest global players in physical communications assets, most notably in macro cell towers and now data centers… The critical necessity for American Tower Corporation's assets will be at the heart of what is being dubbed as ‘Industrial Revolution 4.0’ which is being discussed in regards to 5G and the Internet of Things, IoT… With the implementation of 5G and IoT we have the capability to significantly reduce traffic accidents, drastically improve manufacturing operations for greater flexibility in meeting global demands, and greatly improve our efficient use of resources with improved distribution networks of energy sources. 2. Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) Train operations have greatly improved in recent years through a revolutionary change in the approach to rail operations known as precision scheduled railroading (or PSR)… the benefits of PSR are significant to rail operations… PSR changed the focus of traditional rail operations from full train operations to individual train car operations… In a recent government report it is evidenced that PSR has led to a drastic decrease in operating ratios (operating expenses as a proportion of revenues) from 2011-2021… 3. DTE Energy (DTE). The main reason for including this company among the most important is due to the increasing electrification of our world… The vast majority of DTE's revenues are derived from its 2.2 million electric customer connections, the undisputed leader in the state of Michigan. … Detroit (Michigan) automakers own roughly 10-15% of global market share for vehicle sales and closer to 40% of the United States market share. If DTE is successfully able to expand and sufficiently meet the energy demands of the EV ramp-up in Detroit it will be pivotal in proving the viability of EV adoption not just in the United States but for the rest of the world as well… While each of these companies may not provide home run returns witnessed by tech in the past several decades, I'd be surprised if they do not provide solid, healthy returns and stability to a portfolio. If these corporations and their peers suffer substantial losses or fail in the near future, we most likely will have bigger concerns as a society than the performance of these stocks.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy A favorite of older ethical investors is utility stocks for their stability of returns. This is a good piece about them. It’s titled Top Utilities Stocks for May 2023, by Noah Bolton. Article on investopedia.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Bolton says about his picks. “These are the utilities stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows that you're paying less for each dollar of profit generated. Enel Chile S.A. (ENIC): Enel is a Chilean-based electricity provider. The company creates electricity from solar, wind, and geothermal power plants… 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio 2.8. Brookfield Renewable Corp. (BEPC): Brookfield Renewable owns and operates pure-play renewable energy facilities focusing on wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Brookfield Renewable and EIG Consortium entered a binding agreement in March to acquire 100% of Origin Energy Ltd.'s energy markets business, ‘Australia's largest integrated power generator and energy retailer…’ 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio 4.2. Pampa Energia S.A. (PAM): Pampa Energia is an integrated energy company based in Argentina operating hydroelectric plants, thermal plants, and wind farms. The company also explores and produces natural gas, oil, and various petrochemicals… 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio 4.3. Fastest-Growing Utilities Stocks These are the top utilities stocks as ranked by a growth model that scores companies based on a 50/50 weighting of their most recent quarterly year-over-year (YOY) percentage revenue growth and most recent quarterly YOY earnings-per-share (EPS) growth… Altus Power Inc. (AMPS): Altus Power is a clean electrification company that services commercial, industrial, and public industries. At the end of 2022, Altus Power reached an agreement with True Green Capital Management LLC to acquire 220 MW of solar assets for $293 million… EPS Growth 600%. Revenue Growth 24%. Cadiz Inc. (CDZI): Cadiz is a water treatment company that offers clean water resources for agricultural development. Note Cadiz doesn't have an EPS growth figure… because the company reported negative EPS in the most recent quarter… Revenue Growth 304%. Capital Power Corp. (CPX.TO): Capital Power owns and operates 29 renewable energy facilities located throughout North America… Net income in the first quarter more than doubled from the year before… EPS Growth 148. Revenue Growth 153%. Utilities Stocks With the Most Momentum Genie Energy Ltd. (GNE): Genie is an energy provider that supplies electricity and natural gas for residential and business customers. The company also operates a solar energy business segment. In late March, Genie Renewables acquired the rights to a 6.25-megawatt solar generation site in upstate New York. Genie's revenue increased 23% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023… 12-Month Trailing Total Return 129%. Cadiz Inc.: See company description (previously)… 12-Month Trailing Total Return 129%. Enel Chile S.A.: See company description (previously)… 12-Month Trailing Total Return 118%.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Socially Responsible Stocks To Buy Lastly, we have this recommendation titled 3 Sustainable Investing Stocks to Buy for Socially Responsible Gains by Joel Baglole. Found it on investorplace.com. Now a few comments by him. “1. General Electric (NYSE:GE) The company is pushing further into renewable energy, namely with GE Vernova… GE Vernova develops wind turbines, hydropower generation and energy storage solutions. GE stock has gained 73% in the past 12 months, including a 56% increase this year. 2. Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Ford Motor which is spending more than $50 billion in an effort to produce 2 million electric vehicles a year by the end of 2026… And the company pays a quarterly dividend of 15 cents a share for a yield above 5%. 3. Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) (Is) the largest producer of lithium for EV batteries in the world… Over the past five years, Albemarle stock has gained 78%. In the past 12 months, however, the company’s share price has come down 10%. This is mainly due to shifting demand in China, where the country’s electric vehicle production has been repeatedly interrupted due to Covid-19 lockdowns.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mention – not in any order 1. Title: Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure: Revolutionizing the Energy Industry with Sustainable Investments on beststocks.com. By Roberto Liccardo. 2. Title: This solar energy tech stock could surge 50%, Guggenheim says on cnbc.com. By Hakyung Kim. 3. Title: 3 Sustainable Investing Stocks to Buy on investorplace.com. By Joel Baglole. 4. Title: Top Alternative Energy Stocks for Q2 2023 on investopedia.com. By Zaw Thiha Tun. 5. Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Amid Insufficient Hydrogen Funding on zacks.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 6. Title: Water and investing – the risks, opportunities and why it matters on www.hl.co.uk. By Laura Hoy. 7. Title: 7 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch in 2023 on investorplace.com. By Muslim Farooque. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 2nd. And, again, look at my newly totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

Podcast: Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 105, May 5, 2023 By Ron Robins, MBA. Analyst and Tutor Hello, Ron Robins here. Now I’m recording and publishing this podcast episode 1-day early. The reason, tomorrow, May 5th I plan to have up my terrific new website. So, just in case there are any hitches, I decided to do this podcast 1-day early. Hence, please do visit my brand-new site tomorrow! So, welcome to this podcast episode 105 titled “Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 8 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks Now our first article has the title 13 Best Ethical Companies to Invest in According to Reddit. It’s by Fahad Saleem and found on insidermonkey.com. Here are Reddit’s picks with some comments by Mr. Saleem... “For this article we scoured several discussion boards on Reddit where hundreds of people have discussed their favorite companies for ethical investing… 13. ASN Biodiversity Fund (ASABNEI:NA) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Netherlands-based ASN Bank offers several sustainable, green and ethical investment options. Redditors frequently mention ASN Biodiversity Fund as a viable option for ethical investors. 12. Sage Potash Corp. (TSXV:SAGE.V) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Potash plays a key role in fertilizer production, can increase crop yields and increase resilience of crops against pests. Sage Potash Corp is a Canadian company that explores for potash. 11. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) Hedge Fund Holders: 12 Rocket Lab was specially mentioned by some Redditors as a suitable option for those who want to invest in space and rocket technologies. 10. Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND) Hedge Fund Holders: 13 Beyond Meat is one of the leaders in the plant-based meat industry… The biggest hedge fund stakeholder of Beyond Meat was Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Associates which owns a $1.4 million stake in the company. 9. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Hedge Fund Holders: 135 Apple Inc.’s ESG scores are impressive and the company is investing heavily in ESG-related projects… 8. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Hedge Fund Holders: 47 Ecolab Inc. was specifically mentioned by several Redditors as the company is one of the leaders in the water treatment industry. Ecolab Inc. has an impressive ESG profile. 7. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 63 Enphase Energy makes solar micro-inverters, battery energy storage and EV charging stations. 6. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Hedge Fund Holders: 66 Redditors praise Costco Wholesale Corporation’s proactive approach in increasing wages and overall employee benefits. 5. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 91 While Tesla’s ESG rating has dropped over the past few months, the stock remains a popular choice of Redditors… Hedge funds are also bullish on Tesla. 4. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) Hedge Fund Holders: 106 We chose NVIDIA for our list of the best ethical companies to invest in according to Reddit because the stock ranks higher in the portfolio of Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV), one of the most favorite choices of ethical investors on Reddit. 3. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Hedge Fund Holders: 177 Visa Inc. makes it to our list of the best ethical companies to invest in according to Reddit because it is the top holding of the Global Sustainability Leaders ETF, which is a popular ethical investing option among Redditors. 2. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Hedge Fund Holders: 240 Amazon.com is added in our list of the best ethical companies to invest in because it’s one of the biggest holdings of Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares (MUTF:VFTNX), which is recommended by Redditors for ethical investing. 1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Hedge Fund Holders: 259 Microsoft Corporation is one of the best ethical companies to invest in according to Reddit because the company is the biggest holding of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA: SUSA), an ETF that is quite popular among ethical investors on Reddit discussion boards.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks Our next article has the title Four Sustainable Investments That Could Have a Positive Impact. It’s by Peter Krull who publishes on kiplinger.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Krull says about his picks. “1. STMicroelectronics (STM) Much of this Swiss semiconductor company’s technology is used in devices that you use every day, like tablets and automobile infotainment systems… STMicroelectronics also makes chips that help control the motors in EVs, chips that help distribute solar power more efficiently and chips that are helping to create smart homes, cities and industries. 2. Acuity Brands (AYI) Acuity Brands manufactures a wide array of lighting products, from home to office and industrial. It even makes ultraviolet lights to disinfect health care facilities (and others) that require sterilization. 3. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (HASI) Hannon Armstrong…finances a range of projects broken down into three areas: behind-the-meter, grid-connected and fuels, transport and nature… It’s also involved in landfill gas projects, commercial fleet decarbonization and ecological restoration… The stock pays a nice dividend as well. 4. AXS Green Alpha ETF (NXTE) The folks at Green Alpha have been managing sustainable investments for years… they know what they’re doing. They eschew the recent trend of creating, as I call them, ‘less bad’ ESG portfolios and focus on solutions-based investments in the next economy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks Many people believe that US interest rates are heading down from here, which could give a lift to the housing market. So the most recommended US homebuilders are getting a bid. Hence, this article titled 5 Best Homebuilder Stocks Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment. It’s by Fahad Saleem on insidermonkey.com. Now let’s see some of what Mr. Saleem says about his recommendations. “To see more such companies, go directly to List of Homebuilder Stocks Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment. 5. KB Home (NYSE:KBH) Hedge Fund Holders: 31 JPMorgan recently upgraded KB Home stock after the company posted strong quarterly results and gave a solid 2023 guidance. 4. Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) Hedge Fund Holders: 37 Shares of Toll Brothers have gained about 22% year to date through April 24. In March, Toll Brothers upped its dividend by 5%. 3. NVR, Inc. (NYSE:NVR) Hedge Fund Holders: 39 Pennsylvania-based home construction and mortgage services company NVR ranks 3rd in our list of the top homebuilding stocks popular among elite hedge funds. 2. D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) Hedge Fund Holders: 46 1. Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 54.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks Now we turn to one of our investors' favorite sectors with this article titled The 9 Best Wind Energy Stocks To Buy Now. It’s by Phillip Ekuwem and seen on thestockdork.com. Here are some thoughts by Mr. Ekuwem on each of his picks. “1. NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE) NextEra Energy is a leading clean energy company based in Juno Beach, Florida. The company primarily generates and distributes electricity from renewable sources such as wind farms and solar power… Investors also stand to earn dividends, with NextEra Energy recording a strong dividend yield of 2.46%. 2. Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE: CWEN) Clearway Energy is a leading renewable energy company that owns and operates a diversified portfolio of clean energy assets across the United States… It rewards its shareholders with a dividend yield of 4.80%. 3. General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) GE is organized into four business divisions: Aviation, Healthcare, Power, and Renewable Energy.  The Renewable Energy division develops and manufactures wind turbines and other clean energy solutions. 4. Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) Founded in 1997, Plug Power is a New York-based leading provider of hydrogen fuel cell systems for a wide range of applications, including material handling, stationary power, and on-road vehicles… It produces and distributes green hydrogen, which it creates using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. 5. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP)  The company, based in Bermuda, has a diverse portfolio that includes hydroelectric, wind, solar, and storage assets… across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.  6. Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE: D) Dominion Energy Inc. is… one of the largest producers and transporters of energy in the United States… Dominion Energy’s business primarily focuses on electric, gas, and energy infrastructure… Dominion Energy is investing in renewable energy and clean technologies, including offshore wind power, solar power, and energy storage to achieve this goal. 7. Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) Is committed to reducing its carbon footprint to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030… The company invests in renewable energy, such as wind and solar, for energy efficiency and grid modernization. 8. TPI Composites Inc. (NASDAQ: TPIC) (Is) a global manufacturer of composite wind blades and other composite structures for the wind energy, transportation, and industrial markets… It is one of the world’s largest independent manufacturers of wind blades. 9. Array Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRY) Array Technologies’ primary business is designing, manufacturing, and installing solar tracking systems, which optimize solar panels’ energy output by tracking the sun’s movement throughout the day.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable Stocks We continue with the renewable energy theme with this title. The 4 Best EV Battery Stocks Under $10 To Buy Now. By Enrico Caschetta on thestockdork.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Caschetta says about these stocks. “1. CBAK Energy Technology Inc (NASDAQ: CBAT) CBAT is a Chinese company that specializes in researching, developing, and manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for EVs and other energy storage systems. 2. Quantumscape Corp (NYSE: QS) Is a US-based company developing next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for EVs.  3. Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KNDI) Kandi is a Chinese company that designs, develops, and manufactures electric vehicles (EVs) and EV parts, including batteries.  4. Panasonic Holdings (OTCMKTS: PCRFY) Panasonic is barely admittable to our list as the company is only a dollar short of $10.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mention – not in any order 1. Title: ETFs for Green Investing Ahead of Earth Day on zacks.com. By Sweta Killa. 2. Title: Why Union Pacific is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (UNP) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 3. Title: Iberdrola's big bet on renewable energy is working on qz.com. By Nate DiCamillo. 4. Title: 4 Renewable Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q1 Earnings Estimates -on zacks.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 5. Title: Top Wind Energy Stocks for Q2 2023 on investopedia.com. By Noah Bolton. 6. Title: 25 Most Environmentally Friendly Companies in the World on yahoo.com. By Laiba Immad. Articles from Outside the US 1. India. Title: Top 10 Best Corporate Social Responsibility Companies In Europe 2023 on inventica.co.in. By kritikabhaskar. 2. Canada. Title: This new ETF offers a challenge to socially responsible investing skeptics on theglobeandmail.com. By Rob Carrick. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Analysts Like These Ethical and Sustainable 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 19th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

This podcast includes these articles: “Power Your Portfolio with Renewable Energy,” by Tony Sagami; “Top Solar Stocks for Q2 2023,” by Nathan Reiff; “Time to Buy These Alternative Energy Stocks?” By Shaun Pruitt; “How Faith-based Funds Are Evolving to Address Climate Change,” by Lewis Braham; “More Investors Turn to ESG Bond Funds," by James Comtois Podcast: Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts Transcript & Links, Episode 104, April 21, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 104 and published on April 21, 2023, titled “Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts Now, again, ESG securities analysts continue to focus on renewable energy. This is one of several articles on that industry in this podcast. It’s titled Power Your Portfolio with Renewable Energy by Tony Sagami and seen on weissratings.com. Here are some of Mr. Sagami’s quotes on his picks. “The EIA forecasts that both wind and solar will grow by 1% in 2023. But… wind is beating solar by a wide margin. If you want to add wind power to your portfolio, there are several stocks you should consider. 1. Northland Power (NPI.TO) is a Canadian power producer focused on renewable energy — including wind farms, natural gas and solar energy facilities. 2. TransAlta Renewables (RNW.TO) is a Canadian renewable energy company that owns and operates wind, hydro and natural gas power plants. 3. NextEra Energy (NEE) is an electricity power producer utilizing wind, solar, nuclear, coal and natural gas. 4. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWDRY) is a Danish wind energy company that owns massive wind farms in the U.S. and northern Europe. 5. Clearway Energy (CWEN) is one of the largest renewable energy operators in the U.S., with 5 GW of wind and solar energy projects and 2.5 GW of natural gas generation facilities. 6. TPI Composites (TPIC) manufactures wind turbine blades that produce one-third of all the onshore wind turbine blades. If you are more of an ETF investor, take a look at First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) and Global X Wind Energy ETF (WNDY).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts From the focus on wind, we turn to solar stocks with this article. It’s titled Top Solar Stocks for Q2 2023 and is by Nathan Reiff and posted on investopedia.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Reiff has to say about his recommendations. “These are the solar stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows that you’re paying less for each dollar of profit generated. Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ) is a Chinese solar energy company that manufactures polysilicon for sale to manufacturers of solar cells and modules. The company also builds photovoltaic wafers. 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio: 1.8. Brookfield Renewable Energy Corp. (BEPC) owns a portfolio of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities across multiple continents, making it one of the world's biggest publicly traded pure-play renewable energy companies. In late March, Brookfield announced that it will participate in a consortium to purchase Australian integrated power generator Origin Energy Ltd. for an enterprise value of $18.7 billion. 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio: 3.9. Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) designs, builds, and sells solar equipment for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company's products include solar modules, inverters, and system kits. Net income more than doubled and revenue climbed by 29% year-over-year for the final quarter of 2022, driven in part by a significant increase in solar module shipments. 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio: 11.1 Fastest Growing Solar Stocks These are the top solar stocks as ranked by a growth model that scores companies based on a 50/50 weighting of their most recent quarterly year-over-year (YOY) percentage revenue growth and most recent quarterly YOY earnings-per-share (EPS) growth. Altus Power Inc. (AMPS) is a commercial-scale clean electrification company providing solar generation, energy storage, and charging infrastructure nationwide. Net income attributable to the company rose by over 800% to $67.9 million for the most recent quarter reported. Net income growth was due in part to a $71.5 million non-cash gain from the remeasurement of warrants and alignment shares. Revenue Growth YOY: 24% Brookfield Renewable Corp. See (previous) company description… Revenue Growth YOY: 5.6% Daqo New Energy Corp. See (previous) company description… Revenue Growth YOY: 118.5% Solar Stocks With the Most Momentum These are the solar stocks that had the highest total return over the past 12 months. Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (ENLT) is a developer and owner of solar, wind, and energy storage projects in the U.S., Europe, and Israel. For the fourth quarter of 2022, Enlight reported record revenue of $61 million, a 74% increase from the prior year due mainly to growth in its Israel and Western Europe business. 12-Month Trailing Total Return: 740.3% First Solar Inc. (FSLR) designs and manufactures photovoltaic solar power systems and solar modules, serving customers around the world. Global renewable energy firm EDP Renewables finalized an order in March for 1.8 gigawatts of First Solar advanced thin-film photovoltaic modules, to be delivered through 2028. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 12-Month Trailing Total Return: 151% Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd. (MAXN) is a Singaporean solar company building and distributing a variety of solar energy components globally. 12-Month Trailing Total Return: 100.1% ” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts Here’s a third article on the renewable energies theme. It’s titled Time to Buy These Alternative Energy Stocks? By Shaun Pruitt on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Pruitt has to say. “1. Clearway Energy (CWEN) Worthy of consideration is Clearway Energy which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Clearway along with its subsidiaries owns and operates a diverse portfolio of contracted renewable and conventional generation, along with thermal infrastructure assets in the United States. Furthermore, Clearway’s asset portfolio includes more than 9,000 megawatts (MW) of wind, solar, thermal, and natural-gas-fired power generation facilities as well as distract energy systems.   Clearway's earnings estimate revisions are noticeably up over the last quarter. Fiscal 2023 earnings estimates have climbed 26% over the last 90 days with FY24 EPS estimates soaring 98%... 2. Pineapple Energy (PEGY) Sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Pineapple Energy stock is also standing out among alternative energy companies. Pineapple is focused on local and regional solar, storage, and energy services. Pineapple's portfolio of brands include Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear, Sungevity, and Horizon Solar Power which provide homeowners and small businesses with end-to-end product offerings spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. Pineapple’s growth is intriguing at the moment with the company edging closer to profitability. Earnings are expected to rise to $0.08 per share this year compared to an adjusted loss of -$0.96 a share in 2022. Even better, FY24 earnings are now projected to soar 337% to $0.35 per share. Plus, sales are forecasted to climb 174% in FY23 to $85.20 million compared to $31.10 million in 2022. Fiscal 2024 sales are expected to jump another 40% to $119.30 million.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- How Faith-based Funds Are Evolving to Address Climate Change Now to something completely different but of interest to some ethical and sustainable investors. It’s an article titled How Faith-based Funds Are Evolving to Address Climate Change by Lewis Braham. Found on barrons.com. Some interesting quotes here for faith-based investors. Quote. “In the long history of faith-based investing, the Vatican’s publication of its investment guidelines, Mensuram Bonam, in November, 2022, was an important turning point. Mensuram Bonam, which means ‘good measure’ in Latin, focuses on the global problems of income inequality and climate change. It quotes Pope Francis saying, ‘Civilization requires energy, but energy use must not destroy civilization,’ and cites the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as an ‘important framework’ for investors to consider.  Funds’ Comment When Barron’s Advisor first covered Mensuram Bonam, some faith-based mutual fund managers seemed caught off guard by the pope’s environmental concerns. That disconnect persists. ‘Most [faith-based fund companies] are trying to screen out things like [companies involved with] abortion and pornography,’ says Chris McMahon of Aquinas Wealth Advisors, a Catholic advisory firm in Pittsburgh. ‘It’s an enormous lift for these firms to pivot and then add this kind of environmental stuff.’ … Yet the U.S.’s long tradition of faith-based investing has included important pivots in the past. ‘People draw the origins of this movement to early congregations of Quakers speaking out against things such as the slave trade,’ says Will Sorrell, director of values-based investing at OneAscent, which runs four faith-based exchange-traded funds as well as private accounts.  Sorrell says OneAscent has gradually shifted its Christian values-based policies to also incorporate environmental concerns and invest in companies having a positive impact on the environment… Interestingly, OneAscent is unaffiliated religiously, but has ‘a broadly Christian Protestant evangelical worldview,’ Sorrell says. That gives it more flexibility to disagree with the Vatican. Yet the largest Catholic values fund family, Ave Maria Funds, also apparently doesn’t see the need to shift its investment strategy based on the Vatican’s guidelines. ‘From our standpoint, [Mensuram Bonam] hasn’t impacted the way we manage the funds,’ says Timothy Schwartz, president of Ave Maria’s advisory firm, Schwartz Investment Counsel, which manages $2.9 billion… Ave Maria Value (ticker: AVEMX) has 38% of its portfolio invested in energy stocks and it has voted against shareholder proposals for some of those companies to set long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More Investors Turn to ESG Bond Funds And for a change of subject, we turn to green bonds with this piece titled More Investors Turn to ESG Bond Funds by James Comtois and seen on etftrends.com. Here’s what Mr. Comtois says about one fund. “Investors looking to increase their allocation to ESG-labeled corporate bonds may want to look into the Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB). The fund seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Corporate SRI Select Index, a market-weighted corporate bond index that measures the investment return of investment-grade U.S. dollar-denominated bonds and is screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria. Its index includes fixed-rate, taxable bonds with a maturity of more than one year… (The) Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF had a 30-day SEC yield of 5.01% as of April 6 and carries an expense ratio of 0.12%” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mention – not in any order Title: 10 Cheap Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now by Fahad Saleem. Found it on finance.yahoo.com. Articles from Outside the US 1. UK. Title: The best funds for green Isa investors, and how to make sustainable choices on inews.co.uk. By Holly Thomas. 2. UK. Title: Best ESG ETFs to Buy UK in 2023 on investingreviews.co.uk. By Antonia Medlicott. 3. Canada. Title: What Does Sustainable Investing Mean for Canadian Fund Investors? On morningstar.ca. By Ian Tam. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Buy These Renewable Energy Stocks Say Analysts.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 5th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

This podcast includes these articles: “The Best ESG Funds Of 2023,” by Barbara Friedberg; “5 Best ESG Stocks to Consider in April 2023,” by Benzinga; “Climate Change Stocks - How Investors Can Profit From The Green Revolution,” by Q.ai; and “Five Top Graphite Stocks to Own with the EV Boom,” by Baystreet Staff. And more. Podcast: Best ESG Funds and Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 103, April 7, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 103 and published on April 7, 2023, titled “Best ESG Funds and Stocks.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Best ESG Funds and Stocks It’s been a while since I led off talking about ESG funds. So let’s amend that now with this article titled The Best ESG Funds Of 2023. It’s by Barbara Friedberg and found on forbes.com. Here are some of what Ms. Friedberg says about her picks. “Forbes Advisor has selected what we believe to be the best ESG funds available in the market today… We began our hunt by paring Morningstar’s master list to 140 funds by excluding options that required minimum initial investments of more than $5,000. Also, we eliminated funds that did not lend themselves to the creation of a well-diversified mix of stock and fixed income investments… We then screened out any funds with an annual expense ratio that was above 0.60%. For diversity, we selected passively managed as well as actively managed portfolios. To meet the requirements of a very broad audience, so we deliberately excluded narrowly focused sector funds, geographically specialized funds and age group-specific target date funds. These screens left us with 18 choices. The final list of the eight best ESG funds includes broadly diversified choices that are suitable for the widest possible group of investors. We included short and core fixed-income funds along with U.S. and international ESG equity funds. You might create an entire ESG portfolio from funds on the list or add a few to an existing investment portfolio.” Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT) Nuveen ESG Dividend ETF (NUDV) iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Developmental Goals ETF (SDG) Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) Fidelity International Sustainability Index Fund (FNIDX) Calvert US Mid Cap Core Responsible Index Fund (CMJAX) BlackRock Sustainable Advantage CoreAlpha Bond Fund (BIAAX)” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Best ESG Funds and Stocks Now, from the best ESG funds to the best ESG stocks with this article titled 5 Best ESG Stocks to Consider in April 2023. It’s by Benzinga and found on benzinga.com. Here are their recommendations with some quotes on each one. “1. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) The company is organized into three segments, including productivity and business processes (which includes Microsoft Office, Skype, SharePoint and Office 365) (and) cloud infrastructure and platform-as-a-service offering. The last segment is personal computing including Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, laptops and desktops.  2. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) The firms’ chips are used in a variety of end markets such as high-end PCs for gaming, data centers, and automotive infotainment systems.  More recently, the firm has diversified its focus from traditional PC to more complex sectors such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. These sectors increasingly leverage high-performance capabilities in graphics processing units.  3. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) Salesforce.com provides enterprise cloud computing solutions, including Sales Cloud, the company's main customer relationship management software-as-a-service product.  Salesforce.com also offers Service Cloud for customer support (and) Marketing Cloud for digital marketing campaigns and Commerce Cloud as an e-commerce engine. Its Salesforce Platform allows enterprises to build applications, and other solutions, such as data integration. 4. Accenture (NYSE:ACN) Accenture is a leading global IT services firm that provides consulting, strategy, and technology and operational services. These services are the anchor of successful enterprises and cover digital transformation, procurement services and software system integration.  The company provides its IT offerings to a number of sectors ranging from communications, media and technology as well as financial services, healthcare and consumer products. 5. Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY) Best Buy is the largest pure-play consumer electronics retailer in the U.S., with over $47 billion in 2020 sales alone. This was driven by its 10% share of the aggregate market and nearly 40% share of offline sales, according to Benzinga, CTA industry and Euromonitor data. The bulk of the firm’s sales are driven by mobile phones, computers, tablets, computers and appliances, which represent its three largest categories.  Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. e-commerce channel has roughly doubled from pre-pandemic levels, with management estimating that it will represent a mid-30% proportion of sales moving forward.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Best ESG Funds and Stocks And now to a listener’s favorite sector with this title Climate Change Stocks - How Investors Can Profit From The Green Revolution. By Q.ai on forbes.com. Here are their stock picks and some of their comments on each one. “Here are some examples of some of the most popular investments in this space… Stocks 1. Tesla (TSLA) While electric vehicles are much more widespread now, much of that is thanks to the efforts of Elon Musk and Tesla, who popularized it from quirk to the mainstream. Tesla stock isn’t for the faint hearted, with the eccentric billionaire CEO causing wild swings in the price with crazy tweets and ideas. Nevertheless, so far it’s been a great long term bet for many investors as the stock is up over 850% over the past five years. 2. First Solar (FSLR) Based out of Arizona, First Solar is one of the largest manufacturers of solar panels. Their panels are used in solar farms whose sole purpose is to generate electricity for the grid, but solar tech is also used in a wide range of other applications too… First Solar’s stock price is up almost 200% over the past five years. 3. Enphase Energy (ENPH) Where First Solar helps create renewable energy and Tesla uses it, Enphase Energy acts as the middleman. They create battery systems and electric vehicle charging stations, that allows this to be used functionally in our day to day lives. While Enphase charging stations are attached to the electricity grid, which isn’t solely powered by renewable energy, it’s a vital piece in the chain to make electric vehicles more usable. Enphase Energy stock is up a whopping 4,220% over the last five years. 4. Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO) Even before electricity was invented, humans harnessed wind to power our ships and windmills to run agricultural machinery. Wind farms from Vesta Wind Systems are a lot more complex these days, but the basic concept remains the same. It’s another winner from a financial point of view, with Vestas stock up 115% over the past five years. If you’re looking for a broader level of diversification and want to invest in clean energy via ETFs, there are some great options for investors. Some examples include: 1. First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) This fund aims to broadly mimic the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index… by investing in green energy companies. Some of the largest holdings in the fund include companies like ON Semiconductor, Tesla, First Solar, SolarEdge, Albermarle, Rivian and Plug Power. 2. iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (IQQH.DE) This ETF has a similar objective, but instead aims to benchmark against the S&P Global Clean Energy Index. Some of the major holdings in the fund include Vestas Wind Systems, First Solar, Plug Power and Consolidated Edison.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Best ESG Funds and Stocks Continuing in a related field to energy is this article titled Top of Form Five Top Graphite Stocks to Own with the EV Boom. It’s on baystreet.ca and by Baystreet Staff. Here is some of what is in the article. Quote. “With the electric vehicle market accelerating, investors may want to pay close attention to the graphite market,’ Andrew Miller, chief operating officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, (is) quoted by InvestingNews.com (as saying). ‘We're now projecting that by the end of next year, batteries will be the number one leading market for graphite.’… In addition, to meet rising demand, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates that up to 150 new operations across natural and synthetic graphite are needed by 2035. That’s creating big opportunity for natural graphite companies… (and) beneficial for (some) vehicle stocks. 1. Infinity Stone Ventures Corp. (CSE: GEMS) (OTC: GEMSF) Announced the formation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, AirCarbon Technology Corp., to develop the Rockstone Graphite Project. The Company has also entered into a partnership with R&D Innovation Inc. to use their patent-pending and proprietary air classification separation technology to process samples from the Rockstone Graphite Project. The Air Classification System eliminates the need for flotation, chemicals and drying in the graphite milling process and greatly reduces the capital costs for a traditional graphite mill. It has also been designed to eliminate the need for tailing ponds and greatly lessen the need for significant infrastructure at a mine site… ‘We firmly believe that graphite is being overlooked in the market, considering its critical position in the battery metal supply chain… said Zayn Kalyan, CEO and Director of Infinity Stone. 2. Volkswagen (VWAGY) Just announced that it is stepping up its activities in North America in a bid to take a strong position in this important growth market for battery electric vehicles. The Group and its battery company PowerCo have selected St. Thomas in Ontario, Canada, to establish Volkswagen’s first overseas gigafactory for cell manufacturing, which will produce sustainable unified cells, start of production is planned for 2027… 3. Graphite One Inc. (GPHOF) Is planning a complete domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials, is pleased to announce drill results from its 2022 Field Program at its Graphite Creek Property (in Alaska) … Graphite Creek is living up to its designation by the US Geological Survey as the largest and highest grade graphite resource in the United States. 4. NextSource Materials Inc. (NEXT.TO) (Has) announced that construction of the processing plant and mining camp for the Company’s Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar is now complete, and that the entire mining fleet is at site. President and CEO, Craig Scherba, commented: ‘We are now entering the final stages of development of Phase 1 and are fast approaching first production.’ 5. Tesla (TSLA) In the fourth quarter, it produced over 439,000 vehicles and delivered over 405,000 vehicles. In 2022, vehicle deliveries grew 40% YoY to 1.31 million while production grew 47% YoY to 1.37 million. The company also continued to transition towards a more even regional mix of vehicle builds which again led to a further increase in cars in transit at the end of the quarter.” End quotes. It seems a little strange having Tesla here but I guess Tesla must have some relationship with its battery production. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now one Other Honorable Mention 1. Title: Texas Instruments a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.8% Yield (TXN) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. One article from Outside the US 1. UK Title: Top 10 ethical financial advisers in 2023 on good-with-money.com. By Lori Campbell. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “Best ESG Funds and 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 21st. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The World’s Most Ethical Companies podcast includes these articles: “The 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies®,” by Ethisphere; “Top 10: Brands for Diverse Corporate Social Responsibility,” by Tom Swallow; and “12 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now,” by Fahad Saleem. Find a full transcript, links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material here. Plus Podcast: The World’s Most Ethical Companies Transcript & Links, Episode 102, March 24, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 102 and published on March 24, 2023, titled “The World’s Most Ethical 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. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The World’s Most Ethical Companies I’m going to start with a great ranking analysis titled The 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies® The most frequent companies to appear on the list at 17 times are Aflac Incorporated, Ecolab, International Paper, Kao, Milliken & Company, and PepsiCo, Inc. If there is a weakness in this list it’s that the companies have to apply to be rated. Hence, this process could leave out some great companies. Here are some quotes from their website. “At the heart of the evaluation and selection process for the World’s Most Ethical Companies® is Ethisphere’s proprietary rating system, the corporate Ethics Quotient (EQ). The EQ framework features more than 200 multiple-choice and text questions that capture a company’s performance in an objective, consistent, and standardized way. In 2023, 135 organizations are recognized for their unwavering commitment to business integrity. The honorees span 19 countries and 46 industries, and include 8 first-time honorees.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10: Brands for Diverse Corporate Social Responsibility Next is this article titled Top 10: Brands for Diverse Corporate Social Responsibility by Tom Swallow on sustainabilitymag.com. Though not strictly investment recommendations, this list will appeal to many listeners of this podcast. Here are some comments by Mr. Swallow on each of his chosen brands. “To highlight the diverse approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR) we’re looking at some of the leading organisations for both their commitments and innovative stance on developing business sustainably… 10. Bosch (BOSCHLTD.BO) Backing climate-neutrality, Bosch is a major provider of high-quality, reliable electronics, along with other solutions to support sustainable developments. The company is committed to reducing emissions both upstream and downstream in its supply chain.  From an electric vehicle (EV) standpoint, Bosch enables electrification through its electric drive solutions, providing scalable propulsion solutions to the industry. 9. TOMS (private company) The popular footwear brand, TOMS is built on social impact as the primary mission of the company is to donate a pair of shoes for every new pair sold.  8. Wells Fargo (WFC) The financial services organisation, Wells Fargo donates up to 1.5% of its annual revenue to charities—a percentage of revenue that exceeds US$18.7bn. These funds reach more than 14,500 non-profit organisations, including those supporting efforts to provide food, and renewable energy and science development programmes. 7. Pfizer (PFE) In times of crisis, healthcare assistance is critical, which is where Pfizer provides extensive support through its three pillar strategy to meet corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives. These pillars include donation, grant funding, and providing aid when disaster strikes.  Such efforts were seen after Hurricane Matthew ripped through Haiti and the ongoing crisis plaguing refugees in Europe and the Middle East. 6. Netflix (NFLX) The online on-demand streaming platform, Netflix enables relationships by offering its staff members 52 weeks paid parental leave, which can be taken any time within a child’s early years.  The average technology firm provides parents with 18 weeks paid leave during the maternity/paternity phase. 5. Ford Motor Company (F) One of the largest automotive brands with heritage dating back to 1903, Ford Motor Company is on a mission to ‘build a better world’ through electrification. One of the key employment mechanisms backed by Ford is pay equity as part of its wider diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy—balancing discrepancies in the pay gap between employees. 4. Coca-Cola Company (KO) The environment is a primary focus for Coca-Cola Company and one of its most significant adaptations will come from 100% plant-based packaging. In 2021, the business announced the first ever bottle made in this way and has since been refining its product and understanding how it will align with the wider manufacturing process. 3. Starbucks (SBUX) Representing CSR in the cafe business is Starbucks, which is openly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, in the workforce.  Starbucks has taken steps to address racial and social inequality by introducing a mentorship scheme designed to link people from black and indigenous backgrounds to senior executives and cultivate partnerships. By 2025, the company hopes to reach its target to achieve 30% black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) representation in corporate roles and 40% in retail and manufacturing. 2. Alphabet (GOOG) As the parent of Google, Alphabet’s CSR strategy aims to indirectly support communities and address their concerns. However, Google is already well-acquainted with climate strategy and is taking action to reduce the impact of the search engine and supported devices.  1. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) A leading organisation in the pharmaceutical industry, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) acts as a great example of CSR in action. For more than 30 years, J&J has dedicated many of its efforts to minimising its ecological footprint.  Its support spans various aspects, including wind energy usage and delivering clean water to communities globally.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now Now back to a popular theme with this article titled 12 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It’s by Fahad Saleem and was found on news.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Saleem has to say about each of his stock picks. “For this article, we scanned Insider Monkey’s database of 943 hedge funds and picked the top 12 renewable energy stocks. That means these are the most popular renewable energy stocks among the elite hedge funds in the world. With each stock we have mentioned the number of hedge fund investors as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. 12. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16 Canadian Solar sells solar PV modules… For the fourth quarter, Canadian Solar expects its revenue to come in at $1.97 billion, better than its guidance range of $1.8 billion to $1.9 billion. Analyst consensus estimate for this figure was $1.86 billion.  For the first quarter of 2023, Canadian Solar expects its revenue to come in the range of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, which is below the analyst consensus estimate of $2.04 billion. 11. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR)  Hedge Fund Holders: 18 Avangrid is an energy company serving millions of customers in the US. Avangrid has a strong renewable energy portfolio consisting of wind and solar energy projects… In February, Avangrid declared a per share dividend of $0.44, in line with the previous dividend. Forward dividend yield at the time came in at 4.34%. 10. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 SunPower Corporation makes photovoltaic solar energy generation systems and battery energy storage products, primarily for residential customers. In February, SunPower Corporation posted strong Q4 results that crushed analyst estimates. Adjusted EPS in the quarter came in at $0.15, beating estimates by $0.01. Revenue in the quarter jumped about 43% YoY to reach $497.4 million, beating estimates by $16.4 million. 9. Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 Hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power is one of the best renewable energy stocks to buy now. Recently, Citi analyst P.J. Juvekar decreased his price target for Plug Power stock to $20 from $21 but kept a Buy rating on the shares.  The analyst said that Plug Power has a first mover advantage to capture the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. 8. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 Clearway Energy has significant wind and solar energy operations across 26 states in the US. Clearway Energy has a PE ratio of 5.94 which makes it an attractive option for those looking for undervalued plays in the renewable energy space. In February, Clearway Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3745 per share, which was a 2% increase from its previous dividend. Forward dividend yield at the time came in at 4.48%. 7. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 Residential solar company Sunnova Energy International… recently posted Q4 results which were better than expected. GAAP EPS in the quarter came in at -$0.18, beating estimates by $0.26. Revenue in the quarter increased by 200.8% to reach $195.6 million, beating estimates by $55.84 million. 6. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Hedge Fund Holders: 43 Israel-based SolarEdge Technologies… gained about 15% through March 8. SolarEdge Technologies makes solar inverters widely used in the solar energy industry… In February, SolarEdge Technologies posted strong Q4 results. Adjusted EPS in the quarter came in at $2.86, beating estimates by $1.27. Revenue in the quarter increased by about 61% on a YoY basis to reach $890 million, beating estimates by $11.64 million. 5. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 44 First Solar (stock) jumped earlier this month after UBS upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral with a $250 price target…UBS believes First Solar is ‘the most significant beneficiary’ of the Inflation Reduction Act. 4. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG) Hedge Fund Holders: 51 Baltimore, Maryland-based Constellation Energy… says it’s the largest producer of carbon-free energy in the country. Earlier this month, Constellation Energy Corporation announced that it has started hydrogen production at its Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant in Oswego, New York. Alger Capital made the following comment about Constellation Energy Corporation in its Q3 2022 investor letter: ‘Shares outperformed during the third quarter primarily due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)… the bill provides a nuclear production tax credit of approximately $43.75 per megawatt hour of energy generated. This credit favorably impacted earnings.’ 3. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Hedge Fund Holders: 61 NextEra Energy is one of the most popular renewable energy stocks among elite hedge funds… In February, NextEra Energy rolled out a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend when it announced a per-share dividend of $0.4675. 2. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 63 Enphase Energy is one of the most versatile renewable energy companies, making several solutions in the industry, including solar micro-inverters, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations for homes. In late February, Enphase Energy shares jumped after Janney Montgomery analyst Sean Milligan upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral with a $282 price target. 1. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 91 Tesla, Inc. makes it to our list of the best renewable energy stocks because the company’s electric vehicles are playing key role in deploying the renewable energy sources in the auto industry in addition to its Powerwall and solar roof products for homes. Recently, Jefferies upped its price target for Tesla, Inc. to $230 from $180 and kept a Buy rating on the shares… Jefferies also upped its 2023 and 2024 operating earnings estimates for Tesla, Inc. by 10% and 8%, respectively.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1) Title: 11 Stocks to Examine Through a Sustainability Lens on morningstar.ca. By Adam Fleck. Articles From Outside the US 1) UK Title: Six ethical investment IFISAs on p2pfinancenews.co.uk. By Hannah Gannage-Stewart. 2) UK Title: ‘We’ve lost the right to be pessimistic’: Patagonia treads fine line tackling climate crisis as for-profit company on theguardian.com. By Lauren Aratani. 3) UK Title: Could these 3 renewable energy stocks surge as lithium demand grows? Found on uk.finance.yahoo.com. By Christopher Ruane. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast number 102 titled: “The World’s Most Ethical 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 7th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends. This podcast includes the following articles: “3 High-Yield Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in March,” by Daniel Foelber, Scott Levine, and Lee Samaha; “Investors should buy these dividend stocks for the green revolution!” By Dr. James Fox; and “Top 10 solar companies and what they do,” by Mariam Ahmad. Plus Podcast: These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends Transcript & Links, Episode 101, March 10, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 101 and published on March 10, 2023, titled “These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends In these volatile markets, many ESG stock analysts are focused on dividend yields. So, here’s the first of two articles with this theme. This one is titled 3 High-Yield Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in March by Daniel Foelber, Scott Levine, and Lee Samaha. Found on fool.com. Here are some quotes by the authors on each of their picks. Note the last one, Kinder Morgan might be a controversial pick for some ESG-focused investors. Quote... “Here's why all three dividend stocks are worth considering now. 1. Scott Levine recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BIP) …There are various infrastructure stocks that investors can choose from to help construct a better portfolio (and)… Fortunately, there's Brookfield Infrastructure and its 4.5% forward dividend yield. With a presence that stretches across five continents, Brookfield Infrastructure operates a massive portfolio of infrastructure assets, including data, utilities, midstream, and transportation. The allure of this business model for income investors is that these assets provide Brookfield Infrastructure with steady and increasing cash flows. Over the past 10 years… Brookfield Infrastructure has grown its funds from operations at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. … Since 2012, when it returned $0.60 per unit to investors, Brookfield Infrastructure has increased its distribution at a CAGR of 9%... During a recent investor presentation, management reaffirmed its ongoing target of increasing its distribution 5% to 9% annually. 2. Lee Samaha picks Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) … High energy and mining commodity prices are good news for Caterpillar's mining and oil and gas equipment. Meanwhile, the residential market accounts for only 25% of Caterpillar's construction machinery sales… Caterpillar has heavy exposure to infrastructure spending, and its construction equipment is also used in the energy industry… Caterpillar's resource industries segment isn't just about mining equipment; the segment encompasses machinery for the aggregates used in road building and infrastructure projects… In addition, management is growing Caterpillar's services sales as a share of its revenue…  Management acknowledges the cyclicality in its earnings and aims for $4 billion to $8 billion in machinery energy and transportation free cash flow. The low end of the target is significantly more than needed to pay the current cash dividend of $2.4 billion… and Caterpillar looks able to increase its dividend for many years to come. 3. Daniel Foelber likes Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) … the first thing that stands out is the high dividend yield of 6.4%... Over the past 10 years, Kinder Morgan has been a market-underperforming stock and cut its dividend by 75% in 2015 in response to an oil and gas downturn. As glaring as these two red flags are, the company is far different today… The Kinder Morgan of today generates gobs of free cash flow and has an incredibly healthy balance sheet that isn't overly dependent on debt. The company makes money by building infrastructure its customers use to transport and store natural gas, oil, carbon dioxide, and more.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends Now this second article focusing on dividends is from the UK with their stock picks having listings on the London Stock Exchange. It’s titled Investors should buy these dividend stocks for the green revolution! It’s by Dr. James Fox and found on uk.finance.yahoo.com. Now some quotes by Dr. Fox. He says… “I’ve become increasingly keen on three renewable trusts with strong yields and I’ve actually bought all of them. Trust Focus Dividend yield NextEnergy Solar (LSE: NESF) A solar-focused trust. Majority of assets in the UK 6.5% The Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE: TRIG) Diverse portfolio of renewables with assets across Europe, including UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden 5.25% Greencoat UK Wind (LSE: UKW) Focuses on UK wind farms, from shares in large farms to complete ownership of smaller farms 4.8% (This) post… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK site.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 solar companies and what they do Now back to the solar sector with this article titled Top 10 solar companies and what they do by Mariam Ahmad and seen on energydigital.com. Ms. Ahmad made brief remarks on each of her 11 picks – though the headline says 10 stocks. Some of her quotes are below. “Energy Digital Magazine ranks the world's top 10 solar companies… 10. Maxeon Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: MAXN) Market cap: $775 mn With headquarters in Singapore and a global presence in over 100 markets, Maxeon Solar Technologies is a company that specialises in the production and sale of solar energy products, including solar cells, modules, microinverters, and storage solutions… Maxeon Solar Technologies has a proven track record in the solar power industry. The company boasts established supply, sales, and installer channels worldwide that allow for reduced costs to consumers. 9. Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Market cap: $2.52 bn Founded by Dr. Shawn Qu in 2001, and based in Guelph, Canada, Canadian Solar Inc. has a cumulative delivery of over 75 GW of solar modules to thousands of customers in more than 160 countries. Canadian Solar has the capacity to meet the clean energy needs of around 17.7 million households. Canadian Solar's products are used in a wide range of applications, from residential and commercial buildings to utility-scale solar power plants.  8. SMA Solar Technology (XETR: S92) Market cap: $2.53 bn SMA Solar Technology is a German company that specialises in the development and production of solar inverters and monitoring systems for solar power plants. The company was founded in 1981 and has since become a leading provider of solar technology worldwide. SMA's products include inverters for residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar systems, as well as monitoring and control systems that enable users to optimise their solar power generation. 7. JinkoSolar Holding Co. (NYSE: JKS) Market cap: $2.64bn JinkoSolar is a Chinese holding company that operates through its subsidiaries and specialises in the production of solar cells, modules, and other solar energy-related materials. It is considered one of the top global producers of solar panels… The company serves customers in various regions, including China, the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and South America. In 2022, JinkoSolar experienced significant growth, with its quarterly module shipments globally doubling year-over-year, and shipments to China increasing five-fold during the same period. (Second #)7. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) Market cap: $2.60 bn With a presence in all 50 states in the U.S., Sunpower Corp specialises in designing solar solutions for residential properties. In 2022, the company achieved a remarkable 63% year-over-year growth rate, resulting in a corresponding increase in revenue. Sunpower's growth is expected to continue in 2023, as it has partnered with General Motors to be the exclusive installer of electrical vehicle chargers for the company. Furthermore, the company forecasts a two-fold increase in market growth through 2025, indicating a promising future for Sunpower. 6. Sharp Solar (Other OTC: SHCAY) Market cap: $4.86 bn What started off as a small subsidiary has now grown to be a leading player in the solar energy space, with offices in over 100 countries and more than 8,000 employees. Sharp Solar offers a wide range of solar panel products, including monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, as well as solar tiles and building-integrated photovoltaic solutions. The company's solar panels are designed to be highly efficient and durable, with a focus on quality and reliability… Sharp Solar also offers a range of energy storage solutions, including lithium-ion battery systems for residential and commercial applications.  5. Solaredge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: SEDG) Market cap: $17.61 bn Israeli company SolarEdge was established in 2006, and has transformed the solar industry through innovative solutions that enhance energy efficiency and optimise production. The company offers a range of products and services, including solar inverters for photovoltaic arrays, software for monitoring energy generation, battery energy storage products, and other related offerings. These products and services are available to residential, commercial, and industrial customers… The company has established offices in Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The company's pioneering inventions include Power Optimisers, all-in-one inverters, and tailored solutions that cater to the demands of diverse residential and commercial markets. 4. First Solar Inc (NASDAQ: FSLR) Market cap: $17.71 bn Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar is a global provider of solar energy services that aims to make solar energy affordable and accessible to homeowners and businesses. The company's focus on high-efficiency solar panels has enabled it to generate more electricity from each panel than its competitors, making it one of the world's most efficient solar companies and one of the largest solar panel manufacturers globally. First Solar is a vertically integrated manufacturer that specialises in designing, producing, and installing PV systems for commercial, industrial, and utility customers. The company's solar panels use thin film technology, which provides greater flexibility than traditional crystalline silicon panels, while also being more efficient. 3. Kyocera Solar (6971.T) Market cap: $20.71 bn Kyocera Solar is a division of Kyocera Corporation, a Japanese multinational electronics and ceramics manufacturer. Kyocera Solar was founded in 1975 as a pioneer in solar energy, and today it offers a range of high-quality solar products for both residential and commercial applications. In addition, the company offers solar-powered household appliances and energy storage solutions. 2. Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ: ENPH) Market cap: $28.65 bn Having installed more than 52 million microinverters on over 2.7 million homes in over 145 countries, Enphase, established in 2006, revolutionised the solar industry by introducing microinverter technology, which converts sunlight into a reliable energy source.  Enphase solar panels are high-efficiency panels that are built using high-quality materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. The panels are available in both monocrystalline and polycrystalline configurations and are designed to work with Enphase's microinverter technology to maximise energy production. 1. LONGi Green Technology Co. Ltd (601012.SS) Market cap: $338.97 bn (Is) a Chinese company that specialises in the research, development, and manufacturing of solar photovoltaic (PV) products. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Xi'an, China. LONGi Solar is one of the world's largest manufacturers of monocrystalline silicon wafers, cells, and modules, with a total module shipment volume of over 30 GW in 2021. The company is known for its high-efficiency solar products, including its monocrystalline solar panels, which have some of the highest conversion rates in the industry. The company's products are used in a variety of applications, including residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar power systems, and have a global presence, with operations in China, Japan, the United States, Germany, India, Malaysia and other countries.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: Two funds for the sustainable food transition on esgclarity.com. By Tara Clee. 2. Title: 13 Most Profitable Renewable Energy Stocks on yahoo.com. By Aima Zaheer. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this 101 podcast: “These Infrastructure Stocks Pay Great Dividends.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 24th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The Most Sustainable Banks. Plus… Includes articles titled: “The top 10 most sustainable banks in the world in 2023,” by Joanna England; “3 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for February 2023,” by Vandita Jadeja; “ESG Penny Stocks Every Investor Should Know About (VKIN, SPI, SAENF, HYSR),” by CapitalGainsReport; and links to nine more articles Podcast: The Most Sustainable Banks. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 100, February 24, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Well, we’ve reached a milestone! Welcome to podcast episode 100 and published on February 24, 2023, titled “The Most Sustainable Banks. Plus….” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 9 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Most Sustainable Banks. Plus… I’m beginning this podcast with a unique review of the sustainable banking industry. The article is titled The top 10 most sustainable banks in the world in 2023. It’s by Joanna England and was found on fintechmagazine.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “Sustainable banking refers to financial institutions that prioritise environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in their operations and investments. Here is a list of some of the top sustainable banks in the world, based on various sustainability rankings and assessments. #10 Triodos Bank (Netherlands) ... (It) was founded in 1980 and operates in multiple countries across Europe… Triodos Bank is known for its focus on ethical and sustainable finance, investing in projects and organizations that have a positive social, environmental, and cultural impact. #9 Nordea (Sweden) …  (It) was founded in 2003 and is one of the largest banks in the Nordic and Baltic regions… The bank… serves over 11 million customers. Nordea is known for its strong focus on digital innovation and sustainability. #8 Rabobank (Netherlands) … (It) was founded in 1898. Rabobank operates as a cooperative and provides a wide range of banking services to individuals, small businesses, and large corporations… The bank is known for its focus on sustainability and ethical banking practices and has a strong reputation for serving the needs of rural and agricultural communities. #7 BNP Paribas (France) … (It) is a French multinational bank and financial services company… BNP Paribas… is one of the largest banks in the world by total assets… BNP Paribas operates in over 70 countries… The bank has a reputation for its expertise in investment banking and its focus on sustainability and social responsibility. #6 Crédit Agricole (France) … Founded in 1894… Crédit Agricole is one of the largest banking groups in France and one of the largest retail banking networks in Europe… Crédit Agricole is known for… its focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. #5 DBS Bank (Singapore) … (It) was established in 1968… (and) is the largest bank in Southeast Asia by assets… The bank has a strong digital presence and is known for its focus on innovation and sustainability. DBS Bank operates in several markets…including Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and India, and serves a diverse range of customers. #4 Swedbank (Sweden) … (It) is a leading Nordic-Baltic banking and financial services group… It was founded in 1820… The bank serves over 7 million customers in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Swedbank is known for its strong digital presence and its focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. #3 Standard Chartered (UK) … The bank has set sustainability targets, such as reducing carbon emissions, financing renewable energy projects, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Standard Chartered also offers sustainable finance solutions… Additionally, the bank conducts sustainability risk assessments for its lending activities and works with clients to integrate sustainability considerations into their business strategies. #2 ING Bank (Netherlands) … ING Bank has set ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy efficiency, and move to a more sustainable workplace… ING Bank offers a range of sustainable finance solutions, including green bonds and loans, as well as advice and support to clients seeking to transition to a low-carbon economy. #1 KfW (Germany) … (It) is a German development bank that is known for its focus on sustainable finance… KfW's focus on sustainable finance has made it a leader in promoting environmental and social sustainability in the German and global financial sectors. Editors' note: The entries on this list are not placed in order of products, services, or size of customer bases, but are (at the time of publication) the current leaders globally in sustainable banking practices.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Renewable Energy Stocks Part 1 Now we turn again to the green energy sector. We start with this article titled 3 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for February 2023. It’s by Vandita Jadeja for InvestorPlace and found on investorobserver.com. Here are some quotes by Ms. Jadeja on each of her picks. “1. Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) At the top of my list is Plug Power which remains one of the best hydrogen stocks to own this month. The company is engaged in the development of hydrogen fuel systems that replaces conventional batteries… When it comes to fundamentals, Plug Power has a few vulnerabilities and hasn’t been able to beat EPS projections over the past year due to supply chain challenges when launching new products. It expects a growth of 45% to 50% this year as compared to the expectations of 80%. (Plug) recently announced a strategic partnership with Johnson Matthey or JM where JM will supply membranes, and catalysts and will help Plug in hitting the targeted revenue of $5 billion by 2026 and $30 billion by 2030. Both companies are expected to co-invest in the largest CCM manufacturing facility in the world which will begin production in 2025… PLUG is a potential leader in a hot new industry but expects the stock to take time to pick pace. 2. Livent Corp. (NYSE:LTHM) … the next on the list is a lithium stock, Livent. Lithium-ion batteries power electric vehicles and this is where the company could win. Livent Corporation is already a global player in the market and has 6 manufacturing facilities across the world. It is taking big strides to increase production across China, Argentina, and Canada… The company already has a long-term supply agreement with General Motors (NYSE:GM) to deliver lithium hydroxide starting in 2025… It has sound fundamentals and the company managed to beat EPS estimates for the last four quarters despite the market turmoil. In the last quarter, it reported a revenue of $231.6 million, up 124% from the same quarter the previous year… It was upgraded to Buy from Underperform at Bank of America last month with a price target of $26. 3. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) … is the world’s largest renewable energy company and is engaged in the production of electricity from renewable resources and the sale of electric energy across Florida. It is also involved in green hydrogen which will continue to play a huge role in the transition towards renewable energy and decarbonising the industrial areas… NextEra stock is… a solid dividend play… Since the demand for electricity does not change too much, the company remains insulated which makes NextEra one of the best renewable energy stocks to buy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Renewable Energy Stocks Part 2 My next article in the energy space is this one titled ESG Penny Stocks Every Investor Should Know About (VKIN, SPI, SAENF, HYSR). It’s by CapitalGainsReport and found on yahoo.com. Here’s some of what they have to about their stock picks. “By investing in smaller ESG stocks, investors can potentially get in on the ground floor of a promising company and benefit from its growth over time. 1. Viking Energy Group Inc. (OTC: VKIN) … is a small, yet promising player in the ESG space… the company's stock is currently trading at an attractive price… Viking provides customized energy and power solutions to commercial and industrial clients in North America and holds interests in oil and natural gas assets in the United States through a number of subsidiaries in which it holds a majority stake… The technologies covered by Viking range from carbon capture to green biodiesel production… Viking… should be at the top of any astute investor's wishlist for ESG stocks in 2023. 2. Spi Energy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPI) … is a global renewable energy company and provider of solar storage and electric vehicle solutions that was founded in 2006 in California. The company has three core divisions: SolarJuice which has solar wholesale distribution, as well as residential solar and roofing installation and solar module manufacturing, SPI Solar and Orange Power which operates a commercial & utility solar division, and the EdisonFuture/Phoenix Motor EV division… (Recently) SPI announced… ‘We are confident we will deliver between $29 million and $36 million net income for fiscal year 2023,’ said Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of SPI Energy. 3. Solar Alliance Energy (OTCMKTS: SAENF) … company primarily focuses on development, engineering, procurement, and construction of commercial and industrial solar projects, and residential solar installations in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and North (and) South Carolina. Solar Alliance Energy also offers electric vehicle charger installation services, and backup generator, home inspection, commercial generator, renewable radar, utility scale power, commercial electric vehicle charging, and data centers solutions. Last week, the company announced they had signed a contract for the design, engineering, and construction of an 872-kilowatt (kW) commercial solar project for a manufacturing company in Tennessee… 4. SunHydrogen, Inc. (OTC: HYSR) … engages in the development and marketing of solar-powered nanoparticle systems that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. Last week, Sunhydrogen shared an image of the largest version to date of its nanoparticle-based green hydrogen technology. The prototype in the photo is currently the only self-contained nanoparticle-based hydrogen generation device of its kind that splits water molecules into high-purity green hydrogen and oxygen using the sun's energy… This prototype was also designed to support 24-hour operation even when the sun is not shining… ” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: 12 Best Graphite Stocks to Invest in Today on the impactinvestor.com. By Impact Investor. 2. Title: Want to Invest in Renewable Energy but Don't Know How? Try This ETF. On fool.com. By James Brumley. 3. Title: 2 Renewable Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q4 Earnings Estimates on nasdaq.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 4. Title: The top 10 green energy stocks to invest in. It’s by Rovena Gjoni and found on green.earth.com. 5. Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Despite Lag in Hydrogen Investment on yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 6. Title: Here are my picks for the best stocks to invest $5,000 in right now. It’s by Keith Speights on fool.com. 7. Title: Renewable Energy Stocks Remain Hot Sector In ESG (VKIN, ABML, CLNV, FCEL) on yahoo.com. By CapitalGainsReport.com. Articles From Outside the US 1. UK. Title: 10 Best Stock Research Websites for Your Investing Journey on investingreviews.co.uk. By Antonia Medlicott. 2. UK. Title: Renewables: 3 UK stocks offering 5%+ yields. I've bought them all! on fool.co.uk. By Dr. James Fox. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this 100th podcast: “The Most Sustainable Banks. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next March on 10th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More… includes the following articles: “10 Most Undervalued Solar Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds,” by Fahad Saleem; “Bloom Energy and Enviva are the Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy According to Pavel Molchanov, Managing Director, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology for Raymond James.” And six additional articles too! Podcast: The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 99, February 10, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast 99 published on February 10, 2023, titled “The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, several companies are covered more than once and there are also 6 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More… Now I’m going to start with a favorite sector of this audience with this title 10 Most Undervalued Solar Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. It’s by Fahad Saleem and was found on yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Saleem. “For this article we scanned the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF holdings and listed the top solar stocks owned by the ETF. We then narrowed down to the stocks that have attractive PE ratios when compared to the green and renewable industry average PE of 83, which was calculated by NYU Stern. After applying these checks, we got a long list of solar stocks. We then picked 10 stocks from this list which had the most number of hedge fund shareholders. For that metric we used Insider Monkey’s database of 920 hedge fund holdings. (So, starting with)… 10. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15 JinkoSolar has a forward PE ratio of 8.83 as of January 27, according to Yahoo Finance… This Chinese solar stock rallied earlier in January after Roth Capital upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral… (and) also increased its price target on the stock to $70 from $50. Roth Capital cited the improving US policy situation and the potential for margin expansion on poly price declines for the upgrade. 9. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) Hedge Fund Holders: 16 With a PE ratio of under 20, Avangrid is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds. In October, Avangrid's stock price target was raised by investment firm Mizuho analyst Paul Fremont to $41 from $39. The analyst kept a Neutral rating on the shares. 8. NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE:NEP) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 With an attractive PE ratio of 12.97 and long-term growth catalysts, NextEra Energy Partners is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds… Recently, NextEra Energy Partners stock price target was increased by investment firm Oppenheimer’s analyst Colin Rusch… to $94 from $88 and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. 7. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) Hedge Fund Holders: 22 … shot up significantly when compared to the previous quarter when just 13 funds had stakes in Canadian Solar…With a PE ratio under 15 and a strong hedge fund sentiment, Canadian Solar is one of the best undervalued solar stocks to buy now according to hedge funds… Canadian Solar makes solar panels, modules, and solar power systems for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power generation. Canadian Solar is growing rapidly and has diversified its operations to offset uncertainty.  One of the biggest advantages Canadian Solar has over its peers is the company’s presence in the entire value chain of the solar industry. 6. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 With a PE ratio of just 6.6 as of market close of January 27, Clearway Energy is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds… Clearway Energy has a dividend yield of over 4% (and) is targeting annual dividend growth in the range of about 5% to 8% through 2026. Clearway Energy's balance sheet is also strong. 5. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Hedge Fund Holders: 26 With a PE ratio of 53 (compared to industry PE of 83), SunPower Corporation is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds. SunPower Corporation has lost about 16% in value over the past six months. In November, SunPower Corporation shares gained after investment firm Credit Suisse upgraded SunPower Corporation to Neutral from Underperform. The ratings upgrade came after SunPower Corporation posted strong Q3 results that beat estimates. 4. NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 NRG Energy has a PE ratio of 4.28 as of January 27 market close… It has a dividend yield of over 4%... 3. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 … up from 21 hedge funds that reported having stakes… at the end of the previous quarter… Consolidated Edison is also one of the best and most reliable dividend stocks… (it) has upped its dividends for over four decades in a row… (and) has a dividend yield of over 3%. In November… (its) shares were upgraded by… Bank of America to Neutral from Underperform (who) increased its price target for Consolidated Edison to $95 from $78. 2. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 47 … compared to 36 funds in the previous quarter. While Sunrun has a relatively high PE ratio, it makes it to our list because it has lost 22% over the past six months and analysts are hopeful… (its) shares… could perform well in the future amid long-term growth catalysts. Sunrun… is also popular among hedge funds… Sunrun says it has about 18% market share in the US solar market, while it enjoys a whopping 66% market share in solar subscriptions. 1. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 Enphase Energy… has lost about 26% over the past six months and the shares seem to have long-term growth catalysts, according to several analysts. Hedge funds also piling into this solar stock… According to Yahoo Finance, Enphase Energy stock has a forward PE ratio of 43, compared to renewable industry’s PE ratio of 83. In October, Enphase Energy shares rallied after the company posted strong Q3 results and gave bullish guidance. Enphase Energy said it plans to open 4-6 manufacturing lines in the US because of the Inflation Reduction Act.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analyst's Top Alternative Energy Stocks Continuing with the alternative energy theme is this article titled Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) and Enviva (NYSE:EVA) are the Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy According to Pavel Molchanov, Managing Director, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology for Raymond James (NYSE:RJF). Found on twst.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “This Raymond James analyst has been recognized in the StarMine Top Analyst survey, the Forbes Blue Chip Analyst survey, and the Wall Street Journal Best on the Street survey… Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE). Mr. Molchanov says, ‘Another company which will have good opportunities in Europe is Bloom Energy. Currently, Bloom is the largest provider of stationary fuel cells in the world. A fuel cell is a mini power plant. They are used at data centers, hospitals, and office buildings to provide an extremely reliable supply of electricity… Fuel cells are a solution to improving the reliability and the resilience of electricity supply for mission-critical businesses such as data centers. In addition to that, Bloom is starting to produce a second product called an electrolyzer, which is essentially a fuel cell in reverse. A fuel cell takes natural gas to generate electricity, whereas an electrolyzer takes electricity, passes it through water, and produces hydrogen. So it’s a way of making hydrogen without a fossil fuel… This is the definition of green hydrogen… Green hydrogen is defined as electrolysis of water using renewable power…’ Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) … and Bloom Energy are both companies that originally were focused on fuel cells and are now diversifying into electrolyzers… The technology platform is somewhat different, though. More importantly, Plug Power is getting into the business of producing hydrogen as a commodity — in other words, selling hydrogen fuel to end users, whereas Bloom Energy is 100% an equipment vendor. Supply chain complications have presented themselves for both of these companies… For both Plug and Bloom Energy, the opportunity in Europe with record high natural gas prices arises from the fact that electrolysis enables production of hydrogen without using natural gas… In the U.S… the Inflation Reduction Act created a first-of-its-kind subsidy for low-carbon hydrogen production that will benefit these companies and others… Recession doesn’t really matter for these companies… The demand for these products is ultimately tied to the cost of fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are expensive, that inherently bolsters demand for substitutes. As natural gas in Europe has tripled as a result of the war, that means for the first time ever, green hydrogen is actually cheaper than making hydrogen from natural gas, just like wood pellets are cheaper than burning coal.’ Enviva (NYSE:EVA) Enviva is the world’s largest provider of utility-grade wood pellets. One of the things we’ve seen in Europe, because Russia has basically cut off natural gas supply, is some utilities are needing to burn more coal. This is not only a big problem environmentally, but it’s also quite expensive… Wood pellets of the kind that Enviva makes are substitutes for coal. They are renewable because they’re made from wood, and they are also cleaner burning, without the various toxins that coal contains. Because coal is so expensive, wood pellets for the first time ever are actually cheaper than coal… Enviva is a U.S. company and… produces the wood pellets along the eastern seaboard, where there has always been a lot of forestry. But they are all shipped abroad: 80% to Europe, 20% to Japan…’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: Why AbbVie is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock. It’s by BNK Invest and found on Nasdaq.com. However, note this article titled How a Drug Company Made $114 Billion by Gaming the U.S. Patent System on nytimes.com. 2. Title: 3 Energy Mutual Funds for Fantastic Returns on news.yahoo.com. Only one is an alternative energy company. By Zacks Equity Research. 3. Title: 7 of the Most Highly Rated ESG Companies to Invest in Now. It’s by InvestorPlace and found on investorobserver.com 4. Title: 3 Solar-Energy Stocks Setting Up In Bullish Bases on nasdaq.com. By Kate Stalter on Marketbeat. 5. Title: 4 Nanocap ESG Stocks For 2023. By RazorPitch NanoCap ESG and found on yahoo.com. Article From Outside the US 1. UK. Title: Top 8 ethical pension funds for 2023 on good-with-money.com. By Lori Campbell. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More…” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next February 24th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. Plus… Includes these articles: “Corporate Knights’ 100 most sustainable companies”; “How a one-man scrap metal recycler became the world’s most sustainable corporation,” by Mike Scott; “5 Renewable Energy Companies To Support In 2023,” by Lei Nguyen; and “4 Solar Stocks Seeing Explosive Growth,” by Sejuti Banerjea. Plus, links to more Podcast: The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 98, January 27, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast 98 and published on January 27, 2023, titled “The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, several companies are covered more than once and there are also 4 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. Plus… I’m going to begin with my favorite annual sustainable company ranking. It’s Corporate Knights’ 100 most sustainable companies. The introduction is by Mike Scott and found on corporateknights.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Scott. “This year’s Global 100 ranking of the world’s most sustainable companies, now in its 19th year, reveals that the transition is gathering momentum – and that businesses that take sustainability seriously are flourishing financially. While the Global 100 is light on oil and gas companies, whose profits have soared because of rising energy prices (Finland’s Neste being the only oil company on the ranking), it still managed to outperform its blue-chip benchmark, MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index), and other ESG indices. While both the Global 100 and ACWI fell somewhat in 2022, since its inception on February 1, 2005, the Global 100 Index has generated a total investment return of 270.7% compared to 222.1% for ACWI… Rising oil prices have stimulated growth in renewables Ralph Torrie, Corporate Knights’ research director, says rising oil prices have stimulated growth in renewables, smart buildings, electric vehicles and other climate solutions, including circular economy measures… Sustainable revenue now makes up half of gross revenue for the Global 100 compared to just 5% for the wider benchmark… For every tonne of carbon they produce, Global 100 companies earn 33 times more revenue than ACWI firms… A fifth of Global 100 companies are U.S.-based… followed by Canada with 11%. However, as a region, Europe still leads the way with 44%, while Asia Pacific hosts 22% of the ranking’s companies… New entrants include pharmaceuticals In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new entrants to the index included a number of pharmaceuticals groups, such as Merck (MRK), Pfizer (PFE), Novavax (NVAX) and Gilead Sciences (GILD). Chinese electric vehicle maker NIO (NIO) and its compatriot Yadea (1585.HK), which produces electric bicycles, were also notable entrants, along with two companies from Taiwan: bicycle maker Giant (9921.TW) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (2633.TW) . Torrie says the addition of these corporations reflects the improved reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors from companies in the region… Methodology Corporate Knights’ 2023 ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations is based on a rigorous assessment of more than 6,000 public companies with revenue over US$1 billion. All companies are scored on applicable metrics relative to their peers, with 50% of the weight assigned to sustainable revenue and sustainable investment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. Plus… Now Mike Scott writes about this year’s no. 1 ranked company in Corporate Knights Global 100 with this piece titled How a one-man scrap metal recycler became the world’s most sustainable corporation. Again it’s on corporateknights.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Scott says about this unusual sustainable corporate champion. “Schnitzer Steel's (SCHN) rapid ascension to the top of the Global 100 highlights the growing importance of both the circular economy and low-carbon metals in the energy transition… It began in 1906 as a one-man scrap metal business in Portland, Oregon, called Alaska Junk Company… However, during its long history, Schnitzer Steel has developed into a global leader in the collection, processing and sale of the world’s most recycled product: steel… about a third comes from forging recycled scrap steel into finished products in electric arc furnaces that are powered by hydropower, making the metal extremely low carbon… In 2019, the company set about bolstering its framework by adopting specific goals and metrics to track progress. These included… reaching net-zero GHG emissions for all operations (steel manufacturing, metals recycling and auto dismantling) by 2050… This year, Schnitzer’s emissions were 24% lower than in 2019… Recycling metals, while essential to the circular economy, can be a hazardous business. Its Pick-n-Pull car recycling subsidiary paid US$2.5 million in 2022 to settle allegations from 14 district attorneys in California that the company had illegally disposed of toxic materials and had stormwater pollution issues… A few years ago, Schnitzer Steel was also involved in a legal dispute with the Oakland Athletics baseball team over the presence of a metals shredding plant near the team’s proposed new ballpark on the waterfront. An appeals court ultimately sided with the company. Reduce, reuse, recycle Schnitzer’s approach to sustainability has ultimately paid off, with the company returning a top-quartile performance on a range of Global 100 indicators. It saw a 74% increase in energy productivity over last year and made significant improvements in water (69%) and carbon (55%) productivity. It also scored well for its proportion of non-male board members (five out of nine are women) and racially diverse executives, while it also saw a significant drop in its worker injury rate. The company’s ranking also received a boost by its linking of its CEO’s pay to the achievement of sustainability targets… and its policy of offering paid sick leave. As for the profit side of things, last year was the second-best year in the company’s history.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Renewable Energy Companies To Support In 2023 Now we return to one of our favorite sectors with this article titled 5 Renewable Energy Companies To Support In 2023. It’s by Lei Nguyen and found on earth.org. Here are some brief quotes from Mr. Nguyen on each of his picks. “1. Canadian Solar (CSIQ) … is a solar energy company with headquarters in Ontario that specialises in the design, production, and sale of solar modules, inverters, system kits, and utility-level products. The company, which was founded in 2001, has subsidiaries across six continents and has active clients in over 160 nations. The business adheres to fair trade practices and neither buys conflict minerals nor uses child labor. For Canadian Solar, the well-being of its more than 13,500 workers is of utmost importance. It also takes environmental protection and conservation very seriously. 2. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) Located in Canada… the corporation has a global portfolio of renewable energy-generating installations. In addition to its primarily focused on hydroelectric power operations, it also owns and manages wind, solar, distributed generation, and storage facilities… The company is able to save about 29 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the emissions of approximately 6 million vehicles. 3. Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO) … is a Denmark-based wind energy company. It creates, produces, and installs wind turbines. The business also runs a service component that offers service contracts, replacement parts, and related services. The company provides wind turbines for numerous nations across the world… Their sustainable energy solutions have already prevented 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 from being released into the environment and contributed to a more sustainable energy system, with +145GW of wind turbines installed in 85 countries. 4. Clearway Energy (CWEN) With extremely effective natural gas-powered facilities, it complements its portfolio of wind and solar energy. Additionally, Clearway sells its power through PPAs, which give the business a consistent stream of income. In 2022, the company sold its thermal division, bringing in $1.35 billion in cash that is being reinvested in the expansion of its operations. Clearway Energy now anticipates that, as a result of its transactions, it will be able to increase its dividend toward the high end of its target range of 5 to 8% annually through at least 2026. 5. SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) Last on our list of renewable energy companies is SolarEdge Technologies, an Israeli-based company founded in 2006. SolarEdge specialises in inverter systems for solar projects all around the world… Through a series of acquisitions, it has increased the range of products it offers. These new products and services address a number of energy market segments, including solar, storage, electric vehicle charging, batteries, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), electric vehicle powertrains, and grid services solutions.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Solar Stocks Seeing Explosive Growth Continuing on our renewable energy theme is this article titled 4 Solar Stocks Seeing Explosive Growth. It’s by Sejuti Banerjea and is seen on sports.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Banerjea has to say about her four stocks. “1. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) China-based JinkoSolar is involved in the design, development, production and marketing of photovoltaic products like solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, recovered silicon materials and silicon ingots. It also provides solar system integration services and develops commercial solar power projects… In the last reported quarter, China shipments increased 500% and Europe more than 60%. The Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock has a Value Score of A and Growth Score of B. Analysts expect its revenue and earnings to increase a respective 37.2% and 93.0% this year. 2. Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY) New Mexico-based Array Technologies manufactures and supplies solar tracking systems and related products in the United States and internationally. Its SmarTrack machine learning software is used to identify the optimal position for a solar array in real time to increase energy production… The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has a Growth Score of A. Its revenues are expected to grow 19.5% this year and earnings 178.6%. 3. ReneSola Ltd (SOL) Connecticut-based ReneSola develops, builds, operates and sells solar power projects in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and elsewhere. It operates through three segments: Solar Power Project Development; Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) Services, and Electricity Generation Revenue… The Zacks Rank #2 stock has a Value Score of B. Analysts currently expect 67.4% revenue growth and 261.1% earnings growth in 2023. 4. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG) Israel-based SolarEdge Technologies designs, develops and sells a broad range of systems and solutions including direct current (DC) optimized inverter systems, power optimizers, communication devices and smart energy management solutions used in residential, commercial and small utility-scale solar installations worldwide… SolarEdge shares carry a Zacks Rank #2. Analysts expect the company to grow its 2023 revenue and earnings by 28.6% and 80.7%, respectively.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: Iberdrola Goes Big on Renewables — Even Wind Energy, Where It Dominates, on environmentalleader.com. By Ken Silverstein. 2. Title: Lucid Group: The Risk/Reward Is Attractive Now (NASDAQ:LCID) on seekingalpha.com. By Cavenagh Research. Articles From Outside the US 1. Australia. Title: 3 ASX All Ords shares I'm watching like a hawk in January on fool.com.au. By Tristan Harrison. 2. UK. Title: Investing in ESG-friendly banks on ft.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The World’s Most Sustainable Companies. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Again, wishing you, your family, friends, and colleagues, a great 2023! Talk to you next February 10th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

ESG Stock Picks for January 2023. Articles include: “Jim Cramer recommends these 5 health care stocks in 2023”; “Goldman Sachs Says Investors Should Buy These 3 Solar Energy Stocks; Sees Over 50% Upside Potential”; “12 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Invest In Heading into 2023”; “8 Best Wind Power Stocks Of 2023”; and many more Podcast: ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 Transcript & Links, Episode 97, January 13, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Though a little late, I sincerely wish you a terrific, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! So, welcome to my first podcast of 2023 episode 97 and published on January 13, 2023, titled “ESG Stock Picks for January 2023” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, several companies are covered more than once and there are also 12 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 So, let’s start with Jim Cramer recommends these 5 health care stocks in 2023, by Krystal Hur on cnbc.com. These are the five stocks with brief comments by Krystal Hur. “Danaher. Cramer predicted that the company will have a banner year in 2023 and called it ‘one of the best-run companies in any industry.’ Pfizer. Praising the vaccine maker’s acquisition of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biohaven and Global Blood Therapeutics, he said that Pfizer stock is a steal. UnitedHealth Group. Cramer said that he likes the ‘best-of-breed’ managed health care stock. Humana. He called the stock a ‘great turnaround story.’ Edwards Lifesciences. Cramer says he likes the stock because the company’s underlying business has been strong, despite the stock being down over 43% for the year.  Disclaimer; Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Danaher and Humana.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 Now back to familiar territory with this article titled Goldman Sachs Says Investors Should Buy These 3 Solar Energy Stocks; Sees Over 50% Upside Potential. It’s by TipRanks and found on yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from the story. “Banking giant Goldman Sachs believes the Inflation Reduction Act… clears the way for at least a decade-long runway for stable installation growth across all residential, commercial and utility-scale markets… We’ve used the TipRanks database to pull up three solar power recommendations by Goldman’s 5-star analyst Brian Lee. Lee has tapped these stocks as buying propositions, and sees them bringing 50% upside – or better… 1. Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) Inverters, Enphase’s chief product line, convert the DC power to usable alternating current (AC) power suitable for residential and commercial distribution… Overall, there are 17 recent analyst reviews available on Enphase shares, and these include 14 Buys and 3 Holds for a Strong Buy consensus rating. (See Enphase stock forecast on TipRanks). 2. First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) … has been in business since 1999 and is the largest US-based maker of photovoltaic (PV) panels, focuses on cutting-edge PV technology, from the manufacture of thin-film PV modules at commercial scale to the maintenance and recycling of spent panels… Wall Street takes a bullish stance on First Solar. 12 Buys and 5 Holds issued over the previous three months make the stock a ‘Moderate Buy.' (See FSLR stock forecast on TipRanks). 3. Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY) … has built its niche around solar tracker technology, needed to keep photovoltaic panels properly oriented to the sun for maximum power production… Overall, the 9 recent analyst reviews on ARRY add up to a Moderate Buy consensus rating, with 7 Buys, 1 Hold, and 1 Sell. (See Array stock forecast on TipRanks).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 Continuing on the solar theme is this article titled 12 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Invest In Heading into 2023. It’s by Mohammed Saqib, on Insider Monkey, and found on yahoo.com. Now some quotes on each stock by Mr. Saqib. “We started with the holdings of Global X Solar ETF (RAYS) and ranked its holdings using Insider Monkey's proprietary hedge fund sentiment data which tracks the holdings of over 900 elite hedge funds. 12. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20 Headquartered in Shanghai, Daqo New Energy is a global leader in the production of high-purity polysilicon for the solar PV sector… On December 5, 2022, Chao Ji, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, reduced her price target on Daqo New Energy to $70 while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. 11. Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc (NASDAQ:AY) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure is a United Kingdom-based sustainable infrastructure company that owns, operates, and invests in renewable energy, storage, efficient natural gas and heat, transmission lines, and water assets across North America, South America, and Europe. 10. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLS) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 The company sells EV Charging solutions in the United States for public and fleet electric car charging stations…. On November 16, 2022, Christine Cho, an analyst at Barclays… (said) the company is still in a strong position with improved backlog visibility and a more enticing value proposition. 9. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) Hedge Fund Holders: 22 Canadian Solar is one (of the) world's largest solar technology and renewable energy firms. The company is a major solar photovoltaic module producer and a manufacturer of battery storage projects with a diverse geographical pipeline at various stages of development. 8. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 Sunnova Energy International provides home solar and energy storage services… Sunnova Energy has roughly 195,000 subscribers… On December 13, 2022, Biju Perincheril, an analyst at Susquehanna, reiterated his Positive rating on Sunnova Energy International. 7. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Hedge Fund Holders: 26 SunPower Corporation is a leading provider of solar technology and energy services that provides fully integrated solar, storage, and home energy solutions to consumers, mainly in the United States and Canada, through a variety of hardware, software and financing options, as well as Smart Energy solutions. 6. Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY) Hedge Fund Holders: 29 Array Technologies is a global utility-scale solar tracker technology… On December 6, 2022, Michael Blum, an analyst at Wells Fargo, started covering Array Technologies… with… an Overweight rating on the stock. 5. Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) Hedge Fund Holders: 33 Altus Power is a clean energy electrification company headquartered in Connecticut, USA. The company creates and operates photovoltaic solar energy storage systems… On December 13, 2022, Ryan Levine, an analyst at Citi, reduced his price target on Altus Power to $10 while keeping a Buy rating on the stock… 4. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Hedge Fund Holders: 44 SolarEdge Technologies is an Israeli company that designs and distributes photovoltaic inverters, energy generation monitoring software, and battery energy storage devices… On December 14, 2022, Christine Cho, an analyst at Barclays, raised her price target on SolarEdge Technologies to $396 and upgraded the stock’s rating to Overweight. 3. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 45 First Solar is a global PV solar energy solutions provider and a major American solar technology company… First Solar… is the world’s largest producer of thin-film PV solar modules.­ On November 14, 2022, Corinne Blanchard, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, started covering First Solar with a price target of $180 and a Buy rating on the stock. 2. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 47 Sunrun Inc. is a company that designs and develops home solar energy systems in the United States. Furthermore, the company provides battery storage systems… On November 11, 2022, Elvira Scotto, an analyst at RBC Capital, reduced her price target on Sunrun to $42 while keeping an Outperform rating on the stock. 1. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 The company develops and manufactures microinverters, solar panels, and energy storage systems for the residential and commercial markets. Enphase Energy, Inc… operates in more than 21 countries worldwide. On October 26, 2022, Biju Perincheril, an analyst at Susquehanna, increased his price target on Enphase Energy, Inc. to $310 from $290 while keeping a Positive rating on the stock.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 From solar, now to wind power with this article titled 8 Best Wind Power Stocks Of 2023, by Cory Mitchell on forbes.com. Due to the structure of the article, I’m going to just list the company names here. Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) Northland Power (NPI.CA) Eversource Energy (ES) Iberdrola S.A. (IBDRY) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY) Boralex Inc. (BLX.CA) Orsted A/S (DNNGY) ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 Next is this article America's Most Responsible Companies 2023 by Newsweek and Statista, found on newsweek.com. Some quotes… “Newsweek has partnered with global research and data firm Statista for our fourth annual list of America's Most Responsible Companies. This year our list includes 500 of the U.S's largest public corporations.” End quotes. The top five companies are HP (HP), General Mills (GIS), Whirlpool Corporation (WHR), Merck & Co (MRK), and Clorox (CLX). ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) ESG Stock Picks for January 2023 Now many ethical and sustainable investors -- particularly if they’re looking for income -- will seek ethical dividend-paying stocks. Thus, this article is for them! It’s titled 16 Ethical Dividend Stocks to Invest in Today and is by the Impact Investor on theimpactinvestor.com. Here’re some quotes from the article. “I pride myself on being an ethical investor…. I sometimes choose ESG stocks… However, I also make investment decisions independent of ESG rankings based on my ethics. I particularly value companies that provide opportunities for advancement to all their people and help equalize access to the world’s resources. Protecting the environment also is significant for me. I also avoid ‘sin’ stocks… Of course, I expect a dividend yield from my stocks.” End quotes. Among the dividend-paying stocks The Impact Investor recommends are: Nestle SA (NSRGY), Proctor & Gamble (PG), 3M (MMM), The Clorox Company (CLX), and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX). ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: 10 Best-Performing Technology ETFs in 2022 on yahoo.com. By Omer Farooq. 2. Title: 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds on Investing usnews.com. By Jeff Reeves. 3. Title: Brookfield Infrastructure: It's Not Been This Cheap In A Long Time (NYSE:BIP) on seekingalpha.com. By Jonathan Weber. 4. Title: 10 Cheap Solar Stocks to Buy on yahoo.com. By Affan Mir. 5. Title: AvalonBay Communities a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.9% Yield (AVB) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 6. Title: Got $5,000? 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy for the Long Term on fool.com. By Reuben Gregg Brewer. 7. Title: 3 Tech Titans Worth Owning in 2023 (and Beyond) on fool.com. By Justin Pope, Will Healy, and Jake Lerch. 8. Title: The Best Energy Dividend Stock for a Decade of Passive Income on fool.com. By Matt DiLallo. Articles From Outside the US 1. Australia: Some upside surprises, and 8 ethical stocks to watch - livewiremarkets.com. By Australian Ethical. 2. Australia: ASX shares: Six sustainability ETFs worth watching on afr.com. By Tony Featherstone. 3. India: Top 10 companies in India for CSR and Sustainability in 2022 on thecsrjournal.in. By the CSR Journal. 4. Canada: 2023 Responsible Funds Guide by Corporate Knights on corporateknights.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Stock Picks for January 2023.” 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Again, wishing you and your family and friends a great 2023! Talk to you next January 27th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

The Most Ethical US Companies includes coverage of the following articles: “22 Most Ethical Companies in the US,” by Habib Ur Rehman at Insider Monkey; “Top 15 Infrastructure Companies in the US,” by Ty Haqqi, also at Insider Monkey; and “Caterpillar Leads 5 Stocks To See Infrastructure Spending Boost,” by Harrison Miller. Plus much more Podcast: The Most Ethical US Companies Transcript & Links, Episode 96, December 16, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 96 published on December 16, 2022, titled “The Most Ethical US Companies” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. Also, note several companies are covered more than once and there are also six article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. Also, I’m taking some time off over the holidays, so my next episode of this podcast will be Friday, January 13, 2023! ------------------------------------------------------------- The Most Ethical US Companies The first article I’m covering today is titled 22 Most Ethical Companies in the US. It’s by Habib Ur Rehman at Insider Monkey and found on yahoo.com. Mr. Rehman describes how they arrived at choosing these companies and then offers commentary on each one. “For our list of the 22 most ethical companies in the US, we’ve ranked them based on how many times they’ve been hailed as honorees for being ethical up until 2022 by Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in assessing ethical businesses. We’ve also mentioned each company’s ESG-risk scores from Sustainalytics, a premier ESG grader… It assigns quantitative risk scores between 0 and 50 to corporations… and classifies them into any of… five risk categories: Negligible (0-10) Low (10-20), Medium (20-30), High (30-40), and Severe (40-50). 22. V.F. Corporation (NYSE:VFC) Ethisphere Honoree: 6 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 12.9 21. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) Ethisphere Honoree: 7 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 19.4 Oshkosh Corporation is a… machinery company that manufactures military vehicles, fire apparatus and truck bodies among others. 20. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Ethisphere Honoree: 7 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 17 19. The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) Ethisphere Honoree: 8 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 19.1 The Allstate Corporation is one of the biggest insurance companies in the United States. 18. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) Ethisphere Honoree: 8 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 14.2 17. CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE) Ethisphere Honoree: 9 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 6.9 CBRE is a… commercial real-estate investment company based in Dallas, Texas. 16. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) Ethisphere Honoree: 10 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 16.5 15. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Ethisphere Honoree: 10 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 15.6 14. Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC) Ethisphere Honoree: 11 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 13.5 Henry Schein is a… multinational supplier of healthcare products and services. 13. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) Ethisphere Honoree: 11 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 7.1 12. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) Ethisphere Honoree: 12 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 17 11. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Ethisphere Honoree: 12 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 15.2 10. ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE:MAN) Ethisphere Honoree: 13 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 10 ManpowerGroup is… the third largest staffing company in the world. 9. Teradata Corporation (NYSE:TDC) Ethisphere Honoree: 13 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 17.4 Teradata Corporation is a… software corporation that provides analytics software. 8. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) Ethisphere Honoree: 13 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 16.8 7. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) Ethisphere Honoree: 13 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 13.2 Salesforce is a major… software company based in San Francisco, California. 6. Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Ethisphere Honoree: 14 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 17.7 5. Premier, Inc. (NASDAQ:PINC) Ethisphere Honoree: 15 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 19.9 Premier is a… healthcare company. 4. Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) Ethisphere Honoree: 15 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 19.4 Cummins is a… machinery company. 3. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) Ethisphere Honoree: 15 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 16.6 2. Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Ethisphere Honoree: 16 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 16.9 1. Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE:JLL) Ethisphere Honoree: 15 Times / ESG-Risk Score: 6.8 Jones Lang LaSalle… has provided its Science-Based-Target-initiative (SBTi) aligned to the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 15 Infrastructure Companies in the US Here’s another analyst from Insider Monkey, Ty Haqqi, with his analysis titled Top 15 Infrastructure Companies in the US. Also, on yahoo.com. Again, the writer explains how they picked these companies. He then follows with brief outlines of each company. All market caps are as of December 3, 2022, and dollar numbers are millions of dollars. I start at #13 due to duplication of data for #’s 14 and 15. “The top infrastructure companies in the U.S. are giants of the industry… To determine these companies, we have considered their market cap, revenue, profit and assets, assigning 30% weightage to the first three criteria and 10% to the last one. 13. Construction Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROAD) Total market cap: $1,559 Total assets: $4,809 Construction Partners is one of the fastest-growing civil infrastructure companies. 12. Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ:UNIT) Total market cap: $1,770 Total profits: $124 Uniti Group is involved in the acquisition as well as construction of infrastructure pertaining to critical communication. 11. SBA Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:SBAC) Total market cap: $31,877 Total profits: $238 SBA Communications is one of several real estate investment trusts which owns and also operates wireless infrastructure. 10. Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI) Total market cap: $60,700 Total profits: $1,158 Crown Castle is a real estate investment trust and also provides shared communication infrastructure. 9. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NASDAQ:PAA) Total market cap: $8,548 Total profits: $593 Plains All American Pipeline is engaged in pipeline transport. 8. Sempra (NYSE:SRE) Total market cap: $52,157 Total profits: $1,318 Sempra is an energy infrastructure company. 7. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) Total market cap: $42,707 Total profits: $1,784 Kinder Morgan is the biggest energy company in the U.S. 6. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) Total market cap: $58,821 Total profits: $3,005 Norfolk Southern operates more than 19,000 miles (of railways) in 22 states in the Eastern side of the U.S. and Norfolk Southern Corporation is also responsible for the maintenance of 28,400 miles. 5. American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT) Total market cap: $102,140 Total profits: $2,568 American Tower provides wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in the United States and several other countries worldwide. 4. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) Total market cap: $67,382 Total profits: $3,781 CSX is one of the biggest railroad companies in the U.S. 3. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Total market cap: $132,016 Total profits: $6,523 Union Pacific is the biggest railroad company in the U.S. as well as among the top infrastructure companies in the U.S. 2. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) Total market cap: $155,037 Total profits: $14,159 Comcast is one of the biggest conglomerates in the world and is the second largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world in terms of revenue. 1. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Total market cap: $135,556 Total profits: $20,081 AT&T (is) the largest telecom company in the world.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Caterpillar Leads 5 Stocks To See Infrastructure Spending Boost Continuing on the theme of infrastructure is this article Caterpillar Leads 5 Stocks To See Infrastructure Spending Boost, by Harrison Miller, found on investors.com’ Here are some quotes from Mr. Miller on each of his picks. “All of the companies should see a boost from the recent infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. The infrastructure spending plan… will dole out more than $500 billion for various projects. And the Inflation Reduction Act includes $369 billion to expedite mining projects and build out renewable energy infrastructure. 1. Caterpillar Stock (CAT) The construction giant has rallied nearly 50% since bottoming in late September, and saw positive earnings and revenue growth the past two quarters. 2. United Rentals (URI) Earnings growth for the world's largest equipment rental company fluctuated over the past seven quarters, averaging roughly 40% gains during that time. 3. Terex Stock (TEX) Materials processor and machine maker Terex… earnings and revenue jumped 79% and 13%, respectively, for the most recent quarter after three periods of decelerating gains. 4. Deere Stock (DE) Agriculture equipment manufacturer Deere’s… shares are way up after a big run going back to late September. 5. Martin Marietta Stock (MLM) The building materials and concrete supplier shed 19% from its stock price so far this year, but started to recover at the beginning of the summer.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid U.S.-EU Trade Rift Now back to our old familiar sector, alternative energy, with this article titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid U.S.-EU Trade Rift. It’s by Zacks analyst Aparajita Dutta. And found on sports.yahoo.com. (Note, some of you might have concerns about the designation of ‘alternative energy’ being applied to two of the stocks.) Now some quotes from Ms. Dutta. “The forerunners in the U.S. alternative energy industry are Texas Pacific Land, HF Sinclair and Clearway Energy. 1. HF Sinclair (DINO) Based in Dallas, TX, this company is an energy company, which produces and markets light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel and other specialty products… HF Sinclair currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. Texas Pacific Land (TPL) Based in Dallas, TX, Texas Pacific Land is one of the largest landowners in the State of Texas operating under two business segments: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations… Texas Pacific Land currently carries a Zacks Rank #1. 3. Clearway Energy (CWEN) Based in San Francisco, CA, Clearway Energy owns, operates and acquires renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure projects.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1) From Canada, Title: 3 Best-in-Class Stocks to Build Long-Term Wealth on fool.ca. By Robin Brown. 2) Title: 14 Best Environmental Stocks to Buy Now on yahoo.com. By Omer Farooq. 3) Title: 10 Most Responsible Retailers of 2023 on risnews.com. By Liz Dominguez. 4) Title: 8 Best Solar Power Stocks Of 2022 on forbes.com. By Cory Mitchell. 5) Title: 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds | Investing on money.usnews.com. By Jeff Reeves. UK article Title: Best ESG ETFs to Buy UK in 2022 on investingreviews.co.uk. By Antonia Medlicott. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Most Ethical US 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now I’m taking some time off over the holidays, so my next episode of this podcast will be Friday, January 13, 2023! I wish you and your family and friends a most joyous, healthy, and fulfilling holiday period! Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm Stocks episode includes these articles: “Top 5 Floating Wind Farm Stocks: Which Companies Are Going Deep In Clean Tech?”; “11 Best Wind Power and Solar Stocks To Buy”; “3 Alternative Energy Stocks That Could Power Higher in 2023”; “Find Renewable Income With These Alternative Energy Dividend Stocks” and several more Podcast: Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 95, December 2, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 95 published on December 2, 2022, titled “Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm Stocks.” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. Also, note several companies are covered more than once and there are also four article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm Stocks Now beginning with the lead article which is titled Top 5 Floating Wind Farm Stocks: Which Companies Are Going Deep In Clean Tech? It’s by Q.ai on forbes.com. Here are some quotes. “Floating offshore wind farms are on their way to becoming a viable green energy solution for mass consumption. 1) NextEra Energy (NEE) On a global scale, the company is one of the top producers of both wind and solar energy… Back in 2021, the company submitted multiple proposals to build offshore wind farms. 2) Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY) Vestas Wind Systems has over 25 years of experience in the offshore energy industry… The company has stayed on the cutting edge of both floating offshore wind power and fixed-bottom turbines. 3) General Electric (GE) GE is also diving into the world of green energy. Recently, it announced its own floating wind turbine project that is currently underway. The company continues to invest in offshore wind farm technology, and the resources behind this classic blue chip give it an edge over the competition. 4) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) Brookfield Renewable is one of the largest publicly traded renewable energy companies… In 2022, Brookfield partnered with SSE Renewables to participate in an offshore wind farm project off the coast of the Netherlands. 5) Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE.MC) This company is focused on developing wind power. Beyond major installations, the company is committed to producing 100% recyclable turbines by 2040.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm Stocks Continuing on the renewable energy theme is this article titled 11 Best Wind Power and Solar Stocks To Buy. It’s by Ramish Cheema on yahoo.com. Here he explains his methodology and a few quotes on each of his picks. “We studied both the solar and wind power energy industries to take a look at which firms are providing their services and products. The selected companies are ranked through hedge fund holdings gathered via Insider Monkey's Q3 2022 survey of 920 funds. 11. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWDRY) (And again.) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Vestas Wind Systems is a Danish wind turbine company… (It) has 138 gigawatts of active wind service contracts, and an average duration of 10 years per contract… Additionally, the firm also has $18.6 billion in equipment order backlogs and a stronger $30.8 billion in service contract backlogs… 10. Northland Power Inc. (NPIFF) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Northland Power is a Canadian company that generates electricity from… wind, solar, natural gas, and hydro-power… Northland Power is aiming to grow its operating income by a strong 7% to 10% CAGR between 2022 and 2027. 9. Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Siemens Energy is a German company that is one of the oldest of its kind as it was set up in 1866 and is headquartered in Munich. The firm sells equipment such as steam and gas turbines, electrical systems, offshore wind farm connectors, wind turbine designs, and maintenance services for wind farms. 8. Ørsted A/S (DNNGY) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Ørsted A/S is a Danish company that builds, develops, and operates onshore and offshore wind farms and solar farms. It… has facilities in the U.K., Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Ørsted A/S is the largest company in the world when it comes to onshore wind farms. 7. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) (Yes again.) Hedge Fund Holders: 19 Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. is a Bermuda based company that generates power through several renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass… The firm also has a massive development pipeline in the U.S., the total planned capacity of which is greater than 60 gigawatts across the different sources that it uses for power generation. 6. Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY) Hedge Fund Holders: 29 Array Technologies is an American company that provides solar tracking systems. These include hardware such as a single axis tracking system and software that uses machine learning to boost energy production… Array Technologies, Inc. is uniquely suited to grow… as its products form the backbone of operating solar farms. 5. TPI Composites, Inc. (NASDAQ:TPIC) Hedge Fund Holders: 29 TPI Composites is a backend wind power equipment provider. The firm makes and sells wind turbine blades and assembly solutions. It is a global firm with operations in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, and Africa. TPI Composites has a whopping $2.7 billion of incoming revenue from contracts until 2024. 4. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 Enphase Energy, Inc. is a pureplay solar energy company. The firm makes and sells solar power products such as inverters and battery storage systems. Enphase Energy’s third quarter saw the firm report a stunning 80% annual revenue growth, with its European revenue posting a 70% growth… Consequently, Enphase Energy’s shares are up by 69% year to date. 3. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) (Yes, again.) Hedge Fund Holders: 73 NextEra Energy generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas. The firm (is) responsible for providing 5% of the country’s electricity… Additionally, roughly 95% of the firm’s power generation is served through clean energy sources including natural gas, wind, and solar. 2. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 88 Tesla, Inc. is the world’s largest electric vehicle company… it also sells solar panels and storage systems. Tesla’s latest quarter saw the company grow its solar deployments to 94 megawatts for a 13% annual growth. The growth was fueled by residential power projects. During the same quarter, Tesla’s energy storage platforms grew to a whopping 2.1 gigawatts, for a new record that saw the company continue to face higher demand than it can supply. 1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-A) Hedge Fund Holders: 104 Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American investment firm that has interests in a host of different businesses such as consumer technology, energy, automotive, insurance, banking, and finance… Berkshire Hathaway Inc. operates in the renewable energy sector through its Berkshire Hathaway Energy division.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Alternative Energy Stocks That Could Power Higher in 2023 It seems financial analysts in the ESG space predominantly write about alternative and renewable energy. So, here’s yet another article. It’s titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks That Could Power Higher in 2023 and by Joey Frenette on tipranks.com. Here are some of his comments. “Alternative energy stocks have been under considerable pressure this year as fossil fuel plays bounced back. As rate hike fears blow over, the following three green energy plays may be ripe for picking up. 1) Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) (And again.) Brookfield Renewable Partners is a renewable power play down more than 40% from its all-time high hit in January 2021… (it’s) stock stands out as one of the better values in the green energy industry. The 4.3% dividend yield may not be the biggest of the batch, but it looks more sustainable than that of some of its peers… Recently, the firm teamed up with Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) to acquire nuclear service firm Westinghouse Electric Company. Such a deal gives Brookfield some unique exposure beyond just wind and solar. 2) NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) (And yet again!) NextEra Energy is a $167.6 billion energy behemoth that’s done a better job of holding its own amid this market sell-off than some of its smaller peers… With a modest 2% dividend yield and a stretched 43.5x trailing earnings multiple, NextEra Energy stock may seem like a less exciting way to play the next era of energy… but its renewable business is proliferating. 3) Algonquin Power & Utilities (NYSE:AQN) Algonquin Power stock made new multi-year lows following a quarterly flop (EPS of $0.11 versus the $0.17 estimate) and a guidance downgrade. The stock is now down around 58% from its peak, and the massive 9.4%-yielding dividend looks at risk… After such a vicious post-earnings drop (around 35%), the stock trades at 2x sales and just 1x book value. That’s one of the best deals in the alternative energy space today. ------------------------------------------------------------- Find Renewable Income With These Alternative Energy Dividend Stocks And yes, another article in the renewables theme titled Find Renewable Income With These Alternative Energy Dividend Stocks. By Bob Ciura on realmoney.thestreet.com. Now some comments by Mr. Ciura on each stock. “1) Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) (Yet, again!) Brookfield Renewable Partners operates one of the world's largest portfolios of publicly traded renewable power assets. Its portfolio consists of about 23,000 megawatts of capacity in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. It is also important to note that hydroelectric energy generates about 70% of the total funds from operations of the company… Brookfield Renewable Partners is currently offering a 4.3% dividend yield, with a payout ratio of 78%. 2) Clearway Energy (CWEN) Clearway is a large renewable energy player, with more than 5,500 net MW of installed wind and solar capacity. Approximately 2,500 net megawatts of the company's energy comes from natural gas generation facilities… Clearway has ample room for future growth, as it has a development pipeline of more than 26 MW. Thanks to the expected approval of rate increases by regulatory authorities and acquisitions of existing renewable energy projects, the company is likely to continue growing its cash flow per share at a mid-single digit rate in the upcoming years. Clearway is currently offering a 4.2% dividend yield, with a payout ratio of 49%. 3) Aris Water Solutions (ARIS) Aris Water Solutions is an environmental infrastructure and services company, which provides water handling and recycling solutions. Its produced water handling business gathers, transports and handles produced water generated from oil and natural gas production… The infrastructure of the company serves major oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin, helping them to achieve their sustainability goals. Moreover, Aris Water Solutions has a much stronger balance sheet than Brookfield Renewable Partners and Clearway.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: Beyond Meat Is Struggling, and the Plant-Based Meat Industry Worries in nytimes.com. By Julie Creswell. 2. Title: 12 Best ESG Stocks To Buy Now on yahoo.com. By Insider Monkey Team. 3. Title: Top Clean Energy ETFs in 2022 on nasdaq.com. By Prableen Bajpai. UK article Title: Are these 3 high-dividend renewable energy stocks no-brainer buys now? On fool.co.uk. By Alan Oscroft. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Floating and Onshore Windfarm 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. 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on December 16th. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… Articles include: “12 Best Alternative Energy Stocks To Buy Now”; “3 Stocks to Buy in CleanE energy”; “3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Too Cheap to Ignore”; “3 Renewable Energy Stocks You Should Be Buying Before 2022 Is Over”; ”10 Cheap ESG Stocks to Buy Now”; and seven more! Podcast: Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 94, November 18, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 94 published on November 18, 2022, titled “Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. There are also seven article links below that time didn’t allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… Now I’m going, to begin with, four articles recommending specific alternative energy-related stocks. The first article is titled 12 Best Alternative Energy Stocks To Buy Now by Hamna Asim on Yahoo.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Hassim. “We selected the following clean energy stocks based on growth fundamentals, positive analyst coverage, and strong market visibility. We have arranged the list according to the number of hedge fund holders in each firm, tracked by Insider Monkey as of the second quarter of 2022… 12. FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10 FuelCell Energy operates in the renewable energy, fuel cells, carbon capture, and energy storage industries.  11. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) Hedge Fund Holders: 16 JinkoSolar is a solar panel manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, China. It is one of the most popular clean energy stocks on Wall Street. 10. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA) Hedge Fund Holders: 17 Ormat Technologies is a Nevada-based company that specializes in​​ alternative and renewable geothermal energy technology. 9. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) Hedge Fund Holders: 19 Brookfield Renewable Partners owns and operates renewable power assets including hydroelectric plants, wind farms, solar facilities, and energy storage facilities. 8. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 SunPower Corporation is a California-based company focused on developing photovoltaic solar energy generation systems and battery energy storage products for residential customers. 7. Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) Fund Holders: 24 Bloom Energy Corporation is a California-based company that manufactures and markets solid oxide fuel cells that produce electricity on-site. 6. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 Sunnova Energy International is a Texas-based company that provides residential solar energy systems in the United States. 5. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 26 First Solar is an Arizona-based company that provides photovoltaic solar energy solutions in the United States, Japan, France, Canada, India, Australia, and internationally. 4. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 36 Sunrun is a California-based company that designs, develops, installs, and maintains residential solar energy systems in the United States. 3. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Hedge Fund Holders: 40 SolarEdge Technologies is an Israel-based company that designs, develops, and sells direct current optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations worldwide. 2. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 53 Enphase Energy is a California-based company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells home energy solutions for the solar photovoltaic industry in the United States and internationally. 1. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 NextEra Energy is a Florida-based company that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… The second article is titled 3 Stocks to Buy in CleanE energy. By Amber Lancaster on banyanhill.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Lancaster says about each of her picks. “1. General Motors (NYSE: GM) … is a worthy competitor with Tesla in the EV space. GM is investing in forward-thinking technologies that focus on zero-emission EV batteries. And it anticipates producing 1 million EVs by 2025. 2. Livent (NYSE: LTHM) … produces the lithium compounds used in EVs, Polymers, Lithium alloys, High-performance lubricants, And much more. 3. ChargePoint Holdings (NYSE: CHPT) … is the largest public charging network in North America. It offers a fully integrated charging solution with hardware, software and servicing.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… The third article is titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Too Cheap to Ignore. By Adam Othman at The Motley Fool Canada on ca.finance.yahoo.com. Here are some brief quotes on Mr. Othman’s recommendations. “1. Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN) … is a $10.88 billion market capitalization subsidiary of a massive alternative investment management company. The company owns and operates a growing portfolio of diversified and renewable power assets located worldwide… As of this writing, the stock trades for $39.53 per share, boasting a 4.24% dividend yield. 2. Northland Power (TSX:NPI) … is a $9.49 billion market capitalization power producer headquartered in Toronto. The company develops, owns, and operates a portfolio of clean and green energy infrastructure assets worldwide. The company primarily focuses on creating offshore wind farms. 3. TransAlta Renewables (TSX:RNW) … is a $3.90 billion market capitalization renewable energy company headquartered in Calgary… its lower valuation has inflated its payouts to a juicy 6.42% dividend yield. Despite its declining share price performance on the stock market, the company is solid.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best Alternative Energy Stocks. Plus… And the fourth article is 3 Renewable Energy Stocks You Should Be Buying Before 2022 Is Over. It’s by Christopher Liew also at The Motley Fool Canada and on ca.finance.yahoo.com. As per the previous article, Mr. Liew also recommends TransAlta Renewables (TSX:RNW) and Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX:BEP.UN). His third recommendation is Boralex (TSX:BLX), which he says: “Develops and acquires renewable energy production sites that deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns on invested capital… The total return in 3.01 years is 85.68%, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.82%... the stock pays a modest 1.71%. The $3.95 billion company operates in North America and Europe.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Cheap ESG Stocks to Buy Now The last article I’m covering is titled 10 Cheap ESG Stocks to Buy Now. It’s by the Insider Monkey Team and found on yahoo.com. Now some brief quotes from their article. “For our list of 10 Cheap ESG Stocks to Buy Now, we took 10 stocks with a forward P/E of under 15 that were among Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV)'s top 33 holdings as of 11/8/2022 in terms of % of the fund. Using the collective wisdom of hedge funds, we ranked the 10 based on the number of hedge funds in our database that owned shares of the same stock at the end of Q2 2022. 10. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 58 In its ESG 2021 report, Verizon Communications said it is working to achieve net zero emissions in its operations by 2035… In 2021, Verizon Communications also made a multi-year pledge of $3 billion ‘to uplift vulnerable communities, help close the digital divide, and contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGs. As part of this we are providing 10 million youths with digital skills training, supporting 1 million small businesses with tech resources and tools and upskilling 500 thousand individuals with tech training, all by 2030.’ 9. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) Hedge Fund Holders: 63 Cisco Systems has a goal to reach net zero across scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2040… Cisco Systems also contributed $477 million in cash and in kind contributions to community programs in FY21. 8. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) Hedge Fund Holders: 66 Broadcom's ESG initiatives include donating more than $1.2 million for COVID-19 relief in 2021 as well as launching the Diversity@Broadcom initiative to encourage a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community. 7. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) Hedge Fund Holders: 69 Bristol-Myers Squibb is an ESG leader as the company has committed to reducing its total energy use by 15% and to reduce water usage in all its facilities. (It) also hopes to provide equal opportunities to its employees and is committed to supporting the U.N. principles on human rights. 6. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Hedge Fund Holders: 70 Pfizer is a leading ESG company given it prioritizes the health and well-being of society and the environment in which the company operates. The company has also focused on climate change impact mitigation as well as the reduction of waste arising from its operations. 5. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) Hedge Fund Holders: 71 AbbVie Inc. has an environmental goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 25% from its 2015 baseline and to reduce its waste created by its businesses. The company has also been very inclusive with 51% of its management positions held by women. 4. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Hedge Fund Holders: 79 According to the company in August, Merck is on track to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2025 and to source 100% of its purchased electricity from renewables in the same year. In 2021, Merck also increased representation of women globally to 36% up from 31% in 2020. 3. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) Hedge Fund Holders: 99 Bank of America has long had a commitment to environmental sustainability as the company has goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its financing activities, operations and supply chain before 2050. 2. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) Hedge Fund Holders: 104 JPMorgan Chase as the leading bank has a sustainable development target to finance and facilitate over $2.5 trillion over 10 years to help address climate change and promote sustainable development. 1. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) Hedge Fund Holders: 184 Meta Platforms ranks among the leading ESG companies given that its mission is to give people the power to build community and to bring the world closer together. Meta Platforms has also worked to build a diverse and inclusive workplace and is striving for net zero value chain emissions in 2030.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1) Title: International Business Machines a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 4.8% Yield (IBM) on etfchannel.com. By ETF staff. 2) Title: FIS Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on Nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 3) Title: 15 Largest Renewable Energy Companies by Market Cap on yahoo.com. By Muhammad Jamal Akbar, Insider Monkey. 4) Title: Zacks Market Edge Highlights: SQM, ALB, JKS, PXD, NEE on yahoo.com. By Zacks Equity Research. 5) Title: Renewable energy stocks: Three that could benefit from the green transition on capital.com. By Angela Barnes. 6) Title: Here are stocks with excellent vital signs in the health-care sector on cnbc.com. By Dave S. Gilreath. UK article Title: 10 Best Sustainable Investments UK for November 2022 on business2community.com. By Connor Brooke. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Alternative 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 terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on December 2nd. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The Winning ESG Companies articles include: “11 Best ESG Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Al Gore”; “Top 12 ESG Companies in 2022”; “IBD’s 100 Best ESG Companies For 2022”; “Investing in green energy here are the top 5 stock picks”; “Capital Keeps Flowing Into Green Bonds Despite Inflation Challenges”; and much more this episode… Podcast: The Winning ESG Companies Transcript & Links, Episode 93, November 4, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 93 published on November 4, 2022, titled “The Winning ESG Companies” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) The Winning ESG Companies Now the content of this first article will likely interest most of you. It’s titled 11 Best ESG Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Al Gore and found on yahoo.com. It’s by Vardah Gill. Al Gore is a former U.S. Vice President, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and well-known for his environmental advocacy and investment management skills. He co-founded Generation Investment Management. Here’s some of what Mr. Gill has to say. Incidentally, quoted dividend yields are as of October 28. “For this list, we selected stocks from Generation Investment Management's 13 F portfolio as of Q2 2022… Moreover, these companies pay dividends to shareholders. The stocks are ranked according to their stake values in the hedge fund's portfolio. 11. Microchip Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ:MCHP) Generation Investment Management's (G-I-M’s) Stake Value: $76,630,000 Microchip Technology Incorporated is an Arizona-based manufacturing company that specializes in microcontrollers, mixed-signal, and other related circuits… It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.301 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.94%. 10. The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO) GIM’s Stake Value: $394,222,000 The Cooper Companies currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.015 per share, with a dividend yield of 0.02%. 9. Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) GIM’s Stake Value: $408,039,000 Carlisle Companies Incorporated is an Arizona-based manufacturing company that specializes in a wide range of products including optical fibers and defense electronics… it pays a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.24%. 8. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) GIM’s Stake Value: $486,718,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific is an American supplier of scientific instruments, reagents, and other software products… It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share with a dividend yield of 0.24%. 7. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) GIM’s Stake Value: $552,560,000 Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor company that also specializes in cloud computing and data centers…. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.365 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.19%. 6. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) GIM’s Stake Value: $555,224,000 Applied Materials is a California-based manufacturing company that supplies services and software for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips… The stock has a dividend yield of 1.19%. 5. Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) GIM’s Stake Value: $649,049,000 Analog Devices is an American semiconductor manufacturing company that specializes in data conversion, signal processing, and power management technology… (It has) a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share and… a dividend yield of 2.13%. 4. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) GIM’s Stake Value: $789,414,000 Becton, Dickinson and Company is a New Jersey-based multinational medical device company… It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, with a dividend yield of 1.49%. 3. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) GIM’s Stake Value: $800,177,000 The Charles Schwab Corporation is a Texas-based financial services company that offers investment and commercial banking services to its consumers… The stock has a dividend yield of 1.11%. 2. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) GIM’s Stake Value: $836,163,000 Baxter International is an American multinational healthcare company that specializes in kidney diseases and other chronic conditions… It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.09%. 1. Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) GIM’s Stake Value: $850,637,000 Equifax, a Georgia-based credit bureau company… Last year… announced that it will achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040… It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.94%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) The Winning ESG Companies This next article is also fascinating. You’ll see in a moment. It’s titled Top 12 ESG Companies in 2022 on yahoo.com. By Fahad Saleem. Here are some quotes from Mr. Saleem… “For this article we used the latest datasets of Just Capital a not-for-profit founded in 2013 by popular individuals like billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, Deepak Chopra, Rinaldo Brutoco, Arianna Huffington, Paul Scialla, Alan Fleischmann, among others. Just Capital ranks the largest US companies based on their performance related to issues concerning environment, workers, customers, communities and shareholders… We focused more on the environmental aspect of the ESG matrix of these companies… 12. Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC) Exelon Corporation is an Illinois-based utilities services company that owns nuclear, fossil, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar generating facilities… claims to be the largest producer of zero-carbon electricity in the U.S. 11. PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) … in January last year announced that it plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain by 2040. 10. Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) In September last year, Cisco Systems Inc announced plans to reach net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2040. 9. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) In 2019, it became the first US telecom company to issue a green bond. The offering raised about $1 billion in net proceeds. Verizon Communications has announced plans to generate renewable energy equivalent to 50% of its annual electricity consumption by 2025.  8. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) The company says it’s building a digital version of our planet on which it’ll apply its AI and Omniverse technologies to predict weather changes and their effects over a span of several decades. NVIDIA Corporation GPUs will also be used to power the Department of Energy’s supercomputer called ‘Kestrel’ which is dedicated to advanced energy solutions. 7. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) … has an ambitious goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. 6. PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) Payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc announced last year that it plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. 5. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) … has set a goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 4. Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM) … announced in September 2021 that it achieved net-zero residual emissions across its full value chain and met its 100% renewable energy goal for its operations. 3. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) … plans to become carbon neutral by 2030… By 2050, Microsoft plans to remove the ‘historical emissions’ it created since its founding. 2. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) Earlier this year, Intel Corporation announced plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations by 2040. 1. Alphabet Inc. Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) … is the top ESG company in 2022, thanks to the billions of dollars’ worth of ESG-related investments and ambitious goals it has set for the betterment of the environment. In its 2022 ESG report, the parent of Google said that it issued a whopping $5.75 billion in sustainability bonds, easily surpassing all peers in the industry.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) The Winning ESG Companies Now to the first of our two company ranking lists. The reviewing article is titled IBD’s 100 Best ESG Companies For 2022. It appears on investors.com and is by Kathleen Doler. Now some quotes from Ms. Doler. “Topping the list this year is Worthington Industries (WOR). J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) took second place. And rounding out the top three is data analytics provider Verisk Analytics (VRSK). All 100 companies on our 2022 list ranked in the top 15% of Dow Jones ESG scores and had an IBD Composite Rating of 81 or better (on a scale of 1 to 99), as of Aug. 31… Technology behemoths Texas Instruments (TXN) and Apple (AAPL) finished fourth and fifth respectively.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) The Winning ESG Companies The second company ranking also has an intriguing background. It’s called The Humankind 100 and this list is found on their site humankind.co. Here are some quotes from their site. “The Humankind 100 list is compiled annually by the research team at Humankind Investments, an investment manager whose mission is to invest in the manner that is best for humanity. You can learn more about the Humankind Value methodology by visiting our research or articles pages… Humankind 100 companies tend to contribute positively to humanity, for example by providing access to food, clean water, healthcare, or free digital services.” End quotes. Incidentally, though Humankind purports a unique methodology, they arrive at pretty much the same companies as most other 'best company ESG' lists. Nonetheless, they have an interesting concept that will appeal to many ethical and sustainable investors. Their top five companies are Alphabet, Inc. (GOOGL), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Pfizer Inc. (PFE), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ). ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) The Winning ESG Companies Now back to a favorite sector with this article. It’s titled Investing in green energy here are the top 5 stock picks on londonlovesbusiness.com. It’s by LLB Finance Reporter. Here are some brief quotes with their picks. “With the green energy industry continually expanding, Maxim Manturov, Head of Investment Advice at Freedom Finance Europe, explores which companies are promising investment choices within the sector… (He chooses) Tesla (TSLA) Plug Power (PLUG) Enphase Energy (ENPH) Sunrun (RUN) First Solar (FSLR).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Keeps Flowing Into Green Bonds Despite Inflation Challenges Finally, we have this article titled Capital Keeps Flowing Into Green Bonds Despite Inflation Challenges by Ben Hernandez on etftrends.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Hernandez says. “One option for fixed income investors looking for ESG bond exposure who also want the yield that corporate bonds can offer is the Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB). Additionally, the fund doesn’t command a high premium with its low expense ratio of 0.12% and a 30-day SEC yield of 5.51%, as of October 17. (This bond fund) seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg MSCI US Corporate SRI Select Index, which excludes bonds with maturities of one year or less and with less than $750 million outstanding, and it is screened for certain ESG criteria by the index provider, which is independent of Vanguard… The fund has a discerning screener. This adds an air of purity for VCEB’s holdings, avoiding any greenwashing with a keen focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. (It’s) highlights: Provides debt issues screened for certain ESG criteria. Specifically excludes bonds of companies that the index sponsor determines are involved in and/or derive threshold amounts of revenue from certain activities or business segments related to adult entertainment, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, nuclear weapons, controversial weapons, conventional weapons, civilian firearms, nuclear power, genetically modified organisms, or thermal coal, oil, or gas. Excludes bonds of companies that, as determined by the index sponsor, do not meet certain standards defined by the index sponsor’s ESG controversies assessment framework, as well as firms that fail to have at least one woman on their boards.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- One Other Honorable Mention Title: Top 5 Renewable Energy Stocks For Q4 2022 on forbes.com. By Q.ai. Canadian article Title: 10 Best ESG ETFs in Canada for Ethical Investing in (2022) - on savvynewcanadians.com. By Enoch Omololu. India article Title: Best ESG Funds in India: How Are They Different from Other Mutual Funds? On indmoney.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Winning ESG 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. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on November 18th. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Geothermal and Medical Stocks podcast includes these articles: “6 Best Geothermal Stocks To Buy”; “12 Best Ethical Stocks To Buy Now”; “The biggest carbon losers”; “Amid Fixed Income Calamity, Green Bonds Look Interesting”; “5 green companies to invest in and why they will multiply your investment by 20x”; plus, UK articles and more Podcast: Top Geothermal and Medical Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 92, October 21, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 92 published on October 21, 2022, titled “Top Geothermal and Medical Stocks” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowedFwor. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top Geothermal and Medical Stocks One type of terrific renewable energy getting increasing attention is geothermal. This is an interesting article on some of the top producers. It’s titled 6 Best Geothermal Stocks To Buy by Hamna Asim on yahoo.com. Here are some quotes. “Geothermal energy refers to heat from within the sub-surface of the earth… However, electricity generation is possible only near active geothermal regions… We have arranged the list according to the hedge fund sentiment around the securities… assessed from Insider Monkey’s database of 895 elite hedge funds tracked as of the end of the second quarter of 2022.  6. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA) Hedge Fund Holders: 17 Ormat Technologies was founded in 1965 and is based in Reno, Nevada. The company engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power businesses in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, and Honduras… JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse on August 8 raised the price target on Ormat Technologies, Inc. to $97 from $90 and maintained a Neutral rating on the shares… 5. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)  Hedge Fund Holders: 32 … is based in Springfield, Massachusetts, operating as a public utility holding company engaged in the energy delivery business… Eversource Energy’s Geothermal Pilot Program will generate an affordable and low-carbon source of heating and cooling for residents and businesses… Eversource Energy delivers a 3.38% dividend yield as of October 6.  Mizuho analyst Paul Fremont raised the price target on Eversource Energy to $94 from $91 and reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. 4. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 Chevron announced in February 2021 that it is making an investment in Baseload Capital AB, a Swedish private investment company engaged in developing and operating low-temperature geothermal and heat power assets. On September 26, Chevron Corporation and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. announced a Joint Collaboration Agreement to survey the technical and commercial suitability of advanced geothermal power generation in Japan… Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd on September 12 raised the price target on Chevron Corporation to $190 from $189 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares. 3. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) Hedge Fund Holders: 109 Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified American conglomerate with interests in multiple businesses including insurance, utilities, freight rail transportation, energy, and more. Berkshire Hathaway Energy generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal sources. Edward Jones analyst James Shanahan upgraded Berkshire Hathaway Inc. to Buy from Hold on September 12. 2. Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. (PIF.TO) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Polaris Renewable Energy was incorporated in 1984 and is based in Toronto, Canada. The company engages in the acquisition and development of renewable energy projects in Latin America. Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. operates a 72 MW net geothermal facility in Nicaragua, as well as hydroelectric facilities and solar projects… On September 28, National Bank analyst Rupert Merer initiated coverage of Polaris Renewable Energy with an Outperform rating and a C$21 price target. 1. Climeon AB (publ) (STO:CLIME-B.ST) Hedge Fund Holders: N/A Climeon was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Kista, Sweden. The company provides heat power systems in Sweden and the rest of Europe, as well as Asia. Climeon AB serves the geothermal, industrial processes, oil and gas, and maritime industries. Its Heat Power System technology utilizes low temperature geothermal energy and wasted heat energy emitted from engines and industrial processes to produce electricity.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Top Geothermal and Medical Stocks Here’s another article by Insider Monkey. This is titled 12 Best Ethical Stocks To Buy Now and is seen on yahoo.com. Here is a quote on their methodology and brief comments on each of their picks. Incidentally, only two are non-medical. “We… ranked them from #12 to #1 based on the number of hedge fund holders in our database that held each stock at the end of Q2 2022. 12. GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) Hedge Fund Holders: 34 GlaxoSmithKline develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over the counter medicines and health related consumer products globally. 11. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) Hedge Fund Holders: 54 Deere & Company manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery and more. 10. Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) Hedge Fund Holders: 54 Biogen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers therapies for treating neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. 9. Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) Hedge Fund Holders: 55 Amgen discovers, develops manufactures and delivers human therapeutics worldwide. 8. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Hedge Fund Holders: 58 Gilead Sciences is a pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines in areas of unmet medical need. 7. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) Hedge Fund Holders: 69 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide… the company offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology and more. 6. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Hedge Fund Holders: 70 Pfizer discovers, develops, manufactures and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The company… is also a leader in COVID-19 vaccines. 5. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Hedge Fund Holders: 70 Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. 4. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) Hedge Fund Holders: 71 AbbVie discovers, develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide… including potential therapies in blood cancer treatment. 3. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 72 Tesla is a leading electric vehicle manufacturer that also manufactures and sells battery energy storage and solar panels. 2. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Hedge Fund Holders: 79 Merck & Co. is a healthcare company with two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. Merck & Co., Inc.’s pharmaceutical segment offers products in areas such as oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience and more. 1. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Hedge Fund Holders: 83 Johnson & Johnson researches and develops and sells products in various healthcare fields worldwide. The company’s pharmaceutical segment offers products and researches products for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and much more.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The biggest carbon losers – by Corporate Knights Now many ethical and sustainable investors review the carbon intensities of companies before considering them for investment. In that light is this article. It’s titled The biggest carbon losers. It’s by Toby Heaps at Corporate Knights on corporateknights.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “This year, Corporate Knights set out to identify global companies that have decarbonized faster than their peers while simultaneously increasing revenue. Our researchers evaluated the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of more than 6,500 publicly traded companies. We eventually whittled the list down to 20 corporations from eight sectors that cut the most carbon over the last decade… Many are far from sustainability leaders. They’re among the world’s largest oil majors, coal burners and mining corporations. About two-thirds of the GHG reductions achieved by these companies were genuine from the planet’s perspective… Italian electricity and gas distributor Enel topped the Carbon Reduction 20 ranking… According to calculations by Corporate Knights, these 20 companies funnelled just 35% of new investments in 2021 toward the sustainable, low-carbon economy, as defined by the Corporate Knights Sustainable Economy Taxonomy… 12 of the 20 funnelled more cash to shareholders and top executives than to growing their low-carbon sustainable business offerings… Note… we didn’t include Scope 3.” End quotes. Incidentally, the list and details of the 20 companies are found at the bottom of the article. ------------------------------------------------------------- Amid Fixed Income Calamity, Green Bonds Look Interesting Now let’s talk green bonds with this article titled Amid Fixed Income Calamity, Green Bonds Look Interesting. It’s by Tom Lydon on etftrends.com. Now some quotes from Mr. Lydon. “Data suggest demand for green bonds is perking, indicating the VanEck Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB) could be a fixed income exchange traded fund worthy of evaluation. (The fund) tracks the S&P Green Bond U.S. Dollar Select Index, is down year-to-date, but that negative performance could belie opportunity with green bonds. Additionally, data confirm some investors remain enthusiastic about this still young corner of the global bond market… ‘Companies and governments around the world raised more than $54 billion in green bonds last month, compared with more than $35 billion raised in August, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That’s despite overall bond issuance in the U.S. and Europe dropping significantly…’ reports David Caleb Mutua for Bloomberg.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 green companies to invest in and why they will multiply your investment by 20x And, lastly, we have this article titled 5 green companies to invest in and why they will multiply your investment by 20x. It’s by Market Trends on analyticsinsight.net. Here are some quotes on each of their picks which include some eco-tokens. “1) First Solar Inc. (ticker: FSLR) With a large manufacturing presence in the U.S., this solar panel builder will be among the biggest winners from the Inflation Reduction Act… The company stands alone in the industry with its differentiated semiconductor and streamlined manufacturing process, which yield unparalleled quality and reliability.  2) Tamadoge Tamadoge is the first meme coin with different features like metaverse, NFT store, and P2E crypto game setup with absolute utility… Since the Tamadoge ecosystem needs less energy to function, it ranks as the best eco-friendly crypto to buy during an energy crisis. 3) Powerledger (POWR) … was an Ethereum token established in 2016/17 that powers the Powerledger platform. It debuted on Coinbase in November 2021, with the token’s price rising rapidly even while most cryptocurrencies fell in a market-wide crash.   4) Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Although competition has increased recently in the EV sector, there is still one undisputed king: Tesla… Plus, the company is a two-for-one green investment by making traditional solar panels as well as photovoltaic shingles. 5) IMPT.io IMPT.io connects users with hundreds of impactful environmental projects around the world with the purpose to reduce carbon emissions and help our planet. IMPT.io also engages thousands of the largest retail brands that allocate a specific percentage of sale margin for environmental projects.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title: GIS Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on Nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 2) Title: 2 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch This Week on Nasdaq.com. By Joe Samuel. UK article Title The magnificent seven: The top sustainable funds outperforming their sectors on Trustnet.com. By Matteo Anelli. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Geothermal and Medical 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. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on November 4th. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks. Includes articles with these titles: “Health Care Stocks: Reviewing The Best Of The Industry”; “3 Biotech Stocks For Your October 2022 Watchlist”; “7 Topflight Green Energy Stocks Investors Need To Know For 2022”; “11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Now”; “Best Infrastructure ETFs for Q4 2022.” And more Podcast: Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 91, October 7, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 91 published on October 7, 2022, titled “Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles where you’ll find much more great company information. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks Now, almost all ethical and sustainable investors have health care stocks and or funds. So, I want to lead off with this article titled Health Care Stocks: Reviewing The Best Of The Industry. It’s by Q.ai and appears on forbes.com. Here are some quotes from the article on each of the recommended stocks. “1) UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) UnitedHealth's stock has been a solid performer with strong growth over the past five years… The company provides health insurance policies for consumers and is expanding to offer policies through the ACA marketplace in many states. 2) Cigna (NYSE: CI) Cigna is one of the oldest health insurance companies in the U.S. It was founded in 1792 and continues to operate using solid operating principles that enable it to survive and thrive as a company… analysts agree this stock is currently undervalued. 3) Cardinal Health (NYSE: CH) Cardinal Health provides health care services across the U.S. and abroad. It seeks to provide affordable health care services. 4) Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ: ACHC) Acadia Healthcare focuses on providing mental health care to patients across the country… The company is poised for growth as the emotional toll of the pandemic drove more people to seek out therapy in large numbers. 5) Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) The company is famous for its monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 and is engaged in further research to uncover more applications for the treatment… Its stock price shot up in the early days of the pandemic and has yet to lose significant value. 6) AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN) AstraZeneca is an international pharmaceutical company that makes drugs for the prescription and non-prescription markets. It manufactures the popular acid reflux medication Nexium and multiple medicines for the treatment of diabetes. AstraZeneca's focus on making medications for the long-term management of health care makes it an excellent stock to buy and hold. 7) Novartis (NYSE: NVS) Novartis is an international pharmaceutical company that researches and manufactures medication for treating serious illnesses… The company has been underperforming in the health care sector but is unlikely to go under any time soon. 8) Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) Bristol-Myers Squibb is a U.S.-based, multinational pharmaceutical company that researches and manufactures medication for use at the prescription and over-the-counter levels. It's a Fortune 500 company… founded in 1887 and has shown its capability to be a medical innovation leader. 9) Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) Abbott Laboratories is involved in developing and manufacturing medical devices, diagnostic tools, generic and branded medications and nutritional products. 10) AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) AbbVie split off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013 to focus on medical research. The company seeks to find ways to improve patients' lives through the use of pharmaceuticals in areas that include oncology, neuroscience, virology, women's health and eye care. 11) Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) Johnson & Johnson, also known as J&J, is a well-known brand that produces a wide variety of health care products at the consumer and medical industry levels. The company has been in trouble for different issues… Despite these issues, the company has gained almost 35% over the past five years. 12) Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) Pfizer made waves in the health care industry when it released its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to help control the spread of the virus. The stock has trended higher in the past five years. 13) Merck (NYSE: MRK) Merck is a global pharmaceutical and health care company researching and producing human medications, biological therapies, vaccines and animal health medications and products. 14) Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) Novavax is an American company that primarily produces vaccines for emergent and established viruses. It currently has an authorized COVID-19 vaccine and has multiple COVID-19 vaccines in various stages of clinical trials. It also has vaccines for Ebola, MERS and SARS in clinical trials. 15) CVS (NYSE: CVS) CVS is a retail pharmacy chain that operates the retail pharmacy chain CVS, (and) CVS Caremark, which manages pharmacy benefits, health insurance provider Aetna, and owns multiple brands. 16) Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) Teladoc Health engages in telemedicine and e-healthcare services for patients unable to reach a physical health care location… Its stock price spiked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but has given up its gains since the beginning of 2021.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks Continuing with the health care theme we have this article titled 3 Biotech Stocks For Your October 2022 Watchlist which is found on streetinsider.com. Here are some quotes from the article on each stock. “1) Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) … is a leading biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative medicines… (an) emphasis on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. 2) BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) … develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics for patients with serious and life-threatening rare genetic disorders. 3) Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) (Yes, again!) Pfizer's primary businesses are pharmaceuticals, biologics and vaccines, consumer healthcare, and animal health.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks Now we turn our attention back to familiar ground with this article titled 7 Topflight Green Energy Stocks Investors Need To Know For 2022. It’s again by Q.ai and also on forbes.com. Now some quotes from the article. Quote… “1) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) … generates electricity with hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass sources. The company has a globally diversified portfolio of renewable power assets… They’re also investing in emerging future technologies like green hydrogen. 2) Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Tesla also has a proven track record, and the company has been generating substantial profit from its regulatory credits. 3) First Solar Inc. (FSLR) … is one of the leading solar panel makers worldwide… manufactures thin-film solar panels… First Solar has been investing heavily to increase its solar panel manufacturing capabilities. 4) Stem Inc. (STEM) Stem is a global leader when it comes to AI-enabled smart energy storage. 5) Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) … provides an alternate energy technology by focusing on providing an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production to storage. 6) Clearway Energy (CWEN) … is one of the biggest operators and developers of clean energy in the US. The company is presently focused on solar and wind generation projects. 7) NextEra Energy (NEE) They’re currently one of the largest wind and solar energy producers worldwide… They also announced a plan to eliminate carbon emissions totally from operations by 2045.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks So here’s a second article on the green energy theme. It’s titled 11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It’s by Usman Kabir and found on insidermonkey.com. Here are some brief quotes from Mr. Kabir on each company. Starting at… “11) Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: OPTT) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3      Ocean Power Technologies makes and sells systems that generate power by harnessing the energy of ocean waves. 10) Sunworks, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3      … markets photovoltaic and battery-based power and storage systems… The stock has benefited from the rising prices for solar cells in the past few months, partly because of supply chain problems that are also affecting other industries. 9) TPI Composites, Inc. (NASDAQ: TPIC) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12 TPI Composites manufactures and sells composite wind blades, and related precision molding and assembly systems to original equipment manufacturers. The company is one of the most prominent clean energy stocks to invest in. 8) Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13       Canadian Solar designs, develops, manufactures, and sells solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power and battery storage products. 7) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19      Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. owns a portfolio of renewable power generating facilities primarily in North America, Colombia, Brazil, Europe, India, and China… (It) has an impressive dividend profile. 6) Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21    Clearway Energy operates as a renewable energy company in the United States. On June 28, the company announced that it had agreed to purchase a portfolio of operating wind projects from Capistrano Wind Partners… the portfolio consists of five utility-scale wind projects.” 5) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) (Yes, again.) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26   Plug Power delivers end-to-end clean hydrogen and zero-emissions fuel cell solutions for various sectors… On September 8, the company announced that it had secured the largest multi-site electrolyzer order in Europe to date. 4) First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) (And again!) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26   First Solar provides photovoltaic solar energy solutions globally. It is one of the elite clean energy stocks to invest in. On September 19, the company announced that it had signed a deal to supply 600 MW of advanced thin film photovoltaic solar modules to Azure Power Global (NYSE: AZRE), an India-based firm. 3) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40     SolarEdge Technologies designs, develops, and sells direct current (DC) optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations worldwide. 2) NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) (Yes, a second time here.) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59   NextEra Energy transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The firm is among the best clean energy stocks to invest in… It has consistently paid a dividend to shareholders for the past thirty-two years. 1) Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) (Yes, and again.) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72  Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles, and energy generation and storage systems. The company is one of the most prominent clean energy stocks to invest in.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure Stocks Also, a favorite for ethical and sustainable investors is infrastructure. Check out this article titled Best Infrastructure ETFs for Q4 2022. It’s by Noah Bolton on investopedia.com. Now some very brief quotes from Mr. Bolton. “1) SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF (GII) (This ETF) tracks the S&P Global Infrastructure Index, an index comprised of the 75 largest infrastructure-related stocks based on float-adjusted market capitalization. 2) iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) (Like the first fund, this ETF) tracks the S&P Global Infrastructure Index. This fund is multi-cap and uses a blended approach, focusing its holdings on companies in developed markets. The utilities and transportation sectors comprise about 79% of the fund’s holdings. 3) iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) (This ETF) tracks the NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure Index, which tracks the performance of U.S. stocks in a broad range of areas including energy transport and storage, railroads, construction, and engineering services.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- UK articles – not in any order 1) Title: The best renewable energy funds to buy now on MoneyWeek.com. By Max King. 2) Title: Best ESG Funds In October 2022 on standard.co.uk. By Andrew Michael. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Healthcare, Green Energy, Infrastructure 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. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on October 21st. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022 includes coverage of the following stocks: Life Time, Hurtigruten, Panera Bread, Yeti, Toro, Ecolab, Colgate-Palmolive, Tesla, Beyond Meat, Microsoft, Aflac, Enphase Energy, Intuit, Adobe, Waste Management, Chipotle, PepsiCo. Plus: First Trust Water ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Fidelity US Sustainability Index Fund, Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Podcast: Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022 Transcript & Links, Episode 90, September 23, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 90 published on September 23, 2022, titled “Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022 I’m beginning with this article which lists some intriguing companies not regularly featured in these podcasts. The title of the article is 10 Most Sustainable Companies 2022 and found on Worth.com. Here are the public companies on the list with brief quotes from the article. 1. Life Time: Healthy People + Healthy Planet (NASDAQ: LTH) Today, the company offers nearly 160 sprawling athletic country clubs, a handful of coworking and residential complexes, and the rights to numerous marquee sporting events such as the Miami Marathon and the annual ‘Race Across The Sky’ in Colorado. With sustainability at the forefront of his business model, (Bahram Akradi, the founder,) has relentlessly pushed his staff… In July of this year, his efforts to reduce Life Time’s carbon footprint earned him recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which named his business the top-ranked company in the country for energy reduction. 2. Hurtigruten: Cruising towards a Carbon Neutral Future (Oslo: HURT) Hurtigruten Group was established in 1893 by Norway’s government as a means for connecting people living along the country’s jagged coastline and fjords, shipping goods, and delivering mail. Nearly 130 years later, the company has emerged as the most innovative, technologically advanced, and sustainable cruise line in the world… 3. Panera Bread: Cool Meals for an Overheated Planet (NASDAQ: PNRA) Carbon-friendly food, it turns out, is good for the planet and business; recent reports found that 6 in 10 Americans say that sustainable food is important to them and a significant driver of brand loyalty. 4. Yeti: Hard Goods Built to Last (NYSE: YETI) Part of the customer appeal of YETI’s famous drinkware line is its value as an alternative to single-use, disposable plastic cups and thermoses… One hundred percent of YETI packaging will be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025… In 2020 YETI surpassed $1 billion in revenue and in 2021 reached global sales of $1.4 billion. 5. Toro: Harnessing Massive Reach and New Tech for Maximum Impact (NASDAQ: TTC) Its Flex-Force power system of interchangeable, battery-powered yard equipment has given it a certain ‘Tesla-like’ status in neighborhoods across the country. 6. Ecolab: Water Preservation at Scale (NYSE: ECL) Ecolab (is) a $15 billion a year company specializing in water treatment, purification, cleaning, and hygiene in various applications. Every major corporate water preservation initiative in the news, from the Manchester United football club to Kraft Heinz to Hilton Hotels, has Ecolab’s fingerprints. 7. Colgate-Palmolive: Taking Ownership on a Global Scale (NYSE: CL) Colgate is not afraid to upend the status quo if it means lowering the environmental footprint of its products.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022 Now we turn to another list titled Best Sustainable Investing Funds to Watch in 2022. It’s by Kane Pepi on business2community.com. It’s a UK article but has relevance globally. Here is Mr. Pepi’s list with some quotes from him on each fund. “1. First Trust Water ETF (FIW) The First Trust Water ETF is benchmarked to the ISE Clean Edge Water Index. As such, this is one of the most popular sustainable ETFs to provide investors with a way of gaining exposure to the shortage of drinkable water… The First Trust Water fund was created in 2007… (and) up by almost 80% over the previous five years of trading. MSCI ESG Rating: AAA 2. KraneShares Global Carbon ETF (KRBN) This ETF is benchmarked to the IHS Markit Global Carbon Index. The sustainable index fund tracks the most actively traded carbon credit futures contracts and provides comprehensive coverage of cap-and-trade carbon allowances… KraneShares Global Carbon began trading as recently as 2020.  Since then, the fund has increased by almost 100%. MSCI ESG Rating: N/A – Undisclosed 3. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Makes investments in firms operating in the biofuels, geothermal, wind, hydroelectric, ethanol, and solar sectors of the worldwide green power sector… it has over $5.7 billion in net assets. MSCI ESG Rating: AA 4. Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) … invests in renewable power and tracks the MAC Global Solar Energy Index (SUNIDX)… In order to account for relevant taxes for non-resident investors, the index is calculated using net returns… The inception year for this fund was 2008… Invesco Solar is trading almost 300% higher than it was five years ago. MSCI ESG Rating: A 5. First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) This is one of the most sustainable index funds in the market for those interested in green investment funds and energy companies within the US… (The fund) was made public in 2007… (It) has increased by 254% over the five years. MSCI ESG Rating: A 6. Fidelity US Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) … only holds securities with excellent MSCI ESG ratings. This fund’s benchmark is the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index. MSCI ESG Rating: AAA 7. Global X CleanTech ETF (CTEC) … aims to mimic the Indxx Global CleanTech Index’s price and yield performance, prior to fees and charges… the Global X CleanTech ETF seeks to invest in… businesses engaged in the improvement of home and commercial energy efficiency and those that specialize in the creation of renewable power… (The fund was listed in) 2020. It has increased a little over 10% since its inception. MSCI ESG Rating: A 8. BGF Sustainable Energy A2 USD Launched in 2001, this BGF sustainable energy fund invests at least 70% of its total assets internationally. Notably, there are numerous different units, albeit, for the purpose of this analysis we focus on A2 USD… There are 49 holdings in this Blackrock sustainable fund… it has an asset net value of over $6.3 billion. MSCI ESG Rating:  AA 9. Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) The Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund tracks the FTSE4Good US Select Index… Strict exclusionary ESG filters are applied by the Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund… The net assets in this sustainable investment fund have a value of almost $14 billion… (The) Fund has been around since 2019… (It’s) price has increased by over 46% since its inception. MSCI ESG Rating: AAA 10. VanEck Vectors Environmental Services ETF (EVX) The VanEck Environmental Services ETF closely monitors, before fees and costs, the price and performance of the NYSE Arca Environmental Services Index (AXENV). The fund monitors the overall performance of businesses engaged in soil remediation, wastewater management, trash collection, transfer, and disposal, recycling, and environmental consultancy… VanEck Vectors Environmental Services ETF has risen by over 78% over five years. MSCI ESG Rating: AA.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022 Now from the same busines2community.com site, we have the article Best Ethical Investing Stocks to Watch in 2022 by Michael Graw. Here’s his selection of companies with some brief comments on each one. “1. Tesla (TSLA) Tesla was kicked out of the S&P 500’s ESG stocks index earlier this year. That’s because the company receives low scores for its social impact and governance, and Tesla has been criticized for racism and poor work environments. Still, because of Tesla’s environmental impacts, many investors still consider it an ethical investment. ESG rating: 91 2. Beyond Meat (BYND) Beyond Meat is a meatless food producer that’s reinventing what a veggie burger can be… The fast food chain Mcdonald's decided not to go ahead with Beyond Meat burgers on a wide scale after an initial test, although other fast food chains have adopted Beyond Meat products… Some Wall Street analysts believe Beyond Meat is valued appropriately at its current price. But more bullish analysts suggest the stock could jump to $35 per share, which would represent a gain of nearly 65% from current prices. ESG rating: 47 3. Microsoft (MSFT) The company’s goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, then offset all prior emissions by 2050… Microsoft also prides itself on the company’s social impact. The company has been outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights and integrates supportive symbols into products like the Xbox. ESG rating: 76 4. Aflac (AFL) ... has quietly been an ethical leader within the insurance industry… Aflac has also taken an active role in promoting medical research. The company donated more than $150 million to cancer research in 2021 and supported more than 140,000 pediatric cancer patients and their families during treatment. More recently, Aflac has also begun giving money towards sickle cell research and patients. Aflac stock is up more than 5% since the start of 2022… The company also pays a dividend yield of 2.61%. ESG rating: 94 5. Enphase Energy (ENPH) This company builds integrated solar panels, batteries, and micro-inverters that can be used to convert large commercial and industrial buildings to solar power. By focusing on the industrial sector, Enphase Energy has somewhat differentiated itself from solar competitors that largely rely on residential solar installations for revenue… Enphase Energy stock has gained 93% over the past year and is currently trading just below its 52-week high. ESG rating: 93 6. Intuit (INTU) The company, which makes software products like TurboTax, Quickbooks, and Mint, has achieved equal gender pay across its organization and is working towards achieving equal pay for minorities… Intuit has also promoted inclusive hiring practices in underserved communities… and investing in ‘Prosperity Hubs’ in economically depressed areas. Still… Intuit has faced criticism over some of its practices… Intuit stock is down 31% since the start of the year and is currently priced 40% below its 52-week high. ESG rating: 91 7. Adobe (ADBE) The company has ESG initiatives on multiple fronts, including achieving gender pay equity across its global operations and setting a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035… This ethical stock saw a 143% increase in price over the past 5 years… Adobe stock is down 33% so far in 2022, but analysts suggest that the company may be undervalued. ESG rating: 70 8. Waste Management (WM) The company operates hundreds of landfills around the US as well as recycling centers and fleets of trucks to collect garbage… Waste Management takes its environmental impact seriously. The company creates landfills that can be filled in and turned into parks once they’re full and has been active in promoting recycling… This ethical investing stock has… gained 6.1% year-to-date and recently hit a 52-week high. Waste Management also pays investors a dividend yield of 1.51%. ESG rating: 63 9. Chipotle (CMG) … has made significant efforts to source its ingredients in ways that are local and sustainable. The company has partnerships with thousands of small farmers and buys the majority of its meat products from certified human sources… The downside to this approach, however, is that Chipotle occasionally runs into issues with its supply chain, especially contamination… Chipotle stock is sitting at a 1.3% gain for the year so far and is nearing a 52-week high. ESG rating: 62 10. PepsiCo (PEP) PepsiCo is one of the world’s largest producers of bottled water… The company’s goal is to put more water back into each of the aquifers it uses as water sources than it takes out of them… The price of PepsiCo stock has been flat to down slightly since the start of the year, but investors can still benefit from the stock’s 2.70% dividend yield. ESG rating: 93.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title: 10 Best ESG Stocks to Invest In by Mohammed Saqib on Yahoo.com. 2) Title: Best Green Investment Funds to Watch in September 2022 on business2community.com. By Michael Graw. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Most Sustainable Stocks & Funds for 2022.” 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on October 7th. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! Inflation Reduction Act benefits solar and wind companies, particularly. Articles covered include: “11 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Now”; “6 Best Wind Energy Stocks To Buy”; “9 Best Green Stocks and ETFs to Buy”; “10 Best ESG Stocks for 2022”; “Three Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks to Buy Benefit from Fertilizer”; and more Podcast: Inflation Reduction Act: Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! Transcript & Links, Episode 89, September 9, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. It’s great to be back with you. Hope you had a wonderful August despite the woes of this world. So, welcome to my podcast episode 89 published on September 9, 2022, titled “Inflation Reduction Act: Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks!” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. Now though I’m covering 5 articles here, there are another 19 during August and early September that I found with great analyst recommendations. To see their titles and links go to this podcast’s webpage located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Inflation Reduction Act: Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! Now to this podcast. With the US Inflation Reduction Act approved and with its big support for renewable energy, there’s a reason for analysts to be optimistic for renewable energy companies. Hence, there’s been a preponderance of articles on this theme. This first article is typical and among the best, I’ve seen. It’s titled 11 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Now by Ramish Cheema on Yahoo! Finance. Here are some relevant quotes. “In order to pick out the top solar stocks for you, we… selected the relevant ones by studying their balance sheets and market performance. The companies were then ranked according to Insider Monkey's survey of 895 hedge funds for the second quarter of this year. (Starting at) 11. Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MAXN) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10 Maxeon… is a Singaporean company that designs, manufactures, and sells solar panels and associated components. It serves both residential and commercial customers and offers its products both directly and through dealers… Morgan Stanley increased Maxeon’s share price target to $21 from $14 in August 2022. 10. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13 Canadian Solar is a solar energy company that sells… solar wafers, solar ingots, solar cells, and battery storage solutions in Asia, America, Europe, and other countries. In addition… the company also provides electricity and maintenance services for solar generation equipment. It is headquartered in Guelph, Canada… Management expects sales to grow by another lofty 35% this year. JPMorgan raised Canadian Solar Inc.’s share price target to $42 from $38 in August 2022. 9. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) (Ron’s comment: As a sought of addendum to this company, it’s still concerning to many people that this company maybe using forced labor, particularly in light of the new UN report on forced labor in China. Now back to the podcast.) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16 JinkoSolar…is a Chinese company that designs, produces, and sells photovoltaic and other products such as silicon wafers, silicon ingots, solar modules, and solar cells. The company… sells its products all over the globe including the U.S, Mexico, Japan, and U.A.E. 8. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19 Brookfield Renewable Partners is an electricity generation company that uses renewable energy sources such as wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar. The firm… is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. (It’s) one of the largest renewable power generation companies in the world. 7. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21 SunPower… is an American company that provides solar energy products and services to home builders, government entities, residential customers, financial institutions, independent power producers, and electric utilities. (Also) provides solar, storage, and home energy solutions. SunPower's latest quarter saw it report a whopping 60% rise in quarterly sales… Morgan Stanley raised SunPower's share price target to $31 from $22 in August 2022. 6. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLS) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23 Shoals Technologies… is an electrical systems provider for solar energy products that is headquartered in Portland, Tennessee, United States. The company provides several components such as cable assemblies, fuses, connectors, and wireless monitoring systems. Roth Capital increased Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.'s share price target to $40 from $20 in August 2022. 5. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26 First Solar… is an American photovoltaic solar product provider that is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona… (It’s) one of the largest beneficiaries of the Inflation Reduction Act… (and) already has a manufacturing footprint in the U.S. and plans to increase it because of the new legislation… Piper Sandler increased First Solar’s… share price target to $165 from $120 in August 2022. 4. Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26 Array Technologies… is an American company that provides a solar tracking system based on machine learning software that identifies optimal positions for a solar array to generate electricity. The company is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico… Its trackers improve electricity output by 25%... Following an acquisition earlier this year, Array Technologies… is also the largest solar tracking company in the world. Truist raised Array Technologies’ share price target to $23 from $13 in August 2022. 3. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36 Sunrun… is an American residential solar energy systems provider. It provides products such as panels, racks, solar leads, and battery storage. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Morgan Stanley increased Sunrun’s share price target to $79 from $70 in August 2022. 2. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40 SolarEdge Technologies… designs and sells DC inverter systems for solar power installations. The company has its customers located all over the globe and some of its products include inverters, power optimization systems, communications systems, and a cloud based monitoring platform. It is headquartered in Herzliya, Israel. JPMorgan raised SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.’s share price target to $419 from $373 in August 2022. 1. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72 While the firm is primarily known for its cars, it also sells solar energy generation and storage products to commercial, residential, and industrial users… Canaccord raised Tesla, Inc.’s share price target to $881 from $815 in August 2022.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Inflation Reduction Act: Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! From solar companies, we now turn to the wind companies favored by analysts with this article 6 Best Wind Energy Stocks To Buy. It’s by Ronald Kaufman on bestocks.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Kaufman has to say. “1. Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO) Denmark-based. When it comes to wind power, Vestas is unrivaled worldwide… Vestas is one of the few major pure bets on wind energy since it focuses only on wind turbines.  2. Boralex, Inc. (BLX.TO) Boralex is a renewable energy power plant developer, builder, and operator in Ontario, Canada. The business provides wind, hydro, thermal, and solar services. Boralex announced on June 2 that the NY Energy Research and Development Authority had chosen five of its solar farms to receive renewable energy credits. 3. General Electric (NYSE.GE) The company intends to concentrate on aviation after spinning off its healthcare division in 2023 and its renewable energy, electricity, and digital division in 2024… Although General Electric is not a pure bet on wind energy, it does provide investors with exposure to the industry in the short term; when the company is eventually broken up, investors will have a more specialized choice. 4. Northland Power, Inc.  (NPI.TO) Northland Power, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, is a worldwide power company dedicated to generating energy from renewable sources. The firm manages various renewable energy projects, including onshore and offshore wind farms, efficient natural gas facilities, and solar power plants. 5. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE.MC) Siemens Gamesa, headquartered in Spain, is a world-renowned innovator in wind power… In addition, the firm’s principal shareholder, Siemens Energy (OTC: SMEG.F), is involved in efforts to create wind-powered green hydrogen technology for the company.  Siemens Gamesa has been having problems in recent years owing to a patent battle with GE… Beginning in 2022, the International Trade Commission denied all GE complaints. 6. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE.NEE) NextEra Energy is a conglomerate whose divisions sell and serve electric electricity and energy infrastructure. In addition, this firm offers electric utility services and maintains a diversified renewable energy industry.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! 9 Best Green Stocks and ETFs to Buy. And, yes, some more green stocks with this article titled 9 Best Green Stocks and ETFs to Buy. It’s by Matt Whittaker on money.usnews.com. You can read Mr. Whittaker’s more detailed description of each of his 9 picks by clicking the link to his original article on this podcast’s webpage. So his 9 picks are First Solar Inc. (FSLR) Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Fisker Inc. (FSR) Stem Inc. (STEM) NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! 10 Best ESG Stocks for 2022. Now, how about some top ESG picks with this article titled 10 Best ESG Stocks for 2022. It’s by Andrew Lisa on gobankingrates.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Lisa on his picks. “1. Linde (LIN) The UK-based gas production and distribution firm Linde operates all over the world. Its sustainability initiatives include programs to reduce waste and to conserve energy and water. 2. Accenture (ACN) Based in Ireland, Accenture uses its position as a management consulting, technology and outsourcing giant… to help its client companies transition to net-zero carbon emissions, and sustainable value chains, technology and decision-making. 3. Microsoft (MSFT) … has committed to being carbon negative by 2030 — the software giant has been carbon neutral since 2012. 4. Salesforce (CRM) Cloud-based enterprise software firm Salesforce… achieved net zero carbon emissions in 2015. 5. Nvidia (NVDA) The company has pledged to source 100% of its global electricity use from renewable sources by 2025, and its GPUs are 20 times more energy efficient than traditional CPU servers. 6. Adobe (ADBE) Has committed to powering its operations through 100% renewable energy sources. 7. J.B. Hunt (JBHT) Transportation and logistics firm J.B. Hunt leads the industry in converting over-the-road shipments to intermodal transport, which is 250% more fuel efficient. 8. Best Buy (BBY) … has reduced its carbon emissions by 60% since 2009 and has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040. The company operates the largest e-waste recycling program in the world. 9. Xylem (XYL) Water technology and solutions provider Xylem is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It fosters global equity by advancing access to clean water in developing nations. 10. Texas Instruments (TXN) Semiconductor and integrated circuit producer Texas Instruments received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for six straight years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Analysts’ Stock-ETF Picks! Three Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks to Buy Benefit from Fertilizer Let’s now turn our attention to an article featuring some unique socially responsible dividend-paying stocks. It’s titled Three Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks to Buy Benefit from Fertilizer by Paul Dykewicz on dividendinvestor.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Dykewicz’s article… “Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) … a dividend-paying, Fortune 500 company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, mines phosphate, potash and urea. The largest U.S. producer of potash and phosphate fertilizer. AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO) … a Duluth Georgia-based designer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, offers a path to profit from the rising demand for fertilizer, said Michelle Connell, president and owner of Dallas-based Portia Capital Management. Invesco DB Agriculture (NYSEArca: DBA) (Is) an agricultural exchange-traded fund (ETF) recommended by Bob Carlson, a pension fund chairman who also leads the Retirement Watch investment newsletter.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Again, to see those additional 19 articles not covered here, go to this podcast’s page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this page. Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1) Title Ten Clean Energy Stocks of 2022/3 - July Returns on altenergystocks.com. By Tom Konrad. 2) Title Here’s Why the Time Is Right for These Clean Energy Stocks on Nasdaq.com. By Devina Lohia. 3) Title 10 Best ESG Stocks for 2022 on fool.com. By Allison Plaut. 4) Title These 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Offer Generous Dividend Yields: Passive Income For ESG Investors on Benzinga.com. By Robert Kuczmarski. 5) Title Top Stocks to Buy, Inflation Reduction Act Props Up Investments on marketrealist.com. By Rachel Curry. 6) Title 2 ESG Stocks to Buy and Hold in 2022 on entrepreneur.com. By Pragya Pandey. 7) Title Best Alternative Energy ETFs for Q4 2022 on investopedia.com. By Nathan Reiff. 8) Title Top Alternative Energy Stocks for Q4 2022 on investopedia.com. By Nathan Reiff. 9) Title 3 Top Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now on fool.com. By Matthew DiLallo. 10) Title Two Promising ESG Investment Stocks to Drive Your Portfolio in 2022 on tipranks.com. 11) Title 10 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 10 Years on yahoo.com. By Hamna Asim. 12) Title 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy as EV Adoption Booms on yahoo.com. By Aparajita Dutta. 13) Title Best Solar Energy Stocks to Invest In 2022 on fool.com. By Matthew DiLallo. 14) Title 10 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Energy Crisis in Europe on yahoo.com. By Omer Farooq. 15) Title 7 Best Clean Energy ETFs to Buy Now | Investing | U.S. News on usnews.com. By Tony Dong. 16) Title 5 Green Energy Penny Stocks to Watch in 2022 on Investmentu.com. By Aimee Bohn. Plus articles for the UK and Australian investors 1) Title Best ESG funds on standard.co.uk. By Andrew Michael. 2) Title Top 10 most-popular investment trusts: August 2022 on ii.co.uk. By Kyle Caldwell. 3) Title 5 High-Performing Ethical Investment Funds on Canstar.com.au. By Marissa Hayden. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Inflation Reduction Act: Analysts’ Stock-ETF 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. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on September 23. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Articles covered include: “Top Alternative Energy Stocks for Q3 2022”; “Ameresco: Alternative Energy's Best Near-Term Capital Gain Prospect”; “Alternative Energy Stock Quietly Having a Great Year”; “3 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy”; “2 Unstoppable Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade”; and “3 High-Yield Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now.” And more Podcast: ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 Transcript & Links, Episode 88, July 29, 2022 Next podcast either September 2 or 9 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 88 published on July 29, 2022, titled “ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. Please note that my next podcast will be either September 2 or 9. I’m taking August off to work on some projects. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 Now it seems that most analysts’ ESG recommendations in the media continue to focus on ESG energy stocks and funds. So, I have several articles with that view. The first one is titled Top Alternative Energy Stocks for Q3 2022. It’s by Nathan Reiff. Found at investorpedia.com. Now some quotes. “Here are the top three alternative energy stocks with the best value, the fastest growth, and the most momentum… 1) Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ) Is a China-based solar energy company that manufactures polysilicon for sale to manufacturers of solar cells and modules. The company also manufactures photovoltaic wafers. Daqo reported earnings for Q1 2022 on April 21. Net income attributable to shareholders surged by over sixfold while revenues quintupled year-over-year (YOY). This performance was driven in part by a jump in polysilicon sales volume. 2) Excelerate Energy Inc. (EE) Is a liquified natural gas (LNG) company. It offers regasified natural gas delivery, storage, and other related services. It has operations around the globe. On May 20, the company reported that it had signed a 10-year contract with a subsidiary of Gasgrid Finland Oy to charter a floating storage and regasification vessel. The vessel will serve Finland and the Baltic region with liquefied natural gas and related services. 3) Iberdrola SA (IBDRY) Is a Spain-based multinational electric utility company. The company engages in the generation, distribution, and trading of electricity. It specializes in clean energy, including onshore and offshore wind, and solar energy.” End quotes. My comment about Daqo. It’s still being accused of using forced labor. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 Now, here’s the second article in this ESG energy stocks theme titled Ameresco: Alternative Energy's Best Near-Term Capital Gain Prospect. By Peter F. Way on seekingalpha.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Way’s blog. “A 3-5 month prospect from here of Ameresco share prices could reasonably range from a $46.00 low to $58.80 high from its present price of $47.30, a +24.3% gain. From Yahoo Finance. Quote. ‘Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC) (is) a clean technology integrator, provides a portfolio of energy efficiency and renewable energy supply solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It offers energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, energy security and resilience, asset sustainability, and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations… In addition, the company sells photovoltaic (PV) solar energy products and systems, as well as provides consulting and enterprise energy management services; and owns and operates a wind power project located in Ireland… As of December 31, 2021, the company owned and operated 147 small-scale renewable energy plants and solar PV installations.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 And a third article in the ESG energy stock space titled Alternative Energy Stock Quietly Having a Great Year. By Schaeffer's Digital Content Team on schaeffersresearch.com. This is some of what the team has to say. “Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Is a global energy technology company and a supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems. The company's semiconductor-based microinverter system converts energy at the individual solar module level and brings a system-based high-technology approach to solar energy generation, storage, control, and management. The company has shipped more than 45 million microinverters, and over 2.0 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 135 countries… On the charts, ENPH is up roughly 17% in 2022… Enphase Energy stock offers a rich valuation at a price-earnings ratio of 55.87 and a price-sales ratio of 18.24. Nonetheless, the company has maintained high and consistent growth rate over multiple years, which has helped the market justify the company’s inflated valuation… Enphase Energy is also expected to grow its revenues and earnings 31.7% and 22.9%, respectively, for fiscal 2023.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 And a fourth article in this ESG energy stocks vein is titled 3 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy. By Will Ashworth on InvestorPlace.com. Among Mr. Ashworth’s comments are the following. “1) Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE:BEPC) Was created so that investors could invest in its renewable power assets through a corporation rather than a limited partnership… The company’s June 2022 annual shareholder’s meeting highlighted that Brookfield Renewable Corporation generated $934 million in funds from operations (FFO) in 2021, 10% higher than a year earlier… In the five years between 2021 and 2026, it expects to grow funds from operations by 10% or more annually… For those who want a more diversified portfolio, you can own Brookfield Renewable Corporation indirectly through Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM), which owns 26% of the company. Brookfield Asset Management stock is down 25% year-to-date.   You won’t go wrong owning Brookfield Asset Management over the long haul.    2) NextEra Energy Partners LP (NYSE:NEP) Is a growth-oriented limited partnership created by its parent company, NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), in June 2014. It owns wind and solar projects, natural gas, and infrastructure assets in the U.S… It (seeks) to grow LP distributions by 12% to 15% per year between 2019 and 2024. So far, it’s increased them by approximately 15% per year… Its annualized distributions since its IPO have increased by 290%, from 75 cents to $2.93 at the end of 2021.   Down 9.4% YTD, I wouldn’t say that NextEra Energy Partners LP is a screaming buy, but it’s not overpriced either. 3) Ameresco (NYSE:AMRC) (Yes again!) Is (in) the business of owning renewable assets and helping others implement clean energy solutions for their businesses… In 22 short years, Ameresco’s completed more than $11 billion in energy solution projects for more than 8,000 customers worldwide. In addition, it owns 353 million watts of energy (MWe) assets for solar, landfill gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and battery storage… Ameresco has been able to increase its revenues since 2017 by more than 21% annually, from $717 million in 2017 to an estimated $1.87 billion in 2022. Over the same period, the company has grown its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 27.1% annually.   With Ameresco stock down more than 46% YTD, it’s trading at the same levels it did in December 2020, 18 months ago. Under $40 would be a perfect entry point. ” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022 In this next article Brookfield Renewable Corporation and NextEra Energy Partners LP are again recommended. It’s titled 2 Unstoppable Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade. By Matthew DiLallo. On fool.com. “1) Brookfield Renewable (BEPC) Brookfield Renewable operates a globally diversified portfolio of renewable energy and energy transition assets. It currently generates 21 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy… Its assets produce steady cash flows backed by long-term power purchase agreements… Brookfield anticipates that mergers and acquisitions will add up to 9% per share to its bottom line each year. The company recently raised a record $15 billion for an energy transition fund to help companies decarbonize their operations. That's giving it additional capital to complete deals, positioning it to further capitalize on the decarbonization megatrend.  2) NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) NextEra Energy operates Florida Power & Light (FPL), a leading electric utility in the state, and NextEra Energy Resources, a large-scale clean energy infrastructure business… The energy resources unit operates natural gas pipelines, renewable energy generating facilities, battery storage operations, and electricity transmission lines that generate steady cash flow backed by long-term fee-based contracts. The company… recently unveiled its Real Zero strategy to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2045. Florida Power & Light is undertaking the largest solar energy expansion in the nation, which it's supplementing with large-scale battery storage deployment. It also aims to replace natural gas in its power plants with green hydrogen and renewable natural gas… Management expects profits to grow by more than 10% this year. It then foresees them expanding at the high end of its 6% to 8% target range through at least 2025. That should give the utility the funds to grow its 2.1%-yielding dividend by at least 10% annually through 2024.” End quotes. Incidentally, Florida Power & Light is just accused of unethical competitive behavior. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Solar Panel Companies 2022 Finally, this article is not a stock recommendation but rather an interesting assessment of solar panel makers available in the US. It’s titled Top Solar Panel Companies 2022 and by Lisa Iscrupe on saveonenergy.com. Here is some of what Ms. Iscrupe and fellow researchers say. Quote. “The solar industry is a combination of many business sectors. From solar installers to dealers to solar panel manufacturers, navigating your solar energy journey can take time. When you are researching solar panels for your home, one place that’s good to start is with the solar panel company or manufacturer that you want. Based on our research, here’s our top 10 solar panel companies: Canadian Solar Inc. Jinko Solar SunPower CertainTeed LG Tesla First Solar Inc. Lumos Hanwha REC Solar End quotes. There’s much more information on their site. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 High-Yield Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now Now we turn from ESG energy stocks to infrastructure with an article titled 3 High-Yield Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now. It’s by Daniel Foelber, Scott Levine, and Lee Samaha. Again on fool.com. Now one of the recommendations is Kinder Morgan, an oil-gas pipeline company. Hence, I’m leaving it out. “1) Scott Levine picks Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC) (BIP) … Currently offers an enticing forward dividend yield of 3.8%. With global operations in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, Brookfield Infrastructure has a worldwide presence in a variety of infrastructure projects including (but not limited to) natural gas pipelines and storage, data centers, toll roads, and electricity transmission… investors should be relieved to learn that 90% of the company's debt is a fixed rate… Should the company return $2.16 to unitholders in 2022 as it plans, it will represent an approximate 10% compound annual growth rate for its distribution since 2009. Looking ahead, management has targeted continued annual distribution growth of 5% to 9%. 2) Lee Samaha recommends Hubbell (HUBB) There aren't many industrial companies whose earnings are trending ahead of initial expectations going into 2022, but Hubbell is one of them. Management began 2022 forecasting organic sales growth of 8%-10% and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $8.75–$9.25 only to raise it to 11%-13% and $9-$9.40 on the first-quarter earnings call in late April… The company makes electrical equipment, meters, connection products, and lighting fixtures. About 56% of its sales go to the utility market (mainly transmission and distribution), with 44% to electrical solutions (electrical products, connection, and bonding). There's a need to replace the infrastructure of an aging U.S. electrical grid… No company will be truly safe from a recession, but Hubbell stands to do relatively well. Throw in a 2.3% dividend yield, and the stock is attractive for investors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order, links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title This Renewable-Energy Juggernaut Continues to Produce Powerful Results on fool.com. By Matthew DiLallo. 2) Title 3 Sustainable ETFs for ESG-Focused Investors on the Canadian yahoo.com site. By Adam Othman. 3) Title My Top Renewable Energy Stock for the Second Half of 2022 on fool.com. By Daniel Foelber. Plus an article for UK investors — again link on this podcast’s webpage Title Best ESG Funds 2022 – Forbes Advisor UK. By Andrew Michael. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Energy Stocks for 3Q 2022.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Now I’m taking August off to work on some projects, so I’ll talk to you next Friday, either September 2nd or 9th. Have a great August! Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Great green stocks and healthy health stocks found in these articles: “Ten Green Stocks I expect to do well over the next year”; “Top Health Care Stocks To Buy Right Now? 4 To Watch”; “Top 5 Companies That Pledged To Go Carbon Neutrality”; and “Best Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Renewable Stocks For Your List.” Podcast: Great Green Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 87, July 15, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 87 published on July 15, 2022, titled “Great Green Stocks” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Great Green Stocks This first article is titled Ten Green Stocks I expect to do well over the next year by Tom Konrad. It appeared on altenergystocks.com. I’ve covered Mr. Konrad’s picks before, so this is an update. His picks are followed by brief comments on each one. “1) MiX Telematics (NASD: MIXT) A provider of vehicle tracking and telematics to large international vehicle fleets.  The company is green because it both reduces accidents and fuel usage for its customers. 2) Valeo, SA (FR.PA or US ADR: VLEEY or US foreign stock ticker: VLEEF) A provider of electrified drive trains, sensors, and comfort systems for the automotive industry. 3) NFI Industries (NFI.TO C$13.39 or US foreign stock ticker: NFYEF) A leading international bus and motorcoach manufacturer selling a large and growing number of electrified vehicles. 4) Rockwool A/S (ROCK-B.CO and ROCK-A.CO or US foreign stock ticker: RKWBF) A manufacturer of fire and mold resistant building insulation. 5) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (NASD: HASI) A financier of solar, wind, biogas, and energy efficiency installations. 6) Veolia (VIE.PA or US ADR: VEOEY or US foreign stock ticker: VEOEF) A large international developer and operator of municipal infrastructure such as water, wastewater, recycling, and environmental remediation. 7) Enviva, Inc (EVA) A vertically integrated wood pellet supplier to European and Japanese markets, where they mostly displace coal in electricity generation. 8) Umicore, SA (UMI.BR or US ADR: UMICY or US foreign stock ticker: UMICF) A vertically integrated recycler of hard-to-recycle and specialty metals used in clean energy industries such as batteries, solar, wind, and catalytic converters. 9) Avangrid (NYSE: AGR) One of the top producers and developers of renewable electricity in the United States.   10) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASD: AY) An international owner and developer of renewable energy, efficient natural gas, electric transmission line and water assets.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Great Green Stocks This next article recommends some leading health care stocks. Many ESG portfolios contain the healthcare stocks in this article titled Top Health Care Stocks To Buy Right Now? 4 To Watch by Joe Samuel at StockMarket.com. Here are some quotes by Mr. Samuel on each one. Quote. “1) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) This is a company that focuses on the development of medicines… for the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF)… Vertex also has a pipeline of investigational therapies in other serious diseases… This includes sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes, pain, beta-thalassemia, and more… The company announced earlier this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the clinical hold placed on its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of VX-880. The drug is an investigational stem cell-derived, fully differentiated pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy for people with type 1 diabetes.  Furthermore, Vertex also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA)… Not only is this a huge milestone for the company, but this new recommendation will be a huge boost for all people living with CF in Canada. So, would you consider Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock as a top health care stock to buy? 2) Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) This is a biotech company that specializes in developing vaccines to treat infectious diseases… the company’s portfolio consists of vaccines for Ebola, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus among other emerging infectious illnesses… the company is actively working on a coronavirus vaccine. Novavax stock is among the most bullish stocks in the health care sector today… The latest (development) that contributed to its momentum (is) its Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine… the European Commission gave the green light for conditional marketing authorization of the vaccine in the European Union for adolescents aged 12 through 17… Keeping this in mind, would you consider jumping on the Novavax stock bandwagon?  3) Adaptive Biotechnologies (NASDAQ: ADPT) Similar to Novavax, Adaptive Biotechnologies is a company that has been quietly building momentum recently. For those unaware, it is a commercial-stage company that focuses on the human adaptive immune system to develop the diagnosis and treatment of diseases… For now, the company’s commercial research products include immunoSEQ and immunoSEQ T-MAP… In June, the company launched the T-Detect™ Lyme. This is a test… that will identify… Lyme disease… With that in mind, should investors keep a closer tab on Adaptive Biotechnologies stock?  4) Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BEAM) Is a biotech company that focuses on precision genetic medicines based on its base editing technology… Therefore, it would not be surprising if investors will be paying more attention to BEAM stock moving forward… Recently, it appears that the company has entered into an amended and restated collaboration and license agreement with Verve Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VERV). Under the amendment, Beam granted Verve a license toward an additional liver-mediated cardiovascular disease target… Overall, these new amendments appear to be a positive development. Having said that, does BEAM stock have a spot on your watchlist?” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Great Green Stocks Now, do you want to invest in the Top 5 Companies That Pledged To Go Carbon Neutrality -- and yes, that’s the title of this next article! It’s by Samiya Saeed. It’s found on inventiva.co.in. Here are a few quotes from Ms. Saeed on each company. “1) GOOGLE (GOOG) In 2017, Google became the first company to meet 100% of its yearly worldwide electricity needs with renewable energy… it has promised to decarbonize its electricity supply and run-on carbon-free energy seven days a week, 24 hours a day, by 2030. 2) Apple (AAPL) By 2030, Apple’s entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle would all be carbon neutral, the company announced in July 2020. According to the company, nearly 70 suppliers have committed to using only renewable energy in their manufacturing processes… The company also said in March that the 2022 iPhone SE would be the first device to use its carbon-free aluminum smelting technology. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is likewise manufactured with low-carbon aluminum. Apple is also spending money on afforestation and other environmentally friendly methods to sequester carbon. 3) INTEL (INTC) Intel, has made a commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 as well as to increase energy efficiency and lessen the carbon impact of its platforms and products… The corporation aims to use solely renewable energy in all of its international operations by that time. Intel will invest $300 million in energy-saving measures at its facilities, saving a total of 4 billion kilowatt-hours. Additionally, the company will build new buildings that meet the requirements of the US Green Building Council’s LEED program in Europe, Asia, and the United States. 4) MICROSOFT (MSFT) Microsoft has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The company also claims that by 2025, it will have either directly or indirectly eliminated from the environment all of the carbon it has released into the atmosphere since its foundation in 1975. To hasten the global development of carbon reduction, capture, and removal technologies, it has established a $1 billion climate innovation fund. 5) IBM (IBM) IBM stated in February that it would have zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Great Green Stocks Now we return to renewable energy stocks with this article titled Best Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Renewable Stocks For Your List by Jonathan Phillip from StockMarket.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Phillip says about his picks. “1) Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) The company is one of the country’s largest renewable energy owners. Impressively, the company has over 5,000 net megawatts (MW) of installed wind and solar generation projects… Its 7,500 net MW of assets also include approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities… Last week, the company announced that it has entered into an agreement with Capistrano Wind Partners to acquire its operating wind projects… these wind projects would be a perfect fit for Clearway’s current portfolio… The acquisition… should boost Clearway’s financials from 2023. Given this acquisition, should you invest in Clearway stock? 2) JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) One out of every ten solar modules in the world is produced by JinkoSolar. Since the start of the year, JinkoSolar stock has risen nearly 40% in price. Earlier this month, JinkoSolar kicked off the construction of its latest n-type solar cell and module production plant in Jianshan in China. On this site, the company will produce 11 gigawatts (GW) of n-type cells with an average efficiency of 25%. This would mean that JinkoSolar could be the world’s first 10 GW-scale factory to mass-produce solar cells of above 25% efficiency… With JinkoSolar making these advancements, should you keep an eye out for JKS stock? 3) First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) The company engages in the manufacture of solar panels and utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants. Besides that, it is a global provider of sustainably produced eco-efficient solar modules. The company’s advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules represent the next generation of solar technologies… Last week, the company inked an agreement to supply 2 GW of its solar modules to National Grid Renewables (NGR), further strengthening its partnership with the company… Through this, it would seem that First Solar’s long-standing relationship with National Grid Renewables exemplifies the capabilities of its products. Therefore, should you add First Solar stock to your portfolio? 4) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) It is a renewable energy company that owns the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S., Florida Power & Light Company (FPL)… (which) serves more than 11 million residents across Florida with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity. It also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources (NEER)… one of the largest generators of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage… The renewable energy giant announced that it will be purchasing the wastewater system of Towamencin Township in Montgomery County, Philadelphia… NextEra’s management recently increased its earnings per share expectations for the 2022 to 2025 period… Considering the news, is NextEra Energy stock worth watching?” End quotes. Incidentally, JinkoSolar is still accused by some of employing forced labor. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order, links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title ETFs for investors willing to ride out the volatility in the clean energy sector - theglobeandmail.com. By Joel Schlesinger. 2) Title DividendChannel: Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock - VerizonPR (5.0% Yield) on coinsobserver.com. 3) Title Schlumberger a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.1% Yield (SLB) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 4) Title 5 Best Robo-Advisors for Socially Responsible Investing – CEO Money on wfn1.com. By Barbara Friedberg. 5) Title This Solar Stock Continues To Rise As Consumers Seek Alternative Energy in Investor's Business Daily at investors.com. By Michael Molinsky. Plus an article for UK investors — again link on this podcast’s webpage Title Want to invest ethically and cheaply? Find a responsible tracker fund on thisismoney.co.uk. By Tanya Jeffries. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Great Green Stocks.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 29. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens. Articles covered include: “ESG Investing: 7 Profitable Stock Picks for the Socially Responsible”; “Canada’s Best 50 corporate citizens of 2022 continue to conquer the markets”; “This Renewable Energy Giant Sees Even More Powerful Growth Ahead”; “Looking for Passive Income? This Renewable Energy Company Is a Great Way to Go.” Plus Podcast: ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens. Transcript & Links, Episode 86, July 1, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. First of all, I want to wish my fellow Canadians a very happy Canada Day and my American friends a great Independence Day! Welcome to my podcast episode 86 published on July 1, 2022, titled “ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens Now my first article has this title: ESG Investing: 7 Profitable Stock Picks for the Socially Responsible by Tezcan Gecgil on InvestorPlace.com. Here are Ms. Gecgil's stock picks and brief comments that generally relate to the latest material developments of the company. “Best Buy (BBY): A newly launched home pick-up recycling program will make it easier for customers to recycle old electronics. Deere (DE): Announced a new joint venture that will improve productivity, growing more food using fewer resources. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD): Tracks the best ESG stocks. Microsoft (MSFT): A new data center in Finland will provide carbonless surplus heating to the surrounding region. Novo Nordisk (NVO): Positive results for a once-weekly insulin treatment will improve the quality of life for diabetes patients. Procter & Gamble (PG): Developed a 3-in-1 product to clean, sanitize, and defend against 99.9% of bacteria and viruses for up to 24 hours. Xylem (XYL): Developed a new wastewater treatment solution that will help improve nutrient removal, save energy and reduce costs. To help investors choose ESG shares, MSCI (NYSE: MSCI), a leading supplier of investment decision support tools, provides the MSCI ESG Rating.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens This annual ranking, though they’re Canadian companies, could be of interest to ethical and sustainable investors everywhere. The following descriptive article is titled Canada’s Best 50 corporate citizens of 2022 continue to conquer the markets. It’s by the renowned Corporate Knights group and found on their website with this commentary by Toby Heaps. Here are some quotes from Mr. Heaps. “Twenty years ago, Corporate Knights launched its quest for a more humane form of capitalism, placing people and planet ahead of profits, with the Best 50 Corporate Citizens sitting at the head of the roundtable to make business a force for good. A lot has changed for the better in that time and a lot hasn’t. Thankfully, the glass ceilings in Canada’s corporate boardrooms have been breached, with non-male members now making up almost a third of directors, double their one-sixth share in 2002… Racial diversity on large corporate boards has also improved: 9% of members are now non-white, double the 4% level in 2011, when we first started tracking this metric… While one workplace fatality is too many, it is encouraging that on a national level, a third less people died on the job in 2019 than was the case in 2002… Over the last two decades, corporate profits have doubled, workers have been left behind and emissions have stalled, but the Best 50 firms are leading the way with 50% more gender diversity and triple the investments aligned with the clean economy… The Best Corporate Citizens’ stock market performance has outperformed its peers earning 499% gross return since it was first launched in June 2002, versus 366% for S&P/TSX Composite.” End quotes. Incidentally, the top three companies in the ranking are Hydro-Quebec, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (INE.TO), and Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE: BEP). Go to this podcast’s webpage for a great statistical table titled… The 2022 Best 50 Corporate Citizens vs. the rest* Indicator 2022 Best 50 Average Large Canadian Company (minus Best 50) CEO–Average Worker Pay Ratio 74:1 160:1 Board Gender Diversity 36.7% 23.3% Executive Gender Diversity 26.6% 13.1% Board Racial Diversity 8.8% 8.2% Executive Racial Diversity 12.0% 6.6% Cash Taxes Paid (% of EBITDA) 11.6% 8.9% **Clean Revenue (% Total Revenue) 36.8% 6.2% **Clean Investment (% Total Investment) 33.8% 12.7% Carbon Productivity ($ sales/tonnes GHGs) $1,517,909 $641,183 *Large Canadian companies (with more than $1b in annual revenue) excluding the Best 50 **Based on Corporate Knights’ Clean Taxonomy ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens It seems in every podcast I have an article and recommendation from Matthew DiLallo from fool.com! His latest article is titled This Renewable Energy Giant Sees Even More Powerful Growth Ahead. Here are quotes from Mr. DiLallo’s article. “NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is already growing faster than most utilities, powered by its focus on clean energy… That high-powered growth could enable NextEra Energy to continue generating market-crushing total returns for investors… The company raised its 2022 and 2023 earnings ranges by $0.05 per share, while boosting 2024's forecast by $0.10 per share. Meanwhile, it sees 2025 earnings growing by 6% to 8% off 2024's higher base. This updated forecast would see the company expand its adjusted earnings per share at a 9.8% annual rate from 2021 to the high end of 2025's forecast range… Several factors are helping power that growth. The company plans to significantly increase its core wind, solar, and storage business, expand beyond the power sector, and grow its already large-scale transmission business to help support the decarbonization of the U.S. economy… In addition, the company expects to build a leading regulated water business… NextEra Energy also unveiled its Real Zero plan to eliminate all the carbon emissions across its businesses no later than 2045 without the help of carbon offset credits… NextEra Energy has proven that going green can generate some serious green for its investors… That makes it a great stock to buy and hold for the long haul because it can potentially deliver massive returns as it leads the way in decarbonizing the U.S. economy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens Now income from investments is particularly important for those who need cash flow in their daily living. So, this next article will interest those investors. It’s titled Looking for Passive Income? This Renewable Energy Company Is a Great Way to Go. It’s by Rekha Khandelwal, also on fool.com. Here’s some of what Ms. Khandelwal writes. “At current share prices, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY) offers a dividend yield of 5.6%... Utilities focused on renewable energy offer a great way to generate regular dividend income… Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure owns over 2 gigawatts of renewable electricity generation assets, roughly 72% of which are solar. Renewable power generation is expected to contribute around 70% of the company's cash available for distribution (CAFD) from 2022 to 2026. Atlantica also generates power using natural gas. The company expects its efficient natural gas and heat segment to contribute 15% of its cash available for distribution from 2022 to 2026. Transmission lines are expected to contribute 12%, and its water desalination assets are expected to contribute 3%.  The biggest positives for Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure as an investment are its stable and predictable long-term cash flows. At the end of 2021, the weighted average remaining term of agreements for the company's assets was 15 years. All of its revenue comes from contracted or regulated assets… Its assets are also geographically diversified, with 46% of its cash available for distribution coming from North America, 31% from Europe, and 15% from South America. Protection from inflation Rising interest rates are impacting the stock prices of companies in capital-intensive businesses. But the interest rates on 93% of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure's project debt are either fixed or hedged… Similarly, the company has escalation factors included in its contracts to protect it from inflation… Management is targeting cash available for distribution per share growth of 5% to 8% through 2025… In short, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure is a top renewables stock that can generate passive income for shareholders in the decades to come.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens This next article is by Joel Makower of GreenBiz.com, a well-known and highly respected figure in sustainable business. It’s not a direct stock recommendation but rather is here as a stock that some of you might want to look at. The title of the article is In Brazil, Suzano harvests trees with deep roots in communities (BOVESPA: SUZB3). Here’s some of what Mr. Makower writes. “What if the company had planted those trees years earlier, on degraded land that’s now been revitalized? And if it then planted millions more trees where the cut ones used to be — all to be harvested years later and replaced by yet more trees? And it did this for multiple generations in partnership with local and Indigenous communities? Can that company be deemed sustainable? These are among the questions I pondered last week during my visit to São Paulo, Brazil. I was there as the guest of Suzano — a 98-year-old pulp and paper company, the largest in Latin America and one of the 10 largest in the world — to help host its annual ESG Call, an online event during which the company showcased its achievements and challenges to a global audience of investors, customers, activists and others. (I was paid for this work, but not for this article.)… Suzano, founded in 1924 by Ukrainian immigrant Leon Feffer, pioneered the production of pulp and paper from eucalyptus as an alternative to pine. It invested in research and development — in the 1980s, for example, it began to apply biotechnology, adopting micropropagation practices in its plantations — and in sustainability measures, including the creation in 1999 of the nonprofit Ecofuturo Institute (Portuguese), with a focus on ‘socio-environmental responsibility…’ Social studies I was impressed by the environmental aspects of Suzano’s operations, which have been informed by such global sustainability thinkers as John Elkington, Pavan Sukhdev and the late Tom Lovejoy… The company has a longstanding rural development program in which it teaches communities how to make the best use of their land by producing high-value crops and helping them transform those crops into finished goods that go into local and global markets. For example, it supports honey producers and beekeepers in placing their hives inside Suzano’s eucalyptus plantations, which has the added benefit of reducing poaching by people afraid of bee stings. Among other things, there is a history of distrust to overcome. A few years ago, for example, activists in the northern state of Maranhao claimed Suzano had behaved badly, stealing land from traditional communities, displacing families and making livelihoods untenable. Suzano disputes these claims… Walter Schalka, the CEO, struck me as earnest as any business leader about the company’s social — and environmental — commitments. ‘Not everything that we are doing is perfect,’ he said. ‘But we are humble enough to bring the problems to the table and try to address how we are going to build the action plan to the future.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order, links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title Introducing the three largest ESG ETFs found on Trackinsight.com. By Eddie Barrak. 2) Title 2 Top Dividend Stocks You Can Buy and Hold Forever on fool.com. By Beth McKenna. 3) Title Top Seven Socially Responsible Funds on GoogleWebStory.com. By Teknika Raman. 4) Title Three Sharia-compliant growth companies on MoneyWeek.com. By Scott Klimo. Plus an article for Australian investors — again link on this podcast’s webpage - Title 3 dividend-paying and ethical ASX shares to buy now: fund manager on monexsecurities.com.au. By Tony Yoo. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Picks. Great Corporate Citizens.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 15. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Articles covered include: “Meet the 50 fastest-growing green companies in Canada”; “An ETF to Save the Oceans Splashes into the Market”; “Jim Cramer says he likes this alternative energy play for a high inflation environment”; “A Guide To ESG Strategies For Municipal Bond Investors”; and “2022′s Top Sustainable Funds Weather a Tough Market.” And more! Podcast: Ocean’s ETF. Fastest Growing Green Companies. Transcript & Links, Episode 85, June 17, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 85 published on June 17, 2022, titled “Ocean’s ETF. Fastest Growing Green Companies” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Green Companies Now I’m headlining with this article. Though it refers to Canadian companies, these companies could be of interest to investors globally. The article’s titled Meet the 50 fastest-growing green companies in Canada. It’s from the outstanding Corporate Knights group. About half of these companies are public. Here are some quotes from the article. “Our objective was to identify outstanding Canadian entrepreneurs and companies that are gaining significant traction in the fight against carbon – with exciting new solutions that most of the world hasn’t discovered yet… These game-changing innovators include Calgary-based Eavor Technologies, which has a system to produce geothermal energy almost anywhere in the world, using looped water streams that tap the heat deep underground to augment solar and wind-powered electrical grids. Toronto-based Hydrostor has another plan for augmenting wind and solar grids, to free utilities from fossil-based backups such as natural gas and nuclear. Hydrostor uses off-peak energy to heat utility-scale quantities of compressed air, which is stored in underground chambers until peak energy demand requires the air to drive a turbine again. In Squamish, B.C., Carbon Engineering – founded by a Harvard professor – has created technologies to suck carbon dioxide right out of the atmosphere, for underground storage or processing into synthetic fuels. Bill Gates is an investor.  Oneka Technologies, founded by entrepreneur Dragan Tutic in Sherbrooke, Quebec, at age 23, brings affordable drinking water to coastal communities with scalable desalination systems, sustainably powered by ocean waves. And one of the women leading the cleantech charge in Canada is electrical engineer Miriam Tuerk. Her company Clear Blue Technologies is bringing light and wireless service to remote regions through ‘smart’ off-grid wind and solar systems… The Future Still, most of these companies are works in progress, their ultimate fates unpredictable. In publishing this list, Corporate Knights makes no promises about their prospects, or their suitability for investment. Innovation doesn’t work that way. But the future depends on their success.” End quotes. To see the Top 25 fastest-growing publicly traded green companies click the link on this podcast’s webpage and scroll down the page. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Green Companies Next. A massive area of concern for many investors is climate change and its effects on the world’s oceans. Now a fascinating ETF has launched with this concern and here’s an article describing it. It’s titled An ETF to Save the Oceans Splashes into the Market. It’s found on an investopedia.com video podcast. Here are a few quotes from the transcript. “The United Nations World Oceans Day is being celebrated this week, and while we should celebrate and protect our oceans every day, it's always good to focus on our most precious of natural resources, even for one day alone. And now you can invest in helping protect our oceans through a new exchange traded fund (ETF) from New Day Impact, a San Francisco-based asset management and financial technology company that brings responsible investing to those who seek investments that reflect their values, kind of like the folks who listen to the Green Investor Podcast. The New Day Ocean Health Exchange Traded Fund, which trades under the ticker AHOY, launched this week, and it aims for long-term capital appreciation through investments in companies that are diverting ocean-bound plastic waste, supporting sustainable fisheries, controlling ocean acidification caused by CO2 emissions, and actively using strategies to combat ocean pollution and other threats to marine health. Doug Haski, the CEO of New Day Impact, is behind the team bringing that ETF to market, and they are doing it with EarthEcho International, an environmental nonprofit organization established by Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau in honor of their father, Philippe Cousteau Sr. and their grandfather, the legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau. Doug and Philippe, are our special guests this week to talk about the launch.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Green Companies Next is an article quoting CNBC.com’s renowned host/investor Jim Cramer (who) says he likes this alternative energy play for a high inflation environment. Quote. “CNBC’s Jim Cramer… gave investors his blessing to buy shares of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure. ‘Atlantica’s a real company that sells real stuff at a profit and returns those profits to shareholders, while still having a relatively cheap stock. It’s exactly what we like in this high inflation environment where the [Federal Reserve] is slamming the brakes on the economy,’ the ‘Mad Money’ host said. Skyrocketing inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have put pressure on the global supply of commodities, including oil, which is driving up prices of barrels and gas at the pumps. Cramer noted that high-quality alternative energy companies benefit from the skyrocketing prices… He added that Atlantica had solid results for its most recent quarter, reporting 7% comparable revenue growth, and has a 5.5% dividend yield.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- A Guide To ESG Strategies For Municipal Bond Investors Now, most diversified portfolios will include bonds and they’ll likely include municipal – or local government – bonds. However, it’s rare to find a good guide for ethical and sustainable investors concerning these bonds – but this article offers some insight. It’s titled A Guide To ESG Strategies For Municipal Bond Investors. It’s by Erin Bigley, Marc Uy; Gavin Romm, and Larry Bellinger. It’s found on seekingalpha.com. Here are some quotes. “Summary Municipal bond investors increasingly want to apply environmental, social, and governance considerations to their portfolios. Some muni investors may want to apply ESG screening to avoid specific issuers based on personal considerations and values. Muni impact investing can target many important ESG-related goals, ranging from improving water supplies and mass transit to energy efficiency and economic development.” End quotes. Also, you can get a good idea of what their article covers from these sub-headings. They are. Integration: Measuring ESG Across Muni Portfolios Screening: Customizing According to Investor Preferences Measuring ESG Doesn't Have to Cost You Impact: Improving Outcomes for Underserved Communities Choosing a Muni ESG Approach Hinges on Investor Goals ------------------------------------------------------------- 2022′s Top Sustainable Funds Weather a Tough Market This next article from Morningstar.com in the US has this title that says it all: 2022′s Top Sustainable Funds Weather a Tough Market. It’s by Katherine Lynch. Here’s some of what Ms. Lynch has to say. “This year has been difficult for many ESG funds. Energy stocks have been top performers, but most sustainable strategies hold little or no oil company stocks because of the link between oil and gas consumption and climate change. At the same time, sustainable funds tend to have outsize weightings in technology stocks, many of which have taken a beating in 2022. As a result, 65% of sustainable U.S. equity funds sit at the bottom of their Morningstar Category rankings in terms of year-to-date performance… Despite the headwinds in 2022, six sustainable funds covered by Morningstar analysts rank in the top half of their category. Five of them carry a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze or Silver. For the most part, the strong 2022 performance for this group of funds isn’t limited to just this year. For the past three years, five out of the six landed in top two quintiles of performance. In addition, over the past five years, four of the six funds ranked in the top 10% of all funds in their respective category.” End quotes. There’s much more in this article, so I urge you to go to my podcast page and click the link to it. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order, links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title Merck a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.1% Yield (MRK) on Nasdaq.com. By the Dividend Channel. 2) Title Companies Like Nexii Are Betting on Sustainable Construction -- in The New York Times. By Eilene Zimmerman. 3) Title Best Stocks To Buy Now? 3 Solar Energy Stocks In Focus. On Nasdaq.com. By Joe Samuel from StockMarket.com. 4) Title New ESG Fund from Engine No. 1 Leans on Activism. On Kiplinger.com. By Ellen Kennedy. Articles for UK, Australian, and International Investors—again links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title One ASX share price opportunity I couldn’t pass up if I started investing today on fool.com.au. By Tristan Harrison. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Ocean’s ETF. Fastest Growing Green Companies.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 1. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Gun-Free Funds and Eco Crypto Picks. Articles covered include: “Opinion: This pacifist, faith-based fund-management company is fighting gun violence in its own way”; “Values-based Investing: 3 ESG, Sharia-compliant ETFs To Know”; “This Renewable Energy Stock Is Plugging Into 2 Potentially Massive Market Opportunities”; Kraft Heinz A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 4.3% Yield”; and “The Five Best Eco-Friendly Cryptocurrencies.” Podcast: Gun-Free Funds and Eco Crypto Picks Transcript & Links, Episode 84, June 3, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 84 published on June 3, 2022, titled “Gun-Free Funds and Eco Crypto Picks” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Gun-Free Funds With all the talk about the horrific gun violence in the US, investors often wonder if they can invest in gun-free funds? This article on MarketWatch provides insight into one such fund. It’s titled, Opinion: This pacifist, faith-based fund-management company is fighting gun violence in its own way. It’s by Debbie Carlson. Here are some quotes. “Faith-based investment funds have long tried to reduce gun violence through advocacy, with some success. One fund family, Praxis Mutual Funds, has worked on this issue in conjunction with other faith-based groups for at least 20 years. The fund manager follows pacifist values, so it has no weapons investments in its $2 billion asset pool… Mark Regier, vice president of stewardship investing and director of sales for Praxis Mutual Funds in Goshen, Indiana, spoke to MarketWatch about the company’s work, some of the limits of investor advocacy and a solution he wishes for. Q and A MarketWatch: Faith-based investment funds have tried to reduce gun violence for many years now. What are some of Praxis’ efforts? Regier: Starting in 2018-2019, we started looking at how the credit-card companies and banks are involved. Citigroup (C) imposed new restrictions on lending to retail clients involved in the gun business. Car rental companies like Hertz (HTZ) and Alamo, national hotels like Wyndham (WH) and Best Western, airlines like Delta (DAL) and United (UAL) stopped offering National Rifle Association-related promotions. We’ve been involved with conversations that led to Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) and Walmart (WMT) ending the sales of some of their weapons. Kroger (KR) has chosen to exit the firearms business… Marketwatch: Many gun manufacturers are small-cap and mid-cap stocks, so the direct financial effect is limited. But it’s the cultural aspect that looms large and makes it a tougher fight — that’s what it sounds like. Regier: … On the cultural issue, there may be lessons learned with the advocacy of reducing tobacco use, like media not making it sexy. There’s a lot to be explored there (to apply to lowering gun violence). But the hill to climb on this issue is a lot tougher because our cultural attachment to the renegade, lone-justice-seeking gunman … We also have easy access to guns and a desensitization to violence as a solution… MarketWatch: How can investors think about this issue? Regier: It’s an opportunity to reflect on one’s own values to understand how deeply do they go… I think then you begin to look at fund families that are out there that are not just carrying some ESG label, but that are actually working beyond that, that are doing shareholder advocacy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Gun-Free Funds In this next article, you’ll find another faith-based fund as well as an ESG gun-free fund. It’s titled Values-based Investing: 3 ESG, Sharia-compliant ETFs To Know by Eliezer Toh. It’s found on syfe.com. (Please note though that only the first fund might fully conform to Islamic Law). Here are quotes from the article. “Many people want to make sure they aren’t investing in companies that go against their beliefs and values… This growing sector includes Sharia-compliant investments as well as funds screened through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors… Here are three ETFs to consider. 1) SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF (SPUS) (This fund) invests in companies within the S&P 500 index, excluding those that don’t comply with Islamic law i.e. firms involved in alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, pork products, adult entertainment, credit cards, and charging interest… The ETF also screens out companies with a lot of debt… The top holdings (in this fund) include Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet and Tesla. Overall, the ETF has 215 holdings, less than half of a S&P 500 ETF like SPY… In terms of performance, in 2021 (this fund rose) 35.2% (versus) SPY’s 28.6%… (This fund) is offered by SP Funds, a fund manager dedicated to halal, Sharia-compliant financial solutions. (It) has an expense ratio of 0.49%. 2) iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) (This fund) gives investors exposure to large- and mid-cap US stocks with favorable ESG ratings. It’s designed for… the long-term. (The fund) has an MSCI ESG fund rating of AAA (leader) and excludes companies involved in civilian firearms, controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal and oil sands. Some of its top holdings include Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Johnson & Johnson… (The fund) has an expense ratio of 0.15%, making it one of the cheaper ETFs in the ESG space.” 3) Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF (VOTE) VOTE aims to bring about transformational changes in companies through shareholder activism.  The activist hedge fund behind the ETF, Engine No. 1, came into prominence after winning three ExxonMobil board seats in June 2021… The ETF buys shares in 500 of the largest US stocks and aims to lobby other shareholders of these companies to vote in favour of climate change and ESG agendas… It carries an expense ratio of just 0.05%, similar to most low-cost S&P 500 ETFs. " End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- This Renewable Energy Stock Is Plugging Into 2 Potentially Massive Market Opportunities Now, we return to a familiar theme, evident from this next article’s title This Renewable Energy Stock Is Plugging Into 2 Potentially Massive Market Opportunities. It’s by one of our great regular analysts, Matthew DiLallo from fool.com. Here are some quotes. “Brookfield Renewable (BEPC)(BEP) started as a hydroelectric power producer. It has since become a large-scale renewable energy company by adding onshore wind, utility-scale solar, distributed generation (e.g., rooftop solar), and energy storage platforms… It (is) one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world… Recently, the company added two new potentially massive long-term growth drivers in green hydrogen and carbon capture.  The economy needs a versatile fuel like natural gas to help manage seasonality and renewable energy's intermittency issues. Many believe that green hydrogen could be the solution… Brookfield is seeking to tap into the hydrogen opportunity. In late 2020, it agreed to supply renewable energy to fully energize a planned green hydrogen plant by Plug Power (PLUG)… Brookfield Renewable is also joining forces with energy infrastructure giant Enbridge (ENB) to build a green hydrogen plant in Canada… Brookfield Renewable also sees a bright future in carbon capture. That recently led it to invest in a leading North American modular carbon capture solutions provider… These emerging industries could be major growth drivers.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Kraft Heinz A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 4.3% Yield Now many of you seek dividends from quality ESG companies. This article might pique your interest. It’s titled Kraft Heinz A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 4.3% Yield at forbes.com from the Dividend Channel. Here are some quotes. “Kraft Heinz (KHC)has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ‘DividendRank’ statistics including a strong 4.3% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment… According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, Kraft Heinz is a member of the iShares USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)… which owns $4,959,267 worth of Kraft Heinz shares…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Eco Crypto Picks Numerous investors today are buying cryptocurrencies. For ethical and sustainable investors, which ones should they favor? This article might help you. It’s titled The Five Best Eco-Friendly Cryptocurrencies by Justin Freeman. It appeared on asktraders.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Freeman. “One of the biggest challenges facing cryptocurrencies is the amount of energy needed to operate the blockchain systems which support them. Bitcoin and Ethereum currently use as much energy each year as Argentina, Malaysia, and the Netherlands… The accounting methodologies of Cardano, Polkadot, Ripple, and Tezos have been designed to use less energy. They also offer faster processing times and a range of other features which make them better equipped to take crypto to the next level. 1. CARDANO (ADA) Cardano was founded in 2015 and launched in 2017 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson. The aim was to take the best bits of Ether but use ‘Proof of Stake’ (PoS) protocols to manage the blockchain. PoS is a much more eco-friendly methodology than the ‘Proof of Work’ (PoW) system used by Bitcoin and Ether. 2. RIPPLE (XRP) The Ripple network cuts down on its carbon footprint by using trusted validators to confirm transactions and keep track of its XRP tokens. The fact that all XRP coins have already been mined also helps, and Ripple has a stated aim to be carbon neutral by 2030… An SEC lawsuit hangs over Ripple. The case was brought against the firm in 2020, but when it is resolved, the price of XRP can be expected to rise. 3. TEZOS (XTZ) Tezos uses Liquid Proof of Stake protocols to manage its consensus mechanism. The energy savings are substantial and have also been audited by the internationally recognised accounting and auditing form PwC. 4. POLKADOT Polkadot uses PoS protocols to take energy efficiency to another level. The Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute (CCRI) found that Polkadot emerged as the network with the least electricity consumption compared with Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, and other top cryptos. 5. BITGREEN (BITG) BitGreen was created to offer an eco-friendly alternative to Bitcoin. It uses Proof of Stake protocols, and there is no need for energy-intensive mining of new coins. Energy saving is part of the coin’s DNA, and it draws on behavioural science to encourage behaviour which is good for the environment. Users are rewarded for actions such as drinking sustainable coffee, carpooling, and volunteering.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Eco Crypto Picks Now some thoughts from a crypto enthusiast who is also a socially responsible investor.The article is titled Here's Why I'm Putting My Crypto Investments on Hold by Emma Newbery in The Motley Fool. Now some quotes from Ms. Newberry. “I'm passionate about cryptocurrency… More recently, I've paused my crypto purchases, at least for a little while. To be clear, I'm not selling any of my existing investments. I plan to hold for at least 10 years, and probably more, and I'm earning decent rates of interest on many of my crypto assets. However, for me, it's a good time to take a step back. Here are four reasons why. 1. My portfolio is out of balance. 2. I want to see what regulation will bring. 3. The market may well fall further. 4. I'm increasingly uncomfortable with the shadier side of crypto. I am extremely conscious about the way I spend and invest my money. I opt for fair trade products and prioritize socially responsible investments. In crypto, I'm a big fan of Cardano (ADA), which has a mission to use blockchain to make the world a better place. But there are still too many elephants in the room to think that crypto is an ethical investment. Here are a few: Money laundering. Ransomware. Lack of transparency. An overreliance on stablecoins. Bottom line Cryptocurrency remains an exciting and fascinating industry with huge amounts of potential. However, it also carries a lot of risk.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 17. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Best US Corporate Citizens. And More. Articles covered include: “5 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Today”; “100 Best Corporate Citizens”; “2 green stocks that I think are no-brainer buys for the future”; “A top fund manager has been buying these ASX tech shares after the market selloff”; and much, much, more Podcast: Best US Corporate Citizens. And More Transcript & Links, Episode 83, May 20, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 83 published on May 20, 2022, titled “Best US Corporate Citizens. And More” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch Now first off again to our favorite industry with this article titled 5 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch In The Stock Market Today. It’s by Brandon Michael and seen on stockmarket.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Michael. “Investors keen on renewable energy stocks may be looking at the likes of Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ). The company yesterday made its first move in the battery energy storage space in the United Kingdom… Elsewhere, Algonquin Power’s (NYSE: AQN) Liberty unit is working with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: FB) on a new wind power project in Michigan… With that being said, check out these renewable energy stocks… 1) Blink Charging (NASDAQ: BLNK) The company currently operates and maintains over 30,000 charging ports across 13 countries. Additionally, most of Blink’s charging stations are linked via its global network, allowing users to seamlessly charge at any of its locations worldwide… The company announced record first-quarter results. Blink saw its total revenues soar to $9.8 million, a massive 339% increase year-over-year. The company attributes this massive growth in revenue to increased product sales and service revenues. Besides that, the company also sees 3,174 charging stations contracted or sold, a 99% year-over-year increase. With Blink expecting this momentum to persist through 2022, should you invest in Blink stock? 2) Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA) Ormat is a geothermal industry leader that has supplied power-generating equipment for customers in over 30 countries. Apart from that, it also has expertise in energy storage solutions. The renewable energy company reported its earnings for the first quarter of the year… Ormat generated revenues of $183.7 million, an increase of 10.4% year-over-year. The company owes this revenue growth to its Electricity segment performance as well as its strategic capacity additions. Next to that, its adjusted net income came in at $18.4 million, rising 20.8% from $15.3 million. Accordingly, diluted earnings per share were $0.33, growing 22.2%... The company also provided its guidance for the rest of the year. Ormat forecasts revenues to range between $710 million and $735 million… Is Ormat stock one to watch? 3) Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN) It has pioneered home solar service plans to make local clean energy more accessible to everyone. The company’s innovative home battery solutions also bring more affordable and reliable solar energy… Sunrun reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2022.  The company saw its revenue increase by 48% to $495.8 million. Besides that, it saw a 27% growth in its Solar Energy Capacity Installed in the first quarter, exceeding its guidance. Sunrun also grew its customer base by 20%, now totaling 689,774 customers as of March 31, 2022. For the rest of the year, the company expects its Solar Energy Capacity Installed Growth to be 25% or more, an increase from its prior guidance of 20%. Considering Sunrun’s performance, is Sunrun stock worth adding to your watchlist? 4) SolarEdge (NASDAQ: SEDG) Its products include SolarEdge Power Optimizer, SolarEdge Inverter, SolarEdge Solutions, and SolarEdge Monitoring Software. It is noteworthy that the company’s power optimizers provide module-level maximum power point tracking and real-time adjustments of current and voltage to the optimal working point of each PV module… SolarEdge announced its first-quarter financial results… It reported a record revenue of $655.1 million, up 62% from $405.5 million in the same quarter last year. Its solar segment, which makes up most of its revenue, brought in a record $608 million, an increase of 62% year-over-year… Net income came in at $68.8 million in the past quarter, rising 24% from $55.5 million. Diluted earnings per share were $1.20, up from $0.98 in the same quarter last year. All things considered, should you add SolarEdge stock to your portfolio? 5) Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) Enphase is a renewable energy company that designs and manufactures home energy solutions. It is a global energy technology company and also the world’s leading supplier of microinverters-based solar storage systems. With its smart and easy-to-use solutions, the company connects solar generation, storage, and energy management into one intelligent platform. Enphase’s semiconductor-based microinverters convert energy at the individual solar module level and bring a system-based approach to solar energy management… The company reported better than expected results for its first quarter. Its revenue came in at $441.3 million, exceeding the $420 to $440 million the company forecasted last quarter. Additionally, this signals a revenue growth of 46.2% compared to the same period last year. Besides that, Enphase raked a net income of $51.8 million, up by 63.5%. Accordingly, diluted earnings per share were $0.37 compared to $0.24 in the year prior. For its second-quarter outlook, it foresees revenue to range between $490 million to $520 million. Given the solid quarter, should you buy Enphase stock?” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best US Corporate Citizens This next piece is from a press release by 3BL Media announcing their terrific annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking. Here are some quotes from the release. “Recognizing outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest U.S. public companies. For the fourth consecutive year, Owens Corning (OC) tops the ranking. PepsiCo (PEP), Apple (AAPL), HP (HPE) and Cisco (CSCO) round out the top five. The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is based on 155 ESG factors in eight pillars: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, stakeholders and society, and ESG performance. Using a methodology developed by 3BL Media, all Russell 1000 Index companies are researched by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services. There is no fee for companies to be included in 100 Best Corporate Citizens… To ensure companies in the ranking were not lobbying against Paris Climate Agreement-aligned policies, in 2021 3BL Media partnered with InfluenceMap to assess a ‘red flag’ penalty to such oppositional companies. Taking it a step further, in 2022 a ‘green flag’ bonus was introduced to recognize firms using their political influence and spending in support of Paris aligned policies. PepsiCo, Apple, Microsoft, PSEG and Salesforce were the only companies to receive this ‘green flag.’ Click here to access the complete 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2022 ranking and methodology.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 green UK stock picks Now from the UK is this article 2 green stocks that I think are no-brainer buys for the future by Jon Smith. It’s found on fool.co.uk. So to some quotes from Jon Smith. 1)  ITM Power (LSE:ITM) “The first green stock I like is ITM Power. The business designs, manufactures, and integrates electrolysers to produce green hydrogen. It has a range of commercial potential uses, including as fuel. The only waste is water and green hydrogen can be stored in tanks for long periods of time — it’s easy to see why people are excited… ITM Power is really starting to get up and running. The stock won a project grant from the German government in January. It has secured investment from the UK government last November for the first phase of an ongoing project at the Whitelee Windfarm hydrogen facility. The share price is down 11% over the past year, but up 50% over two years. I think that with momentum from the recent investments and the prospect of increased production in the next year or so, the share price could really start to take off. There is some risk that the market finds issues with green hydrogen in practice, but for the moment I think it’s a viable form of clean energy for the future. 2) Greencoat Renewables (LSE:GRP) Another company that fits the bill is Greencoat Renewables. I think this is a no-brainer buy not for share price growth, but rather for dividend income in my portfolio. The company invests in wind and other renewable energy projects in Europe, with the aim of distributing returns via dividends. Currently the dividend yield sits at 5.22%, with the share price up 1% over the past year… I like the fact that Greencoat has projects in different countries in its portfolio. Although there is a lot of exposure in Ireland, it also has projects in France, Spain, Finland, and Sweden… I do know that getting wind projects up and running can be very expensive. This might make it tough for Greencoat to step up to the next level as private investors might favour cheaper green energy options. However, I think there is enough funding already in this space to ensure the dividends stay generous and consistent.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Australian tech stock picks Now to an Australian article that could be of interest to global investors. It’s titled A top fund manager has been buying these ASX tech shares after the market selloff. It’s by James Mickleboro and appeared on fool.com.au. Here are some quotes from Mr. Mickleboro. Note, Bigtincan is a tech company billing itself as a ‘sales enablement platform.’ Now the quotes. “1) Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH) According to a change of interests of substantial holder notice, Australian Ethical Investment Limited (ASX: AEF), has taken advantage of recent weakness in the Bigtincan share price to increase its stake. The notice reveals that the fund manager has picked up over 8.5 million shares since its last notice. This has lifted its holding in the sales enablement platform provider to a total of ~55.8 million shares, which is the equivalent of a 10.15% stake. With the Bigtincan share price down by almost 50% since the start of the year, it appears as though Australian Ethical sees this as a buying opportunity. 2) Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO) Another change of interests of substantial holder notice reveals that Australian Ethical has also been buying this document productivity software company’s shares. The fund manager has increased its stake by ~2.5 million shares to a total of just over 17.7 million shares. This represents a stake of 7.29%... Once again, with the Nitro share price down 46% in 2022, its analysts appear to believe this has created a buying opportunity. The team at Goldman Sachs would agree with this. The broker recently reiterated its buy rating and $2.35 price target on the company’s shares.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Articles for UK, Australian, and International Investors—again links on this podcast’s webpage 1. Title Best ESG funds from the UK Evening Standard. By Andrew Michael. 2. Title 3 top ASX growth shares I'd buy next week on fool.com.au. By Tristan Harrison. 3. Title AXA IM launches two new green investment funds from InvestorDaily, Australia. By Paul Hemsley. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best US Corporate Citizens. And More.” To get all the links, and stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 3. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds articles include: “4 ETFs targeting clean water, wind energy, the smart grid — and one that has them all”; “Best renewable energy to watch out for in 2022”; “3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch As Wind Power Expands”; and “2 Renewables Stocks That Could Have You Seeing Green”. Seven more! Podcast: Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds Transcript & Links, Episode 82, May 6, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 82 published on May 6, 2022, titled “Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, just 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. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds So let’s begin with this article titled 4 ETFs targeting clean water, wind energy, the smart grid — and one that has them all by Rachel Koning Beals. It appeared on marketwatch.com. Here are some quotes from Ms. Koning Beals on each of her four recommendations. “For some investment advisers and stock-pickers, so-called green investing is far from just a feel-good move… One such investment adviser is Daniel Milan of Cornerstone Financial Services in Southfield, Michigan… 1) Is First Trust Water ETF (FIW) The fund holds 36 of the largest U.S.-listed water companies, ranked by market cap and weighted equally within five tiers. Milan says… ‘Our water thesis is short-term, intermediate-term and long-term…’ In the U.S. alone, fixing the water infrastructure — including ridding groundwater of what are usually known as ‘forever chemicals’ — featured only behind transportation as the largest recipients of funding in last year’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure law… Milan said. ‘I’m from Michigan. Flint lived its water crisis and we all lived it to some extent… I don’t think that crisis water scenario is unique.’ 2) First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) …  is a concentrated fund targeting global equities determined to be in the smart grid and electrical energy infrastructure sector, Milan says… The sector may include business in electric grid, electric meters and devices, networks, energy storage and management, and enabling software. 3) First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) Most wind ETFs are too small to pass Milan’s sniff test… The best, meaning larger, option may be First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF. It saves roughly 60% of its weighting for pure plays in the wind industry, including turbine manufacturers and operators, and allocates the remaining 40% to diversified sector, says Milan. This mix might frustrate some investors who envision a pure play. In fact, they may find more desirable wind opportunities in a broader clean-energy ETF. 4) First Trust NASDAQ Clean Energy Sector ETF (QCLN) … holds a broad portfolio of U.S.-listed firms in the clean energy industry. Eligible companies must be manufacturers, developers, distributors or installers of one of the following sub-sectors: advanced materials (that enable clean-energy or reduce the need for petroleum products), energy intelligence (smart grid), energy storage and conversion (hybrid batteries) or renewable electricity generation (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.)… Milan acknowledges recent volatility in this ETF and other macro-level sector funds as broader market consensus has favored names with high cash flow and strong balance sheets over high-growth companies.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds It seems that the media is again filled with analysts reviewing renewable energy-related stocks and funds. So, most of the following articles refer to that space. This next article is titled Best renewable energy to watch out for in 2022 by Alex Artenie. It’s on medium.datadriveninvestor.com site. Here are some quotes from Mr. Artenie on each of his picks. “1) NextEra Energy (NEE) While not a household name, this company is the world’s largest wind and solar energy producer. It has production facilities in Florida and sells power through purchasing power agreements (PPAs) to other utility companies and also directly to consumers. You should watch NextEra Energy closely as it has yielded about 700 percent in returns in the last decade. The company has enjoyed above-average growth, increasing its dividend yearly for more than a quarter of a century. 2) Brookfield Renewable (BEP) Brookfield is one of the global leaders in hydroelectric power production. Hydropower makes up more than 62 percent of its energy portfolio in 2021. However, the company is also into wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage businesses. Steady cash flow comes from long-term energy contracts with PPAs, which buy most of its energy. Brookfield stock has generated an annual return of 20 percent for its investors since it began operating. Dividend payments have grown at a 6 percent compound annual growth rate starting from 2012. The company is projecting more growth based on its extensive renewable energy projects billed to come online soon. 3) Clearway Energy (CWEN) Clearway is a big-time player in the American renewable energy market. In addition to extensive wind and solar energy portfolios, the company operates highly efficient power plants running on natural gas. It also sells its energy to PPAs, ensuring a constant revenue stream. Since its inception, investors in Clearway stocks have reaped annual returns that total almost 10 percent. The firm is controlled by Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity company. Clearway is gunning for between 5 and 8 percent annual dividend growth in the nearest future.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds My next renewable/alternative energy article is titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch As Wind Power Expands by Aparajita Dutta. Found on zacks.com. Here are some of Ms. Dutta’s comments on her stock picks. “1) TotalEnergies (TTE - Free Report) Based in France, TotalEnergies is among the top five publicly traded global integrated oil and gas companies based on production volumes, proved reserves and market capitalization. Earlier this month, TotalEnergies and ENEOS Corporation announced a collaboration to jointly conduct a feasibility study to assess the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in ENEOS Negishi Refinery in Yokohama City, Japan. The proposed unit, with a capacity of 300,000 tons per year of SAF, once operational will allow TotalEnergies to offer a sustainable supply chain of SAF in Japan around 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TotalEnergies’ 2022 earnings has improved 31.8% in the past 60 days and implies an improvement of 58.7% from 2021’s reported earnings figure. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 18.88% in the last four quarters…  TotalEnergies currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2) Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) Based in Kansas City, MO, this company provides clean, safe and reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri… Its 2021 adjusted earnings per share were $3.54, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase and a 7% increase over the $3.30 mid-point of the company’s original 2021 adjusted EPS guidance range. This indicates the company’s operational strength. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Evergy’s 2022 earnings has improved 0.6% in the past 60 days. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 87.44% in the last four quarters. It boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 6.1%. Evergy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3) Brookfield Renewables (BEP - Free Report). (Yes again!) Based in New York, Brookfield Renewables operates renewable power assets in the United States, Brazil and Colombia. In April 2022, Brookfield formed a strategic partnership with SSE Renewables for participation in the 1.4GW Hollandse Kust (west) offshore wind farm zone tenders, which are currently underway in the Netherlands… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brookfield Renewables’ 2022 earnings has improved in the past 60 days while that for sales implies an improvement of 11.6% over 2021’s reported sales figure. Brookfield Renewables currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds The last article I’m reviewing today is titled 2 Renewables Stocks That Could Have You Seeing Green. It’s by someone I feature in almost every podcast, Matthew DiLallo, on fool.com. Here’s s some of what Mr. DiLallo has to say about these two stocks. “1) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (AY) … focuses on owning environmentally sustainable infrastructure assets like renewable energy generating facilities, water desalination plants, electric transmission lines, and cleaner-burning natural gas power plants. These assets generate relatively predictable cash flow backed by long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures. That gives Atlantica the funds to pay an attractive 5.7%-yielding dividend… Atlantica is targeting to invest at least $300 million per year in renewable energy and other sustainable infrastructure projects. This investment rate should grow its cash available for distribution by 5% to 8% per year. That will enable the company to continue growing its high-yielding dividend… investors should also benefit from a steadily rising stock price, adding to their returns. 2) Clearway Energy (CWEN)(CWEN.A) (Yes, again!) Clearway Energy focuses on producing cleaner electricity from wind, solar, and natural gas power plants. It sells this energy under long-term contracts to end users like utilities. That enables it to generate relatively stable cash flow to support its 4.3%-yielding dividend. The company has also steadily increased its payout by expanding its portfolio, primarily through acquisitions. It invested $820 million across a range of transactions last year, including purchasing projects developed by its sponsor Clearway Energy Group (CEG). These deals help support Clearway's target to grow its dividend by 5% to 8% per year.  The company believes it can deliver dividend growth toward the high end of that target range through at least 2026. One key power source is the upcoming sale of its thermal business. It will receive $1.35 billion in net proceeds, giving it the cash to reinvest in higher-returning opportunities. It already has $600 million in deals lined up. That leaves it with $750 million to allocate toward future acquisitions. Given (the company’s) vast development project pipeline, Clearway should have plenty of options. (It) has 19 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects in its backlog, including 2 GW that it plans to start building this year. That's a sizable opportunity set for Clearway, considering its current portfolio size of 9 GWs… Clearway Energy offers investors a high-powered dividend that should generate a lot of green in the coming years. Add in the potential appreciation in its stock price, and Clearway could be a big-time green investment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions—not in any order and a reminder that for links to these articles go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this podcast page. 1) Title Bank of New York Mellon a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.9% Yield on Nasdaq. By BNK Invest. 2) Title What are the most responsible (Canadian) funds? On the Corporate Knights site. By Tim Nash. 3) Title LGBTQ+ Friendly Investments: What They Are & How to Find Them on investorjunkie.com. By Christopher Murray. 4) Title Green Bonds Become ESG Fixed Income Cornerstone on ETF Trends. By Tom Lydon. Articles for UK, Australian, and International Investors—again links on this podcast’s webpage 1) Title How to invest in sustainable food: Six best fund ideas on This is Money. By Tara Clee. 2) Title Here are 2 top ETFs for ASX investors to buy next week on fool.com.au. By James Mickleboro. 3) Title Top 10 most-popular investment trusts: April 2022 on ii.co.uk by Kyle Caldwell. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Clean Energy Stocks and Funds.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 20. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Great Cleantech Stocks and Faith-Based Funds covers articles: “3 Cleantech Stocks to Buy for a Greener Portfolio” and “Sunrun: 3 Trades For Investors Seeking Solar Energy Exposure” both by Tezcan Gecgil; “Religious investors who want to buy into companies that uphold their beliefs have these options” by Russ Wiles; and links to nine other articles PODCAST: Great Cleantech Stocks and Faith-Based Funds Transcript & Links, Episode 81, April 22, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Hope everyone is thinking how their investments are impacting the climate on this Earth Day! Anyhow, welcome to my podcast episode 81 published on April 22, 2022, titled “Great Cleantech Stocks and Faith-Based Funds” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, that I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Great Cleantech Stocks Despite the recent turmoil in renewable energy stocks, many analysts remain positive about them over the next few years. In this light, Tezcan Gecgil on investorplace.com has this article titled 3 Cleantech Stocks to Buy for a Greener Portfolio as well as the article following this. Here’s some of what Ms. Gecgil had to say on each stock in this article. “1) Ameresco (NYSE:AMRC) It is a leading clean technology integrator offering energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The company works with government and private enterprises, serving customers ranging from airports and industrial installations to hospitals and schools. Ameresco released fourth-quarter results on Feb. 28. Revenue increased 32% year-over-year (YOY) to almost $416 million. Adjusted net income came in at $26.7 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, up from $23 million in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $87 million. The group’s energy assets generated more than half of the profits in 2021. Analysts suggest the entry into utility-scale battery storage solutions represents a significant long-term growth opportunity. In addition, the integrator boasts a solid backlog worth more than $5 billion. Ameresco stock is down 32% year-to-date (YTD). Shares are trading at 30 times forward earnings and 2.5 times trailing sales. Meanwhile, the 12-month median price forecast for Ameresco stock stands at $85. 2) ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON) It provides power and analog semiconductors as well as intelligent sensors for cleantech industries. The chipmaker generates two-thirds of its revenue from automotive and industrial end markets, primarily from electric vehicles (EVs). ON Semiconductor announced Q4 results on Feb. 7. The company posted record quarterly revenue of $1.85 billion, up 27% YOY. Adjusted net income stood at $478 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, up from $147 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.38 billion. Overall, gross margin improved from 33% in 2020 to 40% in 2021. Free cash flow soared 167% YOY to $1.38 billion. Meanwhile, management has signed agreements that will see committed revenue growth of more than $2.6 billion through 2024. Like many other tech names, ON stock is down more than 22% YTD. As a result, shares are trading at 12.9 times forward earnings and 3.5 times trailing sales — an appealing valuation level. At present, the 12-month median price forecast for ON stock is at $75. 3) Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) The group is regarded as an innovator in modern hydrogen and fuel cell technology. It develops hydrogen fuel cell systems that replace conventional batteries in vehicles as well as equipment powered by electricity. Plug Power issued robust Q4 results on March 1, generating a record quarterly revenue of $162 million. Net loss narrowed to $193 million, or a loss of 33 cents per diluted share, up from a loss of $484 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $3.13 billion. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is gaining traction worldwide. As a result, Plug Power has forged various partnerships to bolster growth. Those names include SK Group in South Korea, Renault (OTCMKTS:RNLSY) and Lhyfe. The agreements range from the promotion of hydrogen fuel cell EVs to building green hydrogen plants in Europe. Meanwhile, in 2022, management projects full-year revenue to increase 80% YOY to exceed $900 million. Despite stable growth in operations, PLUG stock has lost nearly 12% YTD. Shares are trading at 28.6 times trailing sales. Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for PLUG stock stands at $38.” End quotes. Incidentally, Plug Power just did a major deal to supply Walmart with 20 tonnes of liquid green hydrogen every day. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Great Cleantech Stocks Now, here’s Tezcan Gecgil’s second article, though this time appearing on Investing.com. It’s titled Sunrun: 3 Trades For Investors Seeking Solar Energy Exposure. Here are some quotes from her on Sunrun. “Shares of the leading solar products installer Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN) are down close to 18% so far this year and 47.5% in the past 52 weeks. By comparison, the Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:TAN) has lost 2.7% since January and 16.1% over the past year… Despite the decline in share price, Sunrun is among the top residential solar panel providers in the US. In October 2020, it acquired competitor Vivint Solar. Thus, the company has seen volume growth in panel installations, especially in new homes, as well as in battery installations. Recent metrics Investors have also been excited about Sunrun’s upcoming partnership with Ford (NYSE:F) on home energy storage solutions. Ford’s F-150® Lightning™ truck will be used to ‘power homes and help accelerate the adoption of zero-carbon solar energy… Sunrun [will be] the preferred installer for F-150 Lightning home charging solutions in select service areas…’ Sunrun issued Q4 and FY21 results on Feb. 17, reporting a quarterly loss of 19 cents, which was wider than expected. Supply issues meant the alternative energy group delivered fewer battery systems than forecast previously. Nonetheless, Sunrun added close to 30,000 new customers during the quarter, and the total number of customers went over 660,000. As a result, the annual recurring revenue was $851 million… Sunrun shares have an ‘outperform’ rating among the 19 analysts polled via Investing.com and the 12-month average target price stands at $49.53, implying an increase of more than 71% from current levels.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Faith-Based Funds Many ethical and sustainable investors might want their religious or spiritual values reflected in their investments. This is a new article that can help them in this. It’s titled Religious investors who want to buy into companies that uphold their beliefs have these options. It’s by Russ Wiles on azcentral.com. Here’s some of what he writes. “Faith-based investing is getting easier to do with the advent of more religious mutual and exchange-traded funds… The funds are still comparatively few in number, with relatively small assets under management… While Christian funds predominate among the religious offerings, Islamic funds also have gained a following, such as the Amana mutual funds managed by Saturna Capital. The Amana funds steer clear of businesses engaged in liquor, pornography, gambling and banking. They also avoid bonds and other conventional fixed-income securities, favoring dividend-pay stocks for income. For example, large holdings in the Amana Income Fund include dividend payers Eli Lilly, Microsoft, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Rockwell Automation and Pfizer. Another Islam-focused portfolio, the Azzad Ethical Fund, excludes those types of corporations as well as tobacco producers, weapons manufacturers, some insurance companies and corporations suspected of being connected to human-rights abuses. Different areas of emphasis Even under the same general religious banner, faith-based funds differ somewhat in their investment emphasis, especially when screening out companies. The Ave Maria fund family, for example, favors corporations that follow, or at least don't violate, anti-abortion Catholic values. The fund group said it avoids investments in several key areas — corporations engaged in or supporting abortion including Planned Parenthood, pornography, embryonic stem-cell research and companies with policies deemed to undermine the sacrament of marriage. Incidentally, advisers to the Ave Maria funds range from Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron to economist/Fox News anchor Larry Kudlow to Lou Holtz, the Notre Dame football coaching legend. By contrast, the new FIS Biblically Responsible Risk Managed Fund, based in Scottsdale, enunciates a longer list. This fund won't invest in corporations believed to be involved in abortion, contraception, embryonic stem-cell research/human cloning, human-rights violations, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, armaments or gambling… Much is in eyes of the beholder But in many cases, portfolio managers don't always have a clear-cut decision on whether a corporation would make an acceptable faith-based investment — not just based on business operations but also in terms of which groups or causes a firm supports with its philanthropic dollars or promotional efforts. For example, some Christian portfolio managers will blankly avoid companies that, say, donate to gay-rights groups or Planned Parenthood… Top stock holdings in the FIS Biblically Responsible Fund, which trades under the ticker symbol ‘PRAY,’ include Palo Alto Networks, Apple, Medtronic, Ecolab and Zimmer Biomet. The fund also holds shares in two Arizona-based corporations — trash hauler Republic Services and GoDaddy, the technology-services provider for small businesses. Do religious funds sacrifice returns?  To the extent that religious funds aren't widely embraced, that could partly reflect a perception that, by weeding out stocks or bonds in certain industries, investors will sacrifice performance. Yet one study, from the Christian Investment Forum, showed solid results. The study tracked the returns of 35 Christian stock funds against other stock funds over the 15 years through December 2020. Christian funds gained 7.1% annually on average over that period, compared with 6.3% annually for the other stock funds. The study also attributed a slight performance edge to nine Christian bond funds against fixed-income funds in general, 4.2% annually compared with 3.8%... The study ‘dispels some of the long-standing perceptions that incorporating faith-based criteria, in addition to traditional investment criteria, is correlated to underperformance,’ wrote the study's author, John Siverling.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions—not in any order 1. Title PNC Financial Services Group a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.4% on IQ Stock Market. By BnK Invest. 2. Title Invest Responsibly Using These ETFs by James Comtois on etfdb.com. 3. Title Meet the recycling start-up hustling to keep EV batteries out of landfills on CorporateKnights.com. By John Lorinc. 4. Title Well-Rated Sustainable (Canadian) ETFs to Consider on Morningstar.ca. By Ian Tam. 5. Title 5 ESG Stocks to Buy for Earth Day 2022 on Kiplinger.com. By Ellen Kennedy. 6. Title 9 Top Sustainable Stocks That Are Undervalued Now on Morningstar.com. By Lauren Solberg. Articles for UK, Australian, and International Investors 1. Title Responsible investing on whatinvestment.co.uk. It’s a guide. By the What Investment Team. 2. Title 2 popular ETFs for investors to buy in April on fool.com.au. By James Mickleboro. 3. Title 2 FTSE renewable energy stocks with good dividends I’d buy now on fool.com.uk. By Manika Premsingh. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Great Cleantech Stocks and Faith-Based Funds.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 6. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts Articles covered: “Which Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now? 3 Top Picks” by Tezcan Gecgil; “My 3 Best Stock Split Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever” by Danny Vena; “iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF: Key Themes” by Michael A. Gayed. Companies reviewed include: Blink Charging, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Clearway Energy, and Nvidia PODCAST: Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts Transcript & Links, Episode 80, April 8, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 80 published on April 8, 2022, titled “Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, that I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts Now, the first article I want to talk about is titled Which Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now? 3 Top Picks by Tezcan Gecgil, an InvestorPlace Contributor. Here are some quotes by Mr. Gecgill on each of the three companies... “1) Blink Charging (NASDAQ:BLNK) Blink Charging operates electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and networked EV charging services. It offers over 30,000 charging ports in more than a dozen countries. Blink Charging released fourth-quarter 2021 results on March 10. Revenue increased 224% year-over-year (YOY) to a record $7.95 million. Net loss widened to $19 million, or 45 cents per share, compared to $7.9 million in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $175 million. Management attributes its impressive top-line growth to increasing brand recognition for its EV charging technology. Blink sold 3,733 charging stations during the quarter, representing a 253% YOY increase. In addition, services revenue increased 471% YOY. Management continues to grow its charger network with new partners and overseas expansion as well. As with most long-term growth stories, Blink is a volatile stock. It’s down almost 40% over the past year. Shares are trading at 54.7 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Blink stock is $29.50. 2) Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) … operates one of the world’s largest pure-play renewable power platforms. Its portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind and solar energy, plus storage facilities. Brookfield released Q4 2021 results on Feb. 4. Revenue increased 15% YOY to $1.1 billion. Funds from operations (FFO) increased 6.5% YOY to $214 million, generating a record FFO per unit of 33 cents. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $764 million. The company ended 2021 with an operational capacity of 21 gigawatts. In addition, it has an enormous development pipeline of 62 gigawatts. Hydroelectric power accounts for more than half of its revenue. Meanwhile, solar and wind power are expected see further growth in the coming years. Brookfield Renewable Partners stock currently offers a generous 3.1% dividend yield. Management targets sustained 12% to 15% returns annually, as well as a yearly distribution growth of 5% to 9%. This renewable energy stock is up nearly 14% so far in 2022. Shares are trading at 2.7 times trailing sales. Meanwhile, the 12-month median price forecast for (this) stock stands at $68. 3) Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN) … operates renewable and conventional energy assets. The group generates revenue from sales to local utilities under long-term, fixed-price agreements. Clearway released Q4 2021 results on Feb. 28. Net loss came in at $56 million, down from $73 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $654 million. The alternative energy name has the opportunity to develop 19.1 gigawatts of renewable energy projects through 2025. Clearway invested $820 million to expand its portfolio last year. Meanwhile, management is selling the thermal business for $1.9 billion, resulting in cash proceeds of $1.3 billion. Clearway stock currently generates an attractive 3.8% dividend yield, perfect for investors looking for passive income. Management targets annual dividend growth of 5% to 8% through 2026. The alternative energy stock has returned 27% over the past year. Shares are trading at 38.3 times forward earnings and 3.4 times trailing sales. Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Clearway stock is at $39.50.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts The next article by Danny Vena is titled My 3 Best Stock Split Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever. It’s found on fool.com. Here are Mr. Venna’s picks and edited comments on each one. “1) Nvidia (NVDA) After a 14-year hiatus and more than 2,000% stock price gains, Nvidia surprised investors on July 19, 2021, with a four-for-one stock split. Since then, even in the face of the recent market correction, shares of the semiconductor giant have still gained 49% since the split. What's driving those gains? Demand for the company's graphics processing units (GPUs) used by gamers continues to increase, as Nvidia now controls 83% of the discrete desktop GPU market. Beyond gaming, Nvidia chips are the processor of choice in cloud computing and data center operations, which are accelerating as a result of the digital transformation. At its GTC Conference held just last week, the company added CPUs to its arsenal in a further push into data center servers. Its strategy is bearing fruit. In the fourth quarter, Nvidia reported record revenue in three of its four major operating segments, resulting in revenue that grew 53% year over year. This was driven by gaming revenue that climbed 37%, data center revenue that surged 71%, and professional visualization revenue that soared 109%.  The company is also well positioned to power the metaverse and the continuing quest toward self-driving cars with its state-of-the-art processors. Furthermore, Nvidia's record revenue of $26.9 billion last year pales in comparison to the company's total addressable market (TAM), which is expected to top out at a staggering $250 billion by 2023.  2) Alphabet (GOOGL) It's been nearly eight years since Alphabet last split its shares, but the company broke that streak in early February when it revealed plans for a historic 20-for-1 stock split, scheduled to take place in July. Since its last split on March 27, 2014, Alphabet shares gained a whopping 410%. Google's search dominance has helped fuel those gains, with roughly 92% of the worldwide search engine market. This has helped cement the company's market leadership in digital advertising, collecting an estimated 29% of worldwide digital ad spending. Then there's Google Cloud, the third-largest provider of cloud services, with an estimated 9% of the market and growing more quickly than its top competitors.  Alphabet's triple threat has fueled impressive financial results. Q4 revenue climbed 32% year over year, while operating margins marched higher, pushing net income up 38%. That's impressive growth for the fourth-largest company in the world, with a market cap of $1.87 trillion. Its growth is far from over, fueled by strong secular trends. Digital ad spending is expected to climb to $873 billion by 2024, while estimates for the global cloud computing market clock in at $482 billion. Alphabet's revenue of $257 billion last year still leaves plenty of room for future upside and additional market share gains. 3) Amazon (AMZN) From little acorns grow mighty oaks, and from humble online bookstores, mighty e-commerce titans evolve. At least, that was the case with Amazon. And in terms of stock splits, the online retailer has gone the longest since its last pared its shares in the dot-com era, circa 1999. Since then, however, shares have skyrocketed 5,490%, leading to current plans for a 20-for-1 stock split. Amazon is the undisputed leader in e-commerce. While estimates vary, the company controlled roughly 40% of online sales in the U.S. last year, with an industry-leading 8% of global digital retail in 2020.  Furthermore, Amazon dominates the area of cloud computing, a space it pioneered. During Q4 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) boasted a 33% share of the cloud infrastructure services market, controlling more than No. 2 Microsoft (MSFT) and No. 3 Google Cloud combined. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Amazon has quickly become a force in the digital advertising market. While the company only began to break out its results in Q4, Amazon's ads generated more than $31 billion in 2021, up 63%, and giving it the third-largest share of global digital ad spending, behind Alphabet and Meta Platforms (FB).  This trifecta of businesses drove solid results for Amazon last year, with net sales that climbed 22% while net income climbed 57%.  Yet, there are worlds left to conquer. Global e-commerce alone is worth $5.55 trillion, while cloud computing and digital advertising represent $482 billion and $873 billion, respectively. When viewed in the context of Amazon's net sales of $470 billion last year, there's a long runway for growth ahead.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF: Key Themes Now Michael A. Gayed, CFA has posted an article on seekingalpha.com focusing on one of the leading US ESG ETFs. The article’s titled iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF: Key Themes. Here are some quotes of his from the article. “Summary iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF is one of the most popular names in the ESG space and its AUM has grown at a rapid pace since its inception. It could be one of the key beneficiaries of the expected $30 trillion worth of intergenerational inheritance transfer from baby boomers to the millennials. (It’s) valuations are pricey and it is dominated by tech names where the outlook looks mixed. The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (NASDAQ:ESGU) is a $25bn sized product covering large and mid-cap US stocks with favorable ESG ratings. Companies involved in the business of tobacco, defense, and fossil fuels are excluded whilst companies involved in ‘very severe business controversies’ (as determined by MSCI) too are excluded… Note that since its inception in late 2016, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF AUM has expanded by 3.5x the level of the SPY which tracks the broader market… and its popularity is reflected in its valuations which are still quite cheap. Currently this ETF trades at 22 P/E and the income component too is fairly underwhelming at around 1.16%. Also, note that tech stocks dominate (its) portfolio accounting for 27% of the holdings; as noted in The Lead-Lag Report, this sector has seen a slight bounce off late on account of the Russian-Ukraine conflict and cyber attacks but it may struggle to deliver outsized gains as the Fed continues to pivot to a hawkish environment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Articles for the UK Investor 1) Title These are the best ESG brokers for sustainable investing in 2022, new research reveals - London Business News. By LLB Finance Reporter. 2) Title Five ethical ISA options to invest in this year - AltFi.com. By Liza Tetley. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Buy These ESG Stocks, Say Analysts.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. 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 in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 22. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The World’s Most Ethical Companies. Articles covered:  “The 10 most innovative companies in corporate social responsibility of 2022”; “5 Must-See Picks Just Added to RBC's ESG Darlings List”; “3 Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in March”; and more! Stocks covered include Sweetgreen, Lululemon, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., Johnson Controls PLC, Enphase Energy Inc., and more PODCAST: The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables Transcript & Links, Episode 79, March 25, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 79 published on March 25, 2022, titled “The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and often bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. The opinions given are purely those of the article’s author or authors or sponsoring entity. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables Hey, I’m always happy to report on this list, The World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. Here’s some of their commentary about the list. Quote. “The World’s Most Ethical Companies historically outperform their peers and competitors financially, demonstrating a tangible ROI for doing the right thing. The connection between good ethical practices and financial performance, called the Ethics Premium, has been tracked for 16 years… In 2022, 136 organizations are recognized for their unwavering commitment to business integrity.  The honorees span 22 countries and 45 industries.” End quote. Among the top companies are Apple, IBERDROLA, Accenture, ADM, and Aptiv. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables Next. Following on the theme of great ethical companies is an article titled The 10 most innovative companies in corporate social responsibility of 2022. It’s by Morgan Clendaniel. It appeared on fastcompany.com. However, only 3 of the 10 companies are public. Here are the public companies with brief quotes from Mr. Clendaniel on each one. “1) SWEETGREEN (SG) The fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen set an aggressive goal to be carbon-neutral by 2027, assessing its entire supply chain to look for places to cut emissions. That information has allowed it to label some of its menu offerings as having the lowest emissions to produce, letting customers make climate-friendly choices when they order—all of which have seen increased popularity. 2) LULULEMON (LULU) On top of initiatives to help recycle and reuse its clothing, Lululemon, the athletic apparel company, has taken big steps to re-create the process of making them entirely. Last May, it debuted its Earth Dye collection, relying on plant waste from beets and oranges rather than synthetic dyes. It’s partnered with companies to experiment with using lab-grown polyester made out of carbon emissions and to incorporate lab-grown leather—Lululemon is a founding member of the Mylo Consortium devoted to using mycelium, a mushroom’s root structure, as a viable material alternative—into its fashions. In July 2021, the company made yoga accessories such as a mat and bags incorporating Mylo. Lululemon also invested in the bioengineering company Genomatica to find new ways to create plant-based fabrics such as a plant-based nylon. 3) ZOETIS (ZTS) COVID-19 hasn’t just infected millions of humans; it’s also been found in household pets, livestock, and wild animals. While scientists raced to find a vaccine to protect humans from the virus, animal health company Zoetis was working on a similar process, resulting in an animal vaccine, first used on the great apes at the San Diego Zoo in January 2021. Last summer, the company donated more than 11,000 doses of its animal vaccine to help protect 100 mammalian species living in over 80 zoos, conservatories, and sanctuaries. The company delivered its strongest year in its history in 2021, growing annual revenue 15%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables This next article is by RBC analyst Paul Ausick and is titled 5 Must-See Picks Just Added to RBC's ESG Darlings List. The article is found on 247wallstreet.com. Here are Mr. Ausick’s picks followed by some quotes of his. “1) SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG) … is one of two solar electronic components makers that RBC added to its ESG Darlings list. The company makes and sells direct current inverter systems and other solar-related products, including electricity storage systems. Its current market cap is around $16.6 billion, and its share price has increased by a third since February 23. The stock is owned by 21% of ESG funds, the most of any of the newly added Darlings. SolarEdge’s relative return compared to the S&P 500 index for the year to date as of March 15 is 25%. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the relative return is 35%. 2) Johnson Controls PLC (NYSE: JCI) Building products and systems maker Johnson Controls International has a market cap of $45.46 billion. The company is headquartered in Ireland but was founded in Milwaukee in 1885 by the inventor of the electric room thermostat. Johnson Control stock is owned by 16% of ESG funds, according to RBC’s report. The stock’s relative return for the year to date was negative 11.9%. Since the start of Putin’s war, the relative return has been sliced to negative 2.4%. 3) Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) Cosmetics icon Estée Lauder has a market cap of $97.7 billion and is included in the portfolios of 15% of dedicated ESG funds. As with the other funds on this list, the stock trades down for the year to date, although the share price has improved since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For the year to date, Estée Lauder’s relative return is negative 17.6%. Since the invasion, the relative return is negative 9.8%. 4) Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) The other solar-related stock added to the ESG Darlings is Enphase. The company’s principal product is a microinverter that converts solar energy from direct to alternating current at the individual module level, and couples that with technology to monitor and control solar-generated power. Enphase’s market cap is $24.22 billion. The stock is included in the assets of 15% of sustainable equity funds but not traditional actively managed funds. Its year-to-date relative return is 2.4%, and its return since the invasion of Ukraine is 31.3%. 5) Ansys Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS) Engineering simulation software provider Ansys has a market cap of $27.01 billion, and the stock posted an all-time high in early November of last year. The company’s simulation tools in a variety of fields include aerospace, automotive, construction and consumer products. The stock is also included in 15% of RBC’s ESG Darlings. Its relative rate of return for the year to date is negative 13.2%, but since the invasion of Ukraine, the relative rate of return is 1.7%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables My next article is titled 3 Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in March by Keithen Drury on fool.com. AI stocks are often bought by ethical and sustainable investors. Here are some quotes from Mr. Drury on each one. “1) Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) As one of the leading technology companies, Nvidia's 2022 fiscal year (ending Jan. 30, 2022) results were strong. Revenue grew 61% to $26.9 billion over last year, but quarterly revenue growth slowed to 53% year over year. Its AI sales are wrapped into its data center division, which grew faster than overall revenue at a 71% year-over-year pace. In its fourth-quarter presentation, Nvidia highlighted its data center growth was led by strong demand for AI products. Nvidia's AI technology is being used by many firms, including Meta Platforms, which recently announced it was building its AI research SuperCluster with Nvidia's products. A broad approach to AI investing can be taken by purchasing Nvidia's stock. 2) CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) Changing to a more application-based investment, CrowdStrike provides cybersecurity solutions with its cloud-based offering. Through its Falcon platform, customers are protected by software that sees more than 1 trillion events per day. CrowdStrike then uses AI to learn from these attacks and continuously evolves the program, so when a customer in France sees an attack, a different company is protected from a similar threat in the U.S… Some of the most important companies in the world utilize CrowdStrike, with 15 of the top 20 banks and 65 of the Fortune 100 companies deploying CrowdStrike's software… With customers growing 65% year over year to 16,325 and annual recurring revenue up 65% to $1.7 billion, CrowdStrike's business is executing on all levels. The company represents a great way to invest in the application of AI, and the cybersecurity industry has never been more relevant. 3) C3.ai, Inc. (AI) C3.ai's tools allow data scientists to deploy prebuilt and configurable AI applications to support a business in many ways, such as supply chain management, energy efficiency, and customer engagement. The company's tools are recognized as some of the best available. Omdia ranked C3.ai top on its list of machine-learning development platforms. It was also found to increase developer productivity by 26 times, by cutting the amount of code required by nearly 99% on Amazon Web Services (AWS) when deploying AI solutions. C3.ai is a young company founded in 2009 and only has 218 customers as a result. Still, this is up 82% year over year and drove Q3 (ending Jan. 31, 2022) total revenue to $69.8 million, increasing by 42% over the prior year. It also landed a five-year, $500 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. The company has a long way to go before turning a profit, as its operating margin was negative 22%, although this was an improvement from last year's Q3 number of negative 24%. It will take C3.ai some time, but if its best-in-class solutions are adopted across the industry, it could be a fantastic investment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables Now here are a group of articles related to Renewable Energy Stocks and Funds. Many of which have caught fire recently with the advent of higher oil prices. (For article links to these and in other categories that follow, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode and section.) 1) Title 2 Best Renewable Energy Stocks for 2022 (NASDAQ:ON) | Seeking Alpha by Stephen Cress. 2) Title Alternative Energy ETFs Shine as Oil Prices Rally Amid War - Zacks.com by Sweta Jaiswal. Sweta recommends five solar ETFs. 3) Title 4 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch In March 2022 | National | fwbusiness.com by Josh Dylan. 4) Title 3 Wind Stocks to Grab Global Growth | Kiplinger by Shrilekha Pethe. 5) Title 10 Best Performing Energy ETFs: 2022 | ThinkAdvisor by Michael S. Fischer. 6) Title Fossil Fuels Rise, Profit With Alternative Energy Investments | Seeking Alpha by Enterprising Investors. Other Honorable Mentions 1) Title Rosy Prospects for This ESG ETF | ETF Trends by Tom Lydon. 2) Title 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds | Investing | US News by Jeff Reeves. Recommendations Related to UK and Australian Stocks and Funds 1) Title Telegraph’s top 10 ethical funds to grow your money – Plainsmen Post (UK) by George Holan. 2) Title What are ethical ETFs? Check out these ASX-listed funds (kalkinemedia.com) (Australia) by Ashish and Shaghil Bilali. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Most Ethical Companies and Best Renewables.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote ethical and sustainable investing as a ‘forceful hope’ in these troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 8. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds articles covered: “5 'Blue Economy' Stocks and Funds”; “These 2 Renewable Energy Stocks Are Too Cheap to Ignore”; “Technical Analyst Sees Lots of Upside Potential in This Alternative Energy Stock”; “Why Enphase Energy Stock Soared in February”; “Why Digital Realty Trust is a leading Socially Responsible Dividend (DLR) stock” PODCAST: Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds Transcript & Links, Episode 78, March 11, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. I do hope that you are ok and managing to stay calm, healthy, and focused on what positive contribution you can make to help alleviate the terrible distress in these deeply troublesome times. Investing in ethical and sustainable companies has never been more important than it is now! Anyhow, welcome to podcast episode 78 published on March 11, 2022, titled “Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds Now the first article I want to review concerns the water industry — an industry receiving great attention from ethical and sustainable investors. The article’s title is 5 'Blue Economy' Stocks and Funds. It’s written by Nellie S. Huang and published by Kiplinger. Ms. Huang writes, quote… “The blue economy represents all of the dollars spent to improve the economic growth, health and livelihood of ocean and coastal zone ecosystems… ‘You can’t have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean,’ says Louise Heaps, the head of sustainable blue economy at the global nonprofit WWF, in London… (The article continues)…We recommend two funds that focus on water sustainability. We also found the stocks of three companies doing interesting things that will help us use water more efficiently or that go some way toward stemming water pollution. (The funds and stocks are…) 1) Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund (FLOWX) (Is) a new, actively managed fund, focuses on firms working on solving the world's water crisis… Industrial machinery is the fund's top industry weighting at a quarter of assets. It's followed by water utilities (17%) and electronic equipment and instruments (15%), as well as 11% of assets each in building products and industrial conglomerates. Roper Technologies (ROP) and American Water Works (AWK) are top holdings. (The fund) has returned 7.9% over the past 12 months. 2) Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO) Invesco has three water-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but we favor Invesco Water Resources ETF… because it tracks a Nasdaq index that includes companies creating products designed to conserve and purify water. Invesco Water Resources ETF is similar to Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund in that its largest asset concentrations are in machinery (27%) and water utilities (20%). However, it also has a substantial 16% invested in life sciences tools and services. Waters Corp. (WAT) and American Water Works (AWK) top the portfolio. The fund has gained 9.4% over the past 12 months. 3) Tetra Tech (TTEK) Is an engineering and consulting firm has big roles in many sustainable areas, including water management. For instance, the company helped a Kentucky sewer system authority save $200 million from 2006 to date by building a high-tech, real-time system to monitor and manage sewer system overflow during periods of heavy rain… Stifel analyst Noelle Dilts recommends the blue economy stock. ‘We believe the company is well positioned to benefit from strong secular drivers in water and environmental services, with 85% [or more] of revenues tied to these markets,’ she says. Analysts expect the company… to deliver annual earnings growth of 9% in 2022 and 8% in 2023. 4) Danimer Scientific (DNMR) The ocean is home to five plastic islands of floating trash; one is roughly twice the size of Texas. Danimer Scientific could help reduce that. It is developing a kind of plastic that is 100% biodegradable and compostable… Danimer Scientific… had its initial public offering in December 2020. The company has a $409 million market value, no profits and just $53 million in revenue over the past 12 months… Jeffries analyst Laurence Alexander rates the stock a Buy, saying that 2022 should be a ‘validation year,’ when leading brands adopt its plastic. It already has a number of well-known customers, including PepsiCo (PEP) and Walmart (WMT). 5) Deere (DE) Excessive use of fertilizer can run off into waterways, harming plants, animals and habitats, not to mention water quality. ‘If we could just reduce the use of fertilizer, that would have the biggest positive impact on water,’ says Putnam's Collins. Deere's ‘See & Spray Select’ technology, installed on a fertilizer sprayer, uses camera technology to identify color differentiation in the field so that only weeds get sprayed with herbicides. The system reduces herbicide use by 77%, on average… Deere has its share of eco-bugaboos, but it’s a leader in precision agriculture – technology that helps increase crop yields and minimize the use of fertilizers, two key environmental pluses… Credit Suisse's Jamie Cook rates the stock Outperform.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds Now back to familiar territory with this article titled These 2 Renewable Energy Stocks Are Too Cheap to Ignore. By Neha Chamaria and Rekha Khandelwal on fool.com. Here are some quotes from the authors on their picks. “1) Neha Chamaria recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) (The) stock is finally showing some signs of life after languishing in 2021, but there's tremendous upside potential left in the stock at current prices… Brookfield Renewable generated record funds from operations (FFO) in its third quarter, but the market paid no heed. I strongly believed it deserved better and even picked Brookfield Renewable as the only stock I'd buy in 2022 -- if I had to pick one… Brookfield Renewable's total pipeline is… almost three times the size of its existing operational capacity, and it is this pipeline that should set Brookfield Renewable on the next growth path. For now, the company expects to grow funds from operations per unit by 10% or more through 2026… That should translate into regular annual-dividend increases which could be as high as 9% each year. Now combine that with Brookfield Renewable's dividend yield of 3.4% and the potential gains from reinvesting those dividends, and you could well be on your way to making a fortune if you add this renewable dividend growth stock to your portfolio.  2) Rekha Khandelwal likes NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP) The recent correction in renewable energy stocks due to concerns relating to overvaluation and rising interest rates has contributed to the fall in NextEra Energy Partners' stock. However, the company's fundamentals remain rock-solid… NextEra Energy Partners has certain key advantages over its competitors. To begin with, it is backed by a top utility, NextEra Energy (NEE). (It) has a huge and diversified portfolio of renewable energy assets, and it's been in the renewables business for more than 30 years… NextEra Energy's investment-grade balance sheet helps it raise funds at comparatively lower costs than its smaller peers. NextEra Energy Partners announced a distribution of $0.71 for the fourth quarter, which represents a sequential increase of 3.3%. On an annualized basis, the Q4 distribution grew 15% year over year. NextEra Energy Partners expects a 12% to 15% per-year growth in its distributions through 2024. All in all, this is one renewable energy (stock) that you would surely want to buy right away.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds Continuing on the theme of renewable energy is this article titled Technical Analyst Sees Lots of Upside Potential in This Alternative Energy Stock. Found on investorideas.com. Source: Clive Maund. Here are some quotes. “Things are going well for solar stock UGE International Ltd. (UGE:TSX.V; UGEIF:OTCQB), which looks like a buy here after what is believed to be prolonged base building since it hit bottom last June after a reactive phase… There is plenty of upside potential from here, as made clear by the position of the MACD indicator.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds Now to one of the favorite companies by analysts featured in these podcasts. It’s covered in this article titled Why Enphase Energy Stock Soared in February. It’s by Howard Smith and again found on fool.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Smith. “The stock of solar system technology company Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) had a strong month in February. Two separate catalysts were really responsible for the gains, resulting in an overall jump of 18.7% for the month, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. First, the company reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results on Feb. 8, prompting a big single-day pop in the stock. The second catalyst wasn't company-specific. Many solar and other alternative-energy stocks have soared in the final days of February as oil prices jumped on the backdrop of war in Ukraine and geopolitical uncertainty.  After having given up some gains made after its strong earnings report, (Its) shares of Enphase soared almost 32% in the last five days of the month. Enphase reported record revenue of $412.7 million for its fourth quarter, bringing full year 2021 revenue to $1.38 billion, jumping nearly 80% over the 2020 total of $774.4 million. After generating $92.7 million in cash flow from operations, and spending $300 million in share repurchases in December, Enphase also ended the year with $1 billion in cash on its balance sheet… For investors, the main concern with Enphase should be its valuation. At its recent market cap of $21.2 billion, shares are trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of almost 150. While continued strong growth should bring that down over the next several years, it's an investment that comes with plenty of risk should there be any stumbles in the company's growth rate.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Why Digital Realty Trust is a leading Socially Responsible Dividend (DLR) stock Looking for dividends, then see this article titled Why Digital Realty Trust is a leading Socially Responsible Dividend (DLR) stock. It’s authored by Eleon on goodwordnews.com. Now some quotes from the author. “Digital Realty Trust Inc (Symbol: DLR) has been named one of the best socially responsible dividend stocks by Dividend Channel, meaning a stock with above average results. ‘Dividend rank’ statistics, including a high yield of 3.5%, as well as being recognized by leading asset managers as being a socially responsible investment… According to ETF Channel’s ETF Finder, Digital Realty Trust Inc is a member of the iShares USA ESG Select (SUSA) ETF, representing 0.19% of the fund’s underlying holdings, which holds $7,077,077 in DLR shares. The annualized dividend paid by Digital Realty Trust Inc is $4.64/share, currently paid in quarterly installments… DLR operates in the REIT sector.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendations Related to Australian Stocks 1. Title 2 exciting ASX growth shares for March 2022 26 February 2022 (fool.com.au). By Tristan Harrison. Quote “Australian Ethical (ASX: AEF) is investing significantly for growth and is benefiting from rapidly growing FUM; (and) Airtasker’s (ART) platform gives it a high gross profit margin and it is growing quickly, particularly in the US and UK.” End quote. 2. Title 2 popular ETFs you need to know (fool.com.au). The ETFs are BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) and Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Water, Energy, Stocks and Funds.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote ethical and sustainable investing as a ‘forceful hope’ in these troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 25. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Topping ESG rankings (stocks): “Report--Meet the top 200 companies investing in a clean energy future”; “Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies”; “Top 5 ESG Stocks To Radar Now”; “10 Real Estate Companies That Are Both Greener and More Profitable”; “For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI”; and “This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease”; plus PODCAST: The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 77, February 25, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 77 published on February 25, 2022, titled “The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Now a point about current volatile market conditions. You should know that in such markets studies show that companies highly rated for their ESG and sustainability scores usually show superior returns compared to the overall markets. Just a thought in these troubled times where we all wish for the troubles around Ukraine to get resolved peacefully and without much loss of life. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Let’s begin looking at As You Sow and Corporate Knights’ Report: Meet the top 200 companies investing in a clean energy future. By TOBY A.A. HEAPS, ANDY BEHAR, MICHAEL YOW, AND MATTHEW MALINSKY. Here are some quotes. “The Clean200 are the largest 200 public companies ranked by green energy revenues… Geographically… the United States dominated the 2022 list, with 52 companies on the Clean200, while Canada had the second largest share with 18, closely followed by China, which 16 Clean200 companies are headquartered in. On average, 58% of revenues earned by Clean200 companies are classified as clean, which is up from 39% in 2021 and significantly above the 20% average clean revenue for their MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) peers… $10,000 invested in the Clean200 on July 1, 2016, would have grown to $20,709 by January 31, 2022, versus $20,315 for the MSCI ACWI broad market benchmark and $13,167 for the MSCI ACWI/Energy benchmark for fossil fuel companies.” End quotes. The top five Clean 200 companies are Apple inc., Alphabet Inc., Intel Corp, TSMC, and Iberdrola. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Another good ranking is the just-released 2022 edition of Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies. Writing about them is Lauren Foster. Ms. Foster writes, quote… “In the fifth annual Barron’s ranking of America’s Most Sustainable Companies, shares of the 100 companies on our list returned 34.4%, on average, in 2021, besting the S&P 500 index’s 28.7%... 41 of the 100 companies on last year’s list beat the market in 2021.” End quotes. Barron’s top five are NVIDIA, ON Semiconductor, Crocs, Inc., Applied Materials, and Jones Lang LaSalle. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Now Mavis Babcock at topnewsguide.com has penned this article titled Top 5 ESG Stocks To Radar Now. Here are their names followed by some brief quotes on each one. “1) Viking Energy Group (OTCMKTS:VKIN) is perfect for any speculative investor searching for ESG investments.  The diversified green company has made three recent acquisitions; a carbon capture system that produces sellable commodities from carbon emissions, a medical waste treatment device called the ‘OZONE’, and a Green Renewable Diesel Production Facility in Reno that it is extremely close to closing on. 2) Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) … the stock has gained 15% so far this year… Mattel is now projecting its 2021 net sales of $5.4 billion to grow 8% to 10% in the current year. Adjusted EPS is seen at $1.42 to $1.48. The toymaker also lifted its 2023 net sales growth forecast to high-single-digit from a previous outlook of mid-single-digit growth… Hasbro forecast growth of ‘low-single digit’ in both annual revenue and operating profit this year. 3) American Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:AFG) … the stock has jumped 58% over the past year… (and) delivered fourth-quarter 2021 core net operating earnings per share of $4.12, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 38.3%. The bottom line doubled on a year-over-year basis. 4) CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) … The stock is trading above 34% from its 52-week low and 4% away from its 52-week high. CNH Industrial came out with quarterly earnings of $0.25 per share, beating the Consensus Estimate of $0.21 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.30 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 19.05%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this truck, tractor and bus maker would post earnings of $0.22 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.36, delivering a surprise of 63.64%. 5) Ternium S.A. (NASDAQ:TX) Is another stock in the ESG sector which has been showing consistent rise. The stock has moved up 8% over the past one quarter… Benefits of higher steel prices and healthy shipments are likely to reflect on its fourth-quarter results.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Considering green real estate REITS? Well, here’s a list also published in Barron’s titled 10 Real Estate Companies That Are Both Greener and More Profitable. It’s by Evie Liu. 2022 Rank* 2021 Rank Company Ticker REIT Industry Weighted Score 2021 Return Market Capitalization (bil)** Dividend Yield** 1 1 Kilroy Realty KRC Office 74 19.3 $7.1 3.3% 2 2 Host Hotels & Resorts HST Hotel 73 18.9 11.8 0.0 3 8 Boston Properties BXP Office 72 26.0 17.3 3.5 4 NR Ventas VTR Healthcare 71 7.9 20.4 3.5 5 3 Alexandria Real Estate Equities ARE Office 70 27.6 28.4 2.4 6 NR AvalonBay Communities AVB Apartment 70 61.4 33.1 2.7 7 5 Kimco Realty KIM Retail 69 68.8 14.4 2.9 8 NR Equity Residential EQR Apartment 69 56.7 32.5 2.8 9 4 Equinix EQIX Data Center 69 20.0 61.5 1.7 10 10 Brixmor Property BRX Retail 68 60.2 7.2 3.5 *Rank based on non-rounded weighted average; **Market cap and dividend yield as of 12/31/2021; NR=not on the 2021 ranking; N/A= not available Sources: Calvert Research & Management. ------------------------------------------------------------- For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI Many US ethical and sustainable investors like municipal bonds. If this, is you, review this article titled For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI. It’s by TOM LYDON and published on etftrends.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Lydon. “The vast fixed income market is fertile ground for green fund innovation.... Consider the case of the VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF (SMI), which debuted last September as the first exchange traded fund dedicated to green municipal bonds. The actively managed VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF is managed by HIP Investments — a pioneer in the green municipal bond space… ‘HIP Ratings incorporate research that shows which variables are key to improving outcomes. Then, HIP tracks data and metrics related to evidence-based targets and goal,’ said HIP Investors founder and CEO Paul Herman in a recent note. (This ETF)… which sports a 30-day SEC yield of 1.27%, holds just 44 municipal bonds. That’s the result of a high bar for entry created by HIP Investor’s stringent investment criteria and the newness of green municipal bonds. None of the ETF’s holdings exceed a weight of 4.77%. ‘HIP Investor’s methodology, which precedes the term ‘ESG’ by several years, uses five pillars based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. These five pillars — Health, Wealth, Earth, Equality, and Trust – can be mapped to ESG as well,’ adds Herman. Additionally, the HIP’s methodology features a dual-pronged approach that focuses on sustainability and education… ‘In the VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF (SMI), HIP Ratings also track the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, as well as a Climate Threat Resilience score,’ notes Herman. California and New York municipal bonds combine for 60.6% of the ETF’s weight. (This ETF) has an effective duration of 5.77 years, and 84% of its holdings carry investment-grade ratings.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease while making you money. Here’s how Now here’s another specialist ETF that might be of interest to numerous ethical and sustainable investors. The article’s titled This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease while making you money. Here’s how. It’s by Josh Meyers and found on cnbc.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Meyers’ article. “’The IQ Healthy Hearts ETF (HART)… is designed to help investors do well while doing good,’ New York Life Investments’ Wendy Wong told CNBC’s 'ETF Edge' on Monday. HART’s current portfolio includes companies such as UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Apple (AAPL), Novartis (NVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). The ETF, powered by Index IQ, sees a portion of fees go toward supporting the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease… ‘The American Heart Association uses [the funds] to support its Social Impact Fund,’ she said. ‘This addresses health inequalities in under-resourced communities.’ New York Investments’ support has accelerated the growth of the Social Impact Fund by nearly three times, according to Wong. The HART ETF is significant in the ESG space as well, ETF Trends CEO Tom Lydon said in the same interview.  Lydon called the partnership a great example of ‘[making] sure that we’re not only doing right but feeling good about it at the same time and maybe learning how we can help our family do a better job of staying healthy.’ HART is outperforming the S&P 500 so far this year, down about 5% versus the benchmark index’s 6% loss.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1. Title Most Active Stocks Today? 4 Renewable Energy Stocks For Your Watchlist | Nasdaq. By Amos C. The stocks are Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ: ENPH), Daqo New Energy Corp (NYSE: DQ), Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE: BEP), and Solaredge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG). (As mentioned in previous podcasts, Daqo is accused of using Chinese forced labor.) 2. Title This Top Stock Is a Rock for Any Renewable Energy Portfolio | The Motley Fool. By Travis Hoium. Quote “First Solar (FSLR) was the one that I really wanted to bring to bear for people.” End quote. 3. Title Here are the top 20 BSE 100 companies with strong corporate governance: Report - BusinessToday. By Rahul Oberoi. Click the link on this podcast’s webpage for company names. 4. Title 3 ethical ASX companies with Australian Ethical's Mike Murray | Ethical Investing in Australia | Rask Media. Recommendations by Mike Murray. Again, click the link on this podcast’s webpage for the company names. 5. Title 6 Top-Performing ESG ETFs With High MSCI Ratings on money.usnews.com. By Aaron Davis and Tim Lawson. Again, click the link on this podcast’s webpage for the company names. Recommendations Related to UK, Australian, and European Stocks and Funds 1. Title Interactive Investor's top 20 ethical funds and trusts | This is Money. By Jane Denton. Quote “The Baillie Gifford Positive Change impact fund was the most popular ethical option for investors with Interactive Investor over the past 10 months, new data shows.” End quote. As before, click the link on this podcast’s webpage for list of the funds. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 11. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks, Analyst. Article titles covered include these: “Beat inflation with 3 stocks that bet against oil in favor of EVs and the renewable-power grid”; “Top 3 Energy Stocks for 2022 and Beyond”; “3 Best Corporate Governance Stocks to Buy Right Now”; and “1 Fund to Invest in a Sustainable Future” PODCAST: Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks, Analyst Transcript & Links, Episode 76, February 11, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 76 published on February 11, 2022, titled “Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks, Analyst” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks, Analyst Now we’re hearing a lot about inflation. Take note of this article titled Beat inflation with 3 stocks that bet against oil in favor of EVs and the renewable-power grid. It’s by Rachel Koning Beals and found on MarketWatch.com. Here are some quotes. “Ivana Delevska, founder and chief investment officer at SPEAR, which runs the actively managed SPEAR Alpha ETF (SPRX), already guides the fund toward disruptive industrial-technology stocks… Now, she has her sights on what looks to be an inflation-tolerant trio of companies that can counter energy-price volatility. 1) Livent Corp. (LTHM) It is ‘very advantageously positioned as a lithium manufacturer, which is expected to remain a key bottleneck component in the production of EVs…’ (It’s) shares are down nearly 8% so far in 2022, after a 13% gain in the past year. 2) ChargePoint Holdings (CHPT) Delevska called it a diversified play on the theme because the company offers hardware and software to fleet, residential and commercial customers. Among other factors, charging support got a boost in the bipartisan infrastructure legislation passed last year, but the most robust government request for funding to back EVs and their charging network has been hung up in a stalled Build Back Better bill. 3) Eaton Corp. (ETN) The power-management company, which helps wind-turbine operators, for instance, convert power into electricity and transport it to the grid… Shares are down 12% in the year to date, cutting into a nearly 25% one-year gain.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks? Returning to familiar territory is an article by a regularly featured analyst Matthew DiLallo of The Motley Fool. Found on Nasdaq.com it’s titled Top 3 Energy Stocks for 2022 and Beyond. Here are some quotes from Mr. DiLallo. “1) Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC) (NYSE: BEP) It owns hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities across North and South America, Europe, and Asia… Brookfield sells to utilities and large corporate customers under long-term, fixed-rate power purchase agreements (PPA)… Brookfield distributes most of its cash flow to investors through a dividend that currently yields 3.7%... In addition, Brookfield sees up to 9% of additional cash flow per share growth as it continues making value-enhancing acquisitions. 2) Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) Enbridge is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America… Currently, fossil fuels supply the bulk of Enbridge's income. However, the company has been slowly pivoting toward cleaner energy sources like natural gas and renewables over the years… Its legacy assets are generating cash that Enbridge is using to pay an attractive dividend – it currently yields 6.3% -- and reinvest into cleaner energy infrastructure projects… Meanwhile, it's investing in emerging clean energy projects like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. 3) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) It operates one of the cleanest electric utilities in the country, Florida Power & Light, and a leading energy production and infrastructure business, NextEra Energy Resources. Overall, it's one of the world's largest energy producers from the wind and sun. It's also a leader in battery storage… That should drive continued growth in NextEra's 2%-yielding dividend. This year, it sees around 10% dividend growth, with future increases likely to track earnings growth.” End Quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks? Governance is the ‘G’ in ESG. That’s what this article is concerned with. It’s titled 3 Best Corporate Governance Stocks to Buy Right Now. It’s by Melissa Brock and seen on MarketBest.com. Here are some quotes from Ms. Brock on her picks. “1) Alcoa Corp. (NYSE: AA) Alcoa Corp… produces bauxite, alumina and aluminum products through bauxite mining operations which processes bauxite into alumina as well as smelting and casting operations to produce primary aluminum. Alcoa expects all directors, officers and other employees to conduct business in compliance with a strict code of conduct and the company surveys compliance on an annual basis. The company carefully outlines the role of its board of directors and director responsibilities, including the core responsibilities to exercise business judgment and act in the best interests of the company and its stockholders… In 2021 overall, the company posted the highest annual net income of $429 million and earnings per share of $2.26 and generated revenue of $12.2 billion, an increase of 31% from 2020. 2) Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) Newmont Corp… is a gold producer in North America, South America, Nevada, Australia and Africa.  Newmont Corp's code of conduct publicly lays out the high standards of conduct expected of employees, officers and directors, as well as partners, vendors and contractors. Newmont is a founding member of the Partnering Against Corruption Initiative and adheres to a strict business integrity policy and standards designed to prevent corruption… The company has an independently operated, 24-hour hotline, called the Integrity Helpline, in which any stakeholder can report unsafe and unethical behavior…  Newmont ended Q3 with $4.6 billion of consolidated cash and $7.6 billion of liquidity… Over the last four quarters, Newmont has steadily reinvested in operations while returning more than $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. 3) CBRE Group Inc. (NYSE: CBRE) CBRE Group, Inc… provides commercial real estate and investment services through its advisory services, global workplace solutions and real estate investments segments, including property leasing, capital markets, property management, project management services and valuation services, contractually-based outsourcing services and global investment management services… (It’s) Standards of Business Conduct was completely revised in 2021 so its workforce of more than 100,000 employees could read and understand it. The document emphasizes its RISE values: respect, integrity, service and excellence. Personnel and board members must both act ethically and adhere to standards of business conduct… Capital markets activity and global property sales revenue exceeded posted United States increases, with revenue up 116%. International markets also saw strong increases versus last year’s third quarter, paced by Australia and the United Kingdom.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Beat Inflation With These ESG Funds? Now I’m excited by this fund featured in this article titled A New ESG Fund Launches Today. Why Its Top Holdings Are GM and Occidental. It’s by Evie Liu and was on Barrons.com. Quote. “The path to cutting carbon emissions to zero has to go through the largest emitters, Engine No. 1, the investment firm behind the successful shareholder campaign to reshape oil giant Exxon Mobil, believes. That’s why the firm launched an exchange-traded fund to invest in legacy companies that will drive and benefit from the energy transition.  The Transform Climate ETF (ticker: NETZ)… focuses on firms in some of the largest carbon-emitting industries—such as transportation, energy, and agriculture—that have shown commitment to credible decarbonization plans. It will also look for firms whose products and services help enable the transition to a low-carbon economy… ‘We believe there is no way to decarbonize the planet without these companies transforming, and there is no time to lose,’ says Engine No. 1 founder Chris James… The fund’s top three holdings at launch are General Motors ( GM ), Deere ( DE ), and Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ), names you don’t see often in green funds… The Transform Climate fund is Engine No. 1’s second ETF and first actively managed thematic fund. It charges an annual expense ratio of 0.75%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Beat Inflation With This ESG Fund? Want just one ESG fund to invest in? You might want to review this article titled 1 Fund to Invest in a Sustainable Future. It’s by Frederic Slade and found on fool.com. Quote. “The iShares USA ESG Select ETF has a Morningstar score of 5 and an MSCI score of AAA, while a competitor, the Calvert Equity Fund-A (NASDAQMUTFUND: CSIEX) has scores of 5 and AA, respectively. The iShares fund scores higher with MSCI in part because its Top 5 holdings include only one stock with an MSCI rating below A: Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ: GOOGL), which is rated BBB, average for its industry… Morningstar and MSCI's approaches to scoring sustainability differ, so you should use both to research different funds… The expense ratio for an actively managed fund such as Calvert Equity A can approach 1% – 0.94%, in Calvert's case – while passive funds like iShares USA ESG Select ETF have expense ratios in the 0.10% to 0.25% range… If you're looking for a diversified fund that scores well in sustainability and boosts your portfolio's return, iShares USA ESG Select ETF might make a great place to start your search.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analyst Recommendations Related to UK, Australian, and European ESG Stocks and Funds 1. Title 5 exciting investment funds to keep an eye on in 2022 | Fool UK by George Sweeney. Two of the funds might be considered by ethical and sustainable investors. They are the Trojan Ethical Income (F00000WQ4M.L) and Legal & General Future World ESG Developed Index (GB00BMFXWS95:GBP). 2. Title 2 ASX shares riding the wave of green energy and ethical investing (fool.com.au). They are Australian Ethical Investments Limited (ASX: AEF) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG). The latter has a significant and growing ‘green energy and green technology with a vision to make green hydrogen,’ says the author. 3. Title Financial Friday: Which sustainable funds are investors buying? (fidelity.co.uk). By Toby Sims. Quote “Runaway leader, the L&G MSCI World Socially Responsible Investment SRI Index Fund, as well as the iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF and the L&G Future World Climate Equity Factors Index on this list, are all passive funds.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Beat Inflation With These ESG Stocks, Analyst.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on February 25. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus… includes these companies…QUALCOMM, NextEra Energy, Texas Instruments, Cabot Corporation, Kimco Realty, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Amgen, Moelis & Company, Artisan Partners Asset Management, Novavax, Vir Biotechnology, SSE, Greencoat UK Wind, and funds iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, Invesco ESG Nasdaq-100 ETF, and Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF PODCAST: ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 75, January 28, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 75 published on January 28, 2022, titled “ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus… I’m beginning with this fine piece of annual research by Canada’s Corporate Knights. It’s their highly respected Global 100 Sustainability list. See the listings here. I’m going to quote from a companion article for an overview of this research. It’s by Mike Scott, titled, Global 100 companies prove sustainability is good for business. Here are some quotes… “Again this year, the Corporate Knights Global 100 most sustainable corporations are progressing faster than their peers. Members of the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI), a global equity index, derive just 30% of their earnings from products or services aligned with the Corporate Knights Clean Taxonomy, while 47% of the Global 100 do so (up from 41% last year). Crucially, Global 100 companies are also investing more aggressively in clean technologies and services, with 48% of their capital expenditures, R&D and acquisitions going to clean investments, versus 34% for ACWI… This is reflected in their performance. Since the market bottomed in the spring of 2020, the Global 100 has made gains of 22% against the ACWI, reflecting investors’ focus on a green recovery… Compared to the average ACWI firm, Global 100 members generate more than four times the output per tonne of carbon emitted and almost eight times more output per unit of energy consumed… More Measures Showing Global 100 Outperformance! The ratio of CEO pay to that of the average worker is also lower in Global 100 firms, at 111:1, while at other companies, the pay gap has grown from 124:1 to 140:1, extending the gulf between executives and workers. And while 87% of Global 100 companies link executive compensation to meeting sustainability targets, up from 80% last year, the proportion of companies in the benchmark index may have more than doubled, but that is from just 14% last year to 34% this year… A number of high-profile names were excluded from the Global 100 because of specific red-flagged activities, such as weapons production (including Airbus, Rolls-Royce Holdings and Boeing) and climate policy blocking (Ford Motor Company, Daimler AG, Chevron and Air France).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus… Many ethical and sustainable investors are seeking income from their investments. So, here’s a source for you, titled 10 ESG Dividend Stocks to Buy. It’s by Fatima Farooq and found on Yahoo!Finance. Concerning the quoted ESG scores, the article says, quote, the “S&P Global's ESG Score Tracker rates companies on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being the best performance. Any ESG score above 50 means the company's ESG rating is above average, and when the score crosses 70, the company's ESG performance is considered to be on a positive rise relative to other companies.” So here are the ten stocks followed by brief author comments on each one. “10. QUALCOMM, Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) Dividend Yield: 1.5% ESG Score: 56 (Is) an information technology company, develops and commercializes foundational technologies for the global wireless industry. The company has been raising its dividend for 11 years, and with an ESG score above 50, it is among the best stock picks for those seeking ESG dividend stocks to buy. 9. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Dividend Yield: 1.8% ESG Score: 86 NextEra Energy, Inc. is a utilities company that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company has one of the highest ESG scores on our list. 8. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) Dividend Yield: 2.1% ESG Score: 50 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a financial institution providing financial products and services worldwide. The company has an ESG score of 50 according to S&P Global's ESG Score Tracker. 7. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) Dividend Yield: 2.4% ESG Score: 53 Texas Instruments Incorporated is an information technology company that specializes in manufacturing and selling semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers across the globe. The company's ESG score according to S&P Global is 53, making it one of the top ESG dividend stocks to buy. It operates through its Analog and Embedded Processing segments. 6. Cabot Corporation (NYSE:CBT) Dividend Yield: 2.4% ESG Score: 68 Cabot Corporation is a specialty chemicals and performance materials company. It offers reinforcing carbons for use in tires, alongside products such as hoses, belts, and molded goods. The company's ESG score of over 60 makes it a noteworthy option for those seeking ESG dividend stocks to buy. 5. Kimco Realty Corp (NYSE:KIM) Dividend Yield: 2.72% ESG Score: 65 Kimco Realty (is) a real estate investment trust, is based in Jericho, New York, and is among the largest publicly traded owner and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers in the US. The company has a dividend payout ratio of 49.9%, and with an ESG score of over 60, it is among the most noteworthy ESG dividend stocks to buy. 4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) Dividend Yield: 3.2% ESG Score: 87 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company is an information technology company that offers solutions for capturing, analyzing, and acting upon data. Its ESG score is among the highest on our list, standing at 87. 3. Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) Dividend Yield: 3.3% ESG Score: 60 Amgen, Inc. is a biotech company. It works to discover, develop, manufacture, and deliver human therapeutics across the globe. The company’s ESG score according to S&P Global is 60, making it one of the most renowned ESG dividend stocks to buy. 2. Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC) Dividend Yield: 4.0% ESG Score: 67 Moelis & Company is a financial corporation operating in the US, Europe, and internationally. It offers advisory services in mergers and acquisitions, recapitalization and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other matters related to corporate finance. It has a payout ratio of 43.5%, making it one of the popular ESG dividend stocks to buy. 1. Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:APAM) Dividend Yield: 9.3% ESG Score: 67 Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc is an asset management and custody banks corporation. It provides services to pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, endowments, foundations, charitable organizations, government entities, private funds, and non-US funds, among others. It has an ESG score of 67 according to Investors Business Daily, making it one of the higher-ranked dividend ESG stocks to buy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Popular ESG Indexes and How to Invest in Them Now want to invest in a top-line ESG index fund? This article is for you. It’s titled 3 Popular ESG Indexes and How to Invest in Them by Prableen Bajpai. Seen on Nasdaq.com. Quote “1. MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index The MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index launched in March 2018 and is based on MSCI USA Index, which includes securities across the U.S. equity markets. The index is tracked by iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), which is one of the largest ESG funds… (gives) exposure to large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks with favorable ESG practices. The fund has $25.48 billion as assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.15%. 2. Nasdaq-100 ESG Index The Nasdaq-100 ESG Index, launched on June 21, 2021, is designed to measure the performance of companies included in the Nasdaq-100 Index that meet all ESG measures Investors can get exposure to the Nasdaq-100 ESG Index by investing in the Invesco ESG Nasdaq-100 ETF (QQMG), which was launched in November 2021. 3. S&P 500 ESG Index The S&P 500 ESG Index is a broad-based, market-cap weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of securities meeting sustainability criteria, while maintaining similar overall industry group weights as the S&P 500. The index is followed by Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE). The ETF was launched in June 2019, and currently has $881 million (in) assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.10%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1. Title Barron’s Top-Performing Sustainable Investment Fund of 2021 by Lauren Foster. Quote “The No. 1 and No. 2 spots on our list are the $1.3 billion HCM Tactical Growth (HCMGX) and the $1.3 billion HCM Dividend Sector Plus (HCMNX) funds.” End quote. 2. Title 5 Energy Stocks To Watch This Week seen on Nasdaq. Only two are non-fossil-fuel-related. They are Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) and Daqo New Energy Corp (NYSE: DQ). The latter is controversial due to forced labor accusations. 3. Title A New ESG Trend | Nasdaq. By [email protected]. Quote. “AQR is one of the leading quant funds… with a new idea in ESG. Their new Sustainable Long-Short Equity Carbon Aware Fund.” End quote. 4. Title 2 Best COVID-19 Growth Stocks to Own in 2022 | Nasdaq. By George Budwell. Quote “Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) and Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ: VIR) both appear to be deeply undervalued relative to their long-term prospects.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Articles Related to UK and European Stocks and Funds 1. Title 3 renewable energy stocks to buy to hold until 2030 (yahoo.com). By Rupert Hargreaves. The three are SSE (LSE: SSE), Greencoat UK Wind (LSE: UKW), and Ceres Power (LSE: CWR). 2. Title How to invest in the future of food and meat-free alternatives | This is Money. By Angharad Carrick. He reviews the Rize Sustainable Future of Food UCITS ETF, the Blackrock Nutrition fund, Agronomics, and Pictet Nutrition fund. 3. Title Five clean energy infrastructure stocks to watch in 2022 (thearmchairtrader.com). By Adel Ahmed. They are again SSE (LSE: SSE) and Greencoat UK Wind (LSE:UKW), plus Net Zero Infrastructure (LSE:NZI), Minnova Corp (TSXV:MCI), and AFC Energy (LSE:AFC). 4. Title What were the most popular clean energy ETFs of 2021? (thearmchairtrader.com). By Rony Abboud. Has the top ten clean energy ETFs by assets under management (AUM). Explains the holdings of the Global X China Clean Energy ETF. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Dividend Stocks. Global 100 Companies. Plus…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on February 11. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

This podcast has 19 articles with dozens of terrific reviews! Companies include Enphase Energy, First Solar, Netflix, Canadian Solar, ChargePoint Holdings, Brookfield Renewable Corporation, NextEra Energy Partners LP. Funds include iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF, SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF, Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio, and VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF PODCAST: Best ESG Stocks and Funds for 2022 Transcript & Links, Episode 74, January 14, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. I hope you had a good time over the holidays -- despite the virus concerns -- and are now ready to prosper in the year ahead. So, welcome to podcast episode 74 published on January 14, 2022, titled “Best ESG Stocks and Funds for 2022” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now it seems the New Year has spurned many new articles recommending ethical and sustainable stocks and funds. So, I’m going to do something different in this podcast. For each of the 19 articles -- yes 19 articles -- I’m going to give the title, name of the author or authors, the site in which it appeared, and the stocks or funds recommended in that article. Articles will be appropriately grouped, though not in any order. I might seem a little repetitive, but I believe you’ll find it terrifically informative with great investment ideas. Incidentally, do go to this episode’s podcast page for links to all the articles, stocks, and funds. So, let’s begin! Starting with those articles that don’t fit any defined category. ------------------------------------------------------------- A) ‘General’ in nature. 1. Title The Just 100 List by JUST Capital. Found on cnbc.com. Quote “Research nonprofit JUST Capital’s annual analysis of corporate performance is a comprehensive ranking of companies on ESG issues critical to stakeholders, from their workers and shareholders to customers, communities and the environment. These are the 100 top-performing companies across all industries for 2022, evaluated across a wide range of metrics, including efforts to combat climate change; diversity, equity and inclusion; worker wellness and local job creation; and customer privacy.” End quote. 2. Title Three funds for investing in the transition to a sustainable economy by Melissa Scaramellini. Appeared on whatinvestment.co.uk. Funds reviewed and recommended are Legal and General Future World ESG Developed Index Fund, BMO Responsible Global Equity Fund, and Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions Fund. These are UK or European funds. 3. Title 2 Stocks to Buy When the Next Market Crash Comes. By Rich Duprey. Seen on Nasdaq.com. Stocks featured are Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). 4. Title VegTech plant-based innovation & climate ETF launches on NYSE (EATV). By Olivia Nelson on foodingredientsfirst.com. Quote “’We are excited to be what we believe is the first pure-play ETF that invests in companies innovating with plants and producing animal-free products,’” says VegTech Invest CEO and CMO Elysabeth Alfano.” End quote. 5. Title Top 10 most-popular investment trusts: December 2021 by Kyle Caldwell on ii.co.uk. These are UK funds. 6. Title Start ESG Investing in 2022 With These 5 ETFs by Catherine Brock on fool.com. ETFs recommended are Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEMKT: XLF), Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (NYSEMKT: ESGV), iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (NYSEMKT: DSI), iShares Global Clean Energy ETF  (NASDAQ: ICLN), and SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (NYSEMKT: SPYX). 7. Title Wahed Debuts First Shariah-Compliant and ESG-Aware ETF on Nasdaq. Press release was seen on businesswire.com. Quote “The Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF (Ticker: UMMA)… seeks long-term capital appreciation and looks to provide investors access to international, ex-U.S. investments that seek to better align with their values.” End quote. 8. Title Investment Themes to Play Heading Into 2022: 4 Fund Picks by Zacks Equity Research. Their fund picks are Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio (FBIOX), Calvert Equity Fund Class A (CSIEX), New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX), and Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX). 9. Title Invest With Your Conscience: 7 Socially Responsible Investment Funds by Sarah Lozanova. Found on earth911.com. Her fund picks are Parnassus Endeavor Investor (PARWX), Parnassus Mid-Cap (PARMX), SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index (SHE), Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Investor Shares (VFTSX), Invesco ESG NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQMG), ESG NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQJG), and Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV). The article has a good comparison chart of these funds too. ------------------------------------------------------------- B) Under Alternative Energy 1. Title 5 Best Solar Energy Companies of 2022 by unknown sponsor on dmagazine.com. Companies reviewed and recommended are quote “SunPower – Overall Best Solar Energy System; Vivint Solar – Premium Services For Residential Solar Energy Systems; Sunpro Solar – Most Affordable Solar Power Systems; Tesla – Most Efficient Solar Panel On The Market; and Sunrun – Best For Customized Solar Energy Systems.” End quote. 2. Title My Top Renewable Energy Stock to Buy Right Now by Reuben Gregg Brewer. Appeared on fool.com. His stock pick is Enbridge (NYSE: ENB). 3. Title 3 Alternative Energy Mutual Funds for 2022 by Stephanie Thompson on dailyinvestorhub.com. The three picks are Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund (GAAEX), New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX), and Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX). 4. Title 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Insufficient H2 Investment by Aparajita Dutta. Found on zacks.com. Her picks are Evergy (EVRG - Free Report), Chesapeake Energy (CHK - Free Report), and Ameresco (AMRC - Free Report). 5. Title 5 Clean-Energy Stocks to Watch Amid US Renewables Revolution. Again, by Aparajita Dutta and on zacks.com. Her choices, in addition to those above, are Enphase Energy (ENPH), and First Solar (FSLR). 6. Title 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2022. Found on Nasdaq.com. Authors Travis Hoium likes SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR), Howard Smith picks Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY), and Daniel Foelber chooses ChargePoint Holdings (NYSE: CHPT). 7. Title Think Lucid and Rivian Are Overvalued? Buy These Alternative Energy Growth Stocks Instead. It’s by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, and Daniel Foelber. Quote “Three of our Fool.com contributors think First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), and Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE: BEPC) are well positioned heading into 2022.” End quote. 8. Title 3 Renewable Stocks Set to Continue Their Winning Streak in 2022 again by Aparajita Dutta. Her choices are Evergy (EVRG), Ameresco (AMRC), and Texas Pacific Land (TPL). 9. Title Top Alternative Energy Stocks for Q1 2022 by Stephanie Thompson. Stocks include Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ), Renewable Energy Group Inc. (REGI), SunPower Corp. (SPWR), Advent Technologies Holdings Inc. (ADN), Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ), Ameresco Inc. (AMRC), NextEra Energy Partners LP (NEP), and NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE). ------------------------------------------------------------- C) Under Infrastructure 1. Title 2 Under-the-Radar Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in 2022 and Beyond by Brett Schafer on fool.com. The two stocks are Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) and American Tower (NYSE: AMT). ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, there we are for this podcast titled “Best ESG Stocks and Funds for 2022.” 19 articles full of great ethical and sustainable investing ideas. To get all their links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on January 28. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Happy New Year everyone! I'm taking some time off and will begin  podcasting again on Friday, January 14. May you have a wonderful healthy, happy, prosperous, and fulfilling 2022!

Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now. Covering Brookfield Renewable, Vestas Wind Systems, Amyris Inc., Plug Power, ChargePoint, Tesla, NextEra Energy, Enphase Energy, Ford Motor Company, KraneShares Global Carbon ETF, California Carbon Allowance ETF, and Series B Carbon ETF. Carbon ETFs represent a potentially profitable and exciting new investment category for ethical and sustainable investors PODCAST: Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now Transcript & Links, Episode 73, December 17, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 73 published on December 17, titled “Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now.” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now So, let’s begin this podcast with this great article titled Cleantech Stocks to Buy Now with Global Climate Change Coming into Focus by Pete Johnson, It appeared on the investmentu.com site. I’ll first mention the company, then follow with brief comments by Mr. Johnson on that stock. “No. 8 Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP) Industry: Renewable Energy Market Cap: 9.3B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 11% Brookfield Renewable is an excellent play if you’re looking to invest in cleantech stocks but don’t know where to start… It has holdings in… Wind Energy Solar Energy Hydroelectric Power Storage Facilities What’s more, the company pays a generous dividend, currently yielding 3.59% annually. No. 7 Vestas Wind Systems (OTC: VWDRY) Industry: Wind Turbines Market Cap: 31.1B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 16% (EUR) The Denmark-based turbine supplier is a leader in the wind power market… the wind power market is expecting to grow 11.3% annually over the next few years. No. 6 Amyris Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRS) Industry: Renewable Chemicals Market Cap: 1.75B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 40% The company makes clean health and beauty consumer products… The biotech leader is changing the way we approach consumer needs. That said, Amyris will be one of the top cleantech stocks to watch going forward. No. 5 Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG) Industry: Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market Cap: 19.2B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 35% Plug Power is the leader in hydrogen technology… Plug Power’s fuel cells are used to power trucks, improve material handling and stationary power. Despite a loss in the 4th quarter, Plug has achieved double-digit year-over-year (YOY) revenue growth in 7 of its last 8 quarters… Partnerships with premium brands like Amazon, BWW and Walmart show it’s the real deal. No. 4 ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT) Industry: EV Charging Stations Market Cap: 7B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 60% As the world’s largest EV charging network, ChargePoint is looking to capitalize on the growing EV demand. Even more, the company offers an open network. This means anyone can use it. No. 3 Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) Industry: Electric Vehicles Market Cap: 1T 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 57% Despite competition starting to gain traction, Tesla is still crushing its targets and breaking records along the way… it shows demand for EVs heating up and particularly for Tesla vehicles… No. 2 NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Industry: Utility Market Cap: 173.8B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: (-37%) NextEra Energy is the largest utility company… it’s also the world’s largest producer of wind and solar… NextEra makes an attractive dividend stock… its 25 straight years of increased payouts make it a dividend aristocrat… NextEra is one of the top cleantech stocks over the next ten years. No. 1 Enphase Energy (Nasdaq: ENPH) Industry: Semiconductors (Solar Energy) Market Cap: 29B 1-Yr Revenue Growth: 97% Rounding out the best cleantech stocks is the microinverter supplier, Enphase… Enphase units combine solar, battery and software to power residential homes. At the same time, they are making it easy for users to sell back the energy they are not using. The smart technology is driving the Enphase stock to new heights, now up over 2,000% in the past two years… With 48% compound revenue growth in the past 20 quarters, look for Enphase to continue its dominant run.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now Now, this next article titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks To Keep An Eye On Next Year was found on a site covering the oil industry, oilprice.com. It’s written by Alex Kimani. Here are some of his comments. Quote. “#1. Plug Power Inc. (Yes, again!) (NASDAQ: PLUG)        Industry: Alternative Energy        Market Cap: $21.1B Plug Power has managed to remain in Wall Street's good books--and for good reason. First off, the company raised its revenue guidance for 2022 given acquisitions and commercial traction to $900 Million–$925 Million… Citigroup analyst P.J. Juvekar maintains his Buy rating and $35 price target after visiting the company's facilities and coming away impressed with the company's plans to expand its capabilities to make hydrogen gas while also lowering costs… Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Byrd has maintained an Overweight rating and $43 price target on Plug. Raymond James analyst Joseph Spak has reiterated his Outperform rating while raising the price target to $48 from $40, saying Plug is transforming into a one-stop, turnkey hydrogen solution whose rich valuation is justified, given the significant growth potential. Plug Power and South Korea conglomerate corporation SK Group have announced they have formed a joint venture to build a gigafactory with mass capacity for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzer systems in South Korea by 2024… Plug Power has also struck a green hydrogen deal with Airbus (OTCPK: EADSF, OTCPK: EADSY) in a landmark study to decarbonize air travel. #2. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)        Industry: Automotive        Market Cap: $79.2B As a member of the 'Big 3' Detroit automakers, Ford Motor Co is a controversial pick on a list dedicated to clean energy plays. But Ford's EV exploits are worth looking into because the company has set out one of the most comprehensive EV roadmaps by a legacy automaker. Indeed, Ford's impressive 123% YTD gain is largely due to the company's EV upside.  Morgan Stanley forecast Ford's EV unit sales will reach 1.24M units by FY30 to represent 34% of volume. Ford has already overtaken General Motors (NYSE: GM) in EV sales in the United States. Further, Ford has already taken 200K reservations for its hotly anticipated F-150 Lightning pickup truck, and plans to start converting reservations to full orders in January 2022, thus beating General Motors' Chevy Silverado to the market by a full year. The F-150 Lightning pickup truck is an all-electric version of Ford's best-selling passenger vehicle in the market, the F-150. Morgan Stanley values Ford's EV/AV and Mobility businesses at nearly $12 per share, which at the moment is roughly 100% of its lowly price target of $12. Meanwhile, Credit Suisse is more positive on the Detroit automaker with a price target of $20… Ford CEO James Farley… has talked up the auto maker's 12% stake in EV truck and van maker Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN), noting that the firm's well-received IPO ‘gives us lots of optionality’ about what to do with its investment. #3. Enphase Energy Inc. (Yes again!) (NASDAQ: ENPH)        Industry: Renewable Energy        Market Cap: $30.4B Enphase Energy Inc. is a Fremont, California-based company that designs and manufactures software-driven home energy solutions used in solar generation, home energy storage and web-based monitoring and control. Enphase is among the leading solar and alternative energy names that have been surging following the passage of the Build Back Better bill in the U.S. House… Last month, Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Enphase with an Outperform rating. Wells pointed to two key competitive advantages that should support growth visibility: regulation NEC 2017, which creates barriers to entry in the U.S. market; and product innovation and software technology, which provide customers with an intelligent home energy management system.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now Now a new investment class for ethical and sustainable investors: carbon credits. This article is fascinating! It’s titled KRBN ETF Is Crushing the Market – Buy It Now. By Michael A. Robinson. Here is some of what Mr. Robinson has to say. Quote. “Every company that emits carbon into the atmosphere has to buy credits to do so from companies that remove carbon from the atmosphere. There's one fund that is taking incredible advantage of this system, and they're starting to see huge gains. That fund is the KraneShares Global Carbon ETF (NYSEArca: KRBN), and I'm excited to introduce you to it… The current price for a ton of carbon dioxide is about $40.52. Meanwhile, estimates from the United Nations, the Bank of England, the White House, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance on what price it would take to achieve net zero carbon range from $100/ton to $147/ton… What KraneShares Global Carbon ETF does is ‘go long’ on these credits - it buys and holds carbon credit futures, making money as their price goes up… Between September 2014 and this past October, carbon credits have actually outperformed stocks, bonds, commodities, and real estate… It isn't the only player in this space, of course. KraneShares has another fund, the California Carbon Allowance ETF (NYSEArca: KCCA), and iPath has its Series B Carbon ETF (NYSEArca: GRN)… For my money, KraneShares Global Carbon ETF is the ideal move to make, and proof positive that investing in our green-tech-filled future can be very profitable.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions These are ethical and sustainable investment recommendations worth reading about, but I hadn’t the space to review them in this podcast. 1) Title My Top Renewable Energy Stock to Buy in December by Matthew DiLallo. It appeared on fool.com. Quote “Clearway believes it can expand its dividend per share at the upper end of its 5% to 8% annual growth range through 2026.” End quote. 2) Title 1 Infrastructure Stock That Could Be a Great Investment for Decades by Matthew Frankel and Jason Hall. Also found on fool.com. Quote “Jason Hall thinks Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP) could be a great investment for not only the next several years but for decades to come.” End quote. 3) Title An ESG Fund Changes the World, One Company at a Time by Lewis Braham. From barrons.com. Quote “Green Century Balanced fund’s (ticker: GCBLX)… In the past three years, the fund has beaten 89% of its peers in Morningstar’s 50% to 70% Equity Allocation category, with a 16.8% annualized return versus the category’s 13.5%.” End quote. 4) Title This May Be The Only Value Fund Focused On Impact Investing by Jacob Wolinsky. Forbes.com. Quote “Lyrical Asset Management's Global Impact Value Equity Strategy (GIVES) may be the only true value impact fund in the world.” End quote. In the UK 1) Title The top 10 most-popular ETFs of 2021 by Interactive Investor. On ii.co.uk. Most of the ten are climate-related! ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Cleantech Stocks, Carbon ETF to Buy Now.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Happy holidays everyone. And may 2022 be a year of renewal and uplifting of spirit for us all. Talk to you next on January 14, 2022. I’m taking a bit of a break so there’ll be no podcast on December 31! Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More. Includes SunPower, Enphase Energy, Lucid Group, First Solar, Inc., mCloud Technologies, Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A, Calvert Equity Fund Class A, Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor, and New Alternatives Fund Class A. The reviews are by top analysts at Zacks, fool.com, others PODCAST: Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More. Transcript & Links, Episode 72, December 3, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 72 published on December 3, titled “Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More I’m beginning this podcast with three great analysts who I feature regularly. They are Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, And Daniel Foelber and they’ve posted an article titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks We're Thankful for in 2021. It appears on fool.com. Here are their picks followed by brief quotes on them. “1) Travis Hoium likes SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) The last few years have been a wild ride for SunPower. The company sold off its utility-scale solar business, spun off its solar panel manufacturing business, and is in the process of finding a buyer or other alternative for its commercial solar business. What's left is the residential solar installation business that's become one of the most valuable parts of the solar energy market. And… it's treated investors very well.  I'm thankful that SunPower found a path to success on the market and can now focus on becoming a growth stock. The company has built the infrastructure to sell, design, install, and finance residential solar projects at scale, which is what the market is rewarding today. And it made a great deal in selling its inverter business to Enphase Energy for stock that ultimately saved the company.  2) Howard Smith recommends Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) I first heard of Enphase Energy seven years ago… and I wish I had bought Enphase stock more than 2,000% ago… Enphase recently released the eighth-generation microinverter system. The IQ8 is an all-in-one system that the company says is ‘capable of forming a microgrid during a power outage using only sunlight, providing backup power even without a battery…’ Enphase recently launched its battery storage system in Belgium and has also just expanded into Brazil and Italy… Enphase just announced plans to acquire ClipperCreek, an electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions company… The move into the EV sector also gives Enphase a path ‘to enable bi-directional charging capability for vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid applications.’  3) Daniel Foelber picks Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) From its pre-merger stint with Churchill Capital IV, to its merger in July, to reaching deliveries in late October, Lucid has given investors a wild, volatile, and quite often stressful experience in 2021. But so far this year, Lucid is the best-performing automaker in the world -- giving investors who have stayed the course a fourfold return.  In just a year, Lucid has transformed itself from an unproven company to a company with some of the best technology in the entire electric vehicle (EV) industry. The short-term outlook looks impressive. Its balance sheet is rich with cash, its manufacturing plant has enough capacity to meet 2022 demand, reservations are now over 17,000, and it is on track to build 20 sales and service centers throughout the U.S. and Canada before year-end.  The medium-term outlook looks excellent as well. In 2022, the company expects to be producing four versions of the Lucid Air sedan at price points ranging from $77,400 to $169,000. It's also further growing its manufacturing capacity to 50,000 units by 2022 so it can handle production of the Air and Gravity SUV in 2023… Over the last three months, share prices of Lucid have dipped as low as $16.12 per share and as high as $57.44 a share… despite the volatility, long-term investors hope that Lucid's growth story is maybe only in the first or second inning.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More Continuing on the energy theme is this article titled Bet Big on These 2 Alternative Energy Stocks by Emma Duncan. It appeared on schaefferresearch.com. SunPower is again recommended. Here are some of her comments. “While the list of electric vehicle stocks is ever growing, alternative energy stocks have been around a little longer and thus can be seen as slightly more stable at the moment. For example, two note-worthy names worth exploring are First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) and SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR)… What’s more, both of these alternative energy disruptors showed up on a list of stocks that are now flashing a historic bull signal… SunPower Corporation SunPower stock has added 20% in 2021, with its recent round of lower highs finding a leg of support at both the 360-day moving average and the round $20 level. Meanwhile, First Solar stock has added just over 9% this calendar year, and has seen a trendline of support near $103 in the last few weeks. SunPower stock has pulled back to its 40-day moving average, after spending a significant period of time above it. According to data from Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, a notable seven similar signals have occurred during the past three years. The security saw a positive one-month return 71% of the time, averaging a 6.4% gain. Last seen at $30.45, a similar move would put SunPower above $32 -- just below its six-month highs. First Solar, Inc. For First Solar stock, the equity recently pulled back to its 80-day moving average, after spending a significant period of time above it. Per White, five similar signals have occurred during the past three years. First Solar enjoyed a positive one-month return in 80% of those cases, averaging an impressive 9.8% gain. From its current perch of $106.65, a similar move would put the security back above the $117 level, within a chip-shot of its 10-year peak… Both stocks also look ripe for a fresh round of bullish attention too. Of the 14 and 11 analysts following First Solar and Sunpower, respectively, seven and 10 carry tepid ‘hold’ or worse recommendations. In simpler terms, this leaves ample room for upgrades, should these trendlines prove to be historical springboards. Short interest has been building on SunPower stock, too… At the equity’s average pace of daily trading, it would take shorts the better part of a week to buy back their bearish bets. First Solar and SunPower options also look affordable from an options standpoint… options players are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations at the moment.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More Now, this is interesting. Kate Birch pens an article titled Deloitte: Top 10 fastest-growing tech companies in Canada. However, only one is a public company and it, fortunately, has ESG credentials. Its name is mCloud Technologies. Here’s what she says about it. Quote. “Not only is Nasdaq-listed mCloud Technologies (NASDAQ: MCLD) ranked 10th in Canada (57th America-wide) on the latest Fast 500 list (and) having experienced growth of 3,003%, but it has further been named number two on Deloitte’s Clean Technology Fast 50 in Canada. Founded in Calgary in 2010, mCloud has become a leading provider of AI-powered asset management and ESG solutions. Focused on unlocking the untapped potential of energy intensive assets with AI and analytics, curving energy waste and maximising energy production, mCloud has a global presence and offices worldwide, boasting more than 100 blue-chip customers and over 62,000 assets connected in thousands of locations worldwide.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More And finally, Zacks Equity Research has produced this research titled 4 Funds to Buy as Sustainable Investing Hits Record High. Here are the US funds they like followed by some of their research comments. Quote. “We handpicked four sustainable investment-based mutual funds. All these funds carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). In addition, the minimum initial investment for these funds is within $5,000… 1) Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A JATAX Aims for long-term capital growth. The fund invests the majority of net assets in securities of companies benefiting from advances or improvements in technology. This Sector-Tech product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, (this fund’s) returns are 34.9% and 30.3% over the past three and five-year periods, respectively. To see how this fund performed compared to its category… please click here. Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.99% compared with the category average of 1.05%. 2) Calvert Equity Fund Class A CSIEX Aims for growth of capital through investment in stocks believed to offer opportunities for potential capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of assets in common stocks of companies that rank among the top 1,000 U.S.-listed companies. This Zacks Large Cap Growth product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, Calvert Equity Fund Class A has a three and five-year returns of 26.1% and 22.9%, respectively. To see how this fund performed compared to its category… please click here. Calvert Equity Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.94% compared to the category average of 0.99%. 3) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor PARNX Aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of assets in mid-sized growth companies. This Zacks Sector – Large Cap Value has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has returned 20.2% and 16.4% for the three and five-year periods, respectively. To see how this fund performed compared to its category… please click here. Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.83%, below the category average of 1.09%. 4) New Alternatives Fund Class A NALFX Aims for long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities, such as real-estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts. This Zacks sector – Other product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, (it) has… three and five-year returns of 32.4% and 19.9%, respectively. To see how this fund performed compared to its category… please click here. New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.96% compared to the category average of 1.26%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best 2021 Renewable Energy Stocks. And More.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on December 17. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 include Tesla, NIO, Li Auto, TPI Composites, Schneider National, Knight-Swift Transportation, FREYR, Fisker, Alstom, NARI Technology, SINOPEC Engineering Group, Covestro, Rexel, Ørsted, Siemens Energy, FirstEnergy, Sunrun, PAVE infrastructure ETF, Parker-Hannifin, Xylem, Jacobs Engineering, Martin Marietta, Cleveland-Cliffs, Xcel Energy, United Rentals, VOTE ETF, Plug Power Inc., Brookfield Renewable Partners PODCAST: Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 Transcript & Links, Episode 71, November 19, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 71 published on November 19, titled “Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 (1) Several of today’s articles relate in some way to COP26. Here’s the first titled, Following COP26? Look at These 3 Sustainable Investing Strategies and 40 Stock Picks. It’s by Jack Denton writing in Barron’s. Now please excuse my improper pronunciations of company names in these quotes from this article. Quote. “Interested in the renewables sector? Morgan Stanley says… Look at China Jushi (600176.China), Jiangsu Zhongtian Technologies (600522.China), Luoyang Glass (1108.H.K.), Engie (ENGI.France), Ørsted (ORSTED.Denmark), Siemens Energy (ENR.Germany), FirstEnergy (FE), and Sunrun (RUN). For energy storage… Ganfeng Lithium (1772.H.K.), Panasonic (6752.Japan), Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (603799.China), and QuantumScape (QS) are worth checking out. Across hydrogen… Morgan Stanley identifies Beijing SinoHytec (688339.China), China Petroleum & Chemical (0386.H.K.), Johnson Matthey (JMAT.U.K.), NEL (NEL.Norway), Air Products (APD), Enbridge (ENB), and New Fortress Energy (NFE) among the potential winners. Attractive bets in sustainable alternative fuels… include major oil companies Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), as well as HollyFrontier (HFC) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC). The developing field of carbon capture, utilization, and storage offers picks including: Bayer (BAYN.Germany), ConocoPhillips (COP), NextDecade (NEXT), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY). Opportunities in electric transportation and green mobility still abound… Familiar electric-vehicle stocks such as Tesla (TSLA), NIO (NIO), and Li Auto (LI) make Morgan Stanley’s list, as do TPI Composites (TPIC), Schneider National (SNDR), Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX), FREYR (FREY), Fisker (FSR), and Alstom (ALO.France). Renovation and energy efficiency also offer options… NARI Technology (600406.China), SINOPEC Engineering Group (2386.H.K.), Covestro (1COV.Germany), and Rexel (RXL.France) are among the potential plays. Morgan Stanley’s view is that there are also many stocks facing headwinds… from the trend of decarbonization, including sectors such as energy; power and utilities; cement; chemicals; coal; metals and mining; industrials; automobiles; airlines; and shipping.  In particular, it is bearish on stocks including Consolidated Edison (ED), Continental Resources (CLR), XCel Energy (XEL), Ford Motor (F), BMW (BMW.Germany), Nissan (7201.Japan), American Airlines (AAL), Deutsche Lufthansa (LHA.Germany), and Air France-KLM (AF.France), among others.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 (2) Now, turning to infrastructure. Another favorite of ethical and sustainable investors, there’s this article titled Infrastructure stocks on watch after bill passes Congress. Four under-the-hood ways to play it by Keris Lahiff. It appeared on cnbc.com. Here are some quotes. “‘’I think that the (PAVE infrastructure ETF) is a great way to gain exposure…’ Ari Wald, head of technical analysis at Oppenheimer, says it has more room to run…Wald told CNBC’s ‘Trading Nation’ on Monday. ‘We’re bullish on that industry because it is indeed reclaiming its leadership… It has also outperformed the S&P 500 this year, climbing more than 35%...’ Wald highlights diversified motion and control parts manufacturer Parker-Hannifin as one stock at the top of his watch list… Shares have jumped this month, rising by 11%. The broad-based S&P 500, by comparison, is up just 1%. Nancy Tengler, chief investment officer at Laffer Tengler Investments… Prefers to play the group through individual stocks rather than the PAVE ETF. She picked out three names she believes have upside potential. ‘Xylem is a beneficiary of the $55 billion water spend that’s been allocated in the bill,’ she said in the same interview. ‘This is significant spending for water. The state appropriation bills are somewhere in the $2 [billion] to $2.5 billion range annually. This is $55 billion over five years.’ ‘Then, for the highways portion of the bill, we like Jacobs Engineering. So think about the $40 billion that’s being spent for bridges, that’s going to benefit engineering and construction companies, and then Martin Marietta, which is obviously just the asphalt for the road,’ said Tengler. Xylem, Jacobs and Martin Marietta Materials… this year all are up by at least 30%, while the S&P 500 has climbed 25%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 (3) Now for my second article on infrastructure. It’s titled, 3 Stocks That Could Win Big Under Biden's Infrastructure Bill by Matthew DiLallo, Neha Chamaria, and Reuben Gregg Brewer. Here are quotes from the authors on their picks. “1. Reuben Gregg Brewer chooses Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE: CLF) Over the past couple of years Cleveland-Cliffs has turned itself from a steel industry supplier into an integrated steelmaker that also sells key competitors iron ore pellets and other steelmaking inputs… Cleveland-Cliffs could also be benefiting from increased demand for its steelmaking ingredients… It is, thus, heavily leveraged to the elevated steel demand likely to come from increased infrastructure spending… Cleveland-Cliffs' stock is the best-performing North American steel mill over the past year. However, thanks to the mergers used to create it, the steelmaker also has the most leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.3 times, twice as high as the next competitor. 2. Matt DiLallo likes Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) The infrastructure package includes significant funding for the energy transition to cleaner alternatives… That aligns perfectly with Xcel Energy's investment plan. The utility has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and is investing billions of dollars to achieve that bold goal.   In addition to investing heavily in renewable energy, Xcel Energy is spending billions of dollars on upgrading its transmission system. It's also building EV infrastructure, including installing charging stations in major transportation corridors and underserved communities… The company said it could invest up to $4 billion over the coming decade on hydrogen-related projects to blend that emissions-free fuel into its natural gas system… The company could tap into government-funded programs from the infrastructure bill to support its spending plans. That could enable it to achieve its decarbonization efforts while creating significant value for shareholders by growing its earnings and dividend.    3. Neha Chamaria recommends United Rentals (NYSE: URI) As federal spending on infrastructure picks up, so should demand for heavy machinery like the ones United Rentals rents out. In fact, the company is already witnessing higher demand even before federal spending kicks off… Growth of 22% in its third-quarter rental revenue encouraged United Rentals to upgrade its outlook… United Rentals looks well positioned to win as infrastructure spending in the U.S. gathers steam.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 (4) Now, this is a new style ESG ETF, Article’s title is VOTE: ESG Activism in an ETF. It’s by Neena Mishra of Zacks. Quote. “In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1, about activist investing through an ETF. The activist investment firm had sent shock waves through Corporate America in May when it targeted Exxon Mobil XOM and successfully placed three candidates on the board of directors. The Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF VOTE, which started trading in June, intends to encourage transformational changes in companies through shareholder activism. The fund invests in 500 of the largest US public companies and comes with an expense ratio of just 0.05%. VOTE is an excellent alternative to standard S&P 500 ETFs for ESG focused investors since they can get a similar financial performance while participating in efforts to bring transformational changes in portfolio companies. Microsoft MSFT, Apple AAPL and Alphabet GOOGL are the top holdings in the market cap weighted ETF, which has already gathered about $250 million in assets.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26 (5) Honorable Mentions These are ethical and sustainable investment recommendations worth reading about but I hadn’t the space to review them in this podcast. 1. Title: 3 Solid Climate Tech Funds for Investors – appearing on Morningstar.com by Sylvester Flood. Quote “Bill Gates has said that the next generation of FANGs… will be climate tech companies.” End quote. 2. Title: New BlackRock Minimum Volatility Factor and Fixed Income ESG ETFs Provide More Choices to Putting Sustainability at The Core of Investment Portfolios -- on Business Wire. Press release. Quote “These funds further enable our clients to build strong portfolios customized to their sustainable goals and navigate the transition to a low carbon economy.” End quote. UK Focused picks 1. Title: ACE 40 ethical rated list: Interactive Investor completes annual review. Quote “In performance terms, 48% of active funds on ACE 40 are in 1st and 2nd quartile versus peers over one year to end September 2021, with 79% in 1st/2nd quartile over three years and 91% over five years.” End quote. 2. Title: The Best ISA Investment Funds In November 2021 -- on moneyfacts.co.uk. By Derin Clark. Recommendations associated with Renewable Energy 1. Title: Why Solar Energy Stocks Are Suddenly Hot Again – on the Motley Fool. By Travis Hoium. Quote “Headwinds have turned into tailwinds for the solar industry.” End quote. 2. Title: Green Energy Stocks - Why Now is the Time to Invest from the blueandgreentomorrow.com site). By Sean Mellon. Quote “We’ve chosen to focus on stocks listed on the coveted and tech-led Nasdaq 100, according to the index’s most recent performance and data.” End quote. 3. Title: Why Solar Energy Stocks Jumped Thursday again on the Motley Fool. By Travis Hoium. Quote “The U.S. government rejected a request for solar tariffs, and investors liked what they heard.” End quote. 4. Title: Five climate ETFs for a post-COP26 world on etfstream.com. By Jamie Gordon. Quote “Investors can rest easy knowing a glut of ESG ETF launches in recent years means they are bound to find products matching their climate convictions.” End quote. 5. Title: 3 Climate Tech Stocks To Watch In The Wake Of COP26. By Josh Dylan on Nasdaq.com. Quote “Top Climate Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now Daqo New Energy Corporation (NYSE: DQ), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP), Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG).” End quote. Incidentally, Daqo is a controversial pick as it is accused of using forced labor. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Great Stock and Fund Picks Post COP26.’ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on December 3. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Low-Cost ESG Stocks to Buy. More… Stocks include Ternium S.A., Kimco Realty Corporation, ArcelorMittal, Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., Owens Corning, Steel Dynamics, Inc., eBay Inc., Hologic, Inc., Flex Ltd., and Mohawk Industries, Inc. Funds: Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio, New Alternatives Fund Class A, Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A, and Fidelity Select Automotive Portfolio PODCAST: Low-Cost ESG Stocks to Buy. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 70, November 5, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 70 published on November 5, titled “Low-Cost ESG Stocks to Buy. More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Cheap ESG Stocks To Invest In Many ESG stocks are trading at high price-earnings or PE ratios so it’s refreshing to see this article, titled 10 Cheap ESG Stocks To Invest In. It’s by Usman Kabir and was on yahoo.com. Here are some quotes. “The ESG companies were identified based on the initiatives they have taken to become more responsible environmentally, socially, and in terms of their governance. Those that have a PE Ratio of less than 20 feature heavily on the list. The hedge (fund) sentiment around each stock was gauged using the data of 873 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey… Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 86 percentage points since March 2017… 10. Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15. PE Ratio: 3.84 In August, Ternium S.A. announced that it had entered into an agreement with Vale, a Brazilian mining company, to jointly focus on the development of technologies that will reduce carbon emissions during the manufacture of steel products... Citi analyst Alexander Hacking recently reiterated a Buy rating on Ternium S.A. stock and raised the price target to $60 from $50… 9. Kimco Realty Corporation (NYSE: KIM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20. PE Ratio: 24.89 In August, Truist analyst Ki Bin Kim had maintained a Buy rating on Kimco Realty Corporation stock and raised the price target to $25 from $23… Kimco Realty Corporation has a stellar dividend record… 8. ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22. PE Ratio: 5.62 The company is one of the largest steel firms in the world… It has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions internally by 25% in line with international standards in this regard… In June, the company revealed that it had entered into an agreement with Canadian authorities to spend $1.4 billion on decarbonization tech at the Ontario plant of the firm. 7. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26. PE Ratio: 7.91 Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer… One of the biggest stakeholders in the firm is Impactive Capital, an ESG-focused hedge fund… On September 30, investment advisory Craig-Hallum maintained a Buy rating on Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. stock and raised the price target to $250 from $230… 6. Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34. PE Ratio: 9.90 Owens Corning makes and sells a range of building products in the composites, insulation, and roofing domains… It has an impressive dividend history… The company has topped the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List three years in a row… RBC Capital analyst Mike Dahl recently raised the price target on the stock to $97 from $94. 5. Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26. PE Ratio: 6.00 The increase in demand for steel in the post-pandemic economy, as well as an increase in pricing because of supply chain pressures, has benefited Steel Dynamics, Inc… The company was recently named on a list of 100 Best ESG Companies of 2021 by Investor’s Business Daily. 4. eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39. PE Ratio: 4.20    eBay Inc. has remarkably stayed relevant in the ecommerce world… The very business model of the firm is based on ESG beliefs as it prefers to sell second-hand and used items… KeyBanc analyst Edward Yruma recently maintained an Overweight rating on eBay Inc… stock and raised the price target to $90 from $80. 3. Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLX) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41. PE Ratio: 9.39    Evercore ISI analyst Vijay Kumar upgraded Hologic, Inc. stock to Outperform from In Line with a price target of $78 in July… In the ESG bracket, the company sets annual goals to improve women leadership in healthcare, reduce carbon emissions, and improve health access for underserved communities…  In late July, the firm had reported earnings for the third quarter, posting earnings per share of $1.33, beating predictions by $0.21. The revenue over the period was $1.1 billion, up 42% year-on-year. 2. Flex Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43. PE Ratio: 8.57    The company offers electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers. It is headquartered in Singapore… In 2020, the firm achieved 92% growth in sustainable energy use year-on-year and even used ESG standards to screen all new global suppliers it conducted business with…  In May, investment advisory Citi reiterated a Buy rating on Flex Ltd. stock and raised the price target to $25 from $22… 1. Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MHK) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44. PE Ratio: 3.55    Mohawk Industries, Inc. makes and sells flooring products. As part of an ESG initiative, the company also offers sustainable carpeting and flooring options. The company also aims to offset energy used to make products by installing solar units in remote communities.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hold the meat: Burger King, Chipotle, Starbucks top fast-food rankings on World Vegan Day 2021 With investors showing great interest in vegetarian meat substitutes, this article is timely… It might give you some new investing ideas. It’s titled Hold the meat: Burger King, Chipotle, Starbucks top fast-food rankings on World Vegan Day 2021 by Steve Kiggins. It appeared on the USA Today site. Here are some quotes. “Only seven chains were designated as ‘Menu Movers,’ the report card’s top ranking: Burger King (QSR), Chipotle (CMG), Starbucks (SBUX ), KFC (YUM), Panera Bread (PNRA), Pizza Hut (YUM) and Taco Bell (YUM). Thirty-nine of the country’s top 50 fast-food restaurants received the lowest ranking as ‘Dining Dawdlers’ – including McDonald’s, Subway and Chick-fil-A. The 'Moving the Menu' report was produced by World Animal Protection, which advocates eating less meat as part of its mission to ‘change animals’ lives for the better.’ Cameron Harsh, programs director for the nonprofit animal welfare organization, described the 24-page report as a guide to help ‘individual consumers align with the restaurants that share their values…’ ‘What the ‘Menu Movers’ in this report have done is not just added plant-based alternatives to their menus and called it good, they’ve actually talked publicly … about the benefits of these products,’ Harsh told USA TODAY… The World Animal Protection list of ‘Dining Dawdlers’ also includes Arby’s, Dairy Queen, Domino’s, Dunkin,’ Panda Express and Wendy’s. The message for those straggling chains, Harsh said, is to recognize the plant-based movement as an ‘important and necessary direction’ for the sustainability of the planet – and for their bottom line.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Mutual Funds to Rally on Cleantech Boom Now found on Yahoo.com is this fine article titled 4 Mutual Funds to Rally on Cleantech Boom and written by the highly reputable Zacks Equity Research team. Here are some quotes. “These funds flaunt a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy)… We expect these funds to outperform peers in the future… 1) Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (FSUTX) … aims for capital appreciation. This non-diversified fund invests most assets in common stocks of companies, primarily engaged in the utilities industry and generating most of their revenues from utility operations… (The) Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio has returned 7.6% and 10.1% in the past three and five-year period, respectively… (It) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.76%, below the category average of 0.94%. This fund has significant investment in alternative energy companies. 2) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) … aims for long-term capital appreciation, with income being the secondary objective. The fund invests in common stocks of YieldCos, American Depository Receipts, real estate investment trusts and publicly-traded master limited partnerships. New Alternatives Fund Class A has three and five-year return of 26.3% and 17.5%, respectively… (It) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.96% versus the category average of 1.29%. Additionally, the fund has significant investment in alternative energy companies. 3) Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A (CGAEX) … aims to track the performance of the Calvert Global Energy Research Index. The fund invests a majority of assets in companies whose main business is sustainable energy solutions… (The) Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A has three and five-year return of 23.8% and 16.8%, respectively… (It) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 1.24%, below the category average of 1.26%. 4) Fidelity Select Automotive Portfolio (FSAVX) … fund aims for capital appreciation. This non-diversified fund invests a majority of assets in common stocks of companies involved in the manufacture, marketing or sale of automobiles, trucks, specialty vehicles, parts, tires and related services. Fidelity Select Automotive Portfolio has returned 29.3% and 21.2% over the past three and five years, respectively… (It) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.88%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions These are ethical and sustainable investment articles worth reading but I hadn’t the space to review them in this podcast. Alternative energy 1. Title: 20 favorite alternative-energy stocks with expected upside of up to 102% - on S.G.E (sportsgrindentertainment.com) by Christine Watkins. Quote “Over the past few weeks, stocks of alternative-energy companies have shot up dramatically.” End quote. 2. Title: Down over 25%, These 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Are Too Cheap to Ignore in the Motley Fool, by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, and Daniel Foelber. Quote “Our renewable energy contributors think SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR), Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY), and TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) are great deals.” End quote. 3. Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Worth Buying and Holding Until At Least 2050 in The Motley Fool by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, and Daniel Foelber. Quote “Our contributors think First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEPC), and Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) are set to thrive for at least the next three decades.” End quote. 4. Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks for Beginner Investors on Nasdaq again by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith and Daniel Foelber. Quote “Their three very different responses were Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE), QuantumScape (NYSE: QS), and TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC).” End quote. 5. Title: Why Solar Energy Stocks Are Up Big Today in The Motley Fool by Travis Hoium. Quote “Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) reporting its third-quarter 2021 results. The company said that revenue nearly doubled.” End quote. 6. Title: Here's the Strongest Renewable Energy Stock You Can Own in The Motley Fool by Taylor Carmichael, Jason Hall, and Danny Vena. Quote “Jason Hall nominates Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC) as his favorite stock in a bad economy.” End quote. Other 7. Title: Ethical investing: 4 faith-based Exchange Traded Funds with decent ROI in Nairametrics by Kalu Aja. Funds are the Global X S&P 500 Catholic Values ETF (CATH), the Inspire 100ETH (BIBL), Inspire Global Hope ETF (BLES), and the Inspire Corporate Bond Impact ETF (IBD). 8. Title: 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now again in The Motley Fool by Reuben Gregg Brewer. Quote “For income investors, it is a very attractive area of the market. These three infrastructure giants are worth a close look today: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BIP), Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), and Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI).” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Low-Cost ESG Stocks to Buy. More… ” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on November 19. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More includes. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc., Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., Clearway Energy, Inc. Sunnova Energy International Inc., First Solar, Inc., SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., Enphase Energy, Inc., Sunrun Inc., NextEra Energy, Inc., Tesla, Inc., Fidelity Select Technology Portfolio, New Alternatives Fund Class A, and Rize Environmental Impact 100 UCITS ETF PODCAST: Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More Transcript & Links, Episode 69, October 22, 2021 Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More… Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 69 published on October 22, titled “Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. The recommendations are by the article’s authors. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. If any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More So, I’m going to start with this article titled 10 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Today by TRISH NOVICIO in Hedge Funds, News. Here are some quotes from Ms. Novicio. “Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 86 percentage points since March 2017… 10. Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHLS) Hedge Fund Holders: 12 The Tennessee-based solar company sells junction and splice boxes, inline fuses, cables, and wireless monitoring systems. (It’s) electrical balance of system (EBOS) products are used in building solar energy projects… On July 21, JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse kept an Overweight rating on Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. and increased his price target for the stock to $46 from $42… 9. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) Hedge Fund Holders: 20 The company supplies electricity internationally through renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. On September 22, Raymond James analyst Frederic Bastien upgraded Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. to Outperform from Market Perform and increased his price target for the stock to $44 from $41. 8. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 The New Jersey-based energy company is one of the biggest renewable energy providers in the US with over 4,700 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. On August 26, UBS analyst William Grippin initiated a Buy rating on Clearway Energy, Inc. with a price target of $36 per share. Shares of Clearway Energy, Inc. jumped 2.08% on September 22 as the solar company announced its second agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) North America to supply power to its manufacturing facility in Mississippi. 7. Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE: NOVA) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 The Houston-based solar power company sells residential solar energy systems and storage solutions. On August 31, Wolfe Research analyst Steve Fleishman initiated an Outperform rating on Sunnova Energy International Inc. with a price target of $50 per share. 6. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 31 The Arizona-based solar energy firm sells photovoltaic (PV) solar panel solutions. On August 2, the stock gained 2.8% after Susquehanna upgraded First Solar, Inc. to Positive from Neutral and raised its price target to $120 from $89… On September 21, Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Byrd kept an Underweight rating on First Solar, Inc. and increased his price target for the stock to $61 from $57. 5. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG) Hedge Fund Holders: 37 The Israeli-based solar energy company develops and sells residential solar systems which include power optimizers, inverters, storage, and a monitoring platform.  On August 31, Wolfe Research analyst Steve Fleishman initiated an Outperform rating on SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. 4. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 44 The company manufactures and sells microinverters and energy storage for residential and enterprise solar panel systems.  On September 21, KeyBanc analyst Sophie Karp initiated an Overweight rating on Enphase Energy, Inc. with a price target of $179 per share… 3. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 45 The company manufactures and sells residential solar energy systems in the US… On September 9, Needham analyst Vik Bagri initiated a Buy rating on Sunrun Inc. with a price target of $75 per share. 2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 The company distributes electricity in North America from solar, wind, and nuclear energy. The company also operates coal and natural gas facilities. On July 13, Credit Suisse analysts initiated coverage of NextEra Energy, Inc. with an Outperform rating with a price target of $85 per share.  1. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) Hedge Fund Holders: 60 The company delivered 201,204 electric vehicles in the second quarter of 2021, up 121% year over year. Additionally, Tesla, Inc. also offers solar panels and energy storage… In the Q2 2021 investor letter of Worm Capital LLC, the fund mentioned Tesla, Inc… Here is (in part) what the fund said: ‘Tesla alone is a vertically integrated hardware and software business developing state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques that will revolutionize the auto industry (i.e. its Giga Presses, 4680 cells, etc.)… We anticipate it will eventually be the largest company in the world.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Funds to Buy In Line With Thematic Trends in Q4 My next article is another fine piece of research from Zacks Equity Research. It’s titled 4 Funds to Buy In Line With Thematic Trends in Q4 and appeared on Nasdaq.com. They mostly align with sustainable investing—though not specifically. Here are their comments on these funds. Quote “We have selected four funds that carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy)… 1) Fidelity Select Technology Portfolio (FSPTX) Aims for capital appreciation. It invests primarily in equity securities, especially common stocks of companies engaged in offering, using, or developing products, processes, or services that will provide or benefit significantly from technological advances and improvements… This non-diversified has returned 30.7% and 31.8% in the past three and five years, respectively… [This fund] has an annual expense ratio of 0.69% versus the category average of 1.05%. 2) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) … seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities such as real estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts. (The) New Alternatives Fund Class A has three and five-year returns of 29.3% and 19.6%, respectively… (The fund) has an annual expense ratio of 0.96% compared to the category average of 1.26%. 3) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX) … aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests a majority of assets in mid-sized growth companies. (The) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has returned 17.7% and 15.7% for the three and five-year periods, respectively… (This fund) has an annual expense ratio of 0.83%, which is below the category average of 1.09%. 4) Fidelity Select Software & IT Services Portfolio (FSCSX) … aims for capital appreciation. The non-diversified fund invests most assets in common stocks of companies engaged in research, design, production or distribution of products or processes related to software or information-based services. (The) Fidelity Select Software & IT Services Portfolio has returned 27.3% and 28.3% over the past three and five-year period, respectively… (This fund) has an annual expense ratio of 0.70% versus the category average of 1.05%.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- Five top impact ETFs The next article is from the UK and on the etfstream.com site. It’s titled Five top impact ETFs and is by Jamie Gordon. I’ll mention the names of the ETFs followed by brief quotes from Mr. Gordon on each ETF. Quote. “1. Rize Environmental Impact 100 UCITS ETF (LIFE)  Came to market in July as a one-stop shop for exposure to several segments of sustainable industry.  Carrying a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.55%, (this ETF) tracks the Foxberry SMS Environmental Impact 100 index of 100 companies and provides exposure to 100 companies involved in clean water, energy efficiency, circular economy solutions, renewable energy equipment, pollution control, electric vehicles, nature-based solutions, climate resilience, hydrogen and alternative fuels… It touches on each of the objectives set out in the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities.  2. iClima Global Decarbonisation Enablers UCITS ETF (CLMA)    With a fee of 0.65% and tracking the iClima Global Decarbonisation Enablers index of 162 stocks, (this fund) offers 2%-capped exposure to companies involved in renewable energy, green transportation, water and waste improvements, decarbonisation enabling solutions and sustainable products. What keeps it from the top spot on our list is the inclusion of holdings such as the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG.L) and Uber Technologies (UBER), whose connection to impact are more tenuous. 3. Lyxor Green Bond UCITS ETF (CLIM)  The oldest product on our list is the Lyxor Green Bond UCITS ETF which launched in February 2017…  With a TER of 0.25%, (this fund) tracks the Solactive Green Bond EUR USD IG index of 578 euro and US dollar-denominated investment-grade green bonds issued by sovereigns, supranationals, development banks and corporates.  Aside from being Europe's first green bonds ETF, (the fund) has $457m assets under management (AUM)… which is considerable versus its counterparts… The constituents in the Lyxor Green Bond UCITS ETFs underlying index have all been defined as eligible for inclusion by the non-profit organisation Climate Bonds Initiative. 4. Invesco Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (GCLE) … is the newest and most diversified clean energy thematic ETF in Europe.  Mirroring its equivalent US product, Invesco’s clean energy play physically replicates the WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation index of 126 stocks involved in the clean energy value chain, including energy generation, lower CO2-renewables, conservation and efficiency. (This fund is) equally reweighted and rebalanced quarterly to reduce the concentration issues suffered by Europe’s most popular clean energy ETF, the iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (INRG).  Additionally, it has a TER of 0.60. 5. L&G Healthcare Breakthrough UCITS ETF (DOCT)  Charging a relatively low fee for a thematic product (0.49%) (it) tracks the ROBO Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation index of 84 stocks in the medical instruments, diagnostics, process automation, precision medicine, genomics, telehealth, data analytics, robotics and regenerative medicine industries. (The) L&G Healthcare Breakthrough UCITS ETF is considered impact-eligible by impact investing app Circa500 and healthcare innovation is certainly a social good.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions 1. Title A Multi-Asset Strategy With ESG Can Help Mute Short-Term Volatility by ETF Trends. Quote “One ETF that's worth a look is the FlexShares STOXX Global ESG Impact Index Fund (ESGG)… in the U.S. can opt for the FlexShares STOXX US ESG Impact Index Fund (ESG)” End quote. 2. Title Why Plug Power and Other Alternative Energy Stocks Surged Today by Howard Smith. Quote “Shares of hydrogen fuel cell companies like Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) and Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) had jumped as much as 4% and 7%, respectively, in early trading. And the stock of solar technology company Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) was also on the rise.” End quote. 3. Title 3 Leading Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond by Matthew DiLallo appearing on fool.com. Quote “Three infrastructure stocks that stand out as ideally positioned to profit in 2021 and beyond are Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY), Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP)(NYSE: BIPC), and Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI).” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More…“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode, "Best Solar Energy Stocks PLUS Much More…" Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on November 5. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now. Reviewed include iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Thornburg Better World International Fund, Natixis Sustainable Future 2030 Fund, iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF, iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF,1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund, Vestas Wind Systems, Orsted, First Solar, Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies and SunPower PODCAST: ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Transcript & Links, Episode 68, October 8, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 68 published on October 8, titled “ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now I’m going to start with this article titled 7 ESG Funds to Buy Now. It’s by Paulina Likos and Jeff Reeves and reviewed by Susannah Snider. It’s found in the money section of the U.S. News & World Report site. Here are some of their comments on each ETF recommendation. Quote. “1) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ticker: ICLN) The fund offers investors exposure to companies that produce energy from solar, wind and other renewable resources and global clean energy stocks. With more than $5.8 billion of net assets, this fund is a liquid and established way for investors to play top names in the space… With just about 40% allocation to U.S. securities, (the fund) takes a global sector view with investments in Canada, China, Denmark, Italy, Spain and other countries. It carries an expense ratio of 0.42%. One-year return as of Sept. 30: 18%. 2) Thornburg Better World International Fund (TBWIX) (This fund) seeks high-quality, fairly valued companies that could or already make a positive impact in the world… Some of Thornburg Better World International Fund’s top holdings include the largest online recruitment platform in China, Kanzhun Ltd. (BZ)… tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. (XFRA: NNND), (and) Tokyo-based Renesas Electronics Corp. (OTCM: RNECY), a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, is another top allocation in the fund… It holds net assets of more than $345 million (and) one-year return: 37.7%. 3) Natixis Sustainable Future 2030 Fund (NSFFX) This sustainable target-date fund is part of a family of Natixis funds that rebalance over time to dial down risk as an investor nears retirement. The fund holds both active and passive investments. This single-fund solution invests across different asset classes for a diversified strategy that balances risk and reward. ESG considerations play an integral role in the selection process. The fund is on the smaller end… with just over $11 million of total assets. Among the fund’s top holdings are the Mirova Global Green Bond Fund (MGGYX) for fixed income, iShares ESG Aware MSCI ETF (ESGD), and individual securities like Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) and Facebook Inc. (FB). One-year return: 22.8%. 4) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) Another solid option for international investors looking for socially responsible ETFs is this iShares fund that’s focused on EAFE markets, or Europe, Australasia and the Far East… Investors in (this fund) get exposure to large- and midcap ESG companies in the target region…There’s a diverse lineup of companies across geographies and sectors, including Switzerland’s Nestle (NSRGY), French consumer giant LVMH (MC.PA) and Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) at the top of the list. With $6.7 billion in assets under management, more than 450 holdings and an affordable expense ratio of 0.2%, this global ESG fund is the go-to option for those looking for exposure outside the U.S. One-year return: 26.2%. 5) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) At more than $5 billion in total assets under management, this socially responsible ETF from Vanguard holds more than 1,500 stocks… Now, you may wonder how that many stocks — including some of the usual blue-chip brands like JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) — can have such a positive impact on the world. The answer is that this is just an ‘exclusionary’ fund, meaning it cuts out the worst, based on rankings for ESG criteria, and presumes the rest are aboveboard. One-year return: 30.9%. 6) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) With more than 190 holdings, investors are not getting a simplistic fund… you might be surprised to find some names such as… Home Depot Inc. (HD) and… American Express Co. (AXP) make an appearance in (its) portfolio… One-year return: 32%. 7) 1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund (SSIAX) (The fund) invests 70% of its assets in U.S. equities and 30% in investment-grade debt. Some of the fund’s top holdings include Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL), and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). The fund has captured growth opportunities as the U.S. economy continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic… One-year return: 18%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Now to articles that pick the best investments in renewable energy. The first article is titled Best Wind Energy Stocks and ETFs to Buy. It’s by Matt Whittaker and appeared on wtopnews.com. Here are some quotes from the article. Quote. “On US Government Policies ‘The Biden administration has set a goal to have 30,000 megawatts of offshore energy installed by 2030. While there is debate within the industry about whether it will hit that goal, the attempt could prove lucrative for companies involved. Capital expenditures in the U.S. offshore wind supply chain alone could total $200 billion through 2035, according to a recent report from the research provider Lium. Wind Turbine Makers Of the 9 gigawatts – or 9,000 megawatts – of known turbine awards off the East Coast, 48% have gone to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (GCTAY), 35% to General Electric Co. (GE) and 17% to Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY), Lium says… They stand to ‘collect a large chunk’ of the $40 billion to $50 billion spent for offshore wind turbines through 2035, according to the report… Of course, those sales wouldn't happen without the companies developing the offshore wind farms in the first place. The world's largest offshore wind developer is Danish power company Orsted (DNNGY)… Other key developers to watch are Avangrid Inc. (AGR), Eversource Energy (ES), Equinor ASA (EQNR), Dominion Energy Inc. (D), Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS.A), and Aker Offshore Wind (AKOWF). Keep in mind that some developers, such as Avangrid, as well as the turbine makers, also have exposure to the domestic onshore wind industry. Other stocks with U.S. onshore wind exposure include NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B)… Oil & Gas Company Offshore Expertise To Be Tapped Industry watchers expect offshore wind will use expertise from the offshore oil and gas industry. Joseph Triepke, partner with Lium, points to firms including oil and gas equipment company Nov Inc. (NOV), offshore platform and marine vessel manufacturer Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. (GIFI) and offshore vessel companies Seacor Marine (SMHI) and Tidewater Inc. (TDW). Wind ETFs Investors who want more immediate diversification than building a portfolio from individual stocks can turn to exchange-traded funds including the First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) and the Global X Wind Energy ETF (WNDY)… … the winds of fortune could be at this industry's back for some time.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Now here’s a new article with only solar power picks. It’s titled Renewable Energy Stocks: Is Now a Good Time to Buy? It’s by Travis Hoium and on fool.com. Here are some quotes from him including his stock picks. “Today, we're entering a more mature phase for the industry in which companies are establishing technology advantages and scale that helps create a competitive moat. The result is steadily rising profitability, which you can see… from First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG), and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR)… Financiers are the companies that build or buy renewable energy projects, usually with long-term contracts to sell electricity to a utility. They generate very stable cash flows and often come with a dividend. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) and NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP) are both leaders in this space and have exposure to wind and solar energy projects… I focus on the solar industry in part because there are very few wind-focused companies publicly traded in the U.S. But in solar energy there are some leaders with clear differentiation, like First Solar in solar panel manufacturing, SunPower in deploying residential and commercial solar, and Enphase Energy in module-level power electronics… On the speculative side, I see a huge opportunity in hydrogen. Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is an industry leader in solid-oxide fuel cells; it's also built a nearly $1 billion business in backup power with new markets like electrolysis and marine power on the horizon…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now Honorable Mentions (These are here because I didn’t have room in this podcast to extensively quote them) 1. Title Kiplinger ESG 20: Our Favorite Picks for ESG Investors, by Nellie S. Huang and Adam Shell. Quote “Doing good and making money are no contradiction with these 16 stocks and four funds that ride the trend of socially conscious investing.” End quote. 2. Title Three funds to help build back better, by Rory Palmer on UK’s What Investment site. Quote “As part of Good Money Week, Quilter Cheviot’s Melissa Scaramellini considers how investors can contribute to efforts to build back better .” End quote. 3. Title Don’t Overlook This Side of the Environmental Investing Equation by Tom Lydon on etftrends.com. Quote “The VanEck Vectors Environmental Services ETF (EVX) is an example of an exchange traded fund that’s in that boat.” End quote. 4. Title Why the Infrastructure Bill Has These 3 Stocks Soaring Today by Howard Smith on fool.com. Quote “XL Fleet (XL) was up 10.9%. Hyliion (HYLN) was up 8.7%. Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) was up 10.2%.” End quote. 5. Title Northern Trust launches two emerging market factor ESG ETFs by Theo Andrew on etfstream.com. Quote “The FlexShares Emerging Market High Dividend Climate ESG UCITS ETF (QDFE) and the FlexShares Emerging Market Low Volatility Climate ESG UCITS ETF (QVFE) have been listed on the Euronext and Deutsche Boerse with a total expense ratio of 0.35% and 0.31%, respectively.” End quote. 6. Title 4 Leading Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond. It’s by Matthew DiLallo and found on fool.com. Quote “These electric utilities are embracing change. They expect to invest billions on building new renewable energy generating capacity over the next few years. These investments should power steady earnings and dividend growth.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Funds, Stocks, to Buy Now.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on October 22. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments. Include First Trust Water ETF, Global Water Fund A Shares, Invesco Water Resources ETF, Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF, Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dexus Property Group, Unilever, Diageo, Stockland, Abbott Laboratories, Stanley Black & Decker, US VEGAN ETF, American Water Works, Pool Corp., Generac PODCAST: Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments Transcript & Links, Episode 67, September 24, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 67 published on September 24, titled “Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.  Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments With fires, drought conditions increasing around the globe, water investing is gaining prominence. This recent article titled Water Investing: 5 Funds You Should Tap by Coryanne Hicks at Kiplinger offers insight into some leading water ETFs. Here are some quotes from her. “’Billions of people around the world will be unable to access safely managed household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services in 2030 unless the rate of progress quadruples, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF” 1) Courtesy of First Trust First Trust Water ETF (FIW) Assets under management: $1.3 billion Dividend yield: 0.4% Expenses: 0.54%, or $54 annually for every $10,000 invested The First Trust Water ETF tracks the ISE Clean Edge Water Index, which holds companies in the potable water and wastewater industry with worldwide market capitalizations of at least $100 million…  MSCI’s ESG Fund Ratings rates First Trust Water ETF at AA – the second-best rating, and within the system’s so-called Leader tier. Learn more about FIW at the First Trust provider site. 2) Courtesy of Calvert Funds Calvert Global Water Fund A Shares (CFWAX) Assets under management: $590.7 million Dividend yield: 0.6% Expenses: 1.24% The Calvert Global Water Fund A Shares is a water investing mutual fund that seeks to track the Calvert Global Water Research Index, CALH2O, a proprietary index comprised of ‘companies that manage water use in a sustainable manner and are actively engaged in expanding access to water, improving water quality, promoting the efficient use of water, or providing solutions that address other global water challenges…’ Note that (this fund) also receives MSCI's AA rating. In addition to a 1.24% expense ratio, investors also pay a 4.75% front-end sales load unless their brokerage waives or lessens the load. (Fidelity and Schwab are examples of brokerages that will waive the load on [this fund].)Learn more about CFWAX at the Calvert provider site. 3) Courtesy of Invesco Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO) Assets under management: $2.1 billion Dividend yield: 0.3% Expenses: 0.60% Invesco’s flagship water-themed fund, Invesco Water Resources ETF, was launched in 2005. (This fund) tracks the Nasdaq OMX US Water Index, which invests in companies that purify and conserve water for home, business and industrial users… ‘The Nasdaq OMX US Water Index was the best performing Nasdaq index in July 2021, up 6.0%,’ (says) Rene Reyna, head of thematic and specialty product strategy at Invesco… Invesco also offers a global version of this fund, the Invesco Global Water ETF (PIO). The Invesco Water Resources ETF earns five stars and a bronze badge from Morningstar… It also earns MSCI's highest ESG rating: AAA. Learn more about PHO at the Invesco provider site. Again, 4) Courtesy of Invesco Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF (CGW) Assets under management: $1.2 billion Dividend yield: 1.1% Expenses: 0.57% The Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF could be considered a more traditional way of investing in water (than the previous Invesco water funds…)  This ETF tracks the S&P Global Water Index, which focuses on the 50 largest companies in water-related businesses across the globe. (This fund) targets two distinct segments – water equipment and materials, and water utilities and infrastructure – allocating 25 stocks to each… (The fund) also earns five stars and a silver badge from Morningstar, as well as an AAA ESG rating from MSCI. Learn more about CGW at the Invesco provider site. 5) Courtesy of Fidelity Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund (FLOWX) Assets under management: $99.4 million Dividend yield: 0.1% Expenses: 1.00% Launched in April 2020, the Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in water sustainability companies, such as those involved in water resources, treatment or distribution. These can include the companies found in the S&P Global Water Index, but the managers also reserve the right to choose other companies they feel meet the fund’s criteria… Of the five water investing options in this article, the Fidelity Water Sustainability Fund deserves the most scrutiny before jumping in given its short track record. MSCI's ESG Fund Ratings rates the product at AA.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments Looking for companies with strong SRI characteristics and good dividends. This article can help you. It’s titled SRI: which companies have both a positive sustainable impact and a strong dividend? It’s by George Sweeney (DipFA). Note, the writer mentions ESG scores but doesn’t indicate where they are from or their methodology. Here are some quotes from the article. This article was on fool.com. Quotes. “According to DailyFX, there are some stocks out there that are socially responsible and reward investors with a decent dividend – a win-win.  Here are some of the top businesses ticking both those boxes. 1) Coca-Cola HBC AG (CCH) Although Coke is questionable from a health perspective, the company has a massive environmental, social and governance (ESG) score of 92. It also pays a respectable 2.19% dividend yield… 2) Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) It has an ESG score of 91 and pays a tidy dividend yield of 2.92%... 3) Dexus Property Group (DXS) This is a less well-known brand because it’s based in Australia, so you’ll find it on the ASX 200. But the company is making waves down under with an ESG score of 89 and a super dividend yield of 5.18%... The company focuses on property and real estate. In 2020, it managed to successfully reduce its office emissions by 50.1%... Some other notable stocks that didn’t take the top spots but still had strong ESG scores and dividend yields are: Unilever (ULVR) (ESG 89, 3.51%) Diageo (DGE) (ESG 87, 2.12%) Stockland (SGP) (ESG 86, 4.73%) Abbott Laboratories (ABT) (ESG 86, 1.46%) Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) (ESG 86, 1.34%)” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments Now back to great ESG funds with this article titled 4 ESG Funds Investments to Beat Rising Environmental Issues. By Zacks Equity Research. Here are some quotes on each fund. “1) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX - Free Report) Aims for long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities, such as real-estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts. (This fund) has… three and five-year returns of 29.1% and 18.9%, respectively… The New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.96% compared to the category average of 1.26%. 2) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX - Free Report) Aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in mid-sized growth companies. (This fund) has returned 18.7% and 16.4% for the three and five-year periods, respectively… (The) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has an annual expense ratio of 0.83%, which is below the category average of 1.09%. 3) Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A (JATAX - Free Report) Aims for long-term growth of capital. The fund invests majority of net assets in securities of companies benefiting from advances or improvements in technology. The fund’s returns are 30.2% and 30.5% over the past three and five-year period, respectively… (This fund) carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has an annual expense ratio of 0.99% versus the category average of 1.05%. 4) Calvert Equity Fund Class A (CSIEX - Free Report) Aims for growth of capital through investment in stocks believed to offer opportunities for potential capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in common stocks of companies that rank among the top 1,000 U.S.-listed companies. (The fund) has… three and five-year returns of 24.3% and 21.2%, respectively… (It) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.94% compared to the category average of 0.99%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments Now about two years ago I covered the launch of the US VEGAN ETF. Well, several articles have appeared on the success of this ETF. Quoting this article VEGAN ETF celebrates two years of outperformance by Beverley Chandler at ETFExpress.com, says “The world's first and only vegan ETF, the US Vegan Climate ETF (ticker: VEGN) has reached its two year anniversary since launch, with almost USD65million in assets since inception, and having returned 67.91 per cent vs S&P 500 Index’s 57.07 per cent (on market price) since inception to end of August 2021.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments This next article is titled 3 Climate Change Stocks to Consider Buying Now. It’s by Beth McKenna and appeared on fool.com. Here are some of Ms. McKenna’s quotes on each of her Investments. “3 of the best climate change stocks: Overview Company Market Cap Dividend Yield Wall Street's Projected Annualized EPS Growth Over Next 5 Years 1-Year Stock Return 10-Year Stock Return American Water Works $32.3 billion 1.4% 8.6% 28.1% 645% Pool Corp. $18.6 billion 0.7% 17% 53.5% 1,800% Generac Holdings $27.5 billion N/A 8% 137% 3,450% S&P 500 N/A 1.31% N/A 34.1% 346% DATA SOURCES: YAHOO! FINANCE AND YCHARTS. DATA AS OF SEPT. 17, 2021. EPS = EARNINGS PER SHARE. 1) American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) American Water Works remains the best choice in the water utility space for most investors, in my opinion. It's the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the United States. That makes it best positioned to capitalize on the consolidation trend in the industry. 2) Pool Corp. (NASDAQ: POOL) As the world's largest wholesaler of swimming pool supplies, Pool Corp. is best positioned to profit from rising demand for pools. The company has also shrewdly expanded into related outdoor living products, such as landscaping and irrigation products. Wall Street has been doing a poor job projecting Pool Corp.'s earnings growth… In the past four quarters, not only has Pool Corp. beat the consensus earnings estimate in every quarter, but it has crushed it by an average of 63%. 3) Generac (NYSE: GNRC) In the second quarter, Generac's shipments of home standby generators nearly doubled from the year-ago period, and the company is ideally positioned to continue to benefit from strong demand for backup generators because it's the largest player in this market. It's also a major player in the commercial and industrial standby generator space. Moreover, in recent years, the company has expanded into the clean energy market. It makes battery storage systems, which can be can store energy from solar panels or the electric grid, and related products. Wall Street analysts have been continuously underestimating Generac's earnings growth potential.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions -- go to this podcast’s webpage for links. 1) Title 5 Wind Energy Stocks to Get Ahead of the Renewable Energy Movement by Pete Johnson on investmentu. 2) Title 7 Best Energy Stocks to Buy to Cash in on the Alternative Energy Boom by Tezcan Gecgil on Investorplace. 3) Title These 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Should Benefit From a New Infrastructure Bill by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, And Daniel Foelber. From The Motley Fool. 4) Title 11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now by Ramish Cheema on Yahoo! Finance. 5) Title Companies with Strong ESG Credentials by Vikram Barhat, Morningstar.ca ------------------------------------------------------------- VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF Now a welcome development in the US green bond market. From a press release, quote “VanEck today announced the launch of the VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF (CBOE: SMI), the first ETF designed to offer exposure to investment-grade municipal debt securities that focus on sustainability as well as positive social, environmental and economic outcomes or mission accomplishment.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Water, Environmental, and Renewable Energy Investments.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on October 8. Bye for now.   © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG Funds That Highlight Labor. And MORE… Includes the following funds and stocks. Global X Conscious Companies ETF, IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF, Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF, Humankind U.S. Stock ETF, Microsoft Corporation, EMCOR Group, Inc., West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Deere & Company, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Nucor, NextEra Energy, Cummins PODCAST: ESG Funds That Highlight Labor. And MORE… Transcript & Links, Episode 66, September 10, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 65 published on September 10, titled “ESG Funds That Highlight Labor. And MORE…” — presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Funds That Highlight Labor. And MORE… I’m starting with an article titled Investors care more about fair wages for workers than environmental issues, ESG survey shows. It’s by Debbie Carlson and appeared on MarketWatch. The article is in two parts. The first part describes an investors’ survey. The second part lists four funds that ‘highlight labor.’ Here are some quotes. “Funds that highlight labor… 1) Global X Conscious Companies ETF (KRMA) Is the largest of the four funds, with $500 million in assets and an annual expense ratio of 0.43%. It’s an equal-weighted index that uses ESG metrics to measure how well a company treats all stakeholders. 2) IQ Candriam ESG US Equity ETF (IQSU) Is a market-cap weighted fund with $484 million in assets and a 0.09% expense ratio. The fund’s ESG selection criteria scores companies based on how it treats its customers and employees, a firm’s environmental initiatives and how well suppliers adhere to fair labor standards, among other issues… Tesla TSLA is in the top five (holdings). However… MSCI’s ESG ratings considers Tesla a laggard on labor issues. 3) Goldman Sachs JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (JUST) Is a tier-weighted index of companies in the Russell 1000, building the index based on an annual survey of business behavior priorities. Companies that treat their workers well, including on worker pay and well-being, get the highest weight… It has $264 million in assets and a 0.20% expense ratio. 4) Humankind U.S. Stock ETF (HKND) Screens companies on four ‘humankind values,’ the value a firm creates for investors, consumers, employees and society overall. The index methodology adjusts on the basis of the individual firm’s supply-chain relationships… It launched in February and has $95 million in assets… It has an expense ratio of 0.11%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Sustainability Trends Boost ESG Investing: 5 Green Picks The next article is titled Sustainability Trends Boost ESG Investing: 5 Green Picks. It’s by Zacks analyst Sreoshi Bera. Here are some quotes. Quote. “All the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 1) Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) This tech giant has been carbon neutral globally since 2012 and commits to being carbon-negative by 2030. It is investing $50 million in AI for Earth to accelerate innovation by putting AI in the hands of those working to directly address sustainability challenges. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 8% compared with the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings growth of 2.4%. 2) EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME) The company engages in water system conservation and retrofits, lighting retrofits, solar & wind programs and more… Its expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.4% against the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry’s projected earnings decline of 1.3%. 3) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) Designs and produces containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products. The company has received MSCI’s highest ESG Fund rating of AAA… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 68.1% compared with the Zacks Medical - Dental Supplies industry’s projected earnings growth of 24.2%. 4) Deere & Company (DE) Manufactures and distributes various equipment. The company launched a Smart Industrial Operating Model last year and recycled 28 million pounds of material through remanufacturing. The company sources 32% of its electricity from renewables and has recycled 78% of its wastes. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is more than 100% compared with the Zacks Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry’s projected earnings growth of 31.7%. 5) Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN) Designs, manufactures and sells semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.7% compared with the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry’s projected earnings growth of 22%.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now Many ethical and sustainable investors like infrastructure. Here’s a recent article titled 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now. It’s by Howard Smith and was on fool.com. Here are some quotes. “Looking for solid companies that may get a further boost if the federal infrastructure plan passes… look at these leaders… 1) Nucor (NYSE: NUE) Steelmaker Nucor recently reported its second-quarter 2021 results, letting investors know the company had already surpassed its annual record for net income in just the first half of the year… Nucor's products are used in most every industry… The business is thriving due to several factors… The U.S. economy rebounded from the pandemic… customer inventories had been depleted… and maybe most importantly, steel prices have skyrocketed… And Nucor… plan(s) to return at least 40% of net income to shareholders. 2) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Is the largest electric utility in the U.S. as measured by retail electricity sales, and it also owns NextEra Energy Resources, a clean energy business that is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar… Since 2005, the company has grown earnings per share at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 9% and increased dividends per share at an annual rate of almost 10%.  NextEra Energy… is also pursuing alternative energy projects using green hydrogen… NextEra has given investors guidance that estimates 6% to 8% annual growth in adjusted earnings per share from its 2021 base level through 2023… (and) approximately 10% annual growth in dividends per share through at least 2022. 3) Cummins (NYSE: CMI) Another company gradually moving into the green hydrogen space is global power giant Cummins. And while hydrogen technology continues to become a larger part of the company's business, its mobility power solutions are a prime area to benefit in the near term from infrastructure spending… Spending on rail, public transit, ports and waterways, or roads directly affects Cummins' business… Management believes 2021 revenue will grow between 20% and 24% versus 2020.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Stocks These ESG Gurus Agree On Now, this is an interesting article. It’s titled 3 Stocks These ESG Gurus Agree On. It appeared on forbes.com. Contributor is GuruFocus. “The two guru's firms are known for their commitments to being socially responsible. (One is former US) Vice President Al Gore (Trades, Portfolio), leader of Generation Investment Management, and (two is) Jerome Dodson (Trades, Portfolio) (of) Parnassus Investments… These stocks are their common holdings as of the second quarter. 1) Synopsys Inc. (SNPS, Financial) While Gore established a new 1.2 million-share stake in Synopsys during the quarter, Dodson’s firm left its position unchanged at 155,573 shares. The Mountain View, California-based company, which focuses on technology for chip design, verification, IP integration, software security and quality testing, has a $51.2 billion market cap… The GuruFocus Value for Synopsys indicates it is significantly overvalued… Synopsys’ financial strength and profitability were both rated 8 out of 10 by GuruFocus… 2) Illumina Inc. (ILMN, Financial) Parnassus Investments left its holding of Illumina unchanged in the second quarter with 88,399 shares. Gore reduced his 1.09 million-share position by 18.68%. Headquartered in San Diego, the medical diagnostics and research company, which focuses on analyzing genetic variations and biological functions, has a market cap of $73.49 billion… The GF Value Line shows Illumina is modestly overvalued currently. GuruFocus rated Illumina’s financial strength 6 out of 10… The company’s profitability scored a 9 out of 10 rating. 3) Guidewire Software Inc. (GWRE, Financial) Gore upped his Guidewire Software position by 49.27% in the second quarter, while Dodson’s firm established a 150,889-share holding. The San Mateo, California-based software company, which offers a platform for property and casualty insurance carriers, has a $9.78 billion market cap…The GF Value shows Guidewire is modestly overvalued currently… Guidewire’s financial strength was rated 5 out of 10 by GuruFocus. The company’s profitability scored a 6 out of 10 rating even though its margins and returns are negative and underperform over half of its competitors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions 1. Title 4 Renewable Energy Stocks with Powerful Potential (yahoo.com). The author is TipRanks. The stocks are Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), NextEra Energy Partners (NEP), Beam Global (NASDAQ: BEEM), and Clearway Energy Inc. (CWEN). 2. Title Our Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now | The Motley Fool. Analysts are Matthew DiLallo, Neha Chamaria, And Reuben Gregg Brewer. They chose Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP)(NYSE: BEPC), TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A)(NYSE: RDS.B), BP (NYSE: BP), and ReNew Energy Global (NASDAQ: RNW). 3. Title 3 green stocks to buy and hold for a long time - The Motley Fool UK. Analyst is Manika Premsingh. Her picks are Johnson Matthey (JMPLF), The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG), and BP (BP), and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS-B). 4. Title 3 Mutual Funds to Pick Amid the Climate Tech Boom | Nasdaq. From Zacks. Their picks are Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A (CGAEX), New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX), and Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (FSUTX). ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Funds That Highlight Labor. And MORE…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on September 24. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks. Stocks covered include Sumitomo Metal Mining, Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment, Aptiv plc., Infineon, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, and NextEra Energy. Excerpts from: “The investment opportunity offered by electric vehicles,” “3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Investment Concerns”, “3 High-Yield Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now” PODCAST: Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 65, August 27, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 65 published on August 27, titled “Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks.”  Presented by Investing for the Soul, investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page. It's located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Also, I receive no compensation from anyone or entity covered in these podcasts. Incidentally, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks I’m beginning with something a little different. The article is titled The investment opportunity offered by electric vehicles by Juliet Schooling-Latter. It’s a UK perspective that appeared on whatinvestment.co.uk. Here are some quotes from the article and comments on the companies covered. Quote. “Very much a global trend, a recent report indicated the number of EVs will grow from 11m on the road now to 145m in 2030.1 This, in turn, will boost various segments of the market. Here are four stocks… from Elite-rated fund managers looking to tap into this drive. 1) Sumitomo Metal Mining. Stock pick at Baillie Gifford Japan Trust Sumitomo Metal Mining is a top-10 holding in the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust. Manager Andy Brown says the firm has exposure to nickel and copper extraction, both integral to the EV industry in terms of the cars themselves and the batteries used to power them. He says: ‘They have a materials business, and this is where they make a component called lithium nickel oxide. This feeds into the cathodes of electric batteries and major customers for this business are Tesla and Toyota. We believe it has fantastic growth prospects.’ 2) Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment. Stock pick at Ninety One Global Environment Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment predominantly designs, manufactures and sells battery production equipment and services to leading EV battery manufacturers in China. The firm is a holding in the Ninety One Global Environmental Fund. Manager Deirdre Cooper says: ‘Sustainable decarbonisation will require a rapid transition towards a greener, lower-carbon transport system. Wuxi is directly exposed to one of the largest EV markets in the world and, as such, is at the forefront of decarbonisation. ‘It is also expanding sales internationally, with new customers such as Northvolt.’ 3) Aptiv plc. Stock pick at Rathbone Global Sustainability fund Did you know there are more than 8,000 connection points inside a typical EV? If any go wrong it can range from a minor to major inconvenience. Aptiv provides fuse connectors that ensure the battery will disconnect if a spike in current reaches a potentially dangerous level, thus eliminating a potentially catastrophic event.2 The firm is a holding in the Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund. Manager David Harrison says: ‘We’ve held Aptiv in the fund since we launched. It is kind of the nerve centre of an electric vehicle. ‘We think it’s well-placed for the long run and has a management team that is very forward-thinking.’ 4) Infineon. Stock pick at Liontrust Sustainable Future Global Growth fund This German manufacturer is playing a key role in providing the chips for auto safety systems as semiconductor content in cars and other forms of transport continues to grow. Liontrust Sustainable Future Global Growth manager Peter Michaelis says: ‘Infineon is the market leader in the chips that power the semiconductors within electric vehicles. ‘The company completed its acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation in April 2020, which it said is a landmark step in its strategic development towards offering ‘the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio for linking the real with the digital world and shaping digitalisation’.’’ End quotes. 1Source: Clean Technica – report from International Energy Agency 2Source: aptiv.com ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks Now turning our attention back to alternative energy stocks is this article titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Investment Concerns by Aparajita Dutta. Found on Yahoo! Finance. Quote. “Wind energy, the largest source of renewable electricity generation in the United States, continues to make noticeable progress. The amount of new wind capacity installed in 2020 was more than three times the amount installed in 2010. This makes us optimistic on alternative energy stocks’ growth prospects. Also, increasing scope of the electric vehicle market is expected to boost the prospects of U.S. renewable stocks. However, the United States is lagging its Asian and European counterparts in terms of investments in hydrogen market, despite this market’s ample growth opportunities. The forerunners in the U.S. alternative energy industry are TotalEnergies SE (TTE), Equinor ASA (EQNR) and Chesapeake Energy (CHK).” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks In a similar vein is this article by three analysts who appear regularly in this podcast. The article is titled 3 High-Yield Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and is by Travis Hoium, Howard Smith, and Daniel Foelber Here are some quotes from the article. Each analyst comments on the company they’re recommending. “The theme with all of these companies is that they're big, diverse renewable energy asset owners with long-term contracts to sell electricity to utilities or other end customers and that fuels their dividends. As long as the renewable energy industry continues to grow and there are assets to buy at attractive yields, these are great dividend stocks to buy and hold… they're our best high-yield renewable energy stocks today… 1) Travis Hoium recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) The best long-term business in renewable energy has proven to be asset ownership. Renewable energy projects usually come with 10-25 year contracts to sell electricity to utilities, businesses, or homeowners. That allows owners to finance them with debt and equity, and in this case, in the form of dividend-paying stocks.  Brookfield Renewable Partners is one of the industry's biggest renewable energy asset owners with 21,000 megawatts of projects around the world. The company aims to generate annualized returns of 12% to 15% through organic growth in distributions of 5% to 9% and some price appreciation in the stock… In the last year and a half, dividends paid are down partly because of a split of Brookfield Renewable Partners and Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NASDAQ: BEPC) stock and a 3-for-2 stock split. Without those events, dividends per share would be steadily higher, continuing a decade-long trend.  As steady as dividend growth has been from a company like Brookfield Renewable Partners, there are also risks for renewable energy projects that shouldn't go overlooked. Right now, hydro assets are underperforming expectations because of drought conditions around the world, especially in Brazil… On the flip side, less rain and more sun could mean solar projects outperform expectations long term, so there's value in being a diverse and large asset owner.  I think the stability and know-how of Brookfield Renewable Partners makes it a great long-term dividend stock.  2) Howard Smith picks Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) More and more companies in a wide range of industries are signing power purchase agreements with renewable energy generators to power their facilities and ensure products can be made and sold sustainably. Companies like Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure that own or invest in that power generation are benefiting and growing from this movement. And those benefits are being shared with investors in the form of a high-yielding dividend.  Atlantica… aims to pay shareholders 80% of generated cash. And it has been consistent growing those dividend payments in the past. Its quarterly dividend has increased by 65% in the past four years. That growth should continue as cash available for distribution increased by 12.9% in the first half of 2021.  Atlantica's business is spread among North America, South America, and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region… Almost 75% of Atlantica's revenue came from its renewables sector in 2020. And 2021 is starting out strong. The company's continued investments in renewable energy assets have driven its megawatts in operation to grow 30% in the first half of 2021 compared to 2020's first half.  The stock looks inexpensive from a price-to-free cash flow perspective, compared to peers with similar strategies.  With a dividend yielding over 4.3%, now looks to be a good time to buy Atlantica. 3) Daniel Foelber likes NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) NextEra Energy just had an impressive quarter. Its portfolio consists of natural gas, solar, wind, and other assets, giving it diverse revenue streams that allow it to weather the ebbs and flows of the energy market. Its established presence as Florida's leading utility -- through Florida Power & Light and Gulf Power -- provides the bulk of its revenue and net income. A strong foundation from this profitable business paired with access to inexpensive debt has allowed NextEra to grow its renewable energy investments, mainly through its NextEra Energy Resources division. Today, the company is the largest producer of wind and solar energy in the U.S. NextEra's head start in the energy transition gives it a leg up over other utilities since it has had time to build relationships, fill out its supply chain, refine its logistics, and tackle a variety of projects in different markets… NextEra's long-term game plan is to generate predictable revenue (mostly from renewables) via long-term contracts and distribute a portion of earnings to investors through a dividend… Earlier this year, the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.385 per share, representing a 1.9% annual yield at the time of this writing.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks Honorable Mentions Article 1. Bain to Start Long-Short Hedge Fund Focused on Green Investing by Nishant Kumar and Melissa Karsh, on Yahoo! Finance. Quote “Bain Capital is starting a hedge fund to bet on and against companies based on sustainable-investing criteria as part of the alternative asset manager’s roughly $3 billion public-equities business.” End quote. Now, the ability to go short in a green fund is a new idea. Article 2. My Top Renewable-Energy Stock to Buy in August by Matthew DiLallo. Quote “Brookfield (Renewable) (NYSE: BEP) (NYSE: BEPC) is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Great Renewable Energy and EV Stocks.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on September 10. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August. Funds and companies reviewed include Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A, New Alternatives Fund Class A, Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund – Investor, Calvert Equity Fund Class A, TPI Composites, Phillips 66, Brookfield Infrastructure, NextEra Energy Partners, and Brookfield Renewable. Analysts from Zacks, fool.com, other institutions PODCAST: Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August Transcript & Links, Episode 64, August 13, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 64 published on August 13, titled “Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August I’m going to start with an article titled 4 Funds to Pick as Sustainable Investment Hits $35.3 Trillion. It’s by Zacks Equity Research. The article on this podcasts’ webpage has links to detailed reports on each of these funds. Now, here are some quotes from the article. “All these funds carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). In addition, the minimum initial investment for these funds is within $5,000… 1) Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A (JATAX) Aims for long-term growth of capital. The fund invests majority of net assets in securities of companies benefiting from advances or improvements in technology. This Sector-Tech product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years.  Specifically, the fund’s returns are 30.2% and 32.2% over the past three and five-year periods, respectively… (The) Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.99% compared with the category average of 1.05%. Get Your Free (JATAX): Fund Analysis Report 2) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) Aims for long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities, such as real-estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts. This Zacks sector – Other product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, (the) New Alternatives Fund Class A has a three and five-year returns of 28.7% and 19.8%, respectively… (The fund) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.96% compared to the category average of 1.26%. Get Your Free (NALFX): Fund Analysis Report 3) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX) Aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in mid-sized growth companies. This Zacks Sector – Large Cap Value has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, (the) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has returned 18.5% and 16.8% for the three and five-year periods, respectively… (The fund) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.83%, which is below the category average of 1.09%. Get Your Free (PARNX): Fund Analysis Report 4) Calvert Equity Fund Class A (CSIEX) Aims for growth of capital through investment in stocks believed to offer opportunities for potential capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in common stocks of companies that rank among the top 1,000 U.S.-listed companies. This Zacks Large Cap Growth product has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, (the) Calvert Equity Fund Class A has a three and five-year returns of 23.7% and 20.8%, respectively… (The fund) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.94% compared to the category average of 0.99%. Get Your Free (CSIEX): Fund Analysis Report” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August Now back to a favourite sector, renewable energy. Here’s an article by Jason Hall, a regular on this podcast. It’s titled 3 Top Energy Stocks to Buy in August and appeared on fool.com. Now some quotes. “1) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) Over the past few years, TPI Composites has spent a lot of money building out capacity. The company, which primarily manufactures wind turbine blades for leading wind energy companies, was predicting that this new capacity would start paying off this year.  However, that's not looking likely to be the case, after management trimmed its full-year guidance in late July. As a result, TPI shares are down more than 50% from the high reached in January, and management is now cautioning that sales could be flat through 2022 as well… In the interim, the company generates solid operating cash flow, so it should have little trouble continuing to fund its business during the current soft period in the cycle… Shares are still more expensive than almost any time in the company's history prior to late 2020… It's a turnaround play with plenty of growth prospects on the other side. 2) Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) The past year has been pretty brutal for Phillips 66. The company makes most of its money refining and selling refined products like gasoline and diesel, and last year's collapse cost it $4 billion in losses… What about the low-carbon future? Phillips 66 is making serious inroads there, too, having already converted one refinery to produce renewable diesel, and now doing the same with its Rodeo refinery in Northern California. Moreover, the company's significant natural gas pipeline and storage facility, along with its huge petrochemical manufacturing operations, are already set up to handle renewable natural gas. As more supply of this product, which is captured from human and agricultural waste, becomes available, Phillips 66's existing infrastructure will play an important role in the transition away from fossil fuels.  Investors who buy now can capture a heady 4.7% dividend yield that's likely to move higher… That high yield will make it a lot easier to hold the stock while the company transitions away from oil and to more and more renewables over time.  3) Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP) (NYSE: BIPC) While this isn't a pure play on energy, Brookfield Infrastructure makes the cut as a top stock with growing energy exposure that investors should buy now… Brookfield Infrastructure is a diversified business, giving investors exposure to telecommunications, transportation, and utilities infrastructure assets on multiple continents. The nature of its business also results in steady cash flows, making its 3%-plus dividend yield very secure.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August Another fool.com favourite analyst of ours is Neha Chamaria. Her recent article is titled Got $10,000? 3 Renewable-Energy Stocks to Buy For the Long Term. Here are her picks followed by quotes from her on each one. “1) NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP) Calls itself a growth-oriented limited partnership, and rightly so. The company has grown its revenue and cash flow steadily over the years. NextEra Energy Partners owns and operates a large portfolio of wind and solar assets and sells power to third parties under long-term contracts… Two big factors make NextEra Energy Partners such a compelling stock. First is the backing of its parent, NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), which is already the world's largest producer of wind and solar energy… Second is NextEra Energy Partners' focus on generating cash flows from assets and passing them on to shareholders as dividends… it is targeting 12%-15% average annual growth in dividends through 2024 backed by cash-flow growth. Following its recently announced strong second-quarter numbers and a big acquisition, this 3.4%-yielding clean energy is appealing. 2) Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP) (NYSE: BEPC) Is another company that could make a killing in renewable energy. It's similar to NextEra Energy Partners as it's also backed by Brookfield Asset Management, but Brookfield Renewable doesn't necessarily rely on acquisitions from parent to grow its cash flows. Also, it has a humongous 21 GW capacity in operation and another 27 GW under development. The key difference -- one that could also help you diversify your portfolio -- is that while NextEra Energy Partners focuses on solar, wind, and natural gas, Brookfield Renewable is primarily a hydropower play and has only recently started to expand its solar portfolio… Between 2010 and 2020, the company grew funds from operations (FFO) at a compound annual growth rate of around 10%. Through 2025, inflation escalation, margin growth, and its pipeline development alone could boost Brookfield Renewable's FFO by 6%-11%. And if management can find meaningful acquisition opportunities like it has in the past, it could boost FFO by another 9%. That's incredible growth potential, and enough to power up Brookfield Renewable's dividends. For now, management is targeting 5%-9% growth in annual dividend in the long term. Dividend growth is, in fact, one big reason the story for both NextEra Energy Partners and Brookfield Renewable has played out so well so far. 3) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) (Yes another recommendation!) TPI is the world's largest independent manufacturer of wind blades and serves leading onshore wind turbine manufacturers, including Vestas (Vestas.Co), Nordex (NDX1.DE), Siemens Gamesa (SGRE.MC), and General Electric's (NYSE: GE) renewables arm. Of late, TPI shares have tanked on decelerating profits and cash flows, but investors could be missing the big picture. TPI's top line is growing steadily: If it hits the midpoint of its revised 2021 revenue guidance at $1.8 billion, TPI would have grown revenue at a solid compound annual rate of 18.5% in five years. Also, thanks to steady order inflow and production expansion in recent years, TPI's estimated megawatts -- or the energy it can produce from all wind blade sets manufactured during the year -- shot up to 12,080 megawatts in 2020 from only 6,560 megawatts in 2018. Most importantly, TPI's capital expenditure is tapering after years of investment, which means it could soon head back to its positive free-cash-flow days. That should be enough to propel the stock price higher. Another growth avenue is TPI's transportation business, which manufactures solutions for commercial electric vehicles… I wouldn't be surprised to see management focus more on this business… Now that's an intriguing option, and one that should do well for the stock.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August Honorable Mention 1) Title 20 stocks for maximum growth as the world switches to clean energy by MarketWatch. Now, MarketWatch allows you a few free articles but thereafter a subscription is required. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast “Great ESG Stocks, Funds, for August.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on August 27. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Jim Cramer’s Solar Stocks and MUCH More. This episode includes the following stocks and funds. First Solar, Enphase, Generac, Apple, Tesla, GE, Microsoft, Neo, Plug Power, Airbnb, Palantir, Bloom Energy, Ballard Power Systems, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Lucid Motors, BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF PODCAST: Jim Cramer’s Solar Stocks and MUCH More Transcript & Links, Episode 63, July 30, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 63 published on July 30, titled “Jim Cramer’s Solar Stocks and MUCH More” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Cramer’s Solar Stocks Let’s begin with CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Monday revealed his top three solar stock plays. It’s by Tyler Clifford on CNBC. Here are some quotes from the article. “’I think your portfolio needs some solar exposure, ideally with First Solar, Enphase or Generac … We needed to wait for the big post-election shakeout before recommending the solar stocks,’ Cramer said… (continuing)… ‘I think that this group has a lot more room to run… Generac has been one of my favorite ways to play an increasingly unreliable electric grid, and while the stock looks expensive up here, management’s got a terrific track record,’ Cramer said.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These stocks are the top picks for millennials and Gen Z Want to know which stocks millennials and Gen Z favour? This article reveals them. It’s titled These stocks are the top picks for millennials and Gen Z by Ihsaan Fanusie appearing on Yahoo! Finance. Quoting the article. “A recent study by financial source DailyFX revealed that Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), and GE (GE) are the most popular stocks for millennials and Generation Z investors. The study collected data from Robinhood and examined investing preferences among millennials and Gen Z across the United States and United Kingdom for the 12 months ending April 2021… GameStop (GME) was not included in the study… Overall, the technology and automotive industries dominated the market for young people, with companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla generating significant investment activity. Interestingly, electric vehicle manufacturing company Nio (NIO) was the top security for millennial investors… Sustainability has been a key factor… Plug Power (PLUG), an alternative energy company, was the top stock for the younger generations in seven states… In the UK, Nio, Airbnb (ABNB), and Palantir (PLTR) were the younger generations’ most commonly traded stocks.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy If the Market Crashes Continuing in the renewable energy theme is this article 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy If the Market Crashes. Each stock is recommended by a different analyst. Here are the names of the analysts, followed by the company they recommend, and then followed by quotes from them on that company. “1) Travis Hoium picks Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) One of the most exciting growth markets in renewable energy is hydrogen technology, and Bloom Energy is one of the industry leaders… Bloom Energy hasn't gotten as much attention as Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) or Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP), both of which have higher valuations than it does. But Bloom is a better operator with more revenue and higher gross margins… it has a long growth runway into a total addressable market that management thinks could be over $2 trillion.  What Bloom Energy hasn't generated yet are profits… (but) could be profitable in the next few years. 2) Howard Smith likes Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) The stock's dividend yields around 3% at recent prices, and a market crash could provide investors the chance to lock in income at an even more desirable yield.  Brookfield Renewable has a portfolio of almost $60 billion worth of renewable energy assets globally… (its) shares are up about 40% over the past year… Brookfield aims to increase shareholder distributions by between 5% and 9% annually… 3) Daniel Foelber recommends Lucid Motors (NYSE: CCIV) (NASDAQ: LCID) The company says the Lucid Dream Edition (automobile) has an EPA-rated range of 503 miles on a full charge, and that its 1,080-horsepower engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds or less. The specs speak for themselves, but it's going to take a lot more than a hot car for Lucid to become a rival to automakers like Tesla… Lucid's marketing strategy resembles the one used by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)… begin with the low-volume rollout of a high-margin vehicle, then transition to a lower-margin, higher-volume strategy over time…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 ESG ETFs to Buy Now Looking for ESG ETFs? You’re in luck with this article 7 ESG ETFs to Buy Now by Jeff Reeves on money.usnews.com. Here are some quotes from him on each one. “1) iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) It's… benchmarked to an MSCI index of emerging-market stocks. Emerging markets obviously hold a lot of promise because of their growth potential, but they also can be home to business practices that many Western investors would frown upon… Allocations include 35% of assets in China, 13% in South Korea and 10% in India… (It has) an impressive $8 billion in assets under management. 2) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) Another solid option for international investors… is this sister iShares fund… focused on EAFE markets – that is, Europe, Asia and the Far East. While you won't get exposure to companies in the U.S. and Canada, you do get access to developed markets to supplement the EM approach of the prior iShares fund… With nearly $6 billion in assets under management, this global ESG fund is the go-to option for those looking for exposure outside the U.S. 3) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Another iShares fund tops this list of leading ESG funds… it's hard to argue that anyone concerned about climate change or carbon emissions would overlook the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF as one of the most important ways to invest with environmental principles in mind. With about $6 billion in assets under management, this fund is a liquid and established way for investors to play top names in the space. 4) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) At about $5 billion in total assets under management… (it) is among the most diversified when it comes to total holdings. Around 1,500 total components make up this fund, and… they are all U.S.-based corporations… it cuts out the worst based on rankings for ESG criteria and presumes the rest are above board. 5) Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) Another substantial U.S.-based ESG fund… tallies a total of nearly $4 billion in assets… Comprised of a focused list of about 280 securities… About 28% of the fund is in tech, but it diversifies nicely after that with the No. 2 sector being health care at 14%. 6) iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) At more than $3 billion in assets… (It’s)… pretty much a kind of S&P 500 index with the 100 stocks that rank worst on social criteria being excluded from the lineup. Unfortunately, though it has more total stocks than the prior Xtrackers fund, it's even more biased toward tech with 33% of assets in the sector. 7) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) With only 200 or so holdings in (its) portfolio… the prospectus claims this ESG ETF only backs stocks with ‘leading environmental, social, and governance practices.’ You… get exposure to some traditionally popular domestic stocks without sacrificing your principles.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG BS Detector: Do new “green” funds support the carbon transition? Adria Vasil of Canada’s Corporate Knights magazine has penned an article titled ESG BS Detector: Do new “green” funds support the carbon transition? Here are some quotes from her piece. “We look under the hood of BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF to see if it delivers on its low-carbon promise… This ETF invests in large- and mid-capitalization U.S. equity securities ‘tilting towards those that BlackRock believes are better positioned to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy.’ The fund is dominated by all the standard Big Tech firms found in conventional ETF holdings… more than a quarter of this fund’s holdings trip our red-flag alarms…" End quote. (Issues found by author) "14 energy companies with less than 20% of their near-term investment in the energy transition, including Exxon, Chevron, Kinder Morgan and ConocoPhillips. 8 climate-policy-blocking companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs and Valero, as well as a few energy companies. 3 big brands selling industrial meat, including Spam-king Hormel. 1 deforestation and palm oil laggard, namely Kraft Heinz Co., which Global Canopy gives a big fat zero to when it comes to its overarching commitment on deforestation (a primary contributor to climate change). BlackRock’s position: ‘BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF (LCTU) leverages BlackRock’s proprietary climate analytics to analyze a company’s ability to thrive in the transition to a low carbon economy, resulting in a portfolio with almost 50% less carbon intensity than its Russell 1000 benchmark.’ Bottom line: look before you leap.” End quotes. (For Adria’s previous discussion of a similar Blackrock fund see 4. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…) ------------------------------------------------------------- How Engine No. 1's new $100 million ETF plans to change impact investing Many of you will recall how a little-known fund, Engine No. 1, was able to muster enough support to install 3 pro-climate investors on Exxon’s board of directors. Well, now they’ve created a special fund to be in a position to influence the boards of numerous other companies towards pro-climate and ESG policies. Watch this interview on Yahoo! Finance titled How Engine No. 1's new $100 million ETF plans to change impact investing. (The link to this interview is on this podcast’s webpage.) The interviewer is Julie Hyman who interviews Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Jim Cramer’s Solar Stocks and MUCH More.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on August 13. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio. Stocks include Procter & Gamble, Texas Instruments, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Teladoc, Nvidia, Adobe, Microsoft Inc., ChargePoint Holdings Inc., Li Auto Inc., FuelCell Energy Inc., Ford Inc., Facedrive, Shopify Inc., Polaris Infrastructure, Telus Corporation, Shaw Communications Inc., Magna International, Enphase Energy Inc., Canadian Solar, First Solar, Proterra, Vestas Wind Systems. PODCAST: Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio Transcript & Links, Episode 62, July 16, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 62 published on July 16, titled “Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio I’ll begin with Steve Booyens's article titled 7 ESG Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio that appeared on investorplace.com. I’ll mention each company followed by some of his remarks on that company. Incidentally, he says “For this article, I used MSCI’s (NYSE: MSCI) ESG ratings. MSCI is one of two leading ESG data providers alongside Sustainalytics.” So, "1) Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) Long-standing brand strength has assisted Procter & Gamble in ascertaining a dividend payout for 64 consecutive years. MSCI cites factors such as product safety and carbon footprint as drivers behind the company’s strong ESG rating… A forward dividend yield of 2.54% doesn’t only mean that income prospects are bright, but it also means that the company’s growth is intact. 2) Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) Texas Instruments receives a near-perfect rating from MSCI. I like the stock as a semiconductor play due to the diversity in the company’s distribution lines. A growing electronics market and a rebound in the auto market should contribute immensely to its top line moving forward… A dividend yield of 2.1% is seen as high relative to the sector. I used the P/E price multiple and expected EPS and calculated an intrinsic value of $226, worth an upside of roughly 19%. KeyBanc’s recent price target of $240 per share should breathe air into the argument. 3) C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ: CHRW) Corporate governance and behavior have caused an upgrade to a AA rating of late for this logistics and shipping company… The company has experienced 26.25% in year-over-year revenue growth and 125% growth in normalized net income year over year… Judging based on relative value, the stock’s very attractive… CH Robinson recently received a $117 price target from UBS, which could mean an upside of 26%. 4) Teladoc (NYSE: TDOC) This healthcare tech stock has pulled back by over 20% over the past year after its merger with Livongo Health, followed by a class-action complaint against the latter. The stock leveled out in the last month with a 3% gain, and investors are optimistic, following the company’s reported 150% year over year in revenue growth last quarter… With a price to book ratio of 1.54 versus its five-year average of 6.52, I certainly see relative value at play. 5) Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) Nvidia has been in a speculative space of late, but I believe that shouldn’t be the case. The company is gaining market share in an expanding industry. Furthermore, Nvidia is a cash-rich company, which is being used for growth acquisitions, dividends, and share buybacks… Analysts from BMO Capital remain optimistic as they placed a $1,000 price target on the stock last week. I think the stock could reach the $1,190 handle by next year… Corporate governance, behavior, and human capital development are the predominant factors contributing to the company’s AAA ESG rating. 6) Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) Adobe has been a popular stock among analysts over the past year. The company’s ESG is driven by its data privacy policy, sound corporate governance, and favorable working conditions. Adobe has experienced solid growth through Adobe experience and its creative and document cloud products. The stock has massively outperformed its sector median over the past three months… I used the P/E multiple and multiplied it by the EPS to find a possible upside of 20%. If shares continue to be repurchased and diluted EPS continue to improve, investors could expect returns in excess of even that. 7) Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Corporate governance and exploiting opportunities in cleantech have assisted Microsoft in achieving a favorable ESG rating. I wrote about Microsoft in a previous article… Microsoft has experienced 15.34% growth in its year-over-year revenue growth in the trailing 12 months… In addition, Microsoft’s return on equity of 44.99% is more than six times the sector average.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio The next article relates to the potential for successful returns in the booming alternative energy and electric vehicle industry—though it appears miss-titled with the title Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Watch. It’s by Josh Dylan which I saw on nasdaq.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Dylan has to say. “The… federal focus on EV adoption would highlight companies such as Blink Charging (NASDAQ: BLNK) and Volta Charging (NYSE: SNPR)… (He continues.) Here are four (companies) making headlines in the stock market now. 1) ChargePoint Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CHPT) ChargePoint is an EV infrastructure company that is based in Campbell, California. The company operates one of the largest online networks of independently owned EV charging stations. It has a strong leadership position in North America and a growing presence in Europe. The company has an established, capital-light business model with growth that is proportional to a rapidly growing EV market. ChargePoint Holdings Inc. stock is up by over 170% in the last year… 2) Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI) Li Auto is an electric vehicle manufacturer that is headquartered in Beijing. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart EVs. In essence, it is a pioneer to successfully commercialize extended-range electric vehicles in China… LI Stock is up by over 85% in the last year. 3) FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) FuelCell Energy is a renewable energy company that focuses on fuel cell technology. It delivers efficient and clean solutions for the supply, recovery, and storage of energy. It also develops and maintains megawatt-scale fuel cell systems for utilities, industrial and large municipal power users. FuelCell Energy Inc. stock has seen impressive gains of over 150% in the past year… 4) Ford Inc. (NYSE: F) Another upcoming name in the renewable space now would be Ford Inc. Sure, most would not immediately think of this legacy automobile industry giant when discussing renewable energy. However, like most of its peers, the company is pivoting hard towards the EV industry amidst global green initiatives… The company is currently planning to invest over $30 billion towards its EV divisions through 2025. Ideally, Ford hopes to electrify its entire portfolio by the end of the decade… The company’s shares have skyrocketed by over 220% since its pandemic era low.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio Now here’s an article with an intriguing title: Is This The Hottest ESG Stock Of 2021? It’s by Nicholas Perry and on the oilprice.com site. Here are some quotes from the article. “This company is Facedrive (TSXV: FD, OTC: FDVRF)… Facedrive calls itself a multi-faceted ‘people-and-planet first’ tech ecosystem offering socially responsible services to local communities with a strong commitment to doing business fairly, equitably, and sustainably… Facedrive Foods helps connect people with their favorite restaurants and food stores in their area and provides them with great green deals… Facedrive Health strives to develop and offer innovative technological solutions to the most acute health challenges including its proprietary TraceSCAN wearable technology for contact tracing… Facedrive Marketplace… offers curated merchandise created from sustainably sourced materials… We think the company’s recent growth strides… could put Facedrive in a position to be one of the most attractive tech stocks in all of North America for 2021…” End quotes. Now, Mr. Perry also has the following Canadian stock suggestions… Quote. “1) Shopify Inc (TSX: SH) is playing a pivotal role in the e-commerce boom. Not only does it help anyone and everyone who wants to have a try at launching their own business, it gives them the tools and resources to do so… Shopify is pushing towards sustainability in a major way. 2) Polaris Infrastructure (TSX: PIF) Is a Toronto-based renewable energy giant with a global footprint… 3) Telus Corporation (TSE: T) Long-standing commitment to putting its customers first fuels every aspect of its business… In fact, Telus Health is one of the country’s biggest healthcare IT providers. And it’s done so with sustainability in focus… (Telus also has) four consecutive years on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. 4) Shaw Communications Inc (TSE: SJR.B) … is one of Canada’s leading telecom infrastructure and cloud service providers… And that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you consider Shaw’s sustainability goals. In fact, it is one of the biggest customers of Bullfrog Power which sources its electricity from a blend of wind energy and hydropower… 5) Magna International (TSX: MG) … is a great way to gain exposure to the wider alternative energy boom - and by extension ESG - market without betting big on one of the new hot automaker stocks tearing up Robinhood right now…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions. Even more great ESG stocks for your portfolio 1) Top Solar Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now? 3 For Your List by Brett David. Quote “Best Solar Energy Stocks To Watch Now Daqo New Energy Corporation (NYSE: DQ); Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH); and Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)” End quote. Of course, Daqo is highly controversial. There’s much written about it in the media. 2) These 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Are Too Cheap to Ignore by Travis Hoium who recommends First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Howard Smith likes Proterra (NASDAQ: PTRA), and Daniel Foelber who picks Vestas Wind Systems (OTC: VWDRY). ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 30. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Big pharma appeals to many ethical and sustainable investors. While many -- for often good reasons -- dislike them! But leading pharma companies are in most ESG equity fund portfolios. Alva market intelligence group analyzed and scored 26 different standard ESG topics for 20 pharma companies. Here are their 10 best companies.

Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus… Green Bonds, Renewable Energy and ESG ETFs. Covered entities include: Vulcan Materials, Caterpillar, AECOM, Nucor, ChargePoint Technologies, iShares Global Green Bond ETF, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF, Alphabet Inc., Visa Inc., The Charles Schwab Corporation,  PayPal Holdings, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Starbucks Corporation, Apple Inc., and LGBTQ100 ESG ETF PODCAST: Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 60, June 18, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 60 published on June 18, titled “Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG-sustainability or financial ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have ESG-sustainability information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to such company and fund ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best Infrastructure Stocks Now amid the continuing US talks on infrastructure Neha Chamaria has penned an article titled 5 Potential Winners from Biden's Infrastructure Plan. It appeared on fool.com. I name her picks and follow them with some of her remarks. “1) Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) Vulcan is the nation's largest producer of aggregates, operates across 20 states, and has equal exposure to private (residential and nonresidential) construction and public infrastructure markets, positioning it well to benefit from nearly all kinds of construction activity. Vulcan is already experiencing strong demand… has a strong balance sheet (and) has steadily increased its dividend for years. 2) Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) … might be the leading construction equipment manufacturer, but it also has significant exposure to volatile sectors like mining and oil and natural gas. That's why a pure-play equipment stock like United Rentals (NYSE: URI) could be a better potential winner from Biden's infrastructure plan. United Rentals is the world's largest heavy-equipment rental company… Its revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 14% over the past decade. 3) AECOM (NYSE: ACM) Building anything requires planning, designing, and engineering, which is why an infrastructure consulting company like AECOM should benefit from an uptick in infrastructure spending in the U.S…. government is already its biggest client… 4) Nucor (NYSE: NUE) … is the largest and most diversified manufacturer of steel and steel products in the U.S… (and) is North America's largest scrap recycler… (Its) mini steel mills use electric-arc furnaces -- a more flexible, cost-effective method than traditional blast furnaces. (Also, Nucor) has a solid balance sheet… increasing its dividend payouts for 48 straight years. 5) ChargePoint Technologies (NYSE: CHPT) The (US) president's infrastructure plan includes a… network of 500,000 EV chargers across the nation by 2030. Currently, there are only around 42,500 charging station locations in the U.S… ChargePoint operates one of the world's largest EV charging networks and has a nearly 70% share of the domestic Level 2 charging network market… ChargePoint… sells hardware to station operators, which then subscribe to its software to manage the stations.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Green Bond Funds More and more ethical and sustainable investors are turning their attention to green bonds and the benefits they offer. Here are two articles on that theme. The first is titled How Eco-Conscious Is Your Portfolio? 2 Green Bond ETFs To Consider by Tezcan Gecgil at investor.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “1) iShares Global Green Bond ETF (NASDAQ: BGRN) The iShares Global Green Bond ETF provides access to global investment-grade green bonds that have been issued to fund environmental projects. Furthermore… the fund is U.S.-dollar hedged. Since its inception in November 2018, net assets have grown to $212 million. (The iShares Global Green Bond ETF)… tracks the returns of the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI Global Green Bond Select (USD Hedged) Index. (It has) bonds issued by governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy as well as the European Investment Bank and KfW Group lead the names in the roster. 2) VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSE: GRNB) Another green bond ETF that could be of interest to readers is the VanEck Vectors Green Bond which provides exposure to U.S.-dollar-denominated green bonds for financing environmentally-friendly projects. In addition to bonds issued in the U.S. and various European countries, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF also holds bonds from China, South Korea, Brazil, India, Chile, Indonesia and others.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Green Bond Funds The second article on green bonds is titled $1.2tn US giant launches core impact bond fund into Ucits market. It’s by Chris Sloley and was on the citywireselector.com site. The fund is for investors in Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, UK, and Italy. Here are some quotes… “Global investment giant Nuveen has launched its Global Core Impact Bond fund for Ucits investors to capitalise on opportunities created by ‘ESG leaders’. The multi-currency bond fund will invest across all global fixed income markets… Focusing on perceived ‘ESG leaders’, the bond fund will find companies setting an example in their respective industry or sector, with respect to ESG risks and behaviours… The fund may allocate up to 40% in emerging markets and 15% in high yield, at the managers’ discretion. It will launch with $25m (€20.5m) of seed capital.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best LGBTQ Friendly Stocks Since this is Pride Month and numerous LGBTQI+ investors are ethically and sustainably oriented, here’s an article for members of that community. It’s titled Ethical Investing for Pride Month: 10 Gay-Friendly Stocks To Buy. It’s by John Csiszar and was on the gobankingrates.com site. Here are some quotes from his article. “1) Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Google, now trading under parent company Alphabet, has long been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. The company has a specific support group for the LGBTQ community, known as ‘Gayglers’. 2) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) IBM was one of the first companies to include sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy, back in 1984. The company established its Global LGBT Council, designed to make the workplace safe for everyone, in 1995. 3) Visa Inc. (V) Visa has appeared on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for five years running, marking it as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ employees. Visa supports the United Nations Standards for LGBTI, which outlines five standards of conduct that the business community can use to combat discrimination against lesbian, bi, gay, trans and intersex people. 4) The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) Schwab has received a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion for over 15 years… Internally, Schwab has created a diversity and inclusion group known as PRIDE, dedicated specifically to the LGBTQ+ network at Schwab. 5) The Coca-Cola Company (KO) The company has scored 100% on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index every year since 2006. Coca-Cola has also designed a separate Business Resource Group specifically to address LGBTA issues. Other LGBTQ-focused resources that Coca-Cola supports include the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and The Trevor Project. 6) PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) PayPal is another company scoring a perfect 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index, and it strongly promotes LGBTQ rights. The company has a benefits flyer that outlines all its health benefits for transgender employees, from hormone replacement therapies and voice modification surgery to therapy sessions and more. 7) Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Microsoft and its employees have donated over $2 million to organizations supporting the LGBTQI+ community just over the past year… Microsoft has received a perfect 100% score on the HRC’s Equality Index for 13 years running. 8) Target Corporation (TGT) As with many of the other companies making the HRC Equality Index, Target has signed the Equality Act. Target has developed its own PRIDE Manifesto, designed to emphasize the company’s dedication to equality. Target also produces clothing and other products indicating its backing of the LGBTQ community. 9) Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) In addition to receiving a perfect 100% score on the HRC’s Equality Index for 11 straight years, the company has recently donated $50,000 to the Lavender Rights Project. 10) Apple Inc. (AAPL) Apple isn’t just the largest company in America, it’s also one of the most consistent supporters of the LGBTQ community. Apple has been rated a best place to work for the LGBTQ community for 15 years straight.” End quotes. Also, note this article on a new Pride fund, titled, Pride Month meets Wall Street as new LGBTQ ETF hits the market by Ernestine Siu. Quote “ProcureAM, in partnership with LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, launched the new LGBTQ100 ESG ETF.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions 1. Title: My Top Renewable Energy Stock to Buy in June. “Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is the stock I think will be one of the hydrogen winners” says Travis Hoium, the article’s author. 2. Title: Fidelity to Launch 5 New ESG Funds by Bernice Napach. Quoting the article, “All five new funds are actively managed and the two ETFs are Fidelity's first ETFs focused on ESG factors.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well—and engaged with your ethical and sustainable values and investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on July 2. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS… these stories. “Best Health Care Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know”; “These 3 Renewable Energy Companies Are Getting Too Cheap to Ignore”; “top three green energy stocks to watch in 2021”; “Sustainable Impact Investing: 1 Cheap Stock for All Value Investors”; and “launch of Solar Energy UCITS ETF.” PODCAST: Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS… Transcript & Links, Episode 59, June 4, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 59 published on June 4, titled “Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. I only mention what the analysts and writers are saying! However, there might be an odd occasion where I do add a comment. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker’s online site for such information. If your broker doesn’t have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. If any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply do a Google search for that term. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks Now many ethical and sustainable investors are interested in socially responsible dividend stocks. Fortunately, the staff at the Dividend Channel have identified what they believe are the 25 top socially responsible dividend stocks. But if you view more than 6 pages within 6 hours on their site then you’re required to register to view more. Registration is free but do review their privacy policy and terms of use before signing up. So, I’ll just mention a few of their selected companies. The link to their site is on this podcast’s webpage. The selected companies include: Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) — 4.27% Yield Truist Financial Corp (NYSE: TFC) — 2.91% Yield Eaton Corp plc (NYSE: ETN) — 2.09% Yield, and Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) — 4.30% Yield ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Health Care Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know My first article concerns health care stocks. In one way or another, these are in nearly every ethical and sustainable investor’s portfolio. Now the article I want to draw your attention to is titled Best Health Care Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know by Jonathan Phillip. It appeared on nasdaq.com. Here are the stocks Mr. Phillip’s covers. I’ll name them and follow on with brief quotes from him. “1. Reata Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RETA) The company focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing product candidates for a range of serious or life-threatening diseases… Reata announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested the company to submit a request for a pre-NDA meeting for Omaveloxolone for the treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia… Given that there is no known cure at this point for Friedreich’s Ataxia, approval of this drug would be monumental for the company. 2. Genetron Holdings (NASDAQ: GTH) Genetron Holdings Limited is a precision oncology company that specializes in cancer molecular profiling. It also harnesses technologies in molecular biology and data science to transform cancer treatment… The company operates its businesses primarily within the China market. Genetron stock has been up by over 60% since the start of the year. 3. I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) I-Mab is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that commits to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel or highly differentiated biologics. The company aims to treat diseases with significant unmet medical needs, particularly cancers and autoimmune disorders … the health care company stock has been performing extremely well. Impressively, it has risen by more than 220% over the past year with its bullish trend still intact. 4. Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) This is a global health care company that offers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, Healthcare Services, and Alliances. The company’s drug Keytruda is one of the best-selling drugs in the world, generating almost $14.4 billion in revenue in 2020.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- These 3 Renewable Energy Companies Are Getting Too Cheap to Ignore Now three regulars to The Motley Fool site have contributed to this article titled These 3 Renewable Energy Companies Are Getting Too Cheap to Ignore. 1. Travis Hoium suggests Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) He says “in the case of Canadian Solar, the value is now too good to pass up… (its) ability to raise prices when costs go up should help Canadian Solar's slow and steady improvement in margin over the last decade. Solar markets can be volatile and profitability is unpredictable, but Canadian Solar's stock is cheap enough to be a value for investors given the company's market-leading position in manufacturing and deploying solar panels.” End quotes. 2. Howard Smith recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) Quote “The market rotation away from growth and alternative energy stocks has brought many down significantly from their highs. Investors can take advantage of that by buying businesses with strong growth opportunities and income from higher dividend yields. Shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners have dropped more than 20% over the past three months. That has brought the current dividend yield to about 3.5%... The recent drop in the share price gives investors a good entry point that will also provide a high level of income from the current dividend.” End quotes. 3. Daniel Foelber likes Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI) Mr. Foelber says that “(Hannon Armstrong) provides the capital needed to make renewable projects possible. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Hannon Armstrong is in the business of making quality loans and passing its returns along to shareholders through dividends. Its long-term contracts tend to last for a decade or more, making its business relatively stable compared to other renewable energy stocks… With a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 33 and a dividend yield just shy of 3%, Hannon Armstrong is one of the safer ways to take advantage of the renewable energy stock sell-off.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Green investing: top three green energy stocks to watch in 2021 There’s a new alternative energy article on the capital.com site. It’s titled Green investing: top three green energy stocks to watch in 2021. Here are the three they recommend followed by some quotes on each one. “1. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REGI) … is a biodiesel production company based in Iowa that has been a Fortune 1000 company since 2018, and boasts billions of dollars in annual revenue. It is a global producer and supplier of biodiesel and other renewable fuels… According to MarketBeat, analysts now anticipate that Renewable Energy Group will be worth about $100 a share very shortly… (It’s) currently around $60. 2. Plug Power (PLUG) “While PLUG may not boast the kind of EBITDA sales that appeal to some investors, it still boasts a partnership with automaker Renault to integrate its fuel cell technology into European commercial vans. That’s not all – a $1.5bn investment from Korea-based SK Group also has made Plug Power an attractive investment option to consider… Notable financial analysts, surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, estimate that Plug Power’s stock price will reach $49 by the end of 2021, with others suggesting that it may reach as high as $79. (It’s currently around $30.) 3. SunPower (SPWR) There are many leading solar companies in the United States, but few of them are better positioned to grow than SunPower. (It) specialises in both solar power and energy storage. The company’s flagship product is ‘Maxeon,’ a high-efficiency solar cell that boasts benefits over other traditional solar designs… Sunpower’s stock price has a potential to increase as more homes and businesses decide to go solar.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mentions 1. Title: Upcoming launch of Solar Energy UCITS ETF on London Stock Exchange offers Europe’s first pure-play exposure to the global solar energy industry. Seen on etfexpress.com. 2. Title: Sustainable Impact Investing: 1 Cheap Stock for All Value Investors by Nikhil Kumar on ca.yahoo.finance.com. Quote “Dream Impact Trust (TSX: MPCT.UN)… focuses on investments that generate both strong financial returns and provide positive social and economic impacts in North American communities… The company’s goal is to provide attainable and affordable housing.” 3. Title: What are the top renewable energy stocks to watch in 2021? Maxim Manturov on businesleader.co.uk suggests: SunPower Corp which I just covered; First Solar, Inc.; Sunworks, Inc., ReneSola Ltd., and Daqo New Energy Corp (which is controversial for many ethical investors as it’s been accused of using forced labour). Mr. Manturov also says the three hottest renewable energy IPOs in 2021 are China Three Gorges Renewables (Group), Acciona Energia, and Infinite Blue Energy. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS… “ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 18. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

The Top Renewable Energy Stocks and Funds covered include: Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, Equinor, Bloom Energy, SolarEdge Technologies, Enphase Energy, Generac Holdings, Daqo New Energy, CleanSpark, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., NextEra Energy Inc., SunPower Corporation, iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF, Iberdrola. Articles were taken from many leading sites including nasdaq,com, Yahoo! Finance, and kiplinger.com PODCAST: The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 58, May 21, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 58 published on May 21, titled “The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus… It seems most of the stock research appearing in the media is focused on renewable energy stocks and funds. It reflects what analysts are looking at. So here are a few top articles covering that theme in the past two weeks. The first one is titled Biden's New Infrastructure Bill Could Mean Big Things for These Renewable Energy Stocks and is found on nasdaq.com. It reviews three alternative energy stocks by three different analysts. I’ll mention the analyst, their recommending stock, and a few brief quotes from them on their stock recommendation. Quote, “1) Howard Smith picks Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) The company calls itself ‘a sustainable infrastructure company with a majority of our business in renewable energy assets…’ (Now) Importantly for investors wanting income, in the first quarter, cash available for distribution grew 7.6% over the prior year period with revenue growing almost 12%. 2) Daniel Foelber likes Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) The company is making big moves away from oil and gas and into renewable energy… it's now drifting toward pairing its offshore oil expertise with offshore wind… Its offshore wind portfolio leads the oil majors and is one of the largest of any operator in the world… 3) Travis Hoium recommends Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) Bloom Energy makes fuel cells for utility and commercial-scale applications… Building a truly clean electric grid will require more wind and solar, but it'll also require huge amounts of energy storage and on-demand electricity production, both of which Bloom Energy can provide…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus… Next in the renewable energy theme is this article by Louis Navellier who wrote a piece titled 5 Pick-and-Shovel Solar Stocks for the Green Energy Gold Rush. It’s found on the kiplinger.com site. I’ll mention each stock that Mr. Navellier writes about and follow it with a few select quotes from him. “1) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) Makes inverters, a key component of the microgrid that delivers solar energy to where it's needed in homes, schools, businesses, campuses and beyond… Shares of Solar Edge Technologies have been on a tear the last two years, but have declined more recently. 2) Enphase Energy (ENPH) Also manufactures inverter systems. Unlike ‘string converters’ made by SolarEdge, which draw power wholesale from all the panels in an installation, Enphase sells microinverters, which draw energy from individual panels as needed or as conditions allow, and, as a result, can be more efficient.     Though microinverters cost more, the market for them may grow faster because they can be more responsive to site-specific conditions… Shares of the solar stock are off from their February highs of over $200, and took another hit after Enphase's first-quarter report… (But) Enphase can weather these kinds of storms for now. 3) Generac Holdings (GNRC) … has grown handsomely selling backup generators to consumers who have become more attuned to and proactive toward power outages… in 2019,  (The company has) entered the battery storage business with a pair of acquisitions…    Generac has been doing business since 1959, (and) has a global network of 7,000 dealers and … decades of customer data that it can ply with its solar offering.  Shares have been highfliers, up more than 250% since April of last year. 4) Daqo New Energy (DQ) Is based in China and produces polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels… Demand for polysilicon is increasing and this is boosting prices… According to Bernreuter Research, in 2021 alone, prices per kilogram for polysilicon have risen from $11 to nearly $19… which goes straight to Daqo's top line… This could make DAQO one of the best solar stocks to have on your radar. 5) CleanSpark (CLSK) Offers a suite of software solutions that provide end-to-end microgrid modeling, communications and energy management… CleanSpark doesn't make money yet, but analysts are forecasting it will report a profit at the end of this quarter… Also noteworthy, CleanSpark is ramping up its participation in the Bitcoin mining business… CleanSpark notes that 95% of the power for its mining operations is carbon free.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus… The third article on renewable energy is titled 4 Renewable Energy Stocks To Consider Buying Right Now. It’s by Josh Dylan and appeared on StockMarket.com. Again, I’ll mention the writer’s picks and follow each one with some key quotes from the writer. Quote: “1) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) Focuses on providing cleaner, lower carbon intensity products, and services. It is a producer of biomass-based diesel in North America… (The company has) announced a proposed offering of $500 million for green projects. The company intends to use the net proceeds to finance or refinance new and/or existing eligible green projects. 2) NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE) The company owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S. In particular, (it's) renewable energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, contributed $598 million in adjusted earnings, up from $529 million in the first quarter of last year. On top of that, the company along with OPAL Fuels announced plans to build Minnesota’s first renewable natural gas facility. 3) SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) SunPower Corporation is a provider of distributed generation storage and energy services. The company designs an all-in-one residential and commercial solution for customers… Sunpower Corp stock has risen over 500% over the past year.  4) Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) (Yes… again) The company is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems. Also, it has an intelligent platform that delivers smart, user-friendly solutions that connect solar generation, storage, and energy management… Last week, Enphase announced an expanded collaboration with Palomar Solar, a leading solar energy installation company.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus… Getting a lot of hype recently is the Blackrock ETFs. However, Adria Vasil at Corporate Knights has posted a critical piece on the BlackRock iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN). She writes… “This ETF ‘seeks to track the investment results of an index [composed of companies] with a lower carbon exposure than that of the broad market…’ What’s inside: Traditional ethical investors might gasp when they see 15 makers of controversial weapons… (a) handful of for-profit prisons, harmful pesticide-makers and mining firms tied to severe environmental damage in this ETF’s portfolio and: 6 thermal coal-burning companies 11 climate-policy-blocking companies 4 deforestation and palm oil laggards linked to clearcuts in the Amazon rainforest and Southeast Asia… and 6 industrial meat companies, including Tyson Foods, America’s largest beef, pork and poultry processor. BlackRock’s position: BlackRock says the ETF’s MSCI weighted average carbon intensity (tons CO2e/$M sales) is just 64.74, significantly lower than the 178.5 average for benchmark MSCI ACWI Index.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Worthy Mentions Sometimes there are just too many good articles to cover, so I’m going to start a ‘Worthy Mentions’ segment where the bare bones of an article are given. For the links to these articles just go to this podcast’s page at investingforthesoul.com/podcast and scroll down to this edition. 1) Is titled A Bet 20 Years Ago Made It the Exxon of Green Power and appeared in The New York Times. It’s by Stanley Reed and Raphael Minder. Subtitle, “Iberdrola is a leader in wind and solar power, thanks largely to a bet its C.E.O. made 20 years ago.” 2) Morningstar analyst Alyssa Stankiewicz has posted this article 15 Top Funds Leading the Way on ESG. If you aren’t a Morningstar.com subscriber – you should be! Even the Basic, free plan will allow you to see the full content of this article and much more! 3) Final mention is given to the UK’s FT article titled 2 top FTSE 100 ethical stocks. It’s by Jamie Adams. He is recommending the following, and quoting from his article: “Coca-Cola HBC (CCH.L): This Switzerland-based bottler of the Coca-Cola product… has consistently ranked at the top of the FTSE4GOOD Index series since its inception in 2000. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): Has proven to be an ESG leader thanks to its work in providing access to medicine… What’s more, this top British firm has promised to have a net-zero environmental impact by 2030.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and engaged with ethical and sustainable investing! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on June 4. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks. Reviews the iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, KraneShares MSCI China Environment Index ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund, iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF, Parnassus Core Equity Investor, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., Ameresco, Ormat Technologies, and VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF PODCAST: The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 57, May 07, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 57 published on May 7, titled “Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks I’m starting with Max Chen’s insightful article titled Earth friendly ETFs for climate change, sustainable investing. Here are the top funds he writes about. Quote “From ETF Database… The top ETFs based on sustainable impact solutions percentages include: iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (SDG): 72.45% rating KraneShares MSCI China Environment Index ETF (KGRN): 71.59% rating ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES): 68.97% rating Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): 64.5% rating Global X CleanTech ETF (CTEC): 62.05% rating” End quote Clean Energy ETFs Mr. Chen further writes that “Investors can also look to clean energy ETFs, which invest in stocks of companies involved in providing goods and services exclusively to the clean energy industry. The largest broad clean energy themed ETFs include: iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN), which has $5.5 billion in assets under management. First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NasdaqGM: QCLN), which holds $2.6 billion in assets under management. Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW), which boasts $2.1 billion in assets under management. (Again the ) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES), which includes $962 million in assets under management. Invesco Global Clean Energy Portfolio (NYSEArca: PBD), which has $418 million in assets under management.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks In the next article, that appeared on forbes.com, Rob Berger and Benjamin Curry penned an article titled The Best ESG Funds of April 2021. Here are the funds they identified. “1) Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) 2) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) 3) Parnassus Core Equity Investor (PRBLX) 4) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) 5) Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX) 6) 1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund (SSIAX) 7) AllianceBernstein Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (ATEYX)” ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks Now Usman Kabir takes us back to the alternative energy sector with his article 10 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It appeared on Yahoo! Finance. I’ll mention his picks and follow it with a few of Mr. Kabir’s remarks. Starting at #10, quote, “10) SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) (Which) offers solar solutions to residential, commercial and industrial clients. The firm also sells directly to a network of third-party dealers and resellers. The products that the company markets include commercial roof, carport, and ground mounted systems, as well as post-installation operations and maintenance services. 9) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) Is a Bermuda-based firm that owns several renewable power energy generating plants. The firm operates in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Europe, India, and China. It owns a total of 19,000 megawatts of power generation capability globally through hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, pumped storage, cogeneration, and biomass sources. 8) Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) The products that the firm markets include solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power products. The company designs, develops, and sells these products while also offering repair and management services related to these products. The firm also equips and operates electricity-generating solar power plants. It has a fleet of solar power plants in operation with an aggregate capacity of approximately 880 megawatt. 7) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) Is involved in development and selling of hydrogen fuel cell systems that replace conventional batteries in equipment and vehicles powered by electricity. The products that the firm makes include GenDrive, a hydrogen fueled PEM fuel cell system that powers electric vehicles, and GenFuel, a hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing system… 6) Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) It makes batteries, solar panels and other energy-related products as well. It has a market cap of over $649 billion and posted more than $31 billion in annual revenue in December 2020. Earlier this month, Vancouver-based investment firm Canaccord Genuity upgraded Tesla to a Buy rating and set the price target of shares at $1,071. 5) General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) Is a Boston-based multinational company operating in aviation, healthcare, electronics, power, and other industries. The firm has stakes in the wind, solar, hydro, and hybrid branches of the clean energy sector. The company was founded in 1892… The firm is most famous for wind energy solutions driven by state-of-the-art wind turbines that operate both onshore and offshore for power generation needs. 4) NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) Although the firm generates electric power through fossil fuels, it focuses on the capabilities installed for wind, solar, and nuclear power generation. It has a total of 28,400 megawatts of net generating capacity and serves almost 11 million people through an estimated 5.6 million customer accounts in the US. It was founded in 1925. 3) Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) Designs and manufactures software-driven clean energy solutions for residential areas that focus on solar generation, home energy storage and web-based monitoring and control… The products that the company makes include a semiconductor-based microinverter, AC battery storage systems; as well as Envoy and Enlighten, which are data-based services. 2) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG) Is an Israel-based solar solutions firm. It designs, develops and markets direct current optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations globally. The product list of the firm includes inverters, power optimizers, communication devices, and smart energy management solutions. The firm also has stakes in the energy storage and electric vehicle charging businesses. It offers lithium-ion cells and battery packs and uninterrupted power supply solutions as well. 1) JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) Is a Shanghai-based manufacturer of solar products. It markets solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, recovered silicon materials, and silicon ingots. The firm provides solar integration services and also develops commercial solar power projects. It is one of the largest solar panel manufacturing firms in the world. JinkoSolar operates in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and other countries.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks Continuing in the renewable energy theme is this article titled 3 Clean Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q1 Earnings Estimates. It’s by Zacks analyst Aparajita Dutta. And found on nasdaq.com. Again, I’ll list each company and then follow it with some remarks by Ms. Dutta. “1) Ameresco (AMRC) Is an independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency solutions for facilities throughout North America. (It) designs and constructs a wide range of renewable energy plants using LFG, wastewater treatment biogas, solar, biomass, other bio-derived fuels, wind and hydro sources of energy. The company (has) a Zacks Rank #3. (Ameresco) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, delivering an earnings surprise of 78.24%, on average. (It beat again on May 4.) 2) Ormat Technologies (ORA) It has a Zacks Rank #3. Over the trailing four quarters, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate on each occasion, the surprise being 16.08%, on average. (Also, just beat again on May 5.) 3) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) (Yes again! For details, listen to earlier mention.) (It) has a Zacks Rank #3… Over the trailing four quarters, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice, and missed once, the surprise being 21.65%, on average. (It actually missed forecasts in its May 3 earnings release.)” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. The Top Climate Change Bond ETF? Now I want to mention this article Assessing the State of the Green Bond Market. It also provides a specific ESG bond fund recommendation. It’s by Todd Shriber and appeared on etftrends.com. Quote, “The green investing conversation has long revolved around equity-based strategies, but fixed income is a growing part of the equation. Income investors can access that theme with the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB). The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF tracks the S&P Green Bond Select Index, which is ‘comprised of labeled green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by the supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally in multiple currencies,’ according to VanEck… ‘Compared to last year, the increase in corporate issuance has been notable, making up about 50% of total issuance. This is perhaps unsurprising in the context of the numerous corporate ‘net-zero’ commitments and increased pressure from investors to address climate risks.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks.” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and engaged by continuing to apply your ethical and sustainable values to your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 21. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… Equinor, Covanta Holdings, Evergy, Ocean Power Technologies, Torchlight Energy Resources Inc., SunHydrogen Inc., Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF, Fidelity Sustainability Bond Index Fund, Calvert US Large-Cap Core Responsible Index Fund, Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., AECOM, BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF, BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF PODCAST: Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… Transcript & Links, Episode 56, April 23, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 56 published on April 23, titled “Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… In this podcast, we return to alternative energy picks. The first article is titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Defying Industry Challenges. It’s by Zacks analyst Aparajita Dutta and is on the Zacks site. As usual, I’ll mention the company name followed by select quotes from Ms. Dutta. “1) Equinor (EQNR) Based in Stavanger, Norway, is one of the premier integrated energy companies in the world… The company is investing actively in renewable energy projects, comprising power generation from solar and wind energy… The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 2) Covanta Holdings (CVA) Based in Morristown, NJ, Covanta offers waste and energy solution to its customers by processing the waste and generating energy out of it… The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 267.90% in the last four quarters. The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2. 3) Evergy (EVRG) Based in Kansas, MI, Evergy provides clean, safe and reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. It is home to the largest electric vehicle charging network in the United States and has one of the top 10 wind portfolios of electric utilities in the country… The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… Continuing on the theme of alternative energy is Top Penny Stocks To Buy Now? (with a BIG question mark!) 4 Alternative Energy Stocks To Watch by D. Marie. The author isn’t giving outright buy recommendations but as stocks to look at. Each stock offers different perspectives on what you might consider being in the speculative alternative energy space. The article is on pennystocks.com. Again, I’ll mention the company followed by a few quotes by the author on each company. Now, before I begin, some might want to skip the first one as it involves uranium mining! “1) Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE: DNN) Denison is a uranium exploration and development company. Its main project is the Wheeler River Uranium project located in the Athabasca Basin region in Saskatchewan… its stock price has nearly tripled in the last 6 months. 2) Ocean Power Technologies (NASDAQ: OPTT) This company specializes in the development and commercialization of renewable electricity generating systems using ocean waves. 3) Torchlight Energy Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: TRCH) Energy Resources was an oil and gas company. However, it is now working towards meeting regulations to consummate its previously announced business combination with Metamaterial Inc. It develops high-performance materials and nanocomposite products used in things like solar energy and auto applications. 4) SunHydrogen Inc. (OTC: HYSR) The final energy penny stock to watch just saw a massive price increase. SunHydrogen is a solar technology company based in California. It is developing solar-powered nanoparticle systems to act as photosynthesis, to separate hydrogen from water.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… In this next article, I return to ESG ETF recommendations. These are from two analysts -- Paulina Likos and Matt Whittaker -- who wrote an article titled 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds. It was on the Yahoo! Finance site. Again, I’ll first mention the fund’s name followed by quotes from the authors concerning that particular fund. Quote: “1) Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) According to Vanguard, (this) ETF excludes stocks of certain companies that don't meet standards of U.N. global compact principles and companies that don't meet certain diversity criteria. Stefano Safaei, managing director of investments at Wedbush Securities, highlights (a) low expense ratio and impressive performance as attractive features for investors. 2) 1919 Socially Responsible Balanced Fund (SSIAX) Some of the fund's criteria include excluding companies that have significant direct exposure to fossil fuel real assets, investing in companies with fair employment practices and seeking assets that have respect for human rights. 3) Fidelity International Sustainability Index Fund (FNIDX Most of its securities are a part of the MSCI ACWI ex USA ESG Index, a capitalization-weighted index that offers investors exposure to large and midcap companies in developed and emerging markets with high ESG performance. 4) Fidelity Sustainability Bond Index Fund (FNDSX) This Fidelity fund follows the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Choice Bond Index, which includes investment-grade debt securities. 5) Calvert US Large-Cap Core Responsible Index Fund (CISIX) According to the fund's fact sheet, its holdings had 88% lower fossil fuel reserves, 100% lower tobacco exposure and 83% lower toxic emissions than the Russell 1000. 6) SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (SPYX) The fund, made up of large-cap U.S. equities, tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index. 7) Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX) … seeks environmentally conscious companies that have demonstrated their ability to manage environmental risk and have above-average growth potential." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Best Stocks That Will Gain From Biden’s Job and Infrastructure Plan Infrastructure continues to gain interest from ethical and sustainable investors. So, I’ve got one more article here. It’s titled 10 Best Stocks That Will Gain From Biden’s Job and Infrastructure Plan. It’s by Usman Kabir and appeared on Yahoo! Finance. So, I’ll mention the stock and follow it with a few select quotes from Mr. Kabir. Quote, starting with no. 10. 10) Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) … is an Ohio-based company in the mining and steelmaking business… (and) the largest steelmaker in the country. 9) Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) Quanta Services, Inc. is a Houston-based company that provides infrastructure services for communications, industries, electric power companies and pipeline projects… it is one of the key players in the American market that focuses on modernization of the electrical grid using renewable energy. 8) Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) In the US, the firm is the largest producer of construction aggregates, namely gravel, crushed stone, sand, and concrete. 7) American Tower Corporation (REIT) (NYSE: AMT) American Tower Corporation (REIT) is a Boston-based real-estate investment trust that owns and operates mobile phone towers across the world. American Jobs Plan envisions spending more than $100 billion to widen the high speed broadband nest in the country. 6) Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) Applied Materials, Inc. is a California-based firm that supplies equipment, services and software for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips… As broadband occupies a top priority in the American Jobs Plan, the digital acceleration of the economy from high-speed internet is expected to drive the demand for these chips. 5) American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: AEP) American Electric Power Company, Inc. is an Ohio-based electric company meeting the electrical needs of millions of American citizens in more than ten states across the country. President Joe Biden has marked $100 billion to modernize the American electrical infrastructure. 4) Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) Union Pacific Corporation is a Nebraska-based railroad holding company. It is one of the largest rail providers in the Western US, posting strong profits that it expects to grow by 31% over the next two years. 3) Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA) The firm offers capital systems and related recurring services for treating industrial process water, utility water, and wastewater… Evoqua also makes products that filter and separate clean and dirty water. Since the American Jobs Plan envisions the provision of clean water to every American household, the firm could benefit from it. 2) Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) … is one of the largest game companies in North America and Europe. US President (Biden) has pushed for increased access to high-speed broadband across the country… The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the stock of the firm higher owing to increased video-game demand. 1) AECOM (NYSE: ACM) … is a California-based American engineering firm. Since infrastructure spending forms the biggest chunk of the American Jobs Plan, the firm will stand to gain a lot from the multitude of new projects that will be initiated by the US government… It also operates an environmental and risk management department for big projects.  ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… Now a quick piece of interesting news titled BlackRock Launches Two Carbon Transition ETFs, ‘LCTU’ & ‘LCTD’ by Aaron Neuwirth. Published on etftrends.com. Quote, “The BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (LCTU) and the BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (LCTD) invest in large- and mid-cap companies. The two funds raised more than $1.5 billion… The day-one investments into the BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF make it the largest ETF launch ever.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… “ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on May 7. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! Include 3M, Aflac, Best-Buy, Colgate-Palmolive, Kimberley-Clark, Microsoft, Pepsico, Salesforce, U.S. Bancorp, Weyerhaeuser, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Meat, Tesla, Ecolab, International Paper, Apple, Wex Inc, Unilever PLC, Home Depot, Toyota Motor, Alibaba, Pax Large Cap Fund, SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II, ON Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies, Aptiv, Trane Technologies, NextEra Energy PODCAST: ‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! Transcript & Links, Episode 55, April 9, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 55 published on April 9, titled “‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money!”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! I start with a list of recommendations that originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com. It’s titled 15 Investments That Make You Feel Good While You Make Money and is by John Csiszar. As usual, I’ll mention the company name followed by some brief comments by Mr. Csiszar. “1) 3M (MMM) International conglomerate 3M views its Code of Conduct as not just a representation of its values but a competitive advantage as well… 3M… provides a number of well-known products, from Post-It notes to Scotch tape. Over the past year, the stock is up about 52%. 2) Aflac (AFL) The company believes that acting ethically and responsibly is an important part of its business and is the only insurance company to make Ethisphere’s list every year since 2007, including 2020. 3) Best Buy (BBY) The threat of competition from the likes of Amazon and other online retailers drove Best Buy’s stock below $12 in 2012 before it executed an amazing turnaround that pushed it to new highs in 2020… In 2020, Best Buy made Ethisphere’s list of Most Ethical Companies for the sixth time. 4) Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products brand… In addition to operating by a Code of Ethics, Colgate-Palmolive has an Ethics Line that employees can contact to get advice or ask questions about potential violations of the company’s policies. It also operates a Sustainability website. 5) Kimberly-Clark (KMB) In 2017 alone, the maker of Huggies, Kleenex, Scott and other leading brands conducted 238 social compliance audits across its supply chain… Its board of directors includes 11 independent members and has 31% minority representation. 6) Microsoft (MSFT) The software giant is well known for the charitable work of the founder, former CEO and current board member Bill Gates. Microsoft also has placed on Ethisphere’s list of most ethical companies nine years in a row. 7) PepsiCo (PEP) PepsiCo is now one of the world’s leading providers of food and beverages, with brands ranging from Quaker and Gatorade to Frito-Lay and Tropicana. In terms of sustainability, diversity and engagement, PepsiCo has earned numerous awards. 8) Salesforce.com (CRM) Salesforce is much loved on Wall Street, with analysts slapping an average ‘strong buy’ rating on the stock… Salesforce… (says it) ‘brings customers and companies together’ through customer relationship management solutions… 9) US Bancorp (USB) In 2021, U.S. Bank was named to the Ethisphere’s world’s most ethical list for the seventh year in a row… U.S. Bank also has committed to reducing its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2029 and 60% by 2044, using 2014 as a baseline. 10) Weyerhaeuser (WY) The company is one of the largest private landholders in the U.S. It has used that land for more than a century, primarily to produce wood products. Weyerhaeuser has placed on the Ethisphere list 11 times. 11) Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH) In 2020, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was tagged by Ethisphere for the second year in a row as one of the world’s most ethical companies… Analysts see good things ahead with an average ‘strong buy’ rating. 12) Beyond Meat (BYND) Beyond Meat was one of the most noteworthy IPOs of 2019, skyrocketing from an initial offering price of $25 to a high of $72.75… One reason for the excitement around the stock is that its main products are plant-based alternatives to meats. 13) Tesla (TSLA) Tesla stock in 2020 was particularly volatile, skyrocketing over 740% by year’s end. In terms of trying to be an ethical company and advancing the human race, Tesla has made some extraordinary gestures. In 2014, for example, Musk announced that he was no longer protecting Tesla patents on electric vehicle technology, making them open-source and available to any interested parties. 14) Ecolab (ECL) Ecolab has been on Ethisphere’s most ethical list since its inception in 2007, marking 14 consecutive years of receiving the honor… Ecolab keeps striving to improve in the future, setting sustainability goals of halving its carbon emissions by 2030. The stock has been a huge winner, rising more than 80% over the past five years. 15) International Paper (IP) International Paper is considered a cyclical stock… For now, analysts are lukewarm on the company, with an average ‘buy’… From an ethical standpoint, International Paper is a standout, having appeared on Ethisphere’s list for 15 straight years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! Here’s another group of stock picks for ethical and sustainable investors from investorplace.com. It’s titled 7 ESG Investments to Buy for Ethical Investing and it’s by Will Ashworth. Again, first, the company name followed by brief comments from the article’s author. “1) Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Apple became the world’s most profitable company earning $59 billion, more than any other public company on the planet… Apple’s planning to launch its iPhone 13 lineup in late September or early October. Wedbush Securities estimates that it will produce 25% more phones for the iPhone 13 than it did for last year’s models.     I would continue to expect big things from Apple. The fact that it meets ethical investing standards is a bonus. 2) Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) (Yes, again!) Microsoft is said to be in discussions to buy invite-only chat platform Discord for more than $10 billion. In December, after obtaining new funding, Discord had an enterprise value of $7 billion. Although Microsoft and other interested parties are having discussions with the platform, it’s thought that the company would prefer to go public.  3) Wex Inc. (NYSE: WEX) If you’ve got a fleet to run, lots of corporate payments, or looking to improve the way you administer your company’s health and benefit plans, Wex is there to help… WEX stock is up about 96% in the past year. 4) Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL) Unilever… continues to be a bit of a mystery from a performance perspective. Down 6.23% year-to-date through March 29, but up almost 15% over the past 52 weeks, it’s hard to know which stock will show up over the long haul. 5) Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) On March 24, Toyota announced a partnership with Isuzu Motors (OTCMKTS: ISUZY) and Hino Motors (OTCMKTS: HINOY) to develop small commercial trucks powered by both electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells… Investors can be sure that Toyota will do what it takes to remain relevant in the automotive industry. 6) Home Depot (NYSE: HD) Home Depot’s stock’s continued its momentum so far in 2021… Over the past year, it’s up 58%.  As the housing bull continues to roar, there is no doubt that Home Depot will continue to outperform the markets as a whole. 7) Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) It’s been a year of controversy for China’s largest e-commerce company.  The latest issue involves the Chinese government pushing the company to sell some of its media assets, which includes the South China Morning Post because it fears Alibaba holds too much influence over public opinion in the country.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! Due to limited space, I’m just going to mention the names of the funds and companies recommended in this article titled Opinion: Top money managers expect these green-energy companies to benefit most from Biden’s infrastructure plan. It’s by Michael Brush. Go to this podcast’s page for more information at https://investingforthesoul.com/podcasts/. 1) Pax Large Cap Fund (PAXL) 2) SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II (SULR) 3) Tesla (TSLA) 4) ON Semiconductor (ON) 5) Infineon Technologies (IFNNY) 6) Aptiv (APTV) 7) Trane Technologies (TT) 8) Ameresco (AMRC) 9) Hubbell (HUBB) 10) NextEra Energy (NEE) 11) Ormat Technologies (ORA) ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money! My next article is titled: These infrastructure stocks could rise up to 41% in a year on Biden’s massive spending plan, analysts say. By Philip van Doornin on MarketWatch. Quote. “Here is an updated list (see table on this podcast’s page) of Wall Street analysts’ favorite U.S. infrastructure stocks. Starting with the 100 stocks held by PAVE, there are 75 covered by at least five analysts polled by FactSet.” (FactSet) Also, quote, “Only four have 100% ‘buy’ or equivalent ratings: Columbus McKinnon Corp. (CMCO) Builders FirstSource Inc. (BLDR) Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX)“ End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “‘Feel Good’ Investments That Make Money!“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 23. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

Top Infrastructure Stocks And More. They include Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta Materials, Vale, Caterpillar, Deere, United Rentals, Freeport-McMoRan, Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation, Eaton, Crown Castle International, American Water Works, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund, Trillium ESG Global Equity Fund, Shelton Green Alpha Fund, Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate Fund, TIAA-CREF Green Bond Fund PODCAST: Top Infrastructure Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 54, March 26, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 54 published on March 26, titled “Top Infrastructure Stocks. And More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Top Infrastructure Stocks. Now, I’m starting by talking about top infrastructure stocks. infrastructure stocks. This sector is hot right now because government infrastructure spending is making huge leaps around the world. However, remember, that building infrastructure to support transportation developments or electricity generation with solar or wind, etc., requires huge amounts of mining and basic resources no matter how you build it. Most ethical and sustainable investors will be fine with this while others won’t. So, this article 12 Best Infrastructure Stocks for Biden's Next Big Plan by Charles Lewis Sizemore is timely. It’s another great analysis you can find on Kiplinger.com I’ll mention Mr. Sizemore’s recommendations followed by some brief quotes by him on each company. Incidentally, to check on the sustainability profiles of each company, Yahoo! Finance is a good place to start. Enter the company name in their search box and look for the ‘Sustainability’ tab on the navigation panel. “1) Vulcan Materials (VMC) It's America's largest producer of construction aggregates, which includes things like crushed stone, sand and gravel, and a major producer of asphalt and cement. Aggregates make up 76% of the company's revenues and 91% of its gross profit… 2) Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) Marietta is a building materials company that specializes in the materials used in large construction and infrastructure projects. Among other things, it makes crushed sand and gravel products, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt, and paving products and services… Martin Marietta's chemical products are used in flame retardants, wastewater treatment, and assorted environmental applications. 3) Vale (VALE) Brazil's Vale is first and foremost a miner of iron ore. Vale also is the world's leader in nickel mining, and is a significant producer of copper, gold, silver and other metals… 80% of its electricity usage is already sourced from renewables, primarily solar and wind farms. 4) Nucor (NUE) … the largest domestic steelmaker in North America. 5) Caterpillar (CAT) Easily the most iconic maker of construction and mining equipment… Much of the reason for its poor performance in the years leading up to 2020 was weakness in emerging markets… But looking ahead, Caterpillar's exposure to EMs should be considered a positive once again. 6) Deere (DE) … is known best as a maker of tractors and other heavy-duty farm equipment… It's also a major producer of construction and forestry equipment. 7) United Rentals (URI) United operates a network of 1,165 rental locations… (in) two segments: General Rentals and Trench, Power and Fluid Solutions. The General Rentals segment rents out what you would think of as typical construction equipment: backhoes, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, boom lifts, etc. The Trench, Power and Fluid Solutions segment rents out specialty equipment specifically designed for underground work and fluid treatment. 8) Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) … it's one of the world's largest and best-run copper miners… Electric vehicles use about four times as much copper as traditional internal combustion vehicles. Also, the transition to solar and wind energy will require major investments in copper, too, as renewable energy uses more than four times as much copper as good, old-fashioned oil and gas. 9) Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (BIPC) Together with its sister company Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), Brookfield is one of the largest diversified infrastructure stocks in the world, with operations spanning utilities, transportation, energy and even data infrastructure. 10) Eaton (ETN) Eaton isn't a pure play on green energy. But, as a major supplier of electrical components and systems, it is an important part of the story. Wind and solar farms have to be integrated into the national grid, and that's exactly what Eaton does. 11) Crown Castle International (CCI) Biden's campaign pledge to ‘build back better’ specifically… included a promise to provide universal broadband coverage. Crown Castle owns more than 40,000 cell towers and around 80,000 route miles of fiber supporting around 80,000 small cells.   Mobile data usage will continue to grow at a blistering rate for the foreseeable future, and Crown Castle is a solid way to play that trend. It also happens to pay a respectable 3%-plus dividend, and it's stated goal is to grow that cash distribution by 7% to 8% per year. 12) Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE) If you're looking for a single one-stop shop, the Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF is a solid choice… Per its investment mandate, (it) ‘seeks to invest in companies that stand to benefit from a potential increase in infrastructure activity in the United States,’ and in raw materials, heavy equipment and construction in particular.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Top Infrastructure Stocks Two more top infrastructure stocks are included in this article 3 Top Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years by Neha Chamaria. It appeared on fool.com. “1) American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) First, American Water treats and delivers more than a billion gallons of water every day… Second, it has predictable capital deployment plans that almost assure earnings, and with earnings comes dividend growth… Third, work on President Biden's aggressively campaigned infrastructure bill is already under way, and clean water is one of his top priorities. American Water Works is in the sweet spot. The company foresees 7% to 10% compound annual growth over each of the next five years in earnings per share (EPS) and dividends. American Water is a best-in-class utility dividend stock, having increased its dividend every year since going public in 2008. 2) Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) (NYSE: BEPC) (as distinct from Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation covered earlier) (It) wants to grow its annual dividend by 5% to 9% and deliver 12% to 15% annualized returns in the long term. That's an easily achievable goal given the massive growth opportunity ahead for the company as the world shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy. With Biden also proposing a monster climate plan emphasizing clean energy, Brookfield is a surefire winner in the making. Brookfield is one of the world's largest publicly traded renewable companies and among the best you could find to bet on in the industry given its diversity: The company primarily deals in hydropower, but it has recently expanded into solar and wind energy such that hydropower now makes up only about 66% of its portfolio. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. 7 Green Mutual Funds to Buy Now Moving onto a familiar theme, Matt Whittaker gives his 7 Green Mutual Funds to Buy Now. It was posted on USNews.com. “1) Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) While the fund is passively managed and tracks an index, it does represent a broad set of companies screened for certain ESG factors. The fund also comes with a low annual expense ratio of 0.14%. 2) Trillium ESG Global Equity Fund (PORTX) (Is) actively managed (and) participates in shareholder activism… This fund invests domestically and internationally, including emerging markets… The fund's expense ratio is a bit high, at 1.3%. 3) Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX) This fund's stated investment objective is to ‘achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in stocks in the green economy,’ and Earth Equity Advisors CEO Peter Krull likes its forward-looking philosophy. ‘They owned Moderna (MRNA) before anyone knew who the hell Moderna was… (The fund) has an expense ratio of 1.28%. 4) Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate Fund (VGSRX) Vert Asset Management says the real estate sector offers ESG investors opportunities to capitalize on companies increasing the value of their buildings by making them ‘healthier, more efficient and more profitable…’ It comes with an expense ratio of 0.5%. 5) Thornburg Better World International Fund (TBWAX) Investing internationally can carry more risk than domestic picks, both for returns as well as environmental sustainability. That said, putting money abroad can also mean higher returns – and it doesn't have to mean investing in companies with shoddy environmental practices… Thornburg Better World International Fund has a higher expense ratio than others on this list, at 1.83%. 6) Calvert Emerging Markets Equity Fund (CVMAX) Calvert seeks to invest in companies that, among other things, manage water scarcity and ensure efficient and equitable access to clean sources, diminish climate-related risks, and drive sustainability innovation and resource efficiency. 7) TIAA-CREF Green Bond Fund (TGROX) The fund ‘invests in bonds whose proceeds target positive outcomes via renewable energy, climate change, and natural resource projects and initiatives without compromising return potential,’ according to its website. It comes with an expense ratio of 0.8%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Infrastructure Stocks. And More…“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on April 9. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

New ESG S&P Indexes. Top tech stocks, and more! Reviewed include Twillio, Etsy, Pinterest, Xtrackers S&P MidCap 400 ESG ETF, Xtrackers S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF, Humankind US Stock ETF, CropEnergies AG, SunPower Corporation, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., NextEra Energy, Inc., Ørsted A/S, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Tesla, Inc., Iberdrola, S.A. PODCAST: New ESG S&P Indexes. Top Tech Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 53, March 12, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 53 published on March 12, titled “New ESG S&P Indexes, Top Tech Stocks”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Appearing on fool.com Danny Vena wrote an interesting article titled 3 Top Tech Stocks That Will Make You Richer in March (and Beyond). I think these would likely fit in any ethical and sustainable portfolio. I’ll mention the three stocks followed by some brief comments from Mr. Vena. “1. Twilio (NYSE: TWLO) Many consumers have used Twilio's tools without even realizing it. The real-time messages you get from your food delivery service? The updates from your rideshare provider? The ability to reset a password within an app? How about in-app chats with customer service? If you've experienced any of those, there's a pretty good chance it was underpinned by Twilio's technology. 2. Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) While e-commerce platforms Amazon and Shopify stole the headlines last year, they were both outdone by the little engine that could: Etsy. The tailwinds that propelled digital retail also extended to retro and vintage goods, as well as handmade products. Those trends all played right into Etsy's wheelhouse. The company turned these once niche markets into a lucrative enterprise… 3. Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) It seems like it's only a matter of time before antitrust and regulatory concerns catch up with Facebook… Investors looking for exposure to social media growth without all the drama are turning to Pinterest… The platform acts as a digital repository and ‘visual discovery engine’ that allows users to find, save, and organize all their favorite things from around the internet.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- New ESG S&P Indexes Now, this could be something that many ethical and sustainable investors might like. The details are in an article 2 new ESG ETFs bring small- and mid-cap stocks into focus. It’s by Jeff Benjamin and was on investmentnews.com. Mr. Benjamin writes that: “Xtrackers S&P MidCap 400 ESG ETF (MIDE), and Xtrackers S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF (SMLE) listed Wednesday applying sustainable investing screens to the popular indexes. These are the first ETFs to track the environmental, social and governance versions of the indexes… The new listings follow the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE), which launched in June 2019 and has since grown to nearly $450 million. That fund gained 19.9% in 2020 and is up 3.4% this year through Feb. 23, which compares to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 16.3% last year and is up 3.3% so far this year.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Biggest Renewable Energy Companies and Stocks So, here we go again with another analysis of the renewable energy sector titled 15 Biggest Renewable Energy Companies and Stocks. It’s by Ty Haqqi and was found on Yahoo! Finance. I’ll list each company followed by some remarks on that company by Mr. Haqqi. We start going backward. “15. CropEnergies AG (XETRA: CE2.DE) CropEnergies is the leading European producer of ethanol. Ethanol, while not as clean a resource as wind or solar, is still a viable source of renewable energy. The company produces biofuels from renewable raw materials such as sugar syrups, wheat, and raw alcohol from wheat, maize, and barley. 14. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) The Silicon Valley-based energy company SunPower Corp is partially owned by the French multinational oil and gas company Total SE (NYSE: TOT). SunPower develops and manufactures solar panels and photovoltaic cells. The company has received more than 1,000 patents for solar innovation. 13. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA Preference Shares Series B (BVMF: ELET6) Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, this Brazilian power company is among the top global clean energy companies in the world… More than 90% of Eletrobras’ installed capacity comes from sources with low greenhouse gas emissions. 12. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) This US-based company has been providing cleaner fuels including biodiesel, renewable diesel as well as a mixture of the two known as REG Ultra Clean. The company operates 12 biorefineries dispersed across America as well as in Europe. 11. Hanergy Holding Group (Private) It is China's largest privately-held energy enterprise operating on projects of hydro, wind, and solar power. It is known for being the leader in thin-film solar technology. 10. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) Known as one of the world's largest investors in renewable power, this Canadian company operates in the wind, solar, and hydro power sectors of the renewable energy industry. Brookfield Renewable Partner’s parent company, Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) is ranked at 155 on Fortune’s Global 500 Ranking. 9. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) First Solar is an American company established in 2001, most recognized for selling Photovoltaic Systems, and Photovoltaic Modules… First Solar has also recently pledged to power 100% of its global solar PV manufacturing operations with renewable energy by the year 2028. 8. Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) … is (a) solar PV (photovoltaic) module manufacturer. The company has subsidiaries in 20 countries while their products are bought by customers hailing from more than 150 countries. 7. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) JinkoSolar currently stands as the top solar panel manufacturer in the world by market share, distributing solar products to many countries. 6. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) A subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Resources is the world's largest generator of wind and solar renewable energy… They also offer energy storage and energy marketing among other services. 5. Ørsted A/S (CPH: ORSTED.CO) The company has been ranked as the topmost sustainable energy company in the world by Corporate Knights Global 100 Index for three consecutive years. The multinational company is also the largest energy company in Denmark, providing wind power, bioenergy, thermal power, and customer solutions and distributions. 4. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A. (MCE: SGRE.MC) The company was formed as a result of the merger between Siemens Wind Power and Gamesa. Siemens Gamesa is a Spanish-German wind engineering company. The Sustainability Yearbook compiled annually by S&P Global Inc. (NYSE: SPGI) has named this company several times over the years, recognizing efforts made to promote and achieve sustainability. 3. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH: VWS.CO) Vestas Wind Systems stands as the largest installer of wind turbines in the world… Vestas Wind Systems also provides a digital platform known as Vestas Online for wind turbine owners to manage their wind turbine-related self-services including invoices, blade asset management, and service order reports. 2. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) Elon Musk’s electric-car company is also a big leader in the renewable energy industry. The company also sells energy storage, solar roof tiles, and solar panels. Its subsidiary, SolarCity Corporation (also known as Tesla Solar), manufactures these products and is known to be a low-cost provider of solar products. 1. Iberdrola, S.A. (MCE: IBE.MC) Topping our list of 15 biggest renewable energy companies and stocks is none other than the Spanish multinational energy giant, Iberdrola. Beginning as Hartford City Light Company in USA over 170 years ago, Iberdrola has grown to be the number-one producer of wind power in the world.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Humankind Investments Launches First Sustainable ETF—as a Benefit Corporation! Now this one will be fascinating to watch. The details are in this press release Humankind Investments Launches First Sustainable ETF (HKND). Here are some quotes. “Humankind Investments, a quantitatively driven asset manager specializing in socially responsible investments, announced today the launch of its first exchange traded fund (ETF), the Humankind US Stock ETF. ‘Humankind is exclusively focused on socially responsible investing,’ said Katz. ‘This commitment is reflected in the corporate DNA of the Humankind US Stock ETF – to our knowledge it’s the first Registered Investment Company organized as a benefit corporation…’ The Humankind US Stock ETF leverages the firm’s proprietary Humankind US Equity Index to track the top 1,000 US companies that promote healthier, safer, more equitable and longer lives. The Index’s ranking is based on a quantitative analysis of each company’s positive and negative contributions to society as measured by its impact on investors, consumers, employees and citizens - defined as its ‘Humankind Value.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top 25 Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks — Income To Feel Good About Now, many of you are interested in dividends from ESG and sustainable stocks and funds. Well, go to this article. And if you feel comfortable sign-up for their free registration to get all their recommendations. Please note, however, I have no idea about who is behind this site and what they may or may not do with your email address though. The article is titled Top 25 Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks — Income To Feel Good About and appeared on etfchannel.com. Here are four that they give away freely. #25. Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) — 4.11% Yield #24. International Business Machines Corp (NYSE: IBM) — 5.43% Yield #23. Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) — 4.49% Yield #22. Texas Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: TXN) — 2.50% Yield. ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “New ESG S&P Indexes. TopTech Stocks.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 26. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Analysts’ top ESG energy and water stocks and funds include the following. Middlesex Water Co., Invesco Water Resources ETF, American States Water Co., California Water Service Group, Xylem, Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio, Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A, American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Hubbell, Consolidated Edison, Array Technologies, and TPI Composites PODCAST: Analysts’ Top ESG Energy and Water Stocks Transcript & Links, Episode 52, February 26, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 52 published on February 26, titled “ Analysts’ Top ESG Energy and Water Stocks”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analysts’ Top Water Stocks Increasingly, ethical and sustainable investors desire water stocks and funds in their portfolios. Here is a good article for those of you interested in this sector. It’s titled 3 Rising Water Stocks You Can Buy Today. It was on nasdaq.com and written by Robert Ross. Here are some of Mr. Ross’s comments. He says that… “PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that private spending on drinking water infrastructure will total $60 billion by 2027. Over the next 25 years, total spending on wastewater treatment alone will exceed $10 billion per year. Steady and predictable investment like that is a key reason why American water stocks are some of the safest investments on the market. Many offer solid returns, too. Take Middlesex Water Co. (MSEX) for example. The company is one of the oldest water utilities in the US. But even though the business started in 1897, the stock has been pumping out solid returns for years. If you prefer to get some broad exposure to the water market, consider buying the Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO). It holds everything from utilities to infrastructure companies, and it pays a small 0.5% dividend yield. Personally, I usually prefer buying individual stocks because they offer more upside. And you need look no further than Invesco Water Resources ETF’s holdings to find three stocks that offer waves of profits. 1) American States Water Co. (AWR) Because of constant demand from California’s growing population, American States Water Co. is incredibly stable. And with a safe and reliable 1.7% dividend yield, it is my favorite income-based water play. 2) California Water Service Group (CWT) This is another large California water utility. Considering California Water Service Group has never reduced its dividend payout in the 35 years it’s paid one, you can rest easy with this one in your portfolio. 3) Xylem (XYL) While the company does not pay a dividend, it’s one of the premier water infrastructure companies. It has exposure to global demand for water infrastructure, generating over half of its sales outside the US.” End of quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Analysts’ Top ESG Energy Stocks Now I’m going to mention several articles related to energy but all with some unique perspectives. The first article is titled 3 Clean Energy Funds to Buy as Climate Concerns Intensify. It was on nasdaq.com and written by Zacks Equity Research. Quote. 1) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) The non-diversified fund invests majority of assets in common stocks of companies principally engaged in business activities related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies, or other environmental support services. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has an annual expense ratio of 0.85% versus the category average of 1.04%. Additionally, the fund has significant investment in alternative energy companies like Tesla, Cummins and Linde. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has three and five-year return of nearly 10% and 15%, respectively. 2) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) Aims for long-term capital appreciation, with income being the secondary objective. The fund invests in common stocks of YieldCos, American Depository Receipts, real estate investment trusts and publicly-traded master limited partnerships. New Alternatives Fund Class A has three and five-year return of 29.2% and 22.7%, respectively. New Alternatives Fund Class A has an annual expense ratio of 1.08% versus the category average of 1.28%. Additionally, the fund has significant investment in alternative energy companies like Innergex Renewable Energy, Vestas Wind Systems and Nextera Energy. 3) Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A (CGAEX) Aims to track the performance of the Calvert Global Energy Research Index. The fund invests majority of assets in companies whose main business is sustainable energy solutions. Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A has three and five-year return of 19.9% and 15.5%, respectively. [It] has an annual expense ratio of 1.24%, which is below the category average of 1.29%. Additionally, Calvert Global Energy Solutions Fund Class A has significant investment in alternative energy companies like First Solar, Nextera Energy Partners and Terraform Power.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Analysts’ Top ESG Energy Stocks The second article features some names that might be unfamiliar to many ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled 3 Cheap Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now and published on fool.com. Three authors each give their number one pick. “1) Scott Levine likes American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) Although solar, wind, and geothermal stocks all represent viable options from which investors can choose, American Electric Power provides a less obvious approach. And fortunately for investors, they can currently find shares in the bargain bin. American Electric Power has a presence in 11 states and provides electricity to about 5.5 million customers… Management has articulated a clear commitment to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) values. American Electric Power is currently offering investors an attractive 3.8% dividend yield on its stock. 2) Daniel Foelber recommends Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) Dominion Energy is the latest utility stock to launch an aggressive push into renewable energy. The company is a leading energy provider in Utah, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Although Dominion's portfolio is still mostly fossil fuels, it has done a good job of moving away from coal toward natural gas over the past 15 years… Dominion yields an impressive 3.5% -- much higher than the current market average of 1.5%... Dominion looks to be a worthwhile renewable energy stock to buy now.  3) Lee Samaha suggests Hubbell (NYSE: HUBB) What about buying a highly cash generative value stock with some exposure to renewable energy related spending? That's where electrical and electronic products company Hubbell comes into play. If you are going to have investment in renewable energy farms, you are going to need investment in the transmission and distribution (T&D) network, as well… Management expects its utility T&D components end market to grow 2% to 4% and utility communications and controls to grow 4% to 6%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Analysts’ Top ESG Energy Stocks Now here’s the third energy-related article. It’s titled Got $3000? Here Are 3 Solar Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. It’s written by Matthew DiLallo -- a regular to this podcast -- and appeared on fool.com. Here are his picks followed by a few of his remarks. 1) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) Owns a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets geared toward a more sustainable future, like renewable energy, natural gas, electricity transmission, and water desalinization. Renewable energy makes up the bulk of its revenue at 69% of the total. 2) Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) Is a utility focused on delivering electricity to the New York City market. It's one of the country's cleanest utilities, as 71% of its power-generating capacity is renewable energy and the rest is cleaner-burning natural gas. Most of its capacity -- 57% -- is solar power. Consolidated Edison… currently boasts an attractive 4.3% yield. 3) SolarEdge (NASDAQ: SEDG) Makes an optimized inverter system that reduces the cost of energy produced by a solar system. That makes it a key component in making solar energy cheaper.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Analysts’ Top ESG Energy Stocks Our fourth article in this series is titled 2 Top Stocks in Renewable Energy. Also appeared on fool.com and is by analyst Daniel Foelber -- whom we also mentioned earlier. I’ll mention the companies and follow on with a few key quotes by Mr. Foelber. 1) Array Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) Array is an industry leader in single-axis solar tracking systems. These tracking systems rotate solar panels throughout the day to optimize power generation. According to Bloomberg, trackers harness 25% more energy with just a 7% increase in project capital cost… Array is expanding internationally to try to gain a foothold in emerging markets like China, Australia, Europe, and South America… Array stock has a much more attractive valuation than other big-name solar stocks and is growing at a faster rate as well. 2) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) TPI Composites is the largest independent manufacturer of wind blades and fills a niche role in the wind energy industry… TPI Composites' business strategy is simple. It believes in the long-term growth of the wind energy market. It has excellent partnerships with original equipment manufacturers. And it opens new facilities wherever the demand for wind energy is growing.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ Analysts’ Top ESG Energy and Water Stocks.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 12. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio, this podcast, covers the following stocks. Brooks Automation, Cohu. Ultra Clean Holdings, Entegris, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, First Solar Inc., Beyond Meat, Clean Harbors, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, Brookfield Infrastructure, Crown Castle, Aemetis, Orbital Energy Group, and VivoPower International. Reviewers: Aniruddha Ganguly, Yelena Mandenberg, Matthew DiLallo, Jonathan Phillip PODCAST: Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio Transcript & Links, Episode 51, February 12, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 51 published on February 12, titled “Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio Though not described as ESG stocks, most ESG funds hold many electronics stocks. Here’s an article titled 4 Top Electronics Stocks to Buy From a Prospering Industry from Zacks. And it’s by Aniruddha Ganguly. I’ll first mention the name of the recommended stock followed by some brief comments by Mr. Ganguly. 1) Brooks Automation (BRKS) This Chelmsford, MA-based company is benefiting from robust growth in its life sciences business driven by COVID-19-led demand. Moreover, this global provider of semiconductor manufacturing automation solutions and life science sample-based services and solutions has significantly expanded its life science clientele. Markedly, China also offers significant growth opportunity for its life sciences segment. Moreover, solid demand for contamination control solutions remains a key catalyst… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its fiscal 2021 earnings has moved up 5.5% to $1.72 per share over the past 60 days. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has gained 97.5% in the past year.   2) Cohu (COHU) This Zacks Rank #1 company is gaining from the rising demand for its semiconductor test and inspection handlers, micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) test modules, test contactors and thermal sub-systems in the wireless mobility market. Improving automotive and industrial, and rising demand for EVs bode well for the company. Moreover, shortage in auto chip supply is expected to increase capacity that bodes well for Cohu, which has a strong presence in the EV and ADAS market segment. Cohu has solid growth prospects in Test, Handler and Inspection markets in the long haul. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2021 earnings has risen 17.4% to $2.56 per share over the past 60 days. Cohu’s shares are up 89.9% in the past year. 3) Ultra Clean Holdings (UCTT) This Hayward, CA-based company is benefiting from an expanding clientele. Robust demand for its part cleaning, surface encapsulation and high sensitivity micro contamination analysis solutions is a key catalyst. Moreover, recovery in wafer fab utilization bodes well for this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company. Further, the company’s strong exposure to etch and deposition market as well as an expanding global footprint is a major positive. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2021 earnings has moved up 2.7% to $3.03 per share in the past 60 days. Ultra Clean’s shares are up 72.9% in the past year. 4) Entegris (ENTG) This Billerica, MA-based company provides microcontamination control products, specialty chemicals and advanced materials handling solutions for manufacturing processes in the semiconductor and other high-technology industries. This Zacks Rank #2 stock is benefiting from solid demand for its leading-edge solutions in advanced technology nodes and increasing need for end-to-end contamination control solutions. Further, the acquisition of GMTI strengthens Entegris’ position as the premier supplier of yield enhancement solutions for the semiconductor market. Markedly, the consensus mark for its current-year earnings has inched up 1.1% to $2.82 per share over the past 60 days. Entegris’ shares have gained 97.1% in the past year. ” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio This second article is titled Sustainable Investing: Five Stocks To Check Out and is by Yelena Mandenberg. It was published on the gritdaily.com site. Though she covers some familiar ground to other posts in these podcasts, Ms. Mandenberg does have some new companies you can check out. I’ll again mention the company she likes followed by a few of her remarks about that company. “!) Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) Focusing on renewable energy, Brookfield owns nearly 1000 power generating facilities worldwide, with their portfolio including hydroelectric dams, wind power, and solar power. They’re also well-known for a focus on community engagement, employee well-being, and social responsibility. Their stock is a slow-grower but overall profitable, with increases to come through the next few years as the company plans to continue to buy and create renewable energy facilities. 2) Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWDRY) This Denmark based company develops, manufactures, and installs wind turbine systems. They work with countries around the globe and are soaring in popularity. 3) First Solar Inc. (FSLR) They design and manufacture photovoltaic solar power systems and solar modules around the world. As the popularity of solar energy increases, you can expect their stock to keep going up. 4) Beyond Meat (BYND) Another industry that’s doing incredibly well is sustainable food. The company Beyond Meat is popular and profitable to invest in as many eateries and fast food companies are now relying on this product for their increasingly health-conscious or vegetarian customers. A study recently showed that this alternative ‘meat’ company generates less greenhouse gas emissions, uses less energy & resources, and less impact on water and land than traditional beef companies. 5) Clean Harbors (CLH) As other companies struggle with spills, cleanups, and making changes to their own brands, they rely on companies that already know how to do that. Clean Harbors is particularly known for helping to clean up after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. They continue to provide emergency spill response and hazardous waste management services.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio Now, one of our great analysts, Matthew DiLallo of The Motley Fool has written a piece titled 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy in February. Many ethical and sustainable investors have infrastructure stocks in their portfolios. Here are his 3 recommendations followed by some brief remarks by him. 1) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) Overall, 69% of its income comes from renewable energy production, 15% from the transmission and transportation of electricity, 13% from natural gas-related infrastructure like power plants, and 3% from water desalination facilities… Atlantica pays out most of its cash flow in dividends, offering a higher yield that's currently around 4.1%... Atlantica aims to invest $200 million to $300 million per year on new infrastructure additions, which should support steady dividend growth.   2) Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIP) (NYSE:BIPC) … is one of the biggest infrastructure operators in the world. It operates transportation, energy, and data infrastructure as well as utilities. Long-term contracts or government-regulated rates back 95% of its revenue, providing it with highly visible cash flows. Brookfield pays out the bulk of that money via a dividend that currently yields 3.7%.  The infrastructure giant uses the cash it retains to help fund acquisitions. It has invested about $1 billion on new additions in recent months, highlighted by a telecom tower portfolio in India and a stake in a large-scale U.S. LNG producer. 3) Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI) … is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on operating communications infrastructure. The company owns a leading telecom tower portfolio in the U.S. and a rapidly expanding network of small cells and fiber optic cable to support the country's 5G rollout. The company leases space on this infrastructure to mobile carriers under long-term contracts that provide it with stable cash flow. Crown Castle also pays out most of those funds to investors via dividends, with its payout currently yielding 3.4%. The company expects to be able to grow its cash flow at a 7% to 8% annual rate for at least the next decade.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio So, to our final post. It’s titled Making A List Of The Best Stocks To Buy Now? 3 Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch by Jonathan Phillip and was on Nasdaq.com. As usual, I’ll mention the company name followed by brief comments from the author. “1) Aemetis (NASDAQ: AMTX) Aemetis is a California-based advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company. Its development pipeline is focused on the reduction of carbon intensity… Aemetis seems to be firing on all cylinders for now. Could this mark the beginning of another great year for Aemetis stock? 2) Orbital Energy Group (NASDAQ: OEG) The company is working towards creating a diversified energy services platform. Orbital’s group of businesses include its gas systems, power services, and solar services… The company has also been doing well financially… This included year-over-year jumps of 124% in total revenue and 134% in cash on hand. 3) VivoPower International (NASDAQ: VVPR) VivoPower is an international renewable energy tech company. It is involved in the fields of battery tech, electric vehicles (EVs), and even solar and critical power services… VivoPower announced that it closed a $250 million agreement with Australia-based GB Auto Group. Through the agreement, GB will become the exclusive distributor of VivoPower’s Tembo Toyota EV conversion kits in Australia. According to the report, it is the biggest deal for EVs in the Australasian region to date…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Sustainable Stocks for Your Portfolio.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on February 26. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG Fund stock picks covered include Invesco Solar ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, ALPS Clean Energy ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF, Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF, First Trust Water ETF, SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF, Sunnova Energy International Inc., Canadian Solar Inc., SolarEdge Technologies Inc., First Solar, and Enphase Energy. More PODCAST: ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden Transcript & Links, Episode 50, January 29, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 50 published on January 29, titled “ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden This first article suggested the title for the podcast. It’s titled 7 ESG Funds to Buy Under a Biden Administration by Debbie Carlson and was on USNews.com. I’ll mention each of the seven funds, followed by some brief comments by Ms. Carlson on each one. “1) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) ETFs that focus on renewable energy already saw a strong run up in 2021. Todd Rosenbluth, senior director of ETF and mutual fund research for CFRA, expects that to continue… Invesco Solar is focused directly on that industry with its mix of technology and semiconductor equipment firms… (The stock) more than doubled in price in 2020. 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) … gives investors diversification at both the geographic and sector level, Rosenbluth says, and includes companies in both the wind and solar energy industries… (It’s) geographic breakdown is nearly a third in the U.S., but it also includes companies based in China, New Zealand, Spain and Canada. (The) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has seen… a nearly 140% return in 2020. 3) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) … gives investors exposure to clean energy companies such as SunPower Corp. (SPWR), but it also holds electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA). (It’s) a newer ETF, having debuted in 2018, but it already has more than $750 million in assets under management. 4) iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) Investor demand for broadly diversified ESG ETFs grew in 2020, and Rosenbluth says he expects that to continue in 2021… This iShares fund includes both Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) among its top holdings, which are considered strong corporate citizens from an ESG perspective, although he points out that those companies' investment merit isn't necessarily driven by ESG revenue growth. 5) Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE) Daniel Milan, managing partner at Cornerstone Financial Services, likes the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF for how well it mirrors the S&P 500. (It) uses an exclusionary screen to keep out tobacco firms and controversial weapons makers, (and) those which score low on the United Nations Global Compact ranking or companies in the bottom 25% of ESG ratings within their industry. 6) First Trust Water ETF (FIW) Milan says that although First Trust Water ETF doesn't have ESG in its name, for people interested in the water sector, this is his choice. The fund holds 36 of the largest water companies in the U.S., Canada and Brazil ranked by market cap and weighted equally within five tiers. 7) SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE) There may be more focus on gender diversity, especially with Nasdaq's push to enforce gender diversity in corporate boardrooms for the companies that are listed on its exchange… Top holdings include PayPal Holdings (PYPL) and Netflix (NFLX).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden You know, I don’t choose the sectors to follow. I let what the analysts write in their news flows do that. And the analysts are just totally in love with solar energy. So, here’s yet another post on that sector, titled, 10 Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It’s written by Ozgur Yalcin and appeared on Yahoo! Finance. He used solar stocks most favored by hedge funds as the basis for selection. Here are the stocks each followed by some brief comments from Mr. Yalcin. Incidentally, the stock gains he mentions of this year I believe refer to 2020. 10) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (NYSE: HASI) Hannon Armstrong is a US-based large-cap investment company solely dedicated to investments in climate solutions, providing capital to companies in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets. The business currently has more than $6 billion in managed assets with 208 total investments. The company’s key markets are distributed solar systems, storage, onshore wind and solar land grid connections, stormwater remediation, (and) ecological restoration… Stock gain this year is 116.9% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 34.4%. 9) Sunpower Corp (NASDAQ: SPWR) … is a US-based large-cap company that designs all-in-one residential and commercial solar system solutions backed by personal customer service… Stock gain this year is 290.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is -3.6… Moreover, Goldman Sachs recently lifted its price target for Sunpower stock from $23 per share to $33 per share, another reason behind the latest stock rally." 8) Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ) … is a China-based large-cap company (and a) leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. The company is known for high-purity polysilicon production with a capacity of 70.000 metric tons per year. Stock gain this year is 660.8% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 29.7%. 7) Clearway Energy Inc (NYSE: CWEN) … is a North America-based large-cap… publicly-traded energy infrastructure (company)… focused on modern, sustainable, and long-term contracted assets across North America… Stock gain is 72.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 4.1%. 6. Sunnova Energy International Inc (NYSE: NOVA) … is a US-based large-cap company that provides residential solar and energy storage services, with customers across the US and its territories. With home solar systems, battery storage, roof replacement, monitoring, maintenance, and financing options, the company has more than 100k customers. Stock gain 349.5% and the compound YoY revenue growth rate is 27%. 5) Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) … is a Canada-based large-cap global company that produces and sells solar photovoltaic products and provides energy solutions as well as one of the largest solar power plant developers globally… The company reaches 150 countries with 17 manufacturing facilities. In 2021, it (expects)… a 10% growth in shipment capacity. Stock gain 148.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 4.4%. 4) Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ: RUN) … business focuses on solar panel sales, storage systems, and financing… Sunrun Inc has over 500,000 customers and has sold its solar service in 22 US states. Stock gain 526.7% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 19.1%. 3) SolarEdge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: SEDG) … is an Israel-based but US-domiciled large-cap smart solutions company that provides power optimizers, solar inverters, and monitoring systems for photovoltaic arrays. Stock gain 231.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 42.1%. 2) First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) … is a US-based large-cap global company that develops, finances, engineers, constructs, and currently operates many of the world’s largest grid-connected PV power plants. Stock gain 84.6% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 6.1%. 1) Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) The Company delivers solutions to residential and commercial solar PV systems as well as storage, accessories, and management app programs. (Enphase) revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Stock gain 573.3% and the compound 3 year revenue growth rate is 34.3%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden From The Motley Fool site, I found this post, titled, 3 Energy Stocks Positioned to Win in a Renewable Power World. It has three authors each recommending a major energy producer. Reuben Gregg Brewer recommends Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A)(NYSE: RDS.B) He says, “The key, however, is that going forward only 35% to 40% of the capital spending budget is earmarked for oil. The rest is split between its transition and growth businesses. This is a fairly aggressive plan that will work out particularly well if the world makes a decided shift toward renewable power.    Shell appears to be in a better position to transition to the clean energy future while milking its cash cow oil business for as long as it can manage.” End quote. Matt DiLallo likes Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) Mr. DiLallo says, “It aims to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050… The company intends to retire all its coal power plans by 2030 and replace that capacity with cleaner natural gas and renewable energy. Meanwhile, it's investing in emerging technologies like green hydrogen to achieve its ambitious multi-decade plan to produce emission-free energy.” End quote. Neha Chamaria’s pick is NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Neha says, “If you're looking to invest in renewables, look no further than NextEra Energy. It is, after all, the world's largest producer of energy from solar and wind.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “ESG Fund Stock Picks Under Biden.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a ‘build-better’ post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and enjoy the gains in your ethical and sustainable investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on February 12. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

Companies and funds reviewed include Tesla, GM, The AES Corporation, FuelCell Energy, Inc., Enphase Energy, Inc., American Superconductor, TPI Composites, Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, NextEra Energy, Iberdrola, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Invesco Solar ETF, Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF, First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF, Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF, and Clearway Energy PODCAST: Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds Transcript & Links, Episode 49, January 15, 2021 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 49 published on January 15, titled “Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds Let’s begin the New Year with this great piece titled, 5 ESG Stocks to Make the Most of the Bull Run in 2021. It’s by Tirthankar Chakraborty and appeared on Zacks.com. I’ll first mention the company followed by selected comments by the author. “1) TSLA Inc (Free Report) The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 58.9%. 2) GM (Free Report) It also plans to launch a considerable number of electric cars in the near future. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1… The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 24.1%. 3) The AES Corporation (Free Report) Is known for generating electricity across the globe but is now focusing on developing renewables and energy storage. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) 4) FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCEL (Free Report) Specializes in generating ultra-clean power plants that generate electricity way more than conventional fossil fuel plants and does reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3. 5) Enphase Energy, Inc. ENPH (Free Report) Is a global energy technology company that delivers energy management technology for the solar industry. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds Analysts can’t seem to get away from alternative energy stocks! Here’s another post that has the title 7 Alternative Energy Stocks With Massive Potential Now and into the Future. The article is by Alex Sirois and found on Investorplace.com. As usual, I’ll mention the name of his pick followed by select comments from him. 1) American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC) The Massachusetts company’s focus is on improving the efficiency of both the grid and wind energy… Analysts generally recommend overweight positions. 2) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) Manufactures fan blades for wind turbines that generate wind power… Wall Street rates it a nearly unanimous ‘buy.’ 3) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (NYSE: HASI) Comprises investments in companies in three energy markets — behind the meter, grid-connected and sustainable infrastructure…(it) also has an associated dividend.  4) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Is the world’s largest producer of both solar and wind energy… NextEra Energy stock looks like a can’t miss moving forward.  5) Iberdrola (OTHEROTC: IBDRY) Is an electricity company which operates in Spain, the U.K., the U.S. and Brazil… The firm’s clear strategy of investing in renewable growth and acquiring operations to that end should bear fruit in coming quarters and years.  6) Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) (Yes again!) Is a company that Wall Street generally ‘believes in.’ Yet, it is clear that Enphase Energy stock is fairly overvalued given its price-to-earnings ratio of 109.3… The company itself produces microinverters for the solar industry, and other products which allow easy installation of residential solar systems.  7) Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ: REGI) It produces and trades biofuel and renewable chemicals… Wall Street nearly rates it a unanimous ‘buy’. The company has a rock-bottom PE ratio of 4.34, which is better than 87% of peers… This company is clearly showing massive potential and can rise into the future.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds Now another top stock list for 2021 appeared on MarketWatch.com. It’s titled Here are analysts’ 10 favorite clean-energy stocks to buy now and is by Philip van Doorn. Mr. Doorn does something interesting. He says, “In order to put together a list (of individual stocks), we looked at five of the largest clean-energy ETFs, (and) listed all their holdings.” End quote. Here are the 5 clean-energy ETFs Mr. Doorn reviewed, followed by a brief comment from him on each one. Quote. 1) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN, -3.24%) This is the largest clean-energy ETF, with $4.78 billion in assets. It holds a market-capitalization-weighted portfolio of 30 liquid companies involved in the industry. It has annual expenses of 0.46% of assets. 2) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN, -2.72%) This is a concentrated play with $3.63 billion in assets, holding 30 stocks, also cap-weighted, with 54% of the portfolio in U.S. names. Its annual expense ratio is 0.69%. 3) Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW, 0.79%) This ETF has $2.17 billion in assets, holding 32 stocks of companies that are listed in the U.S., with a modified equal-weighting. Its expense ratio is 0.70%. 4) First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN, -1.95%) This is another concentrated ETF, with $406 million in assets allocated 60% to ‘pure-play’ wind-industry companies, with the rest of the portfolio made up of diversified companies involved in wind-power generation. That means it holds some large, traditional power companies, such Duke Energy Corp. DUK, -1.18% and NextEra Energy Inc. NEE, -2.29%. The portfolio has 50 stocks weighted by market capitalization. The expense ratio is 0.62%. 5) Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF (PBD, -1.64%) This ETF has $301 million in assets and it follows what FactSet describes as ‘more akin to an actively managed strategy than other funds in the segment,’ because it follows an index designed to include companies with greater potential for stock-price appreciation. It holds about 100 stocks with a modified equal weighting. Its expense ratio is 0.75%. Further, Mr. Doorn says, “We narrowed the list of 160 stocks held by at least one of the five ETFs listed above to 10 that are covered by at least 15 analysts, have majority ‘buy’ or equivalent ratings, and positive upside implied for the next 12 months, based on consensus price targets.” Here are then the top ten clean energy stocks favored by analysts. Company Ticker Country Share 'buy' ratings Closing price - Jan. 5 Consensus price target Implied 12-month upside potential 1) E.ON SE XE:EOAN Germany 70% 8.93 11.09 24% 2) ENGIE S.A. FR:ENGI France 89% 12.62 15.09 20% 3) General Electric Co. GE U.S. 71% 10.77 12.24 14% 4) RWE AG XE:RWE Germany 86% 35.20 39.93 13% 5) NextEra Energy Inc. NEE U.S. 60% 74.77 83.53 12% 6) Enel SpA IT:ENEL Italy 83% 8.40 9.27 10% 7) Siemens AG XE:SIE Germany 73% 117.38 127.79 9% 8) Terna S.p.A. IT:TRN Italy 53% 6.16 6.71 9% 9) Air Products and Chemicals Inc. APD U.S. 60% 282.39 306.75 9% 10) Koninklijke (DSM N.V. NL:DSM Netherlands 61% 141.45 147.85 5% End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds The next article is titled Sustainable Investing to Gain Momentum in 2021: 3 Funds to Buy. It’s by Zacks Equity Research and was on Zacks.com. Zacks says that “All of these funds carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). Again, I’ll state the fund name followed by a few comments on each one from the Zacks team. 1) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX - Free Report) Seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities, such as real estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts… New Alternatives Fund Class A has three and five-year returns of 17.9% and 17%, respectively… (and) a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. (It has) an annual expense ratio of 1.08% compared with the category average of 1.28%. 2) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX - Free Report) Aims for capital growth. This Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 fund invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies mostly engaged in activities related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support services… Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has three and five-year returns of 3.4% and 9.5%, respectively. (It has) an annual expense ratio of 0.85%, which is below the category average of 1.04%. 3) Calvert Equity Fund Class A (CSIEX - Free Report) Aims for growth of capital through investment in stocks. This Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 fund invests majority of its assets in common stocks of companies that rank among the top 1,000 U.S.-listed companies. Calvert Equity Fund Class A has three and five-year returns of 18.2% and 15%, respectively… (and) an annual expense ratio of 0.99% compared with the category average of 1.04%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds Looking for dividends? Consider what Matthew DiLallo says in his article This Renewable Energy Stock Continues to Charge Its Dividend Growth Plan. It was on the fool.com site. Mr. DiLallo says, “Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) (NYSE: CWEN-A) supercharged its dividend in 2020, boosting it an eye-popping 59%. It already has enough power to increase its dividend by another 8% next year. Clearway Energy is becoming a dream stock for income-seeking investors… That increasing growth visibility powered by renewable energy makes it a great stock for dividend investors to consider buying and holding for the long haul.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Favorite 2021 Clean Energy Stocks, Funds.“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. My next podcast is on January 29. Talk to you then. Bye for now. © 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! And thank you for listening to me! I'm getting very positive feedback of these podcasts so they're definitely filling an unmet need. I continue to get many individuals in the ESG-sustainability space who'd like me to have them on as guests. Let me know if that's something you'd like! Please contact me anytime if you have ideas on how this podcast could be made even better. I'm taking a break so there will be no podcast January 1, 2021. My next podcast will be January 15, 2021! Stay safe and healthy--and may 2021 bring you great returns from your ethical and sustainable investments! So, bye for now!

ESG stocks to buy! According to analysts. These include: AES, Aptiv, LG Chem, LONGi Green Energy Technology, Siemens Energy, Infineon, Covestro, Deere, CJ Cheiljedang, Bluestar Adisseo, Ball Corp, SCG Packaging, Bureau Veritas, Verisk, Brookfield Renewable, First Solar, NextEra Energy, SolarEdge Technologies, Acuity Brands, Inc., United Rentals, Inc., Rockwell Automation, Inc, Union Pacific Corporation, and more… PODCAST: Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy! Transcript & Links, Episode 47, December 18, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 47 published on December 18, titled “Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy!”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy! First, we start with a big list titled 15 Stocks to Buy as the ESG Investing Boom Continues Into 2021 by Callum Keown. It appeared on the barrons.com site. Quote “The sustainable and ESG investing revolution is set to continue in 2021, with investors looking for the next wave of opportunities, Morgan Stanley strategists said, as they revealed the 15 stocks to buy… In Europe they chose energy-technology company Siemens Energy for its exposure to renewables and gas, as well as German chip maker Infineon, given its ‘commanding position in power semiconductors’ used in electric vehicles. Germany’s Covestro also featured as a leading producer of rigid foams used as insulation in buildings and increasingly in electric vehicles. In the U.S., they liked global-energy company AES, citing its transformation in developing renewables and storage, and automobile-parts company Aptiv for its growing focus on electric vehicles. In Asia they selected electric-vehicle-battery manufacturer LG Chem and solar wafer producer LONGi Green Energy Technology. The strategists also picked five stocks relating to sustainable consumption, with governments turning their attention to food and agriculture. Their picks included agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere, South Korean food company CJ Cheiljedang, and China’s Bluestar Adisseo for its products providing nutritional solutions for animal feed. Aluminium-beverage-can producer Ball Corp and Thailand’s SCG Packaging also made the list, offering alternatives to single-use plastics and packaging. Finally, they highlighted three stocks as a way of playing the overall structural growth theme of sustainability and ESG—asset manager Amundi, testing and inspection specialists Bureau Veritas, and U.S. data analytics company Verisk for its climate-data offering.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy! Our next article continues with the alternative energy stock theme. It’s titled Got $5,000? Here Are 5 Energy Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. Matthew DiLallo, the article’s author, says these companies are leaders in the energy transition. It was on The Motley Fool site. He says the following about his picks. Quote: “1) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) … owns a globally diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets backed by long-term, fixed-rate contracts that supply it with predictable income. The company currently gets 69% of its cash flow from renewable energy assets… Atlantica targets to invest $200 million to $300 million per year to expand its portfolio, which should enable it to steadily increase its high-yielding dividend. 2) Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP)(NYSE: BEPC) … The company is a global leader in operating hydroelectric facilities (64% of its cash flow), which it compliments with fast-growing wind (27%) and solar energy (9%) platforms… The company anticipates increasing its cash flow at a double-digit annual rate through at least 2025, which should support 5% to 9% annual dividend growth. 3) First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) … is a leading manufacturer of thin-film solar panels, ideal for utility-scale solar energy projects… With solar panel demand expected to double over the next five years, First Solar is in an ideal position to capture this growth. 4) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) … is the world's top energy producer from the wind and sun… Meanwhile, the company is also an early leader in emerging technologies like battery storage and green hydrogen. Add those factors to its legacy utility operations and 1.9%-yielding dividend, and NextEra is one of the lowest risk ways to invest in the future of energy. 5) SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG) … makes power optimizers and inverters that help lower the cost of energy produced by solar panels… With a cash-rich balance sheet, SolarEdge has the financial flexibility to continue expanding so that it can stay ahead of the technological curve and capture a sizable portion of this growth.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy! For most ethical and sustainable investors, many infrastructure stocks would qualify as investments. And given the prospect of massive infrastructure spending planned by governments globally, it might be worth considering some of these companies. Here’s an article titled 12 Best Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now that might assist you. It’s written by Ma’k Almario and appeared on the Yahoo! Finance site. Mr. Almario says, “These are the most popular infrastructure stocks among the 800+ hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey.” I’ll mention a company and then provide a brief quote from him on each one. Working towards the number one spot, we start with… “12) Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) Fastenal Company is an industrial distributor based in Minnesota. The company markets industrial, safety, and construction supplies at the same time inventory management, manufacturing, and tool repair… 11) Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) The company manufactures innovative lighting products, controls, software, and services… Acuity Brands is one of the 10 new stocks billionaire Ken Fisher just bought. 10) Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE: MLM) … is one of the leading suppliers of building materials, including aggregates, cement, and heavy materials. 9) Aecom (NYSE: ACM) … is one of the top infrastructure firms in the world. 8) United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) United Rentals, Inc. is one of the world’s largest equipment rental companies… [it’s] a relatively popular stock among hedge funds, but hedge funds have been taking some chips off the table throughout 2020. 7) HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDS) … is an industrial distributor in North America… Unfortunately, it may be a bit late to buy this stock now. Recently, The Home Depot, Inc… announced its acquisition of HD Supply Holdings in an all-cash deal for all common stock at $56 per share. The acquisition is expected to be completed on January 31, 2021. 6) Vulcan Materials Co. (NYSE: VMC) The company is engaged in the manufacturing of construction materials, gravel, crushed stone, and sand. 5) Rockwell Automation, Inc (NYSE: ROK) … provides industrial automation and information technology. 4) Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies with headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia. 3) Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) Kansas City Southern is a Delaware-registered transportation holding company with railroad investments in the United States, Mexico, and Panama. 2) CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) CSX Corporation is an American holding company focused on rail transportation and real estate in North America. 1) Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) … is the best infrastructure stock to buy now. The company is a freight-hauling railroad that operated 8,300 locomotives over 32,300 miles.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy! Now, this is an interesting new sustainable equity ETF. It’s covered in an article by Aaron Neuwirth titled J.P. Morgan Launches Carbon Transition Equity ETF, JCTR. It appeared on etfdb.com. Here are some key quotes from Mr. Neuwirth. “The fund will track the JPMorgan Asset Management Carbon Transition U.S. Equity Index, built to achieve a meaningful reduction in carbon intensity without relying on exclusions or sector deviations. JCTR will seek to offer investors at least 30% less carbon intensity than the Russell 1000 index.” This article originally appeared on ETFTrends.com.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Robeco launches two climate-focused fixed income strategies Now to some exciting new fixed income entrants. They are reviewed in an article titled Robeco launches two climate-focused fixed income strategies. It’s published on theasset.com site. Quote “Asset manager Robeco has launched two climate-focused fixed income strategies, the first of their kind to be fully compliant with the European Union’s benchmark regulation for Paris-aligned investments. These are RobecoSAM Climate Global Credits and RobecoSAM Climate Global Bonds. RobecoSAM Climate Global Credits invests globally in corporate bonds with explicit climate targets that contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement… RobecoSAM Climate Global Bonds comprises a global aggregate portfolio of fixed income assets. The strategy aims for a lower carbon footprint relative to the global investment grade bond universe and an average of at least 7% decarbonization per annum, while outperforming its Paris-aware benchmark.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Analysts: ESG Stocks to Buy!” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Now, I’m likely taking a break over the holidays so my next podcast might not be until January 15, 2021! So, stay tuned! Though these are difficult times, I do hope you have a joyous and restful holiday. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top green stocks to watch: Waste Management, Enphase Energy, ViVo Power International, SPI Energy, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Fuel Tech, SunValley Solar, Sunworks, United Natural Foods, FuelCell Energy, Ameresco, Covanta Holdings, Vestas Wind Systems, and UPS. Analyst recommends ESG funds to buy that include New Alternatives Fund Class A, Calvert Equity Fund Class A. More… PODCAST: Top Green Stocks to Watch. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 46, December 04, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 46 published on December 4, titled “Top Green Stocks to Watch. More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Top Green Stocks to Watch. More… So, let’s start with a great list of recommendations from an article titled Top 10 Green Stocks to Watch appearing on onmarketnews.com. Written by Mark Baumer. So I’ll first mention the stock name followed by selective quotes from Mr. Baumer concerning that stock. “1) Waste Management (NYSE: WM) When you think of garbage and waste, it doesn’t exactly sound like green investing. But waste collection companies are also involved in recycling and in some cases turning waste into energy. Waste Management owns landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the U.S. They also collect and distribute recycling materials to transfer stations and manage the marketing of recyclable materials for third parties. 2) Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) Is a solar company. It develops, manufactures, and sells solar solutions for homes. It also develops and sells solar solutions to distributors and installers… The solar sector’s hot. With the recent election, there could be more government funding into green energy solutions. 3) VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR) VivoPower International PLC and its subsidiaries operate solar and critical power services in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. The stock was a big runner recently. With a lot of interest in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, battery and solar stocks have been sympathy plays… the stock still has a relatively low float of just under 14 million shares, so it could still run with the right catalyst. 4) SPI Energy Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPI) Is involved in the engineering and construction side of the solar business. It also develops and owns solar projects and sells electricity to power companies. The stock had a huge day on September 23 when the stock went from the $3s to a high of $46.67 — in one day!... it’s volatile and can have huge spikes with the right catalyst. 5) Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A. (OTCPK: GCTAY) Engineers, designs, builds, and sells wind turbines. It also constructs wind farms. It has two segments of the business — wind turbines and operations, and maintenance. This company is one of General Electric Company’s (NYSE: GE) biggest rivals. 6) Fuel Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTEK) Is in the pollution control sub-sector. It has the technology to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from combustion sources like boilers, incinerators, and furnaces… It has a history of failed spikes, so if you’re going long, be careful. 7) Sunvalley Solar, Inc. (OTCPK: SSOL) Sunvalley Solar is a California-based company that offers solar systems and maintenance to builders and homeowners… It could be a breakout play if the sector momentum continues and it breaks above resistance. 8) Sunworks, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) Is another California-based solar company that develops and installs solar systems. From small kilowatt systems all the way up to megawatt systems for large projects. This stock is in a hot sector and a former runner, so it’s worth watching. 9) United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) Is in the organics sub-sector. It offers organic foods and products in the U.S and Canada. And it’s not just fruits and veggies. It also offers organic juice, eggs, milk, nutritional supplements, and personal care products. 10) FuelCell Energy, Inc., (NASDAQ: FCEL) Manufactures, operates, and sells stationary power plants and heat sources. It has a number of different products to service clients in education, healthcare, and industrials. Over the last few months, the company has taken advantage of the interest in its stock by doing a number of offerings. The company has raised $177.35 million in gross proceeds from the offerings between June and October 2020… It’s gonna take some big news for this stock to have a big move.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Top Green Stocks to Watch. More… Now we have even more on alternative energy stocks with this article 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Braving Industry Headwinds. Again from a Zacks analyst. It appeared on Yahoo! Finance and is written by Aparajita Dutta. As above, I’ll first mention the company followed by quotes from the author. “1) Ameresco (AMRC) Is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America and the United Kingdom… The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 68.56% in the last four quarters.  The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 2) Covanta Holdings (CVA) Offers waste and energy solution to its customers by processing the waste and generating energy out of it, which is named as Energy-from-Waste. Its modern Waste-to-Energy facilities safely convert approximately 21 million tons of waste from municipalities and businesses into clean, renewable electricity to power one million homes and recycle 500,000 tons of metal… The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 75.05% in the last four quarters.  The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2. 3) Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO) Designs, manufactures, installs and services wind turbines across the globe… Its 2020 sales estimate indicates year-over-year improvement of 19.7%. The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- Energy is where investors send money 'to die' but there is one stock to like in this space, trader says Now in this article titled Energy is where investors send money ‘to die’ but there is one stock to like in the space, trader says. It’s written by Keris Lahiff and appeared on CNBC. Energy in this context refers to fossil fuel stocks. However, Todd Gordon founder of TradingAnalysis.com is quoted in this article as liking Sunrun (RUN), a solar company. Quote “Its shares have risen 383% this year… Love it. I hold it, I think stick with what works for now,” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Sustainable Funds to Buy as ESG Continues to Gain Prominence In this next article, we again thank Zacks for their insights. Appearing on Nasdaq.com it’s titled 4 Sustainable Funds to Buy as ESG Continues to Gain Prominence. I will say their names and follow each with selected quotes from the article. “1) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) Seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective. It primarily invests in common stocks of companies and even in other equity securities such as real estate investment trusts and American Depository Receipts etc. [It] has three and five-year returns of 17.9% and 17%, respectively. New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 1.08% compared to the category average of 1.28%. 2) Calvert Equity Fund Class A (CSIEX) Aims for growth of capital through investment in stocks believed to offer opportunities for potential capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in common stocks of companies that rank among the top 1,000 U.S.-listed companies. [It] has three and five-year returns of 18.2% and 15%, respectively. Calvert Equity Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.99% compared to the category average of 1.04%. 3) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) fund aims for capital growth. The fund invests majority of assets in securities of companies mostly engaged in activities related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support services. The non-diversified fund invests in U.S. and non-U.S. issuers alike. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has a three and five-year returns of 3.4% and 9.5%, respectively. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%, which is below the category average of 1.04%. 4) Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX) Aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in mid-sized growth companies. Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has a three and five-year returns of 9.7% and 10.2%, respectively. Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has an annual expense ratio of 0.84%, which is below the category average of 1.16%.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Top Green Stocks to Watch. More… Now many of you are also seeking income. So, before ending this podcast, I want to briefly cover this article: UPS Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock. It’s by BNK Invest. It appeared on Nasdaq.com. Quote, “United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ‘DividendRank’ statistics including a strong 2.4% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Green Stocks to Watch. More…“ To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let us promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on December 18. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. Companies covered include Canadian Solar, Clearway Energy, TPI Composites, Enphase Energy, First Solar Inc., JinkoSolar, NextEra, Tesla, PlugPower, Albemarle, Brookfield Renewable Partners, and Bloom Energy. Some socially responsible ETS are covered too, including, iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF, US Vegan Climate ETF, and ALPS Clean Energy ETF. More PODCAST: Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 45, November 20, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 45 published on November 20, 2020, titled “Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, let’s begin. Our first article is titled 5 Socially Responsible Funds to Be Grateful For by Rebecca Barshop of Investment U. Here are her picks followed by some quotes from her article. “1) Global X Conscious Companies ETF (Nasdaq: KRMA) Slightly outpacing the S&P 500 with a 10.8% gain in 2020. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracks the Concinnity Conscious Companies Index, an equal-weighted index of about 100 U.S. large caps that operate sustainably and responsibly. 2) iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (NYSE: DSI) This is a broadly focused fund that covers large cap, midcap and small cap U.S. companies with high ESG scores… The fund is up 11.9% year to date. 3) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSE: SUSA) This fund is very similar to the iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF but has fewer holdings. It’s also less weighted in tech and financials and more heavily weighted in industrials and healthcare… The fund has increased 15.6% since January. 4) US Vegan Climate ETF (NYSE: VEGN) Up 17.4% in 2020. This fund tracks the Beyond Investing US Vegan Climate Index, which screens out companies involved in military and defense, excessive waste, fossil fuels, human rights violations, animal testing, animal suffering, and other non-ESG criteria. 5) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (CBOE: ACES) Up a whopping 80.3% this year. This ETF is all clean energy all the time. It’s most heavily weighted in renewable energy and electric utilities but is limited to U.S. and Canadian companies.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… Now the following articles mostly focus on analyst recommendations for the top renewable energy stocks for 2021. Judging by the universal focus on this segment it seems that it will continue to be huge for the foreseeable future too! So our second article is titled 3 More Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in November. It’s written by a threesome who are regulars to this podcast, As usual, I’ll mention their names then their recommending stock and followed by direct quotes on the company they’re recommending. Quote, “1) Travis Hoium likes Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Canadian Solar, [is] one of the world's largest solar manufacturers… [and] a renewable energy stock I would buy today.  2) Howard Smith suggests Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) Clearway Energy owns and operates a portfolio of clean-energy generating installations, and sells its electricity to power utilities under long-term contracts… One of its largest customers, California utility PG&E, had filed for bankruptcy protection… After the utility emerged from its restructuring and Clearway was able to access its funds, it raised its dividend with a 49% increase for 2020's third quarter. It also reaffirmed its annual target of 5% to 8% annual dividend growth. 3) Jason Hall recommends TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) Shares of this contract manufacturer for the wind turbine industry have rocketed 121% higher this year, as TPI Composites has enjoyed the tailwind of strong interest in renewable energy stocks.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… Our third article is on solar stocks. When you see the repetition of names in these podcasts it’s an indication of how universally appealing, these stocks are! So here’s the title for this post, 3 Top Solar Stocks for a Biden Presidency. It’s written by Imon Ghosh and appeared on stocknews.com. Quotes. 1) Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH - Get Rating) Enphase designs, manufactures, and sells software-driven solar photovoltaic energy solutions globally. The company manufactures semiconductor-based microinverter that efficiently convert energy at an individual solar module level, as well as energy monitoring and control services… The stock has gained 360.9% year-to-date. Enphase has a B for Overall POWR Rating. The stock is ranked #1 out of the 16 stocks in the Solar industry. 2) First Solar, Inc. (FSLR - Get Rating) … is a manufacturer and provider of photovoltaic solar panels and utility-scale PV power plants operating globally… First Solar’s strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has a ‘Buy’ rating… It is ranked #2 in the same industry. 3) Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ - Get Rating) … is a designer and manufacturer of solar power products, wafers, solar ingots, operating through two segments – Module and System Solutions, and Energy. The company serves distributors, project developers, and EPC companies internationally… The stock has gained 77.9% year-to-date. It’s no surprise that Canadian Solar is rated ‘Buy’ in our POWR Ratings system… Among the 16 stocks in the same industry, it is ranked #4.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… Our next article in the Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021 theme is titled What Are the Best Renewable and Alternative Energy Stocks? It’s written by Rachel Curry and appeared on the marketrealist.com site. Here are some of her remarks concerning related funds and stocks. Quote. “The Invesco Solar ETF (TAN on the NYSE ARCA) Includes a basket of solar companies… TAN's YTD growth rate is more than 130 percent. For individual stocks in the renewable energy sector, here are a few to consider: Canadian Solar (CSIQ on the Nasdaq Exchange) … it has grown 75 percent YTD and holds a market cap of $2.34 billion. The stock is also a solid way to geographically diversify your portfolio outside of the U.S. market. JinkoSolar Holding (JKS on the NYSE) … Its YTD bull run of 166 percent is nothing to ignore. NextEra Energy (NEE on the NYSE) is a wind energy company… with a YTD rise of 28.51 percent. What are the best alternative energy stocks? The Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) Includes more than just solar… The companies include Plug Power, NIO, Livent, and TPI Composites. The Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF has grown more than 113 percent YTD. If you want to pick stocks, consider these: Tesla (TSLA on the Nasdaq Exchange) … a growth machine with a bump of more than 325 percent since Jan. 2. Plug Power (PLUG on the Nasdaq Exchange) is a hydrogen energy stock… The stock has jumped 623 percent. Albemarle (ALB on the NYSE) is a lithium company… the stock has risen 63 percent since the beginning of 2020.” End quotes, ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… And our last article promoting renewable energy stocks is titled 3 Renewable Energy Stocks That Don't Care About the Electoral College. It’s written by our old favorites from the Motley Fool! Three analysts each give their own recommendations and I’ll follow with a few of their remarks about the company they each favour. Quotes. “1) Travis Hoium likes JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) … Is one of the biggest and most advanced solar manufacturers in the world. And with a manufacturing base in Asia and customers all over the world, JinkoSolar doesn't care who is in the White House in 2021...  [Its] revenue has nearly doubled… and the company is solidly profitable. 2) Howard Smith recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) Brookfield Renewable operates or is developing 38,000 megawatts of renewable energy assets globally… Management says it… expects ‘to deliver on our target of 12-15% long-term returns to equity holders.’ 3) Jason Hall suggests Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) Bloom Energy is in the middle of a major transformation that could prove pivotal in the future of renewable energy. For years, hydrogen's proponents have crowed about its potential, while the economic realities of producing hydrogen have kept it from gaining any sort of mass adoption.  However, the combination of the falling cost of renewable electricity production from wind and solar, paired with Bloom's solid oxide fuel cells to electrolyze hydrogen from water, are set to move hydrogen from the few niches it solves and into the mainstream.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Salute U.S. Military Veterans With This New ETF After their war experiences, many veterans and their families want to ‘give back’ to the veterans. So, see this, Salute U.S. Military Veterans With This New ETF. VictoryShares has launched a new fund, namely, VictoryShares Top Veteran Employers ETF (VTRN). The fund tracks the performance of the Veterans Select Index. It offers a way to ‘invest in companies that recruit, employ and develop veterans in the workplace and champion best practices for veteran employees.’ The fund also ‘supports military veterans’ financial future and security.’ Competition? [The] Pacer Military Times Best Employers ETF (VETS). The underlying Military Times Best for Vets Index comprises the U.S. listed stocks of companies that have been included in the Best for Vets List for the last three consecutive years.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Top Renewable Energy Stocks for 2021. More… ” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on December 4. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

The 50 Best ESG Companies list from the US Investor’s Business Daily. Its top picks are Nvidia with a 12-month gain of 206%. Pool with a 72% advance and Salesforce.com which is up nearly 80%. Another article picks the renewable energy stocks Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, NextEra Energy, and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure. And more PODCAST: Best ESG Companies, Funds. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 44, November 6, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 44 published on November 6, 2020, titled “Best ESG Companies, Funds. And More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Best ESG Companies, Funds. To start things off we have a great new article naming the best ESG companies by Investor's Business Daily. The article is titled As ESG Investing Gives 2020 A Sustainable Spin, 50 Best ESG Companies Revealed. It’s written by Alan R Elliott. Here are some quotes from Mr. Elliott. “The list highlights 50 stocks that boast both high ESG ratings and superior Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) stock ratings of fundamental and technical strength… These ESG stocks have been especially strong, with the top three stocks on IBD's Best ESG Companies list each having a Composite Rating of 99. In terms of stock performance, at the top of the IBD ESG list, Nvidia (NVDA) has a 12-month gain of 206%. Pool (POOL) has a 72% advance. Salesforce.com (CRM) is up nearly 80%. The next five stocks on IBD's ESG list averaged a 12-month gain of almost 70%. Nvidia and Pool are currently on the IBD 50 list of the best growth stocks… Profiles [Also], see the profiles of Nvidia, Salesforce.com, West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), Adobe (ADBE) and Best Buy (BBY)… MSCI ESG Research has ranked companies according to available information pertaining to environmental, social and governance criteria… Those ratings provide the basis for MSCI's more than 1,500 equity and fixed-income ESG indexes. The earliest of those, the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, first launched as the Domini Social 400 Index in 1990. IBD cross-references MSCI's rankings with its database of all stocks to determine the 50 most ESG advanced companies in the growth stock realm… the MSCI ESG ratings compare companies only to other companies in their industry. An AAA rating means your ESG efforts put your company ahead of industry peers. Also keep in mind, some companies rank high due to social issues such as health care, company leave and diversity policies for their workforce, while they may be less environmentally savvy then a lower-ranked peer. To date, no standardized set of reporting requirements relates specifically to the countless aspects of corporate governance encompassed under the ESG rubric. That makes ranking difficult, and more of an art in certain situations than a science.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best ESG Companies, Funds Though the title of this article is 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Ahead of the Election, the authors say it still makes sense to consider these three stocks after the election too. It’s published in The Motley Fool. As usual, I’ll mention the stock followed by quotes from the analyst concerning that stock. “1) Travis Hoium likes Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (NYSE: HASI) Like any company that invests in renewable energy projects, Hannon Armstrong is in the business of generating a yield from its investments… The company can take equity or debt positions in projects, finance efficiency improvements, or even pay for ecological restoration. This means management can shift dollars to where it can get the best return for the risk, rather than being locked into one type of asset class in renewable energy. The result for investors has been impressive since the company went public… Few companies have the ability to adapt and succeed in the current environment like Hannon Armstrong, and investors will be rewarded with not only a great stock but a 3.1% dividend yield as well. 2) Howard Smith recommends NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) NextEra announced its [adjusted] third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) grew 11% compared to the previous-year period. The parent of electric utilities Florida Power & Light and Gulf Power continues to grow its renewable energy generation capacity for those businesses. But its NextEra Energy Resources business is experiencing the strongest growth, with EPS up 23%... [NextEra’s] Energy Resources business is the world's largest generator of solar and wind power, and has a growing battery storage segment… NextEra… extended its earnings growth expectations of 6% to 8% off that higher base through 2023. The company also said it continues to expect a 10% annual dividend per share increase through 2022… 3) Jason Hall suggests Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NASDAQ: AY) The future of the world's power supply is heavily tied to solar and wind, no matter who's sitting in the Oval Office or roaming the halls of Congress. And few companies are as well-positioned to profit from this reality as Atlantica. The company owns, develops, and operates utility-scale wind and solar energy power plants, selling the power on long-term contracts. The result is steady, utility-like cash flows that it can use to fund new projects, and return to shareholders in a steadily growing dividend. Atlantica is an international business, meaning that no matter what legislative action is taken in the U.S., its prospects remain very good… At recent prices, Atlantica's dividend yield is over 5.4%, and the prospects for regular dividend growth from here are very strong… Atlantica is a stock worth buying right now, no matter the outcome of U.S. election.” ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best ESG Companies, Funds Most ethical and sustainable investors are enamored with passive ETF index funds. However, some see a possible resurgence in actively managed funds too. One company that has brought to market an actively managed ESG fund is US fund manager Vanguard. An article titled This ESG Fund From Vanguard Is Off to a Good Start describes this product. It’s written by David Kathman and appeared on the Morningstar.com site. Here are some of Mr. Kathman’s thoughts concerning the fund. Quote “Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock (VEIGX) has shown promise so far, but it still has plenty to prove given its short track record. It earns a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze for both its Investor and Admiral shares. Vanguard launched this fund in June 2019 as the first actively managed environmental, social, and governance fund in its lineup… The fund has looked pretty good so far in its first 16 months of existence; its returns have beaten the world large-stock Morningstar Category average and the FTSE All-World Index benchmark, and it has earned a Morningstar Sustainability Rating of High (5 globes). Expenses are low, as one would expect of Vanguard, which remains a topnotch parent. All this is encouraging, but the fund will need to deliver over a longer time period to earn an Analyst Rating higher than Bronze… The fund held up pretty well in the bear market from Feb. 19 to March 23, 2020, when its 30% loss was 2 percentage points less than the category norm and the benchmark.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best ESG Companies, Funds In the UK, the FT Advisor just published an article titled Top 10 ESG funds named amid record year for inflows. Some of these funds might be of interest to non-UK residents as well. The article is by Imogen Tew. Here are the funds with some brief quotes from the article. Domestic UK “Royal London’s Sustainable Leaders fund was the top performing UK ethical fund over the past decade, almost tripling investors’ cash, according to AJ Bell. Of ethical funds with a ten-year record, Premier Ethical and Liontrust Sustainable Future UK Growth also performed well, returning 174 and 152 per cent respectively. [Incidentally, go to this podcasts’ page for more of the top funds.] Top 5 UK ethical funds 10 year total return (%) Royal London Sustainable Leaders (GB00B7V23Z99.L) 195.9 Premier Ethical (0P00015BBW.L) 174.4 Liontrust Sustainable Future UK Growth (0P00000XCL.L) 152.6 Liontrust UK Ethical (0P0000XMUY.L) 150.8 BMO Responsible UK Equity (0P00000DLP.L) 111.2 Over the same time period, the FTSE All Share returned 64 per cent while the FTSE 4Good UK saw an average performance of 71 per cent. Global There have been some funds which have managed to outpace the racy MSCI World Index, however. The Liontrust Sustainable Future Global Growth fund tops the performance chart with a return of 267 per cent in 10 years. [Again, for more top-performing funds in this category go to this podcasts’ page.] Top 5 Global ethical funds 10 year total return (%) Liontrust Sustainable Future Global Growth (0P000023KC.L) 267.1 Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity (JEDTX) 262 BMO Responsible Global Equity (0P00000DLN.L) 240 Pictet Water (P3II.F) 212.4 BMO Sustainable Opportunities Global Equity (0P00017TVR.TO) 179.7 Mr. Laith Khalaf, a financial analyst at AJ Bell, said: ‘Given the extremely strong absolute performance of ethical funds in the global sector, it’s difficult to say investors should be disappointed but technically as a group they have underperformed.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Best ESG Companies, Funds. And More… ” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and aware of the sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on November 20. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Jim Cramer’s hydrogen stocks: Linde and Plug Power. Other ESG, sustainable, and infrastructure stocks covered are Apple, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Steel Dynamics, Edison International, Duke Energy, Algonquin Power and Utilities, AES Corp., JinkoSolar, SolarEdge Technologies, NextEra Energy, Bloom Energy, United Rentals, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Nucor, Halma, and Croder. Analysts from The Motley Fool and MoneyShow PODCAST: Jim Cramer’s Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More… Transcript & Links, Episode 43, October 23, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 43 published on October 9 titled “Jim Cramer’s Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Cramer’s Hydrogen Stocks Well if you live in North America and interested in money you’ve no doubt heard of Jim Cramer and his ‘Mad Money’ show. Now he’s talking-up hydrogen. Mr. Cramer is quoted extensively in an article by Tyler Clifford titled ‘I’m bullish on hydrogen’ — Jim Cramer breaks down his top hydrogen plays. Here are some quotes from the article. “[Jim Cramer] is now endorsing the stocks of Linde and Plug Power, the first as a conservative play on the space and the second as a more speculative undertaking… 1) Linde, an Ireland-domiciled industrial gas company that handles production and distribution, is valued by the market at $126.1 billion… 2) Plug Power, based in Latham, New York, produces hydrogen and fuel cell systems with its eyes on industrial vehicles… The stock has surged more than 480% year to date… Cramer recommended waiting to buy Plug Power on a pullback.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Investors Will Love These 3 Stocks We again have a threesome in one article from The Motley Fool, each recommending a different stock. The article is titled ESG Investors Will Love These 3 Stocks. Here are their picks followed by relevant quotes by the recommending analyst. “1) Travis Hoium likes Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) -- The Motley Fool Companies that focus on environmental, social, and governance issues do so with everything they do… That's why Apple is a great ESG stock. [Some] highlights of Apple's environmental focus:  Apple's operations are already carbon neutral. By 2030 Apple plans to make all of its products and manufacturing suppliers carbon neutral.  Apple has nearly 400 megawatts (MW) of solar, including on the roof of its headquarters, which is more than any other company in the U.S…. 2) Howard Smith likes Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) -- The Motley Fool Brookfield Renewable has an investment portfolio of over 5,300 power-generating facilities globally. Its ownership and investments consist of hydroelectric, solar, and wind power… Side with a proven winner by investing in Brookfield Renewable Partners. 3) Jason Hall picks Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD) -- The Motley Fool Conscious capitalism also requires investors put their money in companies making dirty industries cleaner and more sustainable.  Steel Dynamics hits the mark: 83% of the inputs are recycled or internally generated. Energy intensity and emissions are 11% and 13%, respectively, of global steel production averages.  99% of water is reused and 99% of mill byproducts are recycled… Since going public over 20 years ago it has trounced the S&P 500, and has… a dividend yield near 3% after more than a decade of yearly double-digit increases.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy It’s impossible to get away from alternative energy in this podcast as it’s probably the most frequent ESG related industry covered anywhere. This article is titled 9 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy and is by the MoneyShow. Here are some relevant quotes. “1) Edison International (EIX) Last month, the California utility won regulators’ approval for the largest build of EV charging stations and energy storage in US history. Edison is cheap because of understandable concern about the durability of California’s new utility wildfire insurance in a season of record heat… Edison sells for just 11.2 times earnings and pays a yield of nearly 5 percent. 2) Duke Energy (DUK) There’s uncertainty about how much North Carolina regulators will approve of its planned investment on power grid improvement and coal ash cleanup. [Also], arguably no US utility has a bigger opportunity to rate base solar… Buy up to $90. 3) Algonquin Power and Utilities (AQN) and AES Corp (AES) As for companies combining contracted renewables with regulated utilities, the best buys are Algonquin Power and Utilities for the most conservative investors, and AES Corp. for everyone else. AES’s… real appeal is an unrivaled global pipeline of new wind and solar generation along with energy storage… AES shares are now up nearly 30 percent since July… it’s still a buy up to 22. As for Algonquin, new management looks set to continue the roughly two-thirds utility, one-third contracted renewables earnings and growth strategy… Buy at $14 or lower. 5) JinkoSolar (JKS) Is the largest solar panel producer in the world… And its global business is booming, with a recent agreement to supply bifacial modules — which produce solar energy from both sides of the panel and generate 40% more power than current mainstream utility products — in Chile and in Vietnam… JinkoSolar went ballistic on enormous volume both before and after earnings. 6) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) Aims to disrupt the entire electricity grid along with traditional power generation… It’s a great story… 7) NextEra Energy (NEE) Its FPL division serves the state of Florida and is the largest regulated electric utility in the country. But the company’s alternative energy segment is its fastest-growing business. In fact, NextEra Energy Resources is now the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. And it’s also becoming a world leader in battery storage capacity… NextEra is very attractive today. 8) Plug Power (PLUG) (Yes, again!) Its technology is based on fuel cells, which use hydrogen today to generate electricity in the harshest off-grid environments, which power electric industrial vehicles like forklifts, and which will soon be powering on-road vehicles as well develops… Financially, the company has not yet turned profitable, and there are no profits visible in the year ahead… As for the stock, it’s hot, hitting new highs. 9) Bloom Energy (BE) Is a fuel cell stock. [The] cells generate electricity from natural gas, biogas or hydrogen to provide highly reliable on-site power to liberate businesses (like Walmart, Ikea, Oracle and eBay) from unreliable electric grids… In late June, management disclosed a partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries, which is the world’s third-biggest shipbuilder, to provide power plants for ships… Earnings are not in sight yet, but the stock has been gaining strength and just recently broke out to a new high so it can be bought here, too.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now There’s no doubt that after the US election infrastructure spending will be top-of-mind for the incoming administration. And construction industry companies might be a fit for some ethical and sustainable investors. Here’s a new article by Neha Chamaria on The Motley Fool site has this in mind. It’s titled 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now. Here are the three stocks each followed by some relevant comments from Ms. Chamaria. 1) “United Rentals (NYSE:URI) -- The Motley Fool Some notable facts about the company: United Rentals has roughly 13% share in the North American equipment rental market. The company's revenue clocked 14.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2009 and 2019. 2019 was a record year for United Rentals with revenue soaring 16% to $9.3 billion… 2) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIPC) (NYSE:BIP) -- The Motley Fool The bulk of Brookfield's businesses generate stable and steady income and cash flows under long-term, fixed-rate, or regulated contracts. That is why the company hasn't just paid, but has grown, its dividend per share at a CAGR of 11% between 2009 and 2020. The dividend [is] currently 4%... Brookfield is now increasingly betting on high-growth areas like 5G technology… shareholders can easily expect double-digit annual returns from this stock. 3) Nucor (NYSE:NUE) -- The Motley Fool This company is the leading manufacturer of steel… a raw material that's indispensable for building infrastructure assets, from bridges and dams to pipelines and rail tracks… Nucor should benefit hugely from an uptick in construction activity… With a 3.4% yield, Nucor is a great stock to own at all times.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 sustainable investments for 2020 that I like Now two stock recommendations from a UK Motley Fool contributor, Kirsteen Mackay. Her article is titled 2 sustainable investments for 2020 that I like. Again, I’ll state the company followed by select quotes from Ms. Mackay. “1) Halma (LSE:HLMA) -- The Motley Fool Halma is considered a sustainable company because it offers solutions to ensuring clean water and infrastructure safety… I think this looks a resilient company with a solid future ahead. It offers a small dividend yield (less than 1%) and the likelihood of continued growth. 2) Croda (LSE:CRDA) -- The Motley Fool Croda International is a chemical and technology company found in some top sustainable investment funds… Its solutions are essential to products found in health and beauty, engine lubricants and plastics… The STOXX Europe Sustainability Index contains both Halma and Croda…” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Jim Cramer’s Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on November 6. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Climate change investing is hot! Swiss Saxo Bank had a 78% year-to-date gain on a group of 56 global stocks. All were highlighted in January as the best positioned to benefit from climate change policy. Renewable energy stocks from The Motley Fool. New PIMCO ESG Income Fund and Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF. More PODCAST: Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 42, October 9, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 42 published on October 9 titled “Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Climate Change Investing Outperforms! Now, would you like to get a 78% year-to-date return on a portfolio of green and ESG stocks? Well, James Phillipps wrote an article for Forbes titled Climate Change Investing May Not Be Your Thing, But A 78% YTD Return Is. Here are some quotes from Mr. Phillipps’ article. He says “There is an absolutely gigantic wall of money moving into environmental stocks and it is only going to get bigger. The European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB), and China have all announced major policy initiatives in the past fortnight underlining their commitment to reducing carbon emissions. The strategy has been a standout performer through the Covid-19 pandemic. A basket of 56 global stocks which Saxo Bank highlighted in January as the best positioned to benefit from climate change policy is up a whopping 78% year to date. That compares to the S&P 500’s 1.2% rise and 24.5% for the S&P Information Technology sector.” End quotes. You can get a full downloadable list of these companies with their respective stock returns by going to the article titled Green stocks are the next mega trend in equities. It appears on the Saxo Bank’s website. The list is titled ‘Inspirational list of stocks with exposure to the climate theme.’ You can also get the direct link from this podcasts’ page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Climate Change Investing Outperforms! Continuing on the climate change investing theme is an article titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in October. I found it on Nasdaq.com though it was written for The Motley Fool site. Each recommendation is by a different analyst. I’ll first mention the analyst’s name followed by the stock they recommend and a few quotes from them about the stock. Quote. 1) “Travis Hoium recommends SunPower (SPWR) Customers can go on its website and get a solar design in less than a minute, replacing costly door-to-door sales that have long driven the industry's sales. SunPower then provides those leads to local partners, who use SunPower-provided solar panels, monitoring, and racking for their solar installation. Long term, working with these smaller, more nimble installers and leveraging digital sales should lead to better pricing and a higher market share for SunPower in residential solar. Commercial solar is another big market, and SunPower is the No. 1 provider in the U.S. It designs solar systems for large industrial rooftops, and adds monitoring and in some cases energy storage. This isn't a high-margin business yet, but if SunPower can reduce costs, it could make commercial solar into a big and profitable business with a $3.5 billion pipeline and $400 million of contracted backlog… Given the growth potential for solar in the U.S., investors should be excited about this business disrupting the market long term. 2) Howard Smith likes NextEra Energy (NEE) Long-term investing is the right way to grow wealth. But if short-term concerns are keeping you up at night, an investment that might fit your needs is NextEra Energy… … it's easy to pick NextEra as a winner in the race to renewable energy production. Its subsidiary, NextEra Energy Resources, along with its affiliates, is the world's largest generator of wind and solar power. NextEra recently increased its near-term growth expectations, saying earnings for 2021 will be higher than its previous guidance, and extended its 6% to 8% annual growth expectations through 2023. It also announced a 4-for-1 stock split, as its shares have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 over the past several years. Along with that growth, however, comes a more stable electric utility business. NextEra owns Florida Power & Light, the largest regulated electric utility in the U.S. by retail megawatt-hour sales, as well as Gulf Power, which serves the northwestern part of Florida. Though NextEra's dividend yield is lower than typical utilities at about 2%, it balances that with its growth in renewables. So if you want to get into renewables ahead of the election, NextEra Energy might be the right stock for you. Regardless of politics, this business will continue its growth strategy, and is anchored with an electric utility to weather any ups and downs that may come from legislative policy direction. 3) Jason Hall recommends Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) There's a wonderful company based just north of the border in Canada, Algonquin Power & Utilities, that looks worth buying right now. What makes Algonquin appealing? Like NextEra, it operates both regulated utilities and a non-regulated business selling wholesale power (called Liberty Power), and has focused heavily on developing renewable power assets. These include wind and solar, as well as using wood pellets made from waste wood instead of coal and natural gas in some of its older facilities. But I think Algonquin is in a better position to turn the growth of its unregulated renewable power business into outsize returns for investors. Algonquin generated $1.6 billion in revenue over the past year, less than 10% of NextEra's $19 billion in revenue. Moreover, Algonquin just looks cheap right now, trading for about 15 times trailing earnings, while its dividend yield of 4% at recent prices is also very attractive. And since implementing a dividend in 2012, the payout has increased 126%; better yet, the payout ratio -- the percent of earnings it pays in dividends -- is below 50%, meaning it's both secure, and there's room to continue growing the dividend along with earnings in the years to come. Whether you already own NextEra or not, or are just looking for another clean utility to own, Algonquin should be high on your list. At recent prices, it's worth buying now.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Climate Change Investing Outperforms! When one of the world’s most prestigious fixed income firms launches an ESG income fund you know that green income funds have arrived! The announcement of the fund came in a press release titled PIMCO Launches PIMCO ESG Income Fund Class A (PEGAX). Here are some quotes from the press release concerning the fund. Quote, “PIMCO, one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers, has launched the PIMCO ESG Income Fund, which targets investments with strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials, while aiming to maintain a high and consistent level of dividend income for investors… PIMCO’s ESG Fund offerings include the Total Return ESG Fund, the Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG Exchange-Traded Fund, and the Climate Bond Fund… Like other products in the Income Suite, the PIMCO ESG Income Fund pursues a global, multi-sector and flexible approach, but is uniquely dedicated to ESG-related investments for those who want to pursue income from more sustainable sources. PIMCO has been investing in socially responsible investments since 1989 and launched its first ESG-dedicated funds in 2017. PIMCO’s sustainable assets under management have grown to $157 billion, as of August 31, 2020.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Climate Change Investing Outperforms! Continuing in the fixed income space is yet another new ESG bond fund. The Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB). Based on a press release, here are some key quotes. “The fund provides investors access to the US corporate bond market and expands Vanguard’s current index-and-actively-managed ESG offerings. Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF seeks to track the performance of Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Corporate SRI Select Index and is listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe) with a low expense ratio of 0.12 per cent… Vanguard has offered ESG funds to US investors for more than two decades, beginning with Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) in 2000. In recent years, Vanguard has broadened its equity ESG lineup with the addition of two ETFs, Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF (ESGV) and Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX), and an actively-managed offering, Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock Fund (VESGX). Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF marks Vanguard’s initial entrance into the ESG fixed income market, an area that is growing in investor demand. US investor assets in ESG fixed income mutual funds and ETFs doubled in 2019 to USD850 million, and today, stands at USD1.8 billion. The new ETF will further complement Vanguard’s ESG suite, offering asset class diversification through US corporate bond market exposure.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And more…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on October 23. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Vegan fund outperforms (VEGN). “Since inception, VEGN has returned 27.69%... against the S&P500 Index’s 19.75% through to end August 2020, says Beyond Investing.” Other stocks and funds covered are Beyond Meat, Moderna, Genius Brands International, Nikola, Gevo Inc., Taronis Fuels, Inc., EarthRenew Inc., Tesla, Inc., Plug Power Inc., Workhorse Group, Inc., Algonquin Power. And more PODCAST: Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 41, September 25, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 41 published on September 11 titled “Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More… A year ago in my podcast of September 13, 2019, I covered the launch of the US Vegan Climate ETF VEGN. Well, the ETF Professor at Benzinga.com published a piece that also appeared on MarketWatch titled In First Year, Nifty Vegan ETF Struts Its Stuff. Here are some quotes from the article. “[The US Vegan Climate ETF, stock symbol, VEGN], celebrated its first birthday last week [and] tracks the Beyond Investing US Vegan Climate Index. That benchmark… is designed to provide investors with exposure to companies ‘zero animal exploitation and zero fossil fuel, represents a portfolio of stocks with lower greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and fresh water utilisation as compared to the S&P500 Index,’ according to Beyond Investing… ‘Since inception, VEGN has returned 27.69% total return on market price against the S&P500 Index’s 19.75% through to end August 2020…’ according to Beyond Investing. Vegan Climate ETF implements an array of impact metrics, including greenhouse gases, water utilization, water generation, social good, environmental benefit, environmental harm and social harm, in constructing its portfolio… ‘Since its conception, Beyond Investing has always avoided companies involved in unethical practices towards animals, people, and the planet,’ said VEGN's issuer. ‘Its stringent screening process weeds out animal exploitation, child labor, high carbon intensity, the burning or extraction of fossil fuels, single-use plastics, and any other activity deemed to have a significant negative impact on the environment….’ ‘Demand for meat and dairy products has declined for the first time in nine years,’ notes Beyond Investing. ‘Leaving aside the documented links between environmental destruction, animal exploitation, and the emergence of COVID-19, slaughterhouse stoppages because of high worker infection rates, resulting in on-farm killing and disposal of animals, have been Public Relations disasters for the industry.  Conversely, sales of plant-based products have been booming.” End quotes. Further support for the vegan/vegetarian investing theme is coming from the climate campaign movement as a headline in a recent Financial Times article titled Climate campaigners turn their focus from fossil fuels to meat—makes clear! ------------------------------------------------------------- 16 of the Most Popular Stocks Among Millennials Next, we have another good report from Kiplinger, titled 16 of the Most Popular Stocks Among Millennials written by Charles Lewis Sizemore. I’ve picked from them four stocks that might be considered by most ethical and sustainable investors. For the full list click the article link in this podcast episode. Mr. Sizemore writes that “For a generation known for doing things its own way and projecting their values with their pocketbook, the stock portfolios of Millennials are remarkably conventional. What's far more interesting about the list, however, is which stocks have become more popular among Millennials across the year… All [these stocks] have seen significant jumps in the rankings since the end of March, and several will likely surprise you. 1) Moderna (MRNA, $57.56) Is popular among Millennials, coming in at 40th in the second quarter after not being ranked at all in the first. It's not hard to see the investment play here. Moderna is one of the leading candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine. 2) Beyond Meat (BYND, $143.04) Which makes plant-based veggie burgers and other meat substitutes, climbed the ranks over the past quarter from 50th to 41st. 3) Genius Brands International (GNUS, $1.05) Has suddenly found itself popular with Millennials. The stock was unranked in the first quarter but now finds itself ranked 46th. Genius Brands creates and licenses ‘content with a purpose for toddlers and young children’. That's a fancy way of saying educational cartoons. 4) Nikola (NKLA, $37.57) Is very much a Millennial story stock. Nikola makes electric and fuel-cell 18-wheeler trucks… It only went public on June 4. But by the end of June, it had already rocketed higher to become the 49th most popular stock in Millennial portfolios.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Alternative Energy Penny Stocks to Watch Today I’ve talked a lot about renewable and alternative energy stocks in these podcasts, but one segment in that area I haven’t covered are really small companies. Joseph Keller has penned an article titled 3 Alternative Energy Penny Stocks to Watch Today that appeared on the microsmallcap.com site. I’ll mention the name of each company followed by some of Mr. Keller’s remarks about that company. “1) Gevo Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) “Gevo Inc. is a biofuel and renewable chemicals company based outside of Denver, Colorado… As has been the case for most green technology stocks, Gevo’s stock price took a tumble throughout the first three months of the year. On August 20, however, the company’s stock price more than tripled to $1.84 per share after Gevo announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement for a $50 million registered direct offering. 2) Taronis Fuels, Inc. (OTC:TRNF) Taronis Fuels is a clean technology company based out of Phoenix, Arizona, focused on offering energy solutions using proprietary clean gas technology… Taronis Fuels’ stock took a slide as the COVID-19 pandemic choked markets, going from $0.23 per share in early March to $0.08 on March 23. 3) EarthRenew Inc. (CSE:ERTH) Based in Calgary, Alberta, EarthRenew Inc. is an agricultural technology company with proprietary technology that transforms livestock waste into organic fertilizer… After taking a fall to $0.15 per share in late March, EarthRenew recovered to reach a high of $0.40 per share in mid-June… On August 26, EarthRenew released the results from field trials conducted with Lethbridge College. These results showed that EarthRenew’s fertilizer formulations increased plant growth by up to 207% for barley and up to 49% for peas during the germination phase.” ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Stocks to ELECTRIFY Your Portfolio's Returns More on energy by a new analyst to this podcast. His name is Sidharath Gupta and he wrote an article titled 3 Stocks to ELECTRIFY Your Portfolio's Returns that appeared on the stocknews.com site. As usual, I’ll mention the name of the recommended company followed by relevant quotes about that company from the article. “1) Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, electric vehicle powertrain components, and stationary energy storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. It is the world’s only fully integrated sustainable energy company. The stock gained 406% year-to-date to close yesterday’s session at $423.43. Strong product demand from China and its battery unique development are primarily driving the stock higher. The stock is up more than 395% in the last six months. [Tesla has an overall POWR Rating of B.] 2) Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) PLUG is an alternative energy technology provider that engages in the design, development, manufacture, and commercialization of fuel cell systems for the industrial off-road markets worldwide. It provides hydrogen fuel cell turnkey solutions for the electric mobility and stationary power markets… The stock is up more than 134% in the last three months and is trading 10.5% below its 52-week high of $14.35. PLUG’s POWR Ratings reflect a promising outlook. It has an overall rating of ‘Buy.’ 3) Workhorse Group, Inc. (WKHS) Designs, manufactures, and sells electric, high-performance, medium-duty trucks… The stock has gained more than 822% year-to-date to close yesterday’s trading session at $28.03. The stock… skyrocketed in June when the company announced that two of its electric delivery vans had completed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards testing, paving the way for its sales and production in the United States. The stock has increased by more than 1662% in the past six months. Workhorse Group’s strong momentum is reflected in its ‘strong buy’ POWR Rating.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Algonquin Power Another name in the renewable energy field is Algonquin Power (TSX:AQN)(NYSE:AQN) recommended by Robin Brown in a post titled 2 Top TSX Income Stocks to Buy in September 2020. I saw it on the Canadian Motley Fool site. Mr. Brown says this about the company, quote “Investors benefit from a very predictable cash flow stream from the regulated natural gas, electricity, and water distribution businesses. They also benefit from the favourable ESG and green investing tailwinds that will fuel green energy earnings and multiple expansion for many years ahead. By combining these two unique segments, investors get stability, consistency, and growth… The stock is paying a nice 4.5% dividend, but there’s lots of room for that to grow.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let’s promote a better world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on October 9. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Green energy growth stocks in North America, India, and elsewhere. They include SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., Enphase Energy, Inc., Canadian Solar Inc., Azure Power Global Ltd., NextEra Energy Partners, Clean Energy Fuels, and TPI Composites. Australian analyst makes their investment picks: BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF, Magellan High Conviction Trust, BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF. More PODCAST: Green Energy Growth Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 40, September 11, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 40 published on September 11 titled “Green Energy Growth Stocks. And More… “— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Green Energy Growth Stocks. I start with a new analyst to this podcast, Aditi Ganguly, who wrote an article about green energy growth stocks titled 4 Green Energy Stocks to GROW Your Portfolio that appeared on stocknews.com. I’ll mention each stock followed by some of her quotes related to that company. “1) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG) … designs, manufactures and sells direct current (DC) optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations… On June 23rd, SolarEdge Technologies launched its new Energy Hub Inverter with Prism technology to provide higher flexibility in home backup for residential and commercial users. As a result, SolarEdge Technologies maintained healthy financial performance amid the pandemic… GAAP net income increased 11% year-over-year to $36.70 million… SolarEdge Technologies expects its revenues to be in the range of $325-$350 million for the third quarter ending September 2020… Its earnings per share is expected to grow 20% per annum over the next five years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $229.49 in August. SolarEdge Technologies is rated an A Overall [in our] POWR Rating. 2) Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) … is the world’s leading supplier of microinverters, with a dominating global market presence. Its semiconductor-based microinverter converts individual solar molecule energy and combines it with its patented networking and software technology for energy monitoring and control services… Though Enphase Energy’s revenue for the second quarter that ended in June 2020 indicates a year-over-year decline, the company reported a record non-GAAP gross margin of 39.6%... Gross profit increased 6.67% from the same period last year to $48.38 million. Enphase Energy’s earnings grew 314.7% over the past twelve months… Enphase Energy, Inc. is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system. 3) Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) … develops and manufactures solar power products such as solar ingots, wafers, cells modules, etc. through two segments – module and Systems solutions (MSS) and Energy… Canadian Solar’s… Net revenue for the second quarter (was) $696 million (and) surpassed the estimates of $630-$680 million… The consensus revenue estimate of $861.93 million for the third quarter ending September 2020 indicates a 13.4% rise year-over-year… EPS is expected to grow 20% per annum over the next five years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $26.72 in August. It’s no surprise that Canadian Solar is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system. 4) Azure Power Global Ltd. (AZRE) … owns and operates solar power plants in India under long-term contracts with government agencies, non-governmental energy distribution companies and commercial customers. It has 43 utility scale projects and multiple commercial rooftop projects. Azure Power has been named the most sustainable company in the solar energy industry by the World Finance magazine. It has also been ranked as the top 10th global renewable power producer by Sustainalytics… The consensus revenue estimate of $43.90 million for the fiscal second quarter ending September 2020 indicates an 8.9% increase year-over-year. Azure’s earnings per share is expected to grow 108% annually over the next 5 years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $25.62 in August. Azure is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Green Energy Growth Stocks. The Motley Fool has again delivered a post on green energy growth stocks. It’s titled Love Renewable Energy? Buy These 3 Stocks. Three analysts each write about one stock recommendation. I’ll first mention the analyst’s name, then the company they recommend, followed by relevant quotes from them on the company they recommend. “1) Travis Hoium likes NextEra Energy Partners (NEP) The real bottleneck in the renewable energy industry isn't technology or cost or any other operating limitation. The bottleneck is really around building and financing more renewable energy projects… That's where NextEra Energy Partners comes in. NextEra Energy Partners is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy (NEE), which owns 5,330 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar assets that have an average of 15 years remaining on contracts to sell electricity to utilities… What makes this a great stock to own long term is the company's growth prospects. Through NextEra Energy, it has a large pipeline of renewable energy assets to buy with long-term contracts. That flow of projects is expected to fuel a 12% to 15% increase in the dividend through at least the end of 2024… 2) Howard Smith suggests Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE). … A growing number of transportation fleet operators are arranging to move away from fossil fuels… Clean Energy Fuels has a solution for them today… Clean Energy operates approximately 550 natural gas fueling stations in the U.S. and Canada. Its core, and growing, product is a renewable natural gas (RNG) branded Redeem. Renewable natural gas is derived from organic waste from dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants… Redeem reduces carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to diesel or gasoline. Energy giants are taking notice. Total has a 25% stake and supply contract with Clean Energy. And Chevron and BP have also partnered with the company. 3) Jason Hall recommends TPI Composites (TPIC). Some of the best investments in the green energy space are often companies the average person – or even most investors – have never heard of.  One that certainly meets that mark is TPI Composites, with shares up 117% since going public in 2016, nearly doubling the gains of the S&P 500 over the same period. The thesis is simple: It already has a massive share of the global wind turbine blade market, but the next two decades will see an acceleration in the deployment of wind turbines, and the world's biggest wind turbine makers will come to be more reliant on TPI Composites for their blades.  Looking forward, TPI Composites could prove the best growth stock in renewable energy.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 ASX shares I’d happily buy every month. Now I have some recommendations from an Australian analyst. The article is titled 3 ASX shares I’d happily buy every month. It appeared in the Australian edition of The Motley Fool. As usual, I’ll say the name of the company followed by a few relevant remarks from the article’s author, Mr. Tristan Harrison. Though the first two funds aren’t strictly ESG funds, their holdings indicate a strong ESG bias. “1) BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) Some of the companies in its holdings are: Apple, Nvidia, Adobe, Facebook, Intuitive Surgical, Accenture, Intuit, Nike, Alphabet and Texas Instruments. I like that its holdings aren’t limited to just one country. The returns have been strong since inception in November 2018 [returning] 18.8% per annum. 2) Magellan High Conviction Trust (ASX: MHH) This is a listed investment trust (LIT) which invests in the highest-quality businesses that it can find at a good price. It maintains a portfolio of a limited number of names, around 10 or so… it picks businesses that are listed in other places like the US or Asia. Some of its highest-conviction picks are: Alibaba, Alphabet, Microsoft, Tencent and Facebook… Since inception in October 2019 it has returned 10.4% per annum after fees. 3) BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) This ETF, which is all about picking sustainable businesses, has performed very strongly. Since inception in January 2017, BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF has returned an average of 20.3% per annum… Its top holdings include names like Apple, Nvidia, Mastercard, Visa, Home Depot, Adobe, Paypal, Tesla, Netflix and Toyota.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Franklin Templeton Launches Muni-Focused Green Bond Fund. I mostly talk about stocks, but green bonds need to be covered too. One notable new green-ESG bond fund has been launched by one of the mutual fund industry’s pioneers, Franklin Templeton. Here’s an article describing the fund that appeared in ESG Today titled Franklin Templeton Launches Muni-Focused Green Bond Fund. Quote “Global investment manager Franklin Templeton announced that it has launched the Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund (FGBKX: US). The new fund will invest in muni green bonds, including climate bonds, sustainability bonds and environmental impact bonds, seeking to maximize income exempt from federal taxes…” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “Green Energy Growth Stocks. And More…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and ESG wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on September 25. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. “3 Alternative Energy ETFs For A Biden White House”. “7 ESG Stocks That Will Deliver for Every Stakeholder”. “4 Socially Responsible Funds to Invest in for Solid Returns”. “3 Oil Companies That Are Becoming Renewable Energy Stocks”. Stocks reviewed include Microsoft, Salesforce, McDonald’s, Blackrock, Xoetis, Deere & Company, and Progressive PODCAST: ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 39, August 28, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 39 published on August 28 titled “ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…“— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More… In my last podcast, I covered analysts’ views on what stocks would do well under a Biden presidency. Well, a Benzinga.com post, which I saw on MarketWatch.com, had its say in a post titled 3 Alternative Energy ETFs For A Biden White House. Here are its recommendations with relevant quotes following them. Quote: “Indeed, Biden has an ambitious plan for renewable energy in the U.S… With that in mind, here are some renewable energy ETFs to consider in advance of Election Day and, if Biden wins, beyond. 1) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) Things could come up aces for the ALPS Clean Energy ETF if Biden wins the White House… [The fund is] up 52.55% this year and has more than doubled since its 2018 debut… [The] ALPS Clean Energy ETF doesn't just focus on wind and solar… Other exposures include smart grid, electric vehicle and energy storage, biomass/biofuel, fuel cell makers and geothermal producers… 2) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) The second-largest renewable energy ETF by assets, the Invesco Solar ETF is higher by more than 70% this year… 3) VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) The VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF tracks the Ardour Global Index, which is ‘intended to track the overall performance of low carbon energy companies which are those companies primarily engaged in alternative energy’ according to VanEck.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More… An ‘almost regular’ analyst to these podcasts is Will Ashworth, an InvestorPlace contributor. His most recent article is titled 7 ESG Stocks That Will Deliver for Every Stakeholder. In the article, he writes about the recommendations of his interviewee, Randall Dishmon, senior portfolio manager at Invesco. Here are the stocks discussed followed by some quotes from the article. 1) Microsoft (MSFT) If you’ve held Microsoft stock since the board appointed Nadella CEO on Feb. 4, 2014, and are still holding, you’re sitting on a 450% unrealized profit… [and] according to financial data company EPFR, $2.34 billion in Microsoft stock was held by ESG funds at the end of 2019, the largest weighting of any U.S.-listed company. ‘Microsoft says it’s taking a tough line on its environmental footprint. It says it will be ‘carbon negative’ by 2030, and that by 2050 it will have removed all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded in 1975,’ says Quartz contributor John Detrixhe reported in February… 2) Salesforce (CRM) Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff began to talk about stakeholder capitalism in October 2019… Benioff wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times that argued we need a new capitalism… saying that ‘In the United States, income inequality has reached its highest level in at least 50 years… It’s no wonder that support for capitalism has dropped, especially among young people.’ [Will Ashworth continues saying that] … over the past 15 years, Salesforce has delivered an annualized total return of 26.3%... 3) McDonald’s (MCD) Former CEO, Steve Easterbrook, was terminated last November by McDonald’s. He was having a consensual relationship with a company employee. Let go without cause, Easterbrook’s severance package was worth almost $42 million… New evidence has come to light, suggesting that not only did Easterbrook have one inappropriate relationship, he had three others… Generally, I consider McDonald’s to be an excellent company. I believe that these revelations will move McDonald’s to more closely examine how it compensates its senior executives. 4) BlackRock (BLK) This isn’t the first time that I’ve included BlackRock in a list of ESG-friendly stocks to own. In October 2019, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink made my list of 10 stocks whose CEOs care about all stakeholders… In July, Fink told CNBC… ‘The one thing that is very clear in this Covid world … [is that] stakeholder capitalism is only going to become more and more important, and the companies that focus on all their stakeholders — their clients, their employees, the society where they work and operate — are going to be the companies that are going to be the winners for the future,” Fink stated. I couldn’t agree more. It just makes good business sense. 5) Zoetis (ZTS) “Zoetis appears to be a company that’s working on improving its ESG characteristics.. And while the company does lag its peers slightly on environmental and social measures, it should be noted that the company’s sole focus on veterinary medicines presents a distinct risk profile compared to its human-focused pharmaceutical peers,” Federated Hermes writes… As an animal lover, it’s always nice to see animal-related businesses doing well by doing good. 6) Deere & Company (DE) According to CSR Hub, John Deere, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has a CSR/ESG rating of 83, putting it in the top quartile amongst 19,881 companies. And compared to 887 peers in machinery manufacturing, it has a much higher score than the industry average… In the past three months, John Deer stock has rebounded nicely, generating a 51% total return, significantly higher than its farm and heavy construction peers and more than double the returns of the U.S. markets as a whole… 7) Progressive (PGR) Per its name, Progressive likes to think outside the box. Recently, it announced that it was entering the voluntary benefits market through its partnership with Pets Best, a provider of pet health insurance founded in 2005… What does this have to do with ESG? CEO Tricia Griffith is one of only 30 female chief executives in the S&P 500. With women accounting for just 6% of the index’s CEOs, Progressive is undoubtedly paying attention to both governance and social issues… In 2018, Griffith was named Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year… In the four years Griffith has held the top job… Progressive stock is up 170%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More… Zacks is known for its great research. And they’ve been increasingly covering the ESG investment space. Their latest piece is titled 4 Socially Responsible Funds to Invest in for Solid Returns. I found it on the Nasdaq.com site. As usual, I’ll state the investment pick followed by their relevant comments about it. “1) Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class (PXWEX) [This fund] aims for returns on investment that exceed the price and yield performance of the Impax Global Women's Leadership Index… [The] Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class has an annual expense ratio of 0.80%, which is below the category average of 1.10%.  The fund has three and five-year returns of 6.9% and 7.3%, respectively. 2) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) The fund primarily invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that provide business services related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support etc… [The] Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%, which is below the category average of 1.10%. The fund has three and five-year returns of nearly 2% and 6.4%, respectively. 3) [The] New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) … primarily invests in common stocks of companies… [The] New Alternatives Fund Class A has an annual expense ratio of 1.08%, which is below the category average of 1.28%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.4% and 8.8%, respectively. 4) [The] Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX) … aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of its assets in mid-sized growth companies… [The] Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has an annual expense ratio of 0.84%, which is below the category average of 0.92%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 7.9% and 8.7%, respectfully.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More… Now here’s a thought. How about investing in oil companies that are transitioning to renewable energy? Three analysts writing for The Motley Fool share their thoughts in a post titled 3 Oil Companies That Are Becoming Renewable Energy Stocks. Due to time limitations, I’ll just mention the companies. Go to my blog post for the article link. The three companies are Total (TOT), Valero Energy (VLO), and Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE). ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: “ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…” And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and ESG wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on September 11. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Souls.

These stocks could thrive under Biden: Procter & Gamble, Trane Technologies, AvalonBay Communities, Rockwell Automation, Acuity Brands, Osram Licht, Hubbell, Schneider Electric, Ameresco, NXP Semiconductors, ON Semiconductor, Avangrid, Eaton, Ormat Technologies, NextEra Energy, TPI Composites, Orsted, Trimble, Koninklijke DSM, and Agilent Technologies. So writes Michael Brush who interviews leading ESG fund managers. There’s more too PODCAST: These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 38, August 14, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 38 published on August 14 titled “These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…“— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More… Now with the US political season heating up, MarketWatch published an article titled These ‘green’ stocks would thrive under a Biden administration, according to fund managers. It’s written by Michael Brush. Below, I’m quoting Mr. Brush at length. Quote. “It’s increasingly likely that the Democrats will win the White House and the Senate. For investors, that means it’s time to review the environmental, social and governance (ESG) sector, with an emphasis on ‘green’ stocks that might do well under a Joe Biden presidency. For key insights and stock ideas, I (that is Michael Brush) recently spoke with three ESG fund managers with outperforming records, according to Morningstar, and a policy analyst from one of the companies. Highlights of the Biden plan First, Biden’s plan is ambitious. He wants a carbon-neutral power-generation sector by 2035… ‘Everything he is doing aligns with the strategy that we as ESG investors have been arguing for, for years,’ says Cheryl Smith, who manages the John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund JHJRX, +0.25%. The fund beats its Morningstar large-cap blend benchmark by three percentage points, annualized, over the past three years… ‘I think it’s great to have all these plans. The difficulty is executing them,’ says Hubert Aarts of the Pax Global Environmental Markets Fund PGINX, +0.11%... Aarts is worth listening to because his fund outperforms its world large-cap stock category by 6.6 percentage points over the past year, says Morningstar. Fuel for Investing Smarter ‘The energy transformation is a transition which will happen with or without politicians,’ says Jonathan Waghorn of the Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund GAAEX, -0.46%. His fund beats its small- and mid-cap value sector benchmark by 34 percentage points over the past year, and 13.6 percentage points annualized over the past three years, according to Morningstar. Stocks It can be tricky to wrangle with investing in environmentally friendly stocks, because there’s no clear sector labeled ‘alternative’ or ‘clean’ energy, says Waghorn. Smith, at the John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund, includes companies with good internal eco-friendly policies, to broaden the playing field. This extends her reach into even consumer staples like Procter & Gamble PG, -0.25%, which she says is taking significant steps to become carbon neutral and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 1. Green buildings Making buildings more energy efficient is the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of green initiatives because there is so much companies can do to reduce energy consumption in their buildings. Smith… likes Trane Technologies TT, 1.84%, which offers energy-efficient climate-control systems, and the real estate investment trust AvalonBay Communities AVB, -0.27%, which specializes in energy-efficient buildings. She cites Rockwell Automation ROK, 2.30%, which has a division that helps companies monitor energy usage and waste. Aarts… singles out Acuity Brands AYI, 3.00%, Osram Licht OSAGY, -3.14% and Hubbell HUBB, 0.81% in energy-efficient lighting, and Schneider Electric SBGSY, 1.45%, which sells products that help companies improve energy efficiency. Waghorn… points us to Ameresco AMRC, 0.16%, which helps companies improve energy and lighting efficiency. 2. Green autos But it makes sense to still consider some of the ‘arms dealers’ to the green car space. Here, Smith likes NXP Semiconductors NXPI, 1.75%, which sells semiconductors used in electric-powered vehicles. Waghorn likes Samsung SDI, a Korean pureplay on lithium-ion batteries that is building partnerships with European car manufacturers. Another play here that he likes: ON Semiconductor ON, 3.01%, which sells power-management chips used in the electric-vehicle space. 3. Renewable-energy companies In this area, Smith… singles out Avangrid AGR, 0.39%, a major supplier of power generated from offshore wind sources. She also highlights Eaton ETN, 3.47%, which sells gear that helps improve efficiency of the power grid so it can better handle power from alternative-energy sources. Waghorn owns Ormat Technologies ORA, 0.67%, a geothermal power generator, NextEra Energy NEE, -1.69%, the largest generator of renewable energy, and TPI Composites TPIC, -4.01%, a materials-science company that sells lightweight materials used in wind turbine blades. Aarts highlights Orsted DNNGY, +1.34%, a green-energy provider based in Denmark. Green agriculture In this space, Aarts… likes Trimble TRMB, 0.91%, because it offers satellite images used by farmers to reduce waste of pesticides and water… He also cites Koninklijke DSM RDSMY, +0.05%, a Dutch company that sells ‘clean cow’ food that reduces the emission of methane from bovines. He also says Agilent Technologies A, -0.18% will play a role in green farming because it sells gear used in testing levels of pollution in water, air and soil.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More… Three writers at The Motley have each chosen their top pick in a post titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in August. Bloom Energy Travis Hoium likes Bloom Energy. He writes, that, “Bloom Energy recently announced a solid oxide electrolyzer that will convert electricity and water into hydrogen fuel, which is usable in electricity-generating fuel cells. This could make hydrogen a viable fuel for shipping, long-haul trucking, and even grid applications. It's even possible that hydrogen fuel could be pumped around the country using pipelines. Bloom Energy isn't yet profitable, but it has the chance to upend fossil fuel energy as we know it.” End quote. NextEra Energy Howard Smith suggests NextEra Energy. He says that “NextEra Energy is a Florida-based company that owns Florida Power & Light, the largest regulated electric utility in the U.S… as well as Gulf Power. Its other subsidiary is NextEra Energy Resources. This segment, along with its affiliates, is the world's largest generator of wind and solar power, and invests in battery storage. NextEra estimates it can provide investors an annual total return of 10% to 12% through 2022 with earnings growth and dividends, in large part due to growth in the renewables segment.” End quote. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. Jason Hall recommends Clean Energy Fuels Corp. Mr. Hall writes that, quote “Clean Energy Fuels hasn't been a good investment over the past seven or eight years. Management made a leveraged bet that trucking would shift quickly from diesel to natural gas. But the bet backfired during the last oil collapse when growth slowed to a crawl… Instead of focusing on those past mistakes, investors would do well to take a hard look at the company… Here's the major reason it's a buy-now stock: For all the press that electric and hydrogen trucks get, renewable natural gas is the leader in zero-emissions fuels for trucking and is likely to remain so for years to come. Clean Energy Fuels is the dominant supplier of renewable natural gas.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Worried About Investing Ethically? These 2 ETFs Can Put You On The Right Track. From investing.com, there’s this article titled Worried About Investing Ethically? These 2 ETFs Can Put You On The Right Track. I’ll first mention the ETF and follow it with relevant quotes from the article. 1. The Vanguard ESG US Stock Fund (NYSE: ESGV)… seeks to track the performance of the FTSE US All Cap Choice index. The fund is screened for certain ESG criteria and specifically excludes stocks of companies in: adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, fossil fuels, gambling and nuclear power. Additionally, stocks of individual companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria as well as the principles of the United Nations Global Compact are not included. Year-to-date, the fund is up over 7%. On Aug. 5, it hit an all-time high of $61.08. 2. iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (NASDAQ: SDG)… follows the MSCI ACWI Sustainable Impact index. This benchmark index is composed of positive impact companies that derive a majority of their revenue from products and services that address at least one of the world's major social or environmental challenges as identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as education or climate change.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Franklin Templeton Launches Muni Green Bond Fund. Now I also thought that this might interest many ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled Franklin Templeton Launches Muni Green Bond Fund. The article’s author is Emily Holbrook. These are some of her remarks. Quote, “Franklin Templeton has launched the Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund, one of the few strategies solely focusing on muni green bonds. The fund seeks to maximize income exempt from federal income taxes by investing in green bonds, including climate bonds, sustainability bonds, and environmental impact bonds… Franklin Templeton said the municipal green bond market is young and continues to evolve… The universe of US municipal green bond issuers includes states, cities, municipal water and sewer enterprises, transportation systems, universities, and hospitals, among others.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: “These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…” And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on August 28. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Articles reviewed: the 7 Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. Better Buy: Plug Power vs. Canadian Solar. 4 ESG Funds to Buy for Purpose and Profit. How sustainable are Wealthsimple’s new socially responsible funds? US SIF Foundation Launches Sustainable Investing Course for Individual Investors. A reminder about my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial! And more PODCAST: Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 37, July 31, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 37 published on July 31 titled “Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. More…”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs I start with the recommendations of a usnews.com piece that I found on the wtop.com site. It’s titled 7 Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. Here are the recommendations each followed by a brief quote from the article. Renewable Energy ETFs 1) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) offers exposure to global technology and utilities stocks that can benefit from demand for solar… The Invesco Solar ETF tracks two dozen solar energy companies such as First Solar (FSLR) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)… Since TAN owns fewer companies, the price can be more volatile than other renewable energy funds with a larger number of companies. 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN). This ETF tracks the S&P Global Clean Energy Index and includes companies that produce solar, wind and other renewable power sources globally… Renewable Energy Stocks 3) NextEra Energy (NEE) is a utility company that owns Florida Power & Light Co. and Gulf Power Co., along with wind and solar assets… NextEra Energy trades at a 50% premium compared with regulated utilities on 2022 price to earnings, ‘implying that investors are willing to assign a significant growth premium to the management team,’ says Michael Underhill, chief investment officer at Capital Innovations in Wisconsin. 4) Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY) is a Danish company that designs, manufactures and installs wind turbines globally… ‘As consumers migrate towards renewable energy sources, it may change the composition of inflation, reducing the power of traditional oil and energy to hedge inflation, so investors will need renewable energy to hedge against inflation in the long term,’ says Jodie Gunzberg, managing director, chief investment strategist at Morgan Stanley, Wealth Management Institutional 5) Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) Brookfield Renewable Partners is a global renewable power platform with 19,300 megawatts of capacity and 5,288 generating facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The company is one of the largest owners of renewable assets globally, 75% of which is hydro, and generates a 4.5% dividend yield with a 5% or higher dividend growth. 6) Iberdrola (IBDRY) is a Spanish utility company that owns wind assets. The company announced in June that it will invest $4.5 billion during the next four years in France to develop renewable energy, including onshore wind, solar photovoltaic and offshore wind capacity auctions. The company is a ‘best-in-class wind developer company,’ Underhill says. 7) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) invests in the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index, a benchmark index. The three top holdings are Cree (CREE), Tesla (TSLA) and Enphase Energy (ENPH) as of May 31.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs Continuing on the subject of renewable energy, Scott Levine has written a post on The Motley Fool site titled Better Buy: Plug Power vs. Canadian Solar. Here are some quotes that might interest you concerning his discussion. “Skyrocketing more than 180% year to date, shares of Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) have soared in 2020, extending the 149% run-up they experienced in 2019. Why? Primarily, investors are growing more confident that the company is on track to meet management's 2024 projection of generating sales of $1.2 billion, operating income of $170 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $200 million. Fortifying its position as an industry leader, Plug Power completed two acquisitions in June that will help the company become a formidable competitor in hydrogen generation… Unlike its bankrupt peers… Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) has prospered over the past two decades, and investors are confident that plenty of sunny days remain… The company's supporters will also point to Canadian Solar's burgeoning energy business, which deals in the development of solar power projects. Currently, it has 1 gigawatt-peak (GWp) in operation, with 3.7 GWp in backlog and 12 GWp in the pipeline. Additionally, Canadian Solar's focus on the energy storage market is also a source of enthusiasm since the company has 2,820 megawatt-hours of storage projects in the pipeline… Putting the price tags into perspective … For Plug Power, which is unprofitable and doesn't generate positive operating cash flow, the traditional valuation metrics are unhelpful. Instead, we can assess the stock in terms of sales, and in doing so we find that it trades at a multiple of 9.4 -- well above its five-year average ratio of 3.6, and considerable higher than the S&P 500 P/S ratio of 2.3… Plug Power seems to be too richly valued at this point. Canadian Solar, on the other hand, currently represents a bargain. Shares are trading at 2.3 times operating cash flow, which is a discount to its five-year average multiple of 4.1.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs This article is by a Zacks analyst familiar to you, Nitish Marwah. His latest post is titled 4 ESG Funds to Buy for Purpose and Profit and can be found on Nasdaq.com. As usual, I’ll say the fund name and follow it with brief comments by the author. “1) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) fund invests in companies that contribute to a sustainable environment. The fund seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective… The New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1… The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.4% and 8.8%, respectively. 2) TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class (TSBRX) fund invests the lion’s share of its assets in bonds while favoring long-term total return through income and capital growth. The fund gives special consideration to companies that satisfy its ESG criteria… The TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2… The fund has three and five-year returns of 4.6% and 3.9%, respectively. 3) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) fund aims for capital appreciation. The product invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that provide business services related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support. The Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2… [It] has three and five-year returns of 2% and 6.4%, respectively. 4) Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class (PXWEX) seeks returns on investment that exceed the price and yield performance of the Pax Global Women's Leadership Index… The fund has three and five-year returns of 6.9% and 7.4%, respectively.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs Tim Nash publishing on the Corporate Knights site has another outstanding analysis. Mr. Nash reviews two Toronto Stock Exchange ETF’s in an article titled How sustainable are Wealthsimple’s new socially responsible funds? (Now as ETFs, they’re generally available for purchase globally.) Here are some of his remarks. “I wasn’t impressed when Wealthsimple launched its first socially responsible portfolio in March 2016… Wealthsimple’s updated socially responsible portfolio is chiefly made up of two new ETFs: the Wealthsimple North America Socially Responsible ETF (ticker: WSRI) that includes Canadian and U.S. companies, and the Wealthsimple Developed Markets ex-NA Socially Responsible ETF (ticker: WSRD) that includes companies from Europe, Japan and Australia. The new ETFs explicitly exclude weapons manufacturing, defence contracting, tobacco, alcohol, adult entertainment and any company found to be in violation of the UN Global Compact (principles covering human rights, child labour and corruption). The new funds also exclude companies related to oil, gas and coal, making them fossil-fuel free… Does the new portfolio, as advertised, let people ‘invest in a better world’? Well, not quite… But the portfolio has lacklustre exposure to companies whose main business is providing sustainable solutions such as renewable energy, electric cars, green buildings and energy efficiency – all themes that are outperforming with good long-term growth prospects… For the time being, investors who want to invest in sustainable solutions will need to incorporate additional products like green ETFs or community bonds if they want their investment to have a positive impact.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, for those of you new to ethical and sustainable investing, particularly if you’re an American, check this out: US SIF Foundation Launches Sustainable Investing Course for Individual Investors. Quote “The course, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, provides a brief overview of the development of sustainable investing and summarizes the investment options and strategies available.” End quote. However, if you want help creating an ethical and sustainable portfolio, see my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: “Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. And More…” And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on August 14. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on August 14. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul  

ESG stock and fund picks for July include blue-chip names, alternative and renewable energy companies, yieldcos, a money market fund, and more. Top analysts from InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool, Forbes, and wallst.com, offer their recommendations. With stock market optimism near new highs, ESG and sustainable investing analysts are increasingly focused on finding tomorrow’s winners today PODCAST: ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July Transcript & Links, Episode 36, July 17, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 36 published on July 17 titled “ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July The first article is by David Moadel on InvestorPlace. It’s titled 5 ESG Stocks to Buy for Conscientious Investment Gains. I’ll first mention a company he recommends then follow with some relevant quotes from him. 1) Cola-Cola (KO). Since 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded over $1 billion in grants to support sustainable-community endeavors worldwide…. Each year, the company strives to give back 1% of the previous year’s operating income… it sports a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 3.65% as well as a very reasonable trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78. 2) Salesforce (CRM). Long-term stakeholders of customer relationship management (CRM) platform Salesforce have done well financially… Salesforce wants to achieve 100% renewable energy use by the year 2022. (It’s stock] trajectory is clearly to the upside. 3) 3M (MMM). 3M sends its best and brightest to cities in various global localities to work alongside organizations, nonprofits and local municipalities… Currently, 3M delivers a forward annual dividend yield of 3.8%. Plus, the stock features a trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 17.9. These metrics highlight a strong profile that any ESG investor can feel good about. 4) NextEra Energy (NEE). [Is] currently the world’s biggest solar and wind energy producer… ‘NextEra has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions rate by 52 percent since 2001 and is targeting a reduction of more than 65 percent by 2021, relative to a 2001 baseline,’ according to analysts at RBC Capital… NextEra Energy stock should keep investors satisfied with a forward annual dividend yield of 2.34%. 5) McDonald’s (MCD). McDonald’s has a goal of procuring 100% of the company’s ‘guest’ (i.e., customer) packaging from recycled, renewable or certified sources… Turning our attention to McDonald’s stock, we can observe that it offers a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 2.74%.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July A new analyst to this podcast is Paul Ausick who has penned an article titled 7 Alternative Energy Stocks With Massive Market Growth in the Coming Years. He writes about some familiar companies to the listeners of this podcast. His article was found on the walllst.com site. Here are some quotes and recommendations from him. Alternative Energy Producers “1) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) [Plug Power] offers hydrogen fuel cell solutions for electric vehicles and electricity markets in North America and Europe. The company announced two acquisitions… and the stock price shot up 20% following the announcement… The consensus price target is $9.34 and the high target is $14.00 from H.C. Wainwright. At the high target price, the stock has an implied upside of 71.2%. 2) Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) designs, manufactures and sells solid-oxide fuel cells for on-site power generation… the consensus price target is $11.00. At the high price target of $21.00, the implied upside on the stock is 67.6%. 3) First Solar Inc. (NYSE: FSLR) designs and manufactures its own modules, and the company’s systems segment designs and builds solar energy systems… The consensus 12-month price target on the stock is $53.57, with the high target set at $75.00 per share. At that price, the implied upside to Wednesday’s closing price is 29.2%. 4) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) is a Bermuda-based yieldco that owns and operates some 19 GW of renewable generating in all parts of the world… the consensus price target is $35.63… Brookfield is significantly overvalued, but the firm’s dividend yield is 4.4% and the implied upside to the high target is 28.3%. 5) Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) designs, develops, installs, owns and maintains residential solar energy systems in the United States. The company recently acquired rival Vivint Solar Inc. (NYSE: VSLR) for $3.2 billion in stock… The consensus price target is $24.43, and the high target was set Monday at $31.00. At that high target price, the implied upside is 9.7%.” End quotes. Yieldcos 6) NextEra Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: NEP) is a yieldco that buys, owns and manages contracted clean energy projects and natural gas pipelines in the United States… At the high price target of $65.00, the implied upside on the stock is 18.3%. NextEra Energy Partners pays a dividend yield of 4.17%. 7) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure PLC (NASDAQ: AY) is a U.K.-based yieldco that owns and manages renewable energy and other assets (including natural gas) in several countries in the Western Hemisphere and in Spain, Algeria and South Africa… The high price target of $34.00 implies an upside of 13.9%. The company also pays a dividend yield of 5.57%. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July Travis Hoium has again written about his favourite renewable energy stocks that mirror some of the comments made by the previous analysts. Mr. Hoium’s article is titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in July and as usual, appeared on the Motley Fool site. Once more, I’ll mention the companies followed by his relevant quotes. “1) NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP). [Yes this is obviously a favourite of these analysts! Now getting back to the quote…] NextEra Energy Partners owns and operates wind- and solar-power generating assets, paying up front for the projects and then collecting revenue over the course of decades as they produce electricity… Management says that it expects to boost the dividend by 12% to 15% annually through 2024, so even with the payout yielding 4.1% today, this dividend stock has a lot of upside ahead.  2) SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR). SunPower is about to spin off its high-efficiency solar manufacturing business as Maxeon Solar Technologies… The new SunPower will still use Maxeon solar panels… Today with the SunPower Design Studio, you can have a solar installation designed for your house and get a price quote online in a matter of minutes… Over the next few years it may even become the biggest residential solar company in the U.S., a title it already holds in commercial solar.  3) Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ). The solar industry is booming worldwide, and Canadian Solar is one of the industry's biggest manufacturers and project developers… Canadian Solar is one of the few manufacturers that is still building and selling large solar projects, and with a backlog and pipeline of 15.7 gigawatts of new projects, this business could generate billions of dollars of future revenue.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July Forbes MoneyShow posted an article by Jim Woods titled 3 Socially Responsible ETFs For Impact Investing. These ETFs have been covered here several times before but it’s always interesting to see analysts providing their unique perspectives. As usual, I’ll mention each one followed by quotes from Mr. Woods. “1) The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF (ESGU) tracks an index composed of U.S. companies that have been selected and weighted for positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics… Portfolio optimization software is used to maximize the fund’s stake in highly rated companies, while also staying true to market-like exposure… The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF seeks similar risk and return to the MSCI USA Index, while achieving a more sustainable outcome. 2) Goldman Sachs GS +1% JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (JUST) has been created to specifically reflect the importance of corporate social responsibility. The ETF tracks an index of U.S.-listed large-cap stocks that are selected through the use of a survey that ranks companies for their practices… According to JUST Capital… companies [in the index are] more likely to pay their workers a living wage, create jobs in the United States at a greater rate, produce less greenhouse gas emissions, give more to charity and pay less in fines for unethical behavior. This ETF’s launch also was a stunning success. 3) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT). As an actively managed exchange-traded fund, compared to a money market fund, the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF seeks greater income and total return potential by investing in short-term debt securities with an environmental, social and governance (ESG) screen… Investors will not solely be exposed to U.S.-based debt… For socially conscious investors… Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF may be worth consideration.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: “ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July.” And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on July 31. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Hello, Ron Robins here on July 3. I sincerely apologise but due to technical factors I’m unable to provide you with my usual podcast today. I’m, really sorry about that. My next podcast is scheduled for July 17. Talk to you then. All the very best and do take care in these most difficult times. Wishing all my American listeners, particularly, a wonderful Independence Day. So, signing off. This is Ron Robins.

Best ESG funds for responsible investing from Kiplinger. The review is written by Coryanne Hicks. Her picks include equity, fixed income and balanced funds. What individual sustainable stocks might be good to look at for a post-pandemic recovery. Our friend Tim Nash at Corporate Knights favours Unilever and Cisco. has been thinking about that too PODCAST: Best ESG Funds for Responsible Investing Transcript & Links, Episode 33, June 5, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 33 published on June 5 titled “Best ESG Funds for Responsible Investing”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best ESG Funds for Responsible Investing Well, we have another good review of the best ESG funds for responsible investing from Kiplinger. It’s written by Coryanne Hicks and is titled 15 Best ESG Funds for Responsible Investors. Here are the recommended funds. Now this will be a little taxing to listen too. If it’s too much, just go to this podcast’s page to read and to get the fund links. Now, I’ll first mention the fund names and then follow that with selected quotes from the article pertinent to each fund. So, listen up! 1) Equity Funds Vanguard Fund “Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral (VFTAX) [It’s] one of the least expensive socially responsible funds available. Morningstar Director Alex Bryan says the Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral is geared toward ‘investors who want a broadly diversified portfolio without exposure to firms operating in controversial industries.’ iShares Funds iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (SDG). Kostya Etus, director of research at Orion Portfolio Solutions in Omaha, Nebraska, says ‘the iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF is composed of companies around the world who base their operations to further the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals,’ she says. These 17 goals include clean energy, eliminating poverty and hunger, education for all and stopping global warming.’ iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) is a passively managed ESG fund that tracks the MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus Index. This benchmark takes the MSCI USA Index of large- and mid-cap American companies and whittles it down to ‘positive’ ESG companies by excluding firms in the tobacco or civilian weapons industries, as well as firms that have suffered through ‘very severe business controversies.’ iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD). If you want international diversification but emerging markets feel too risky, you can invest in the developed world via the iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF. [It] invests in the developed nations of Europe, Australasia and the Far East (EAFE)… no single company makes up more than 3% of the portfolio. Parnassus Funds Parnassus Core Equity Fund Investor (PRBLX) ‘From an ESG perspective, Parnassus believes that quality companies with strong social, environmental and corporate governance practices are better positioned to understand and manage risks, reducing [the] probability of adverse outcomes and controversies,’ says Celia Cazayoux, a senior investment manager at Parnassus Investments. Parnassus Mid Cap Fund Investor (PARMX). This solid option for ESG exposure to mid-cap stocks has earned five stars and a Silver rating by Morningstar, and has been lauded for its ‘talented stock-pickers’ and ‘disciplined, well-executed approach.’ Nuveen Funds Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV). The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value Fund tracks the TIAA ESG USA Large-Cap Value Index… The ESG value index has outperformed the traditional value index every year since 2015. Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC), which tracks the TIAA ESG USA Small-Cap Index, which applies ESG criteria to the MSCI USA Small Cap Index. The 640-holding portfolio is thickest in information technology stocks (18%), health care stocks (15%), and industrials (15%), but it offers exposure to every sector – which isn't necessarily a win, depending on what your ESG values are. 2) Clean Energy Funds iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN). Some investors might home in on specific ESG issues, such as clean energy. That has led to the creation of benchmarks such as the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, which tracks a tight group of 30 of the largest clean energy companies from the 11,000-plus stocks in the S&P Global Broad Market Index. SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (SPYX) [Is] another way to invest with clean-energy principles in mind… [it] simply exclude[s] fossil fuels from your portfolio. 3) Emerging Market Fund iShares ESG MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) provides exposure to emerging markets. It tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Extended ESG Focus Index, which takes a broader MSCI EM index and excludes tobacco/firearms companies, as well as those involved in ‘severe’ controversies…’ The remaining portfolio of about 300 stocks is most heavily weighted in China (39%), Taiwan (13%) and South Korea (12%). 4) Women’s Leadership Fund Pax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund (PXWEX) at nearly $500 million in assets under management, is proof that there's real investor interest in corporate gender diversity. [Its] portfolio of more than 400 gender-diverse companies outperformed 93% of its global equity peers within the Lipper Global Multi-Cap Core category in the five years ending March 31, 2020. 5) Bond Funds TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund (TSBRX). The fund holds investment-grade bonds from companies that are ESG leaders within their industry and/or have direct and measurable environmental or social impact in areas like natural resources, renewable energy and affordable housing. iShares ESG USD Corporate Bond ETF (SUSC) is another fixed-income ESG fund that's specifically geared toward corporate debt. Its aim is to optimize exposure to ESG criteria while matching the risk-return characteristics of the Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate Index… the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Corporate ESG Focus Index, frowns upon civilian firearm producers and retailers, weapons makers, fossil fuel producers or power generators, and a few other industries. 6) Balanced Fund Walden Balanced Fund (WSBFX) aims for a 70% to 80% equity allocation, and it was at the lower end of that as of the end of April. At 29% fixed-income exposure, it boasted about twice the allocation to bonds of the category average. The fixed-income portfolio consists of U.S. government and government-related bonds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds and cash and cash equivalents… The managers apply an ESG screen to holdings.” End quotes. Again, for review, go to this podcast’s page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this podcast. ------------------------------------------------------------- Two ESG Stocks for Responsible Investors Some of you might be wondering what individual sustainable stocks might be good to look at for a post-pandemic recovery. Our friend Tim Nash at Corporate Knights has been thinking about that too. In an article titled Pandemic Portfolio: Two stocks positioned for an economic recovery – and a second COVID wave, he writes about that. His two picks are Unilever (UL) and Cisco (CSCO). About Unilever, Mr. Nash writes that “Unilever owns a whole bunch of well-known brands from soaps (Dove) and cleaners (Seventh Generation) to soups (Knorr) and ice cream (Ben & Jerry’s) … The company is positioned to weather an ongoing storm but will also get a boost if the economy reopens quickly… The company’s sustainability reporting is top-notch and measures progress on issues like gender diversity, the health and hygiene of consumers and carbon emissions… Unilever’s share price fell by 27% during the crash and is currently down about 11% since the start of the year. The stock is expected to pay a 3.39% annual dividend.” End quote. Concerning Cisco, Mr. Nash says that “Cisco is an American tech company that earns most of its revenue from selling infrastructure platforms made up of networking hardware like routers, switches and data centres. As more business happens online, Cisco has diversified to offer applications, security and technical support services… The company gets top marks from sustainability data providers Sustainalytics and MSCI, and is ranked fourth on the 2020 Corporate Knights’ Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable corporations… Cisco’s share price fell by 33% during the crash and is currently down about 11% since the start of the year. The stock is expected to pay a 3.2% annual dividend.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: Best ESG Funds for Responsible Investing. And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times. Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well, healthy, and wise! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on June 19. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG Stock Market Leaders in pandemic. See the individual stocks and ETFs! Singapore’s pandemic success offers potential sustainable investing profits. Energy stocks to buy? McCormick & Company and Northland Power are ESG stocks that benefit whilst pandemic continues, says Tim Nash. Analyst recommendations from Zacks, The Motley Fool, InvestorPlace, Singapore Business, Corporate Knights and ccmarkets PODCAST: Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Transcript & Links, Episode 32, May 22, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 32 published on May 22 titled “Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Hey, the ESG analysts are back. A few days of up markets have brought them to life! So, let’s rip! ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders We start with an article from InvestorPlace written by Todd Shriber – an old friend of these podcasts – and it’s titled 5 of the Best Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy. I’m going to quote Mr. Shriber stating the name of the ETF followed by a quote for each one. “Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) Expense Ratio: 0.10% per year. The Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF is one of the true success stories in the socially responsible ETF space. At just over a year old, [it] has $1.65 billion in assets under management… Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE) Expense Ratio: 0.11% per year. The Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF is the one ESG ETF that follows the S&P 500 ESG Index — the ESG offshoot of the famed domestic equity benchmark… Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) Expense Ratio: 0.40%. [Its] home to $227 million in assets under management, the Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF is the biggest ESG small-cap ETF on the market. iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) Expense Ratio: 0.10% per year. The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF is the iShares rival to the aforementioned Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF as both funds follow the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index. iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) Expense Ratio: 0.25% per year. The iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF turns 14 years old later this year, making it one of the oldest funds in the socially responsible ETF category.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders In these days of COVID-19, most of you have heard about the great success of Singapore in subduing the pandemic there. And it’s done that without having to shut down its economy! Hence, it’s businesses are likely to generally show better results than in most other countries. So, it could be a place where some of you might consider investing. If that’s you have a look at this article in Singapore Business titled Top 5 ESG stocks outpace STI's blue chips. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Another analyst who I like to quote is Tim Nash. Writing again for Corporate Knights he has penned a post titled Pandemic Portfolio: Two stocks to watch as COVID-19 drags on. The two stocks are McCormick & Company (MKC) and Northland Power (NPI). Regarding McCormick. Mr. Nash says that “With restaurants closed, home chefs are having their moment… McCormick & Company is a spice and flavour manufacturer that sells a wide array of spices, condiments and sauces… Its environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores from the Corporate Knights research arm, as well as MSCI and Sustainalytics, are among the best in its sector…” End quote. Concerning Northland Power, Mr. Nash writes that “Renewable energy utilities are in the enviable position of having consistent cash flows, since they have long-term purchase price agreements that set a fixed price on the electricity they generate. Northland Power, headquartered in Toronto, is one such utility… the company’s cash flows shouldn’t suffer if the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders persist… The stock is expected to pay a 3.91 per cent annual dividend.” End quote. Mr. Nash produces a useful scorecard on the companies that you can review in his article. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Now I have two articles that offer their perspectives on renewable energy. They both appear on The Motley Fool site and have the same contributors. A few of the companies appear in both articles. The authors are Travis Hoium, Tyler Crowe, Jason Hall, Matthew DiLallo, and John Bromels. The first article is titled 5 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now. Since I’ve covered these companies – often many times in this podcast – I’m just going to mention the company names. You can go to the article’s link on my podcast page for greater detail on these analysts’ current thoughts on these companies’ stocks. The companies are Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA), Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP), SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR), and Atlantica Yield (NASDAQ:AY). The second article is titled Looking at Oil Stocks? 5 Renewable Energy Stocks That Are Better Buys Right Now. As previously, I’m just going to mention their names and you can follow the link on this podcast page. The companies recommended are First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP), Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN), NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), and Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR). ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders The site cmcmarkets.com has a post titled The 7 top ESG ETFs for ethical investing. I’ll give their names followed by a short description of each one from the post. Incidentally, two of them were previously recommended in this podcast. iShare ETFs “The biggest: iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). With over $1.7 billion in net assets, this is the largest fund in the category… It steers clear of companies that make money from alcohol, tobacco or firearms. Europe’s best performer: iShares MSCI Europe SRI UCITS ETF (ACC) The iShares MSCI Europe SRI UCITS ETF topped Just ETF’s list of best performing ESG ETFs for the 12 months up to 30 April 2020. The fund screens out companies with exposure to fossil fuels through extraction and other activities.  For US stocks: iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) Started in June 2019, this fund tracks US large and medium caps and was up 21.7% since inception at the beginning of February. The emerging markets: iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) The iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF might be less than six months old, but it's already seen huge inflows of cash with Finnish pension-provider IImarien pumping $650 million into the fund. A good sign as Ilmarien has a track-record backing high-performing ESG ETFs. For low emissions: iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN) One for the environmentally-minded, this fund filters companies based on their greenhouse emissions. For clean energy: iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF gives investors access to the clean energy sector, including wind power, solar power and renewable energy. The fund has a global outlook.” SPDR ETF For gender diversity: SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE) This gender-diversity fund tracks the 1000 major companies in the US, looking at the ratio of men and women in senior positions. Of those, it invests in only the top 10%." End quotes. The article itself has more data on each of these ETFs. To read it you’ll have to subscribe to the site. But that’s free. Again, the link to the article is on this podcast’s webpage. ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders Zacks has produced another research report titled ESG Stocks Remain Resilient to Virus Slump: 5 Top Picks. Here are the 5 stocks. Quote: “Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 12.8% compared with the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry’s projected earnings growth of 7.1%. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) develops, licenses and supports software, services, devices and solutions. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 19.8% against the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings decline of 4.9%. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), operates as a visual computing company. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 28.7% against the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry’s projected earnings decline of 21%. DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) designs, develops, and commercializes continuous glucose monitoring systems. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 21.2% compared with the Zacks Medical - Instruments industry’s projected earnings growth of 6.8%. Adobe Inc. (ADBE) operates as a diversified software company. Its expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 24.4% against the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings decline of 4.9%." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: Pandemic’s ESG Stock Market Leaders. And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy -- and prosperous! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on June 5. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Change Healthcare, Hannon Armstrong, Plug Power, Brookfield Renewable Partners, are among the more sustainable investing ideas covered in this podcast. Listen to find out more. Ethical and sustainable investors need to go beyond company ESG ratings. They need to especially consider what components of ESG are truly ‘material’ to a company’s operational and financial performance PODCAST: More Sustainable Investing Ideas Transcript & Links, Episode 31, May 8, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 31 published on May 8 titled “More Sustainable Investing Ideas”— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Well, the analysts are still asleep. The news-flow continues low. So, this will be another short podcast. Though short, there are still some useful recommendations. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) More Sustainable Investing Ideas The first item is by Michael Marcus at TipRanks with his article 3 “Perfect 10″ Stocks That Tick All the Boxes. However, I’m just going to write about two of them that I believe are relevant for ethical and sustainable investors. Change Healthcare (CHNG). Quote “Change Healthcare is a software company that provides solutions for analysis, connectivity, communication, payment, and workflow optimization for healthcare providers. Change’s products connect patients, payers, and providers in the health system. In the current pandemic situation, a company that connects the data dots for the healthcare system should find itself in demand. Change reported its fiscal third quarter results in February, its third since going public, and beat the earnings estimates by 10%. Earnings per share came in at 33 cents, and revenue was $808.2 million… In line with his bullish view, Steven Halper of Cantor Fitzgerald, gives the stock a Buy rating with a $20 price target that suggests an impressive upside of 96%.” End quote. Hannon Armstrong (HASI) Mr. Marcus says this about the company. Quote, “Hannon Armstrong [is] a financial services company focused on climate change. Where some just talk about the need to support green initiatives, Hannon Armstrong puts its money where its mouth is, investing in, and funding ventures in, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure. As of December 2019, the company was managing more than $6 billion in assets… The company also raised its dividend by a half cent, to an even 34 cents quarterly. The new dividend makes the annualized payment $1.36 and went into effect this month. At 5.2%, the yield is significantly higher than the market average, and simply blows away Treasury bonds. Hannon has a 7-year history of dividend reliability.” End quote. Not sure about comparing Hannon Armstrong’s yield with treasury bonds as they are two very different types of investments for two very different purposes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) More Sustainable Investing Ideas Now, are you still interested in renewable energy? Many of you might have heard of Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG), the hydrogen fuel cell technology company. But even more of you will know Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP). Well, John Bromel compares the two companies in his article Better Buy: Plug Power vs. Brookfield Renewable Partners. It appears on The Motley Fool site. He writes that “Plug Power is a leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology for vehicles. Its products have found a niche market in industries where extended downtime (to recharge a battery) isn't an option: Mostly warehouse forklifts and airport safety vehicles.  However, Plug wants to break out of this niche into the broader vehicle market. It's been working on fuel-cell-powered delivery vans and has provided small fleets of them to shipping giant DHL and to FedEx… Conversely… Brookfield Renewable Partners invests across the renewable energy spectrum and sells the electricity it generates to utilities. The bulk of its revenues come from hydroelectric dams, but it also operates significant wind and solar infrastructure… This wasn't much of a contest. Even though it may not be priced at a discount, Brookfield Renewable Partners beats Plug Power hands down. Investors looking to put money into green energy should consider taking a stake in Brookfield.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) More Sustainable Investing Ideas Some of the articles I’ve included in these podcasts recommended Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ: REGI). Probably many of you invested in them. If you have any interest in this company you should read Maxx Chatsko’s new article 1 Question to Ask Yourself Before Buying Renewable Energy Group. Mr. Chatsko says that “Global consumption of crude oil has fallen by roughly 30% from pre-pandemic levels. Combine that with an oil price war started by Saudi Arabia and dwindling storage options, and it's not too surprising global crude oil benchmarks have dipped below $20 per barrel. What might be more surprising is the relative resilience demonstrated by shares of Renewable Energy Group. The biomass-based diesel producer has lost only 13% of its market value since the beginning of March, while some oil supermajors have lost over 25%... Renewable Energy Group is one of the country's largest manufacturers of biomass-based diesel fuels… In December, Congress retroactively reinstated an expired tax credit to the first day of 2018 and extended it through the last day of 2022… That helps to explain why shares of the renewable fuels leader have been relatively resilient. The reinstatement of tax credits will help to insulate the business from tumbling selling prices, but a shortage of feedstocks could more than offset the advantage. Long story short, now is not a great time to open a new position or add to an existing position in this biodiesel stock.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) More Sustainable Investing Ideas Now here’s some news that I think you’ll be interested in and it’s a topic I’ve brought up before. The article is by Emily Steinbarth and appeared in Advisor Perspectives with the title Don't Be Fooled by Most ESG Rankings. Focus on Materiality Instead. Ms. Steinbarth says that "The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article about how big technology stocks dominate ESG funds. Tech companies are not usually associated with the big ESG issues like climate change, renewable energy, or diversity. So, are investors being fooled?" End quote. In her article, she makes a case for not just focusing on ESG scores. ESG scores and their components each may or may not affect the material functioning and profitability of a company. Hence the need to consider what is factually material or impactful to the company’s operations and bottom line. That way you can make more well-considered investment decisions. Ms. Steinbarth’s article is worth reading for all ethical and sustainable investors. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: More Sustainable Investing Ideas. And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy. And enjoy the fact that ethical and sustainable funds and portfolios are generally outperforming their conventional counterparts! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on May 22. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

BlackRock launches sustainable investing fund supporting UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Areas it invests in include sustainable food, clean energy, affordable housing, and public health. Tom Lydon promotes the Global X Conscious Companies ETF, reflecting the Concinnity Conscious Companies Index emphasizing ESG and focuses on customers, suppliers, stock & debt holders, local communities, and employees. More investing, funds, PODCAST: Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 30, April 24, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 30 published on April 24, 2020, titled “Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better. More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. With much of the investment industry in lock down, the news flow is down incredibly. Hence, this podcast is shorter than normal. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better. More… Some of you might have heard the name Blackrock. BlackRock is the largest money management firm in the world. Well, the company was recently called upon by the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve to manage the buying of massive amounts of bonds and mortgage-backed securities. Now that same firm has just launched the BlackRock Global Impact Fund. Writing on the climatechange.com site under the title, BlackRock launches sustainable investing-focused impact fund, Camilla Watkiss says that the fund “enables investors to direct finance towards companies that are supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” End quote. Well, that’s great! Also, BlackRock’s Chairman and CEO, Larry Fink, gained notoriety earlier this year by proposing that sustainable investing is both here and now and the way of the future! Quoting him, he said that, “Every government, company, and shareholder must confront climate change… we will be increasingly disposed to vote against management and board directors when companies are not making sufficient progress on sustainability-related disclosures and the business practices and plans underlying them.” End quote. Since BlackRock is hugely influential in the investment world, their stance on sustainable investments making our world better has sent shock-waves throughout the investment industry. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better. More… Now, as you know from my previous posts, companies, and funds emphasizing sustainability and ESG principles are doing better than their ‘conventional’ equivalents. Even in these down markets. Now, Tom Lydon in his article titled Crisis Reveals Utility of Emphasizing Conscious Companies describes his favourite fund in this regard. It appeared on the ETF Trends site. Mr. Lydon says that “Tough times can reveal a lot about a person. The same is true of corporate reaction to crises and investors are getting a real-time taste for how companies are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s also shedding light on ETFs, such as the Global X Conscious Companies ETF (NasdaqGM: KRMA).” Further, he says that the “Global X Conscious Companies ETF, which turns four years old in July, tries to reflect the performance of the Concinnity Conscious Companies Index, which tracks companies that achieve financial performance in a sustainable and responsible manner and exhibit positive Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) characteristics…. [its] methodology focuses on stakeholders, such as Customers, Suppliers, Stock & Debt Holders, Local Communities, and notably, Employees, according to Global X.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better. More… This next article recommends four stocks that have appeared in this podcast many times. Hence, I almost hesitated to repeat them! But with so little news flow and seeing that they are still top-of-the-line holdings of most ESG funds, I reconsidered. So, here they are. The article is titled Coronavirus Crisis Brings These 4 ESG Stocks in Focus and is written by Zacks’ researchers. I found it on the Yahoo! Finance site. I’ll mention the name of each company and then follow it with a quote. Companies cited: 1) Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) [it] has taken a leap in corporate social responsibility and supports its staff with regular pay even as several companies across the world have announced layoffs and salary cuts. Microsoft’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 17.3% compared with the Zacks Computer - Software industry’s projected earnings growth of 3.2%... Microsoft carries a Zacks Rank #3 (which is a Hold). 2) Chipmaker NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)… makes a mark among ESG stocks with a strict policy regarding conflict minerals. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 22.1% against the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry’s projected earnings decline of 12.7%... NVIDIA carries a Zacks Rank #3. 3) The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) [the company] provides branded consumer packaged goods. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.5% against the Zacks Soap and Cleaning Materials industry’s projected earnings decline of 1.1%... The Procter & Gamble Company carries a Zacks Rank #3. And 4) is NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). The company is responsible for the generation and supply of energy throughout most of the state of Florida through its regulated subsidiaries. Its ESG ratings have remained unchanged amid the coronavirus outbreak. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 8.1% compared with the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry’s projected earnings growth of 3.6%... NextEra Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3.” End quotes Here are the links to the free Zacks reports on these companies. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report Procter & Gamble Company (The) (PG): Free Stock Analysis Report ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: Sustainable Investments Making Our World Better, over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Do stay well and healthy – and stay wise with your investments in these troubling times. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on May 8. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul..

ESG funds, stocks, outperforming their ‘conventional’ counterparts in markets’ downturn. Several analysts believe now is a good time to buy these stocks and funds. See which ones they recommend! Investors should also consider artificial intelligence and infrastructure stocks too. With companies reducing or eliminating dividends, one dividend-paying socially responsible stock comes highly regarded. And More PODCAST: ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Transcript & Links, Episode 29, April 10, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 29 for April 10, 2020, titled “ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn.”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now with the recent market turnaround, many investors are feeling a sense of relief and thinking beyond the COVID-19 turmoil! With that in mind, the analysts’ research I’m reporting on now might be of interest to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. So, let’s start with the first research comment that illustrates again the ESG funds, stocks, opportunities in this downturn. This comment is titled ESG ETFs Appear Unscathed by the Coronavirus Carnage by Zacks analyst Sanghamitra Saha. She writes that” Wall Street just recorded the worst quarter since the fourth quarter of 2008. But ESG ETFs appeared somewhat resilient to the acute selloffs.” End quote. Ms. Saha cites the following ESG ETFs as having gained significant assets during the sell-off. They are: Global X Conscious Companies ETF (KRMA). Quote “Its top holdings are Regeneron, Clorox, Biogen, Newmont, Netflix and Amazon.” End quote. Next is SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF (SPUS). Quote “The underlying S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index comprises the constituents of the S&P 500 Sharia Index other than those from the following sub-industries: Aerospace & Defense, Financial Exchanges & Data, and Data Processing & Outsourced Services…” End quote. Finally, the Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG). Again, quoting her she says that “It uses a rules-based methodology that provides investment exposure that generally replicates that of mid-cap growth benchmarks through a portfolio of securities that adhere to predetermined ESG, controversial business involvement and low-carbon screening criteria.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Now a post for those ethical and sustainable investors wishing to get back into the markets with individual stocks. Ian Jenkins has written an article titled 6 Stocks Cashing In On The $30 Trillion Impact Investing Trend that appears on the oilprice.com site. Here are his six picks. Now I’m just going to name the company and then follow it with a short quote by Mr. Jenkins on that company. Alphabet (GOOGL). “Is a shining star in the tech world. Despite being one of the largest companies on the planet, in many ways it has lived up to its original ‘Don’t Be Evil’ slogan.” Facedrive Inc. (FD.V). “For the first time in ride-sharing history, Facedrive is giving customers a choice to be more environmentally conscious. That’s because it’s utilizing new technology to calculate the estimated CO2 emissions for each ride and allocating a portion of the proceeds accordingly to local organizations to help offset those emissions.” Apple Inc. (AAPL). “Not only have they decreased their average product’s energy use by 70 percent… They’ve reduced their total carbon footprint by more than 35 percent in just a few short years…” Microsoft Inc. (MSFT). “It’s pushing so hard that it is aiming to be carbon NEGATIVE by 2030. That’s a huge pledge. And if anyone can do it, it’s Microsoft.” NextEra Energy (NEE). “[The] world’s leading producer of wind and solar energy… By 2025, the company aims to reduce their own emissions by 67 percent while doubling their electricity production from a 2005 benchmark.” Lastly, Total (TOT). “One of the world’s largest oil and gas companies… Through its subsidiaries and new investments, Total is making major waves in the ‘green revolution.’” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Do you favour tech stocks like most ethical and sustainable investors? Then you might want to see the recommendations of Billy Duberstein. His article is titled 3 Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in April and appeared on The Motley Fool site. Here are the stocks he recommends with each followed by a quote from him. Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). “Makes the machines that allow chipmakers to produce smaller, more powerful chips.” Alteryx (NYSE: AYX). “Its main product is an end-to-end, comprehensive software suite, which allows both data scientists and non-data scientists to work together building and deploying machine learning algorithms.” Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU). “Micron's product portfolio will be essential to future artificial intelligence applications, which will require lots and lots of DRAM memory and NAND flash storage. In addition to these products, Micron is also one of only two companies to have 3D Xpoint, a new kind of non-volatile memory that is faster than NAND, though also more expensive. Micron is the only company to have all three technologies.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. It appears that the next big US fiscal stimulus plan may involve huge spending on infrastructure. Due to this many investors are looking for companies engaged in that sector to buy into. In her post on the Motley Fool site, Neha Chamaria writes about 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Watch in April. They are – and again followed by a quote from her on each company. Nucor (NYSE: NUE). “Nucor is North America's largest manufacturer and supplier of critical infrastructure steel and steel products.” Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC). “Vulcan is the nation's largest manufacturer of construction aggregates, primarily crushed stone, gravel, and sand, as well as a major producer of asphalt and concrete.” Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT). “If infrastructure spending picks up, Caterpillar should be a leading indicator as the world's largest construction-and-mining equipment manufacturer.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Ms. Chamaria has also written a post titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in April, also on the Motley Fool site. So, following the same format as previously, I’ll say the company followed by a quote from her. NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP). “NextEra Energy Partners was formed in 2014, when NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) spun-off its solar and wind energy projects to form an exclusive clean-energy focused limited partnership.” Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP). “One of the best diversified renewable energy stocks you can find. While NextEra Energy Partners is focused on wind and solar, Brookfield Renewable specializes in hydropower, or the generation of electricity from water streams.” TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC). “The world's largest independent composite wind-blade manufacturer.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. With this downturn, many investors are finding that dividends they’d become used to from stocks are being cut or even eliminated. Thus, those looking for dividends to provide income has become a real concern! Now, this might be helpful to you in that regard. BNK Invest has published an article titled FirstEnergy a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 3.9% Yield (FE). They write that “FirstEnergy Corp (FE) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ‘DividendRank’ statistics including a strong 3.9% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment, through analysis of social and environmental criteria.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7) ESG Funds, Stocks. Opportunities in Downturn. Tom Lydon of ETF Trends is making the case for green bonds at this juncture. In a post titled Going Green With Bonds Is a Winning Idea he recommends the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB). He writes that “The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF tracks the S&P Green Bond Select Index, which is ‘comprised of labeled green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by the supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally in multiple currencies,’ according to VanEck.” End quote. Here's another interesting item from his article. Mr. Lydon quotes Thomas Wacker, head of credit at UBS Global Wealth and reported in Bloomberg reports as saying that “Sustainable bonds are a ‘defensive opportunity’ that credit investors should favor over non-green, investment-grade corporate notes,’” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- End Comment Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Do stay well and healthy – and most wise with your investments at this extraordinary time. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on April 24. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG funds outperform in market downturn according to research by Bloomberg and Morningstar! One big reason is they are big on tech: the FANG’s – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix; and Alphabet (Google). Consumers spending more time at home due to COVID-19 are buying and using the products and services of these companies. Other news covered too PODCAST: ESG Funds Outperform in Market Downturn. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 28, March 27, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 28 for March 27, 2020, titled “ESG Funds Outperform in Downturn. And More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Despite the market turmoil, there are still a few analysts willing to stick their necks out in favour of ESG and sustainable investments! Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- A) ESG Funds Outperform in Market Downturn This first article is highly encouraging as it reports on how ESG funds outperform in market downturn. Titled As coronavirus infects markets, sustainable funds prove their mettle. It’s written by Naveena Sadasivam and appeared on the Grist site. Here are some quotes. “Could portfolios that avoided oil and gas companies, tobacco, and other profitable but controversial industries have high enough returns to satisfy investors? Would they survive during times of market upheaval?... According to a Bloomberg analysis, the average ESG fund fell by about 12 percent this year. That’s a big tumble, but it’s just half the decrease seen by the S&P 500 Index over the same period. A separate analysis of about 200 U.S. funds by Morningstar, a financial services firm, also found that, although ESG funds have taken a hit, they’re faring better than their conventional counterparts and are overrepresented in the top quartiles of their peer groups, in terms of their performance.” End quote. So that’s something to help you feel better knowing that ESG funds outperform in market downturn. ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Companies To Invest In If You Want To Fight Climate Change Another article that could help cheer you up and refocus your attention on what is still likely the most important issue facing our planet – which is, of course, climate change! Victoria Simpson writing on the World Atlas site has penned a post titled 10 Companies To Invest In If You Want To Fight Climate Change. However, I’m only going to cover 9 of the companies. Ms. Simpson starts with her last pick. “ 9) General Electric (GE) GE is now dominant in the wind business. The company’s shares have gone down considerably in recent years, but some restructuring has them now more streamlined and focusing on aviation, healthcare and power exclusively, including wind turbines. 8) Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO) It… has $8 billion in annual revenue, making this an impressive venture. From Denmark, Vestas is said to have a more than [a] 30% increase in its backlog of wind turbine orders. 7) First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN) First Trust Global Wind Energy is an exchange-traded fund. It holds shares in many wind-energy companies including Vestas (VWS.CO) and GE (GE). 6) Sunrun (RUN) According to Nasdaq.com, Sunrun is a company making solar panels that is doing well. It has experienced a 200% increase since 2017 and is presently the number one residential solar installer in the US. Sales are thought to increase considerably in Florida and Texas in the near future as policy changes are opening the markets in these areas. 5) BASF (BAS.DE) A key component to consuming less energy is having the right insulation in your walls… BASF is a world leader in thermal insulation materials with an estimated 6% annual growth rate projected to take place from 2019 to 2025. 4) Beyond Meat (BYND) The market in plant-based meat substitutes has been around for a long while, but it has taken a new leap with Beyond Meat products. They have now been introduced to Tim Horton’s, Subway, Denny’s, TGIF Friday’s, and other major restaurant chains… For those seeking a more established stock with a similar outlook, there is also Kellogg (K). The cereal company acquired MorningStar Farms back in 1999, and it is now selling 90 million pounds of meat-free proteins through names like Morningstoar, Kashi, and Gardenburger. 3) First Solar (FSLR) In addition to Sunrun, which is mentioned above, First Solar is a company to look at when considering an investment in solar power. The company is an American manufacturer of solar panels. It is also a provider of utility-scale PV power plants and supporting services, including construction, finance, maintenance, and end-of-life panel recycling, according to Wikipedia… This is a company to watch, according to Investopedia.com. 2) Tesla (TSLA) Tesla is not sticking to cars alone. It acquired SolarCity, a solar panel and solar roof tile manufacturer, and is it also specializing in battery energy storage from home to grid-scale. 1) United Natural Foods (UNFI) United Natural Foods is also a prime supplier of organic foods to the public…  It could be a good bet for environmentally conscious investors.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- B) ESG Funds Outperform in Market Downturn Another recent article that focused on climate change investing is titled 7 Great ETFs to Invest in Climate Change. It’s written by Jeff Reeves and appeared on the US News & World Report and Yahoo! Finance sites. Some of these funds are probably among the ESG funds outperforming in market downturn. Check them out. Here are Mr. Reeves's suggestions and quotes by him on the seven ETFs. 1) Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) Tied to the WilderHill Clean Energy Index… this ETF gives you a look at the major domestic names in the space. That includes conventional stocks you may think of like residential solar provider Sunnova Energy International (NOVA) as well as hydrogen fuel cell company Bloom Energy Corp. (BE). Collectively, the roughly 40 stocks in the fund add up to a pretty diversified look at alternative energy companies in America. 2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF covers publicly traded companies that are engaged in solar, wind and other renewable power sources around the world… The drawback here is that with only about 30 companies and a number of large-scale utility stocks like this, you get fewer of the component manufacturers and service stocks that appear in Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF. So, while more geographically diverse, investors should be aware of the focus on power generation players. 3) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) Invesco Solar ETF tracks about two dozen solar energy players including First Solar (FSLR) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)… Solar stocks are the go-to alternative energy investment for many on Wall Street, and Invesco Solar ETF allows you to play this subsector in one simple instrument. Just remember that it's more volatile than other broader energy funds. 4) First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN) Wind turbines alone account for more than 8% of total energy generation in the U.S. That's on par with both nuclear capacity and hydroelectric power capacity, and significantly ahead of the 3% share of solar. First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund does wrap up some of the biggest dedicated plays like Denmark-based Vestas (VWS.CO)as well as firms like General Electric Co. (GE) that are major producers of wind turbines and related technologies. 5) Invesco Cleantech ETF (PZD) If you want smaller players with growth potential or a focus on secondary technology instead of large-scale power production, Invesco offers a ‘clean-tech’ ETF designed to target companies that derive the majority of their revenue from products or services that are environmentally conscious. Among its 50 or so holdings are Luxembourg-based Eurofins Scientific (ERFSF) that designs environmental and ‘agriscience’ testing products to help measure health and environmental impact, or biologics player Novozymes (NVZMY) that is trying to replace plastics and harsh chemicals with microorganisms and natural enzymes in everyday products. 6) SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (LOWC) On the other side of these firms focused on green energy or natural products are the end users. And while consumer behavior matters, the fate of the planet is perhaps more reliant on the actions and business models of major corporations than individual household habits. The SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF is designed to focus on the corporations that are the most environmentally conscious. 7) Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO) One of the harsh realities of global warming is the increase in water demand caused by rising temperatures. This is particularly true in the American west, where states like California and Arizona have seen persistent droughts and related wildfires. The Invesco Water Resources ETF is a way to profit from this trend, however, through roughly 35 water-related holdings that include publicly traded water utilities like American Water Works Co. (AWK) as well as pump, flow control and service providers such as industrial giant Danaher Corp. (DHR). ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast:ESG Funds Outperform in Market Downturn. And More… And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy and wise with your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on April 7. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Covered are some of the best stocks, bonds, funds for climate change action and remediation. The picks come from great ESG, renewable energy and infrastructure analysts at Kiplinger, The Motley Fool and Zacks. Also, what’s one of the best renewable energy dividend stocks? Want to know the best gun-free funds to invest in America? More PODCAST: Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… Transcript & Links, Episode 27, March 13, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 27 for March 13, 2020, titled “Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Despite the market turmoil, we should know that there is a future and some stock market sectors will shine in the years ahead. And, hopefully, some of the companies and sectors covered in these podcasts will be among the winners. Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… I want to lead with articles that review some stocks, bonds, funds for climate change. First, this article titled 6 Stocks, 3 Bond Funds That Are Good for the Environment and Your Portfolio by Nellie Huang and John Waggoner. It appeared on the Kiplinger site. Their first pick is Darling Ingredients (DAR)… which they say, “collects food waste and various animal by-products and transforms it all into more useful things for customers in the food, animal feed and fuel industries, among others.” End quote. The second company is Waste Management (WM) quote “The firm is the largest trash collector (and disposer) in North America. It owns 252 solid waste landfills, 132 recycling facilities and 314 transfer stations, which consolidate, compact and transport waste to landfills… We should note that Waste Management has plenty of competition. Nor is the stock cheap.” End quote. The third company is TPI Composites (TPIC) which Huang and Waggoner say “makes propellers for the wind industry that are strong, light and very, very large… TPI is also entering the fast-growing electric vehicle market, making light, high-strength electric bus bodies.” End quote. Fourthly is First Solar (FSLR) which the writers say is “one of the brightest lights in the photovoltaic solar energy industry. And in the volatile world of solar stocks, it’s probably the safest bet. ‘It’s the ExxonMobil of solar,’ says fund manager Waghorn, whose fund owns the stock…” End quote. Then their fifth pick is, quote, “Nutrien (NTR), a Canadian firm whose stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange, is the world’s largest fertilizer company.” End quote. And finally, they write about Xylem (XYL) which quoting them, “provides equipment and services that address the full water cycle, from collection to distribution and use, to the return of water to the environment.” End quote. Huang and Waggoner’s recommended bond funds Now to Huang and Waggoner’s recommended bond funds. They begin with their first pick which is the IShares Global Green Bond (BRGN). Quoting them they say it “opened in 2018 [and this] exchange-traded fund invests in investment-grade sovereign and government-related debt, corporate bonds, and securitized IOUs denominated in local currencies in countries around the world… And all bonds in the fund are either branded ‘green’ or meet standards set by financial firm MSCI…” End quote. Continuing, their second choice is the VanEck Vectors Green Bond (GRNB), launched in 2017, and yields a more robust 2.40%... And their last pick, quoting them is the “TIAA-CREF Green Bond (TGROX) launched in 2018 lead manager Stephen Liberatore has been picking socially and environmentally oriented bonds for more than a decade.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… Nellie Huang and John Waggoner have also written Funds That Prosper From Fighting Climate Change. They are: 1) Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) 2) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) 3) First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN) 4) VanEck Vectors Environmental Services (EVX) 5) IShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN) 6) SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free (SPYX) 7) SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free 8) Green Century Balanced (GCBLX) 9) Artisan Mid Cap (ARTMX) 10) Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX) ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… Besides the environment, another popular theme for ethical and sustainable investors are infrastructure stocks. Scott Levine at the Motley Fool states his top picks in an article titled 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Watch in March. His choices are: 1) American Water Works (NYSE: AWK), he writes that “American Water Works is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater treatment utility company in the United States.” End quote. 2) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BIP), Mr. Levine says that “For infrastructure-oriented investors who are seeking a diversified approach, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is a viable option.” End quote. And 3) NV5 Global (NASDAQ: NVEE), he says “will appeal to dividend-minded investors. The company's board of directors recently approved a 7% increase to the quarterly distribution, which is now $0.54 per unit.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… In my last podcast, I covered a story listing the top ten most held stocks in ESG funds. Well three of them are again listed in this article titled 8 of the Best Stocks to Buy for ESG Investors written by Josh Enomoto and published on the InvestorPlace site. So, I’m just going to cover the five in Mr. Enomoto’s article that wasn’t covered previously. They are Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Emcor Group (NYSE: EME), Nike (NYSE: NKE), and Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS). For Home Depot he says, “The company specializes in the home goods and renovation industry… Home Depot [sources] most of their wood from right here in the U.S. Also noteworthy is the “company’s efforts toward diversity.” End quote. On Emcor Group, Mr. Enomoto writes that “First, Emcor has adopted several environmentally sustainable practices in its operations… Additionally, the company leads in reducing waste as well as monitoring its carbon footprint.” End quote. For Nike, he says that “Social justice advocates have pressured Nike for years regarding accusations of sweatshop labor... On the other end of the spectrum, Nike stock wins out on the environmental sustainability segment.” End quote. Regarding Hasbro Mr. Enomoto has this to say, that “With my last idea for stocks to buy, I’m going to go with the riskiest name, toymaker Hasbro. Obviously, Hasbro stock is not a name for the risk averse… However, if sustainability ranks highly for your portfolio considerations, then you may want to pick up the discount in Hasbro stock.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Stocks, Bonds, Funds for Climate Change. More… Looking for a high yielding renewable energy stock? Well, Matthew DiLallo has one for you. His post is titled Why I Just Bought This High-Yielding Renewable-Energy Stock and appeared on the Motley Fool site. He says this stock, Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN)(NYSE: CWEN.A) “Owns and operates a portfolio of clean power-generating assets… [that] sells [its power]… to end users under long-term, fixed-rate contracts… Those agreements provide the company with relatively predictable cash flow, which gives Clearway Energy the money to pay a dividend -- which currently yields 3.9% -- and expand its clean energy portfolio.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Weapon-Free Funds for Ethical Investing Gun violence is problematic almost everywhere and a major concern for many ethical and sustainable investors. So it’s welcome that Zacks analyst Nitish Marwah writes an article titled 3 Weapon-Free Funds for Ethical Investing. His first pick is, quote, “New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) [that] invests in companies that contribute to a sustainable environment… has an annual expense ratio of 1.12%, which is below the category average of 1.30%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 16.2% and 10.6%, respectively.” End quote. Next pick is Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class (PXWEX) which Mr. Marwah says “seeks returns on investment that exceed the price and yield performance of the Pax Global Women's Leadership Index. The fund invests more than four-fifths of its assets in securities of the components of the Women's index. [It] has an annual expense ratio of 0.81%, which is below the category average of 1.10%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 12.1% and 9.1%, respectively.” End quote. Finally, the Calvert Global Water Fund Class A (CFWAX). Mr. Marwah writes “tracks the performance of the Calvert Global Water Research Index. The fund normally invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of domestic as well as foreign companies from the water industries or are involved in water-related service and technologies. [It] has an annual expense ratio of 1.24%, which is below the category average of 1.36%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 8.3% and 6.6%, respectively.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on March 27. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

These little-known sustainable stocks offer great potential. Hydrogen sees bright future. Participate with this ETF. Good yields with yieldcos – which are renewable energy income-generating assets with steady income streams. The top ten holdings in ESG funds are Microsoft, Alphabet, Disney, Apple, Nvidia, Gilead Sciences, Clorox, V.F. Corporation, Lin Media, and Verisk Analytics.  And more PODCAST: Little-Known Sustainable Stocks with Potential. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 26, February 28, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 26 for February 28, 2020, titled “Little-Known Sustainable Stocks with Potential.And More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, I know the markets are incredibly depressing of late, as is the spread of Covid-19, the coronavirus. But the world is not coming to an end! Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Little-Known Sustainable Stocks with Potential Paloma Kubiak has written an article about little-known sustainable stocks with potential. It’s titled, Six little-known shares to tap into the sustainable investing theme in the UK publication Your Money. Here, I’m going to quote extensively from Ms. Kubiak. She writes that: “Thomas Fitzgerald, co-manager of the EdenTree Amity International fund, suggests Aptiv (Aptiv PLC: APTV)… This global technology company develops safer, greener and more connected technology solutions for cars… Fitzgerald says: ‘The company’s product portfolio matches key technological shifts in the automotive industry, while addressing some pressing socioeconomic challenges.’ For Jerry Thomas, head of global equities at Sarasin & Partners, TE Connectivity (TE Connectivity Ltd.: TEL), the supplier of connectors for the full Tesla range, is one to watch. He says the global connector industry is a $70bn niche market that has enjoyed 5% annual growth since the 1980s. ‘Connectors are non-standard, must not fail components that link the essential electrical components in the harsh environment that is the modern car.’ Another area investors could consider are companies that focus on reducing carbon emissions. One example is Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure (Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.: HASI) which looks to reduce carbon emissions by providing capital to companies operating in the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. Will Argent suggests, “NIBE Industrier, part of a group which contributes to a smaller carbon footprint and better use of energy.” Argent says: ‘It has three business areas which develop, manufacture and market a wide range of eco-friendly, energy-efficient solutions for indoor climate control in all types of property.’ With liquified natural gas in strong demand as electricity generators close down coal and oil-fired plants, Gaztransport & Technigaz (Gaztransport & Technigaz SA: GTT.PA) is playing a small but crucial role to lower emissions, according to John Buckland, research analyst at Waverton Investment Management. He says: ‘Currently Gaztransport & Technigaz is securing nearly 100% market share for the design of containment systems for new LNGC -- liquefied natural gas carriers -- and it is also prominent in the design of LNG fuel tanks for ships generally, as well as land-based storage. LNG fuel enables ship internal combustion engines to meet strict International Maritime Organization 2020 emission regulations to reduce sulphur emissions.’ For a slightly different take on the sustainable investing theme, US biopharmaceutical group AbbVie (AbbVie Inc.: ABBV) is one stock to consider. It is a leader in areas such as immunology, oncology and neuroscience, according to Johan Swahn, portfolio manager of Nordea’s Global Stars Equity strategy. Nordea assesses companies on whether they conduct business responsibly in relation to their stakeholders and Swahn says AbbVie is a good example of a positive ESG company.‘’ End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Little-Known Sustainable Stocks with Potential Another UK writer, Michael Baxter, posts his opinions also around the idea of little-known sustainable stocks with potential. He wrote about the Smurfit Kappa Group (Smurfit Kappa Group plc: SK3.IR) in an article Why I think this FTSE 100 stock is a must for both ethical and income investors originally appeared on the Motley Fool UK site. He writes that “Smurfit Kappa is a paper packaging company with a worldwide client base. It manufactures, distributes, and sells paper-based packaging products. That means that the company is, so to speak, at the front line in the battle against climate change and plastic pollution. That makes it popular with ethical investors. Smurfit Kappa’s latest results were good — earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 7% in the latest 12-month period compared to the year before… dividends are up 12%... at 3.5% [yield], [and] have been increasing every year since 2011… However, it’s the longer term potential of Smurfit Kappa that I think makes this company exciting. As more and more consumers demand better packaging, Smurfit Kappa is likely to see demand for its type of product explode.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hydrogen Help For This Clean Energy ET Everyone is excited about the potential for electric vehicles. However, it may well be that over the longer-term hydrogen becomes the best source of energy. Tom Lydon of ETF Trends makes this case in an article titled Hydrogen Help For This Clean Energy ETF. Mr. Lydon writes that “Investors should not overlook the opportunities afforded by hydrogen.” And recommends “The SPDR Kensho Clean Power ETF (NYSEArca: CNRG) is one of the best ETFs for investors looking to tap the hydrogen theme. The SPDR Kensho Clean Power ETF seeks to provide exposure to the clean power industry both in terms of generation and the underlying technology driving it…” Continuing, Mr. Lydon says “In mainland China, Japan and South Korea, a combination of local and central government works with industry to drive development of fuel cell vehicles and the associated infrastructure,” [and] according to IHS Markit. “On the other side of the world, California’s ‘low-carbon fuel standard’ provides a clear mechanism to lower the cost of retail hydrogen and to develop a refueling infrastructure open to all.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- How to Get Income With Renewable Energy Investments Mr. Lydon has also written a piece titled How to Get Income With Renewable Energy Investments, again appearing on ETF Trends. He says that “Finding dividends in the renewable energy space is difficult and many of the ETFs in this arena have low or no yields. [However] the Global X YieldCo Index ETF (NasdaqGM: YLCO) offers investors a refreshed look at the combination of alternative energy investing and income… YieldCos are income-generating assets from the renewable energy space that look to deliver steady income to investors… [The Global X YieldCo Index ETF] yields 2.88%, [and] follows the Indxx YieldCo & Renewable Energy Income Index.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Little-Known Sustainable Stocks with Potential Continuing on the subject of renewable energy investment and sustainable stocks is an insightful article by Scott Levine. It’s titled, 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and found on the Motley Fool site. Here’s what he has to say, quote, “Astute investors who recognize this growing interest in climate change will surely be searching for related investment opportunities, such as those in renewable energy-oriented stocks. Fortunately, they need not look much further than Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ: ICLN), and Atlantica Yield (NASDAQ: AY).” End quote. Here's part of what he says about these sustainable stocks. “Founded in 2006, Enphase Energy has grown considerably over the past 15 years… Enphase now has shipments of more than 23 million microinverters under its belt as well as a presence in 21 countries. But it's not only the company's leading position as a global supplier of solar microinverters… [as] Enphase is in the midst of making its foray into the energy storage market… [and] Enphase has seen its stock soar.” [And] “for more conservative investors who are less willing to take on the risk associated with a single company, the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF is an attractive option… The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF's holdings provide investors with exposure to a wide variety of companies. Besides Enphase Energy and its peer, SolarEdge Technologies, for example, investors can find the wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas Wind Systems, as well as geothermal specialist, Ormat Technologies, among the top 10 holdings… Since the ETF isn't actively managed, it offers investors a reasonable expense ratio of 0.46%.. [and] a trailing-12-month yield of 1.36%.” End quote. Plus his-third pick he says offers “Investors the opportunity to invest in renewable energy while receiving an appealing dividend. Atlantica Yield is a yieldco which has steadily increased its distribution to shareholders over the past three years. [And] currently features a 5.05% forward yield… [And according to the company’s website] it aspires to grow this [yield] at a 5% to 6% compound annual growth rate through 2022.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Sustainable Stocks that top ESG Funds My last item appears in the publication Quartz. It has an interesting article by John Detrixhe on what are the top holdings in ESG funds. This might be useful to you in looking at what your holding in your stock portfolio – should you own stocks. His article is titled Microsoft stock is the biggest winner from environmental and socially responsible investing. It lists the top ten holdings in ESG funds as, and in order, Microsoft, Alphabet, Disney, Apple, Nvidia, Gilead Sciences, Clorox, V.F. Corporation, Lin Media, and Verisk Analytics. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on March 13. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

New coverage of US Vegan Climate ETF and Karner Blue Animal Impact Fund. The recent launch of LGBTQ100 ESG stock index is doing well. Prepare to pounce on exciting infrastructure stocks. Canadian sustainable utility stocks, attractive. 3 great alternative energy ETFs to buy as traditional energy ETFs lag. Renewable energy stocks for 2020. And more PODCAST: Vegan Funds. Infrastructure, Utility Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 25, February 14, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 25 for February 14, 2020, titled “Vegan Funds. Infrastructure, Utility Stocks. And More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News The outstanding success of the Beyond Meat initial public offering at $25 which rose to over $230 and now trades around $115 signifies the huge latent demand for vegan and vegetarian investments for ethical and sustainable investors. A terrific article related to this was written by Ron Lieber in The New York Times titled, How a Vegan Ends Up With Leather in Her Portfolio. In the article, he reviews two vegan and vegetarian-friendly funds These are the US Vegan Climate ETF and the Karner Blue Animal Impact Fund. I’ve previously covered the US Vegan Climate ETF in my podcasts Amazon vs. eBay, First Vegan Fund, and more… on August 16, 2019, and again after the fund debuted in my podcast First Vegan Fund, Renewable Energy Stocks, and more… of September 13, 2019. So, you can go to those podcasts to review previous research and comments. US Vegan Climate ETF Concerning the US Vegan Climate ETF, Mr. Lieber has this to say, that “One issue that inspires deep feelings: animal welfare. It is one of the newest niches that socially responsible investment companies seek to serve, and it offers a useful template for the kinds of questions that all of us need to ask if we want to craft a portfolio that points the same way as our moral compass… The US Vegan Climate ETF… begins with subtraction: removing companies, and even whole industries, that it considers animal unfriendly. Pharmaceuticals? Poof, because of all the animal testing… [It] nixes fossil fuel companies, but it still owns stock in automakers that make gas-powered vehicles with leather interiors. Here, the fund’s creator, Beyond Investing, saw an opportunity to push the car companies toward skin-free seating, given that Tesla has made that move with some models… The Vegan ETF features a fee of 0.60 percent, which is a lot for an index fund.” End quote. Karner Blue Animal Impact Fund And on the Karner Blue Animal Impact Fund, Mr. Lieber says that “Named for the endangered butterfly, [it] takes a different approach. It is an actively managed mutual fund, with fewer than half the number of stocks in the Vegan ETF, including companies not based in the United States. Another big difference: It employs so-called positive screening, picking best-of-breed companies in as many industries as it can stomach…” End quote. Then Mr. Lieber quotes Vicki L. Benjamin, president of Karner Blue Capital as saying that ‘We are not animal avoidant, We are animal engagement…” Mr. Lieber adds, “That’s how Karner Blue ends up with Chipotle in its portfolio: It likes the chain’s animal welfare efforts (its continuing food safety questions aside).” End quote. As to the cost of the fund, Mr. Lieber writes, “Karner Blue funds can cost even more than the First Vegan Fund, though the exact amount depends on how much you invest and whether you’re using a financial adviser.” End quote. Since it is a mutual fund, it’s probably only available in the US. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News Now here’s an unusual and interesting ESG index that some ethical and sustainable investors might be interested in. Though it does appeal to a specific population segment. It’s the LGBTQ100 ESG Index (Ticker: LGBTQ100). An article describing this ESG index appeared on Yahoo! Finance under the title LGBTQ100 ESG Index Closes Above 2,000.00 Three Months Post Launch. Quote, “Designed to advance equality throughout corporate America, the Index tracks the top 100 companies within the U.S. that rank high on environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics and support the cause for diversity and equality across the nation. Bobby Blair, CEO of LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, Inc. said, ‘I'm thrilled that our LGBTQ100 ESG Index, which screens for ESG compliance in addition to advancing equality, has outperformed the S&P 500 in its first 90 days." End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News On a different note, have you ever considered infrastructure stocks? Some of them might be a fit for most ethical and sustainable investors. Matthew DiLallo writes about them on the Motley Fool site in a post titled 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Watch in February. He says that “Several infrastructure stocks have made big moves over the past year, making them less appealing buys these days… [but] sell-offs can come out of nowhere [and that] is why investors should always keep an updated watchlist… With that in mind, three infrastructure-related stocks to watch this month are Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BIP), TerraForm Power (NASDAQ: TERP), and ONEOK (NYSE: OKE). All three could deliver some market-moving news this February, making them worth watching closely.” ------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News Some other stock ideas that ethical and sustainable investors might consider are utility companies with good environmental records. Divya Balji wrote an article titled ESG Rock Stars Sprout From Safe Utility Stocks in Canada that first appeared on Bloomberg and I found on Yahoo! Finance. Ms. Balji writes “There’s a green revolution taking place in a corner of Canada’s stock market… Last year, the S&P/TSX Composite Utilities Index was the second-best group of Canadian stocks -- surging 32%...” End quote. Ms. Balji then specifies the companies she likes, saying that “Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (INE.TO), a renewable power producer, has soared 26% in 2020 after a 34% rally last year. Just this week, it announced a C$661 million partnership with Hydro-Québec targeting wind and solar projects… And Boralex Inc. (BLX.TO), an electricity producer with renewable energy power stations, is up 20% this year after a 45% climb in 2019. (And) Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN.TO), the regulated utility with sustainable energy assets are trading at the highest level since it was listed about 22 years ago.” ------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News Continuing on the subject of energy, Todd Shriber over at the InvestorPlace site has posted an article titled 3 Great Alternative Energy ETFs to Buy as Traditional Energy ETFs Lag. His three picks are: ALPS Clean Energy ETF (CBOE: ACES); iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ: ICLN); and VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: SMOG) ALPS Clean Energy ETF On ALPS Clean Energy ETF, he writes that it has an “Expense ratio: 0.65% per year. What’s compelling about ALPS Clean Energy ETF relative to rival alternative energy ETFs is that it reaches multiple corners of this fast-growing market segment, including wind, solar, storage and efficiency, LED and smart grid technologies, just to name a few.” End quote. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Regarding the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Mr. Shriber says its “Expense ratio is 0.46%... one of the more seasoned members of the renewable energy ETF landscape [the] iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, which tracks the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, isn’t quite as diverse, thematically speaking, as the aforementioned ALPS Clean Energy ETF, but the iShares fund does offer more than adequate penetration into the wind and solar industries, which could be a boon for the fund in 2020.” End quote. VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF And on the VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF, he says that its “Expense ratio is 0.63%... VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF allocates 12.28% of its weight to Tesla stock… (this ETF) follows the Ardour Global Index, which quoting VanEck, ‘is intended to track the overall performance of low carbon energy companies which are those companies primarily engaged in alternative energy which includes power derived principally from biofuels (such as ethanol), wind, solar, hydro and geothermal sources and also includes the various technologies that support the production, use, and storage of these sources.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Ethical and Sustainable Investing News So, I hope you’re not bored with my energy focus. But it’s such an important area! This next article is titled 2 Environmentally Friendly Stocks to Buy as Climate Crisis Intensifies. It also appeared on Yahoo! Finance. Its source is TipRanks and the author isn’t mentioned. The first company recommended is Renewable Energy Group Inc. (REGI). Renewable Energy Group Inc. Quote, “Renewable Energy Group Inc. is the largest biodiesel manufacturer in the US, with 14 biorefineries and a feedstock processing facility… The company has added over 200% to its share price since 2017… [It has a] strong buy consensus rating. At $35, the average price target suggests possible upside of 33%.” End quote. Sunrun Inc. The second company is Sunrun Inc. (RUN). The article’s author says “Sunrun has done very well over the last few years, with 2019’s 38% gain adding up to a cumulative 200% increase since 2017. The company is now the number 1 residential solar installer in the US… Sunrun has a unanimous strong buy consensus rating from the Street.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on February 28. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

New top sustainable companies' rankings: Corporate Knights’ 2020 Global 100 and CDP’s 179 ‘A’ list! More ESG and sustainable ETFs and stocks for 2020. Best water stocks in the Americas, large and small. The most highly rated funds for Canadians appear also in Corporate Knights and the Interactive Investor site for British investors. And more PODCAST: Top Sustainable Companies, Water Stocks. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 24, January 31, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 24 for January 31, 2020, titled “Top Sustainable Companies, Water Stocks. And More…”—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Sustainable Companies I’m going to lead this episode with two great new top sustainable companies’ lists. The first one is Corporate Knights’ 2020 Global 100 ranking. This is an annual favourite of mine. Their top five sustainable companies are: Orsted A/S, (ORSTED.CO) in wholesale power, Denmark. Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, (CHR.CO) engaged in food and other chemical agents, also Denmark. Neste Oyj, (NESTE.HE) petroleum refineries, Finland. Cisco Systems Inc., (CSCO.Nasdaq) communications equipment, United States. Autodesk Inc., (ADSK.Nasdaq) software, United States. Now you can see the full list by going to the link on this episode’s webpage. Top Sustainable Companies' Ranked The second compilation of top sustainable companies is CDP’s 179 company ‘A’ list. About this list, CDP says its “Annual A List names the world's most pioneering companies leading on environmental transparency and performance. This year, we recognize more than 170 corporates as the leaders acting to address climate risks and build our future zero-carbon economy - one that works for both people and planet.” End quote. CDP doesn’t actually give them a ranking. They just list who they feel are the companies that meet their criteria. For a link to the full list go to this episode’s webpage at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Incidentally, these top sustainable companies' lists only provide rankings according to various sustainability criteria. They don’t rate the companies as to whether their stocks are worth buying! To do that, you can obviously go to the research section of your broker’s site, ask an advisor, or also check out financial analysts’ opinions on many free online sites. The best ones I’ve found are YahooFinance, Reuters, MarketBeat, Nasdaq Analyst Stock Recommendations, and TipRanks. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy in 2020 My next piece is by Todd Shriber, on the InvestorPlace site, titled 7 Socially Responsible ETFs to Buy in 2020. I’m going to say what his picks are and follow with a quote by him on each company. “1) VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: GRNB). Comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally. 2) Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (BATS: NULG). This socially responsible ETF dispels the notion that virtuous investing can be a drag on returns. Over the past year, the Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF has outpaced the S&P 500 Growth Index by nearly 1,000 basis points. 3) Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (NYSEARCA: SNPE). The rookie ETF is notable for at least two reasons, albeit superficial. First, it is the first ETF to track the S&P 500 ESG Index. Second, it has amassed $110 million in assets since inception, a very impressive start. At just 0.11% per year, the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF is one of the most cost-effective funds in the socially responsible category.” Now, my comment. However, be aware that this ETF is rather unbalanced in that it’s heavily weighted with tech stocks. For many investors that’s fine – but not for all nor for all market conditions. Now, back to quoting Mr. Shriber. “4) Global X Conscious Companies ETF (NASDAQ: KRMA). It follows the Concinnity Conscious Companies Index, and that Global X says it offers exposure to companies achieving positive outcomes for 5 key stakeholders: Customers, Suppliers, Stock & Debt Holders, Local Communities, and notably, Employees. 5) Inspire Corporate Bond Impact ETF (NYSEARCA: IBD). Inspire offers a broad suite of faith-based ETFs, with [this bond fund] being the first corporate ETF dedicated to Christian values. And according to the issuer it’s donating a portion of fees to support Christian ministry projects such as clean water wells, refugee relief efforts, Bible distribution and other worthy causes. 6) Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: NUHY). Applying virtuous filters to high-yield bonds can help investors reduce and avoid trouble spots… [it’s also] the first socially responsible ETF in the high-yield category. 7) VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: SMOG). With its memorable ticker and significant Tesla exposure, [this fund] is a broad-based play on the soaring alternative energy industry.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Making the Low Carbon Call With ETFs Now, if you’re looking specifically for more low carbon investments, Tom Lydon offers more picks with his article Making the Low Carbon Call With ETFs at ETF Trends. He recommends iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEArca: CRBN) and SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEArca: LOWC). ------------------------------------------------------------- More Top Sustainable Companies Now we turn our attention from ESG ETFs to individual ESG stocks. The article is titled, 5 ESG Stocks to Buy as Climate Risk Takes Center Stage by Zacks Equity Research appearing on YahooFinance. Here are the five stocks by Zacks. Quoting directly from the article: “1) Applied Materials, Inc. Symbol AMAT provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display and related industries. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 24%. 2) Keysight Technologies, Inc. Symbol KEYS provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries. This Zacks Rank #1 company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is nearly 10%. 3) NVIDIA Corporation. Symbol NVDA operates as a visual computing company, that offers processors, which include GeForce for PC gaming, GeForce NOW for cloud-based game-streaming service and much more. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the fiscal fourth quarter is more than 100%. 4) The Procter & Gamble Company. Symbol PG provides a range of beauty, grooming, health care, fabric and home care, and baby, feminine and family care products. The company is constantly working toward restricting microfiber release. Every load of washing releases millions of microfibres that are flushed down the drain, and gradually ends up in beaches and oceans where they remain for years and disturb sea creatures’ food chain. Procter & Gamble has an expected earnings growth rate of 9.3% for the current year. And 5) General Mills, Inc. Symbol GIS manufactures and markets branded consumer foods. Among the many sustainability initiatives of the company, its Cheerios brand uses regenerative agriculture and organic farming to source ingredients for products including the legacy cereal brand. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 5.3%.” End quotes. Zacks is proving to be a good source of recommendations! ------------------------------------------------------------- Water Stocks in the Americas Getting increasing attention among ethical and sustainable investors are water stocks. So it’s timely that Debra Fiakas wrote a piece titled Water Stocks in the Americas. There she reviews what she believes to be the best water stocks operating in the Americas. Ms. Fiakas writes about Consolidated Water (CWCO: Nasdaq), American Water Works (AWK: NYSE), and Global Water Resources (GWRS: Nasdaq). However, she includes a chart with four more companies. Best to go to her article to read her insights into this industry and its key players. The link, again, is on this episode’s page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Canadian Funds Now for my Canadian listeners, my great colleague, Toby Heaps at Corporate Knights, has just published The ultimate guide to responsible investing. Mr. Heaps says that I quote,” We ranked over 700 mutual funds and ETFs through a sustainability lens. Here are the top scorers.” End quote. Also, a regular on this podcast, Tim Nash, another insightful analyst, has published The 2019 eco-fund ranking of his top Canadian funds. His article is also on the Corporate Knights site. Again, for links to these articles go to this episode’s podcast page. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best UK Funds For UK ethical and sustainable investors there’s the Interactive Investor site!. It’s a terrific site for you which, they say, quote, “We have identified more than 140 ethical investment options available on our platform.” End quote. Not only do they have all that information and data, but the site takes you through step-by-step to locate the investment option that best matches your personal values! Again, the link to the key page on their site is also on this episode’s podcast page. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comments Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. And to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on February 14. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Best ESG funds and renewable energy stocks for 2020 from top analysts. Leading sustainable investing stories and stocks of 2019. Greenpeace ranks Chinese big tech companies for sustainability. Notable global clean energy stocks you never heard about. New IBM battery chemistry could spur a revolution in clean energy production and electric vehicle technology. And more… PODCAST: ESG Funds, Stocks, for 2020. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 23, January 17, 2020 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 23 for January 17, 2020, titled “ESG Funds, Stocks for 2020. And More…” presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols – and bonus material at this episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Now to this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- Let’s begin with a wrap-up of 2019 from Morningstar’s distinguished sustainability analyst, Jon Hale. His article is titled, 10 Sustainable Investing Stories of 2019. His ten top stories are: The Growing Immediacy of Climate Change; The Shift Toward Stakeholder Capitalism; Proxy Voting and Shareholder Engagement Take Center Stage; Turning Back the Clock at the SEC; Interest in Sustainable Investing Continues to Rise Among Individual Investors; Flows Into U.S. Sustainable Funds More Than Tripled in 2019; A Strong Year for U.S. Sustainable Fund Performance; Many More Funds "Considering" ESG; Enhancement to Morningstar Sustainability Rating; and Impact investing. It's well worth reading so go to the link on this episode’s webpage. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Funds, Stocks (1) Another article with a Morningstar connection is by Nancy Zambell titled Social Responsibly: Five Top-Rated ESG Funds. It’s published on the Money Show site. Ms. Zambell “looked at about 25 of the most popular SRI funds [on Morningstar], searching for the highest-rated.” Here are the five ESG funds she recommends: ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Funds, Stocks (2) On a different note, has the new trade deal between the US and China sparked your interest in Chinese tech companies? Or, do you already invest in them? Either way, you’ll be interested in a new report released by Greenpeace concerning their sustainability performance. You can read all about it in a Fortune article by Naomi Xu Elegant titled ‘They Must Scale Up:’ Greenpeace Ranks China’s Tech Giants on Renewable Energy. Ms. Xu Elegant writes that “Greenpeace collaborated with the North China Electric Power University for the report, which analyzed 15 of China's biggest cloud companies and data center operators and scored them based on their performance in renewable energy, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency.” End quote. Further, she writes that the “E-commerce giant Alibaba—China's largest company by market value—scored 60 out of a possible 100 points on the ranking. Tencent, China's second-largest publicly listed company, scored 52 on the report. Huawei and Baidu each scored 46, while e-commerce company JD.com received just 12 points. Huawei was the only company on the list that has set a greenhouse gas emission reduction target. Software firm Baosight Software, whose parent company is the state-owned Fortune Global 500 company Baowu Steel, made the bottom of the ranking, receiving just two points.” End quote. Incidentally, I have the link to the full report on this episode’s page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Funds, Stocks (3) Now back to the crucial renewable energy space where there have been several recent articles reviewing and recommending the best ESG funds, stocks, in the sector. These Were the 5 Best Renewable Energy Stocks of 2019 The first article I want to discuss is titled These Were the 5 Best Renewable Energy Stocks of 2019. It’s by Scott Levine writing on the Motley Fool site. He says the five leaders were: Brookfield Renewable Partners (up 81%); Plug Power (149%); SolarEdge Technologies (169%); Ballard Power (190%); and Enphase Energy (466%). As for 2020, Mr. Levine says that I quote, “In general, fuel cell companies [Plug Power and Ballard Power] seem the most likely to hit bumps in the road in 2020, while Brookfield Renewable Partners, SolarEdge, and Enphase appear poised to build on their recent successes.” End quote. 4 Top Solar Energy Stocks to Buy in January The second article is titled 4 Top Solar Energy Stocks to Buy in January. By a regular on this podcast, Travis Hoium. He says to buy, yup again, Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP). Yes, this stock really has a huge following. Even more about it later in this podcast. He says Brookfield “returned 350% over the decade when you include dividends.” End quote. His second pick is another popular recommendation, SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR). About Sunpower, he writes, “What I like about SunPower's new strategy is that it will be a large, platform company in distributed solar… SunPower is also the No. 1 commercial solar developer in the U.S., a huge market that's been under-exploited thus far.” End quote. Mr. Levine’s third choice is Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR). About Vivint, he says “The No. 2 residential solar installer in the U.S. is Vivint Solar (NYSE:VSLR), and unlike SunPower, it's the company installing solar panels on customers' roofs.” End quote. Fourthly, is First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR). Quote, “No company has been as successful in this industry as First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR). It produces thin-film solar panels that are primarily used in utility-scale solar projects.” End quote. 2 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in January The third article 2 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in January is by Neha Chamaria, also a Motley Fool contributor. Her picks are also familiar to this podcast’s listeners. The first one is NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE). She writes that “Today, NextEra is the world's largest producer of wind and solar energy, thanks to its decisions to invest in them long before most other traditional utilities took the plunge.” End quote. Of her second choice, Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP), she comments that “Brookfield Renewable Partners is the perfect bet on hydroelectric power... hydropower, not solar or wind, is currently the world's largest renewable source of electricity generation.” End quote. Incidentally, Brookfield Renewable Partners is involved in a major takeover of TerraForm Power. TerraForm Power has solar and wind assets in the US and Europe. Read all about it in an article titled Brookfield powers ahead with takeover bid for TerraForm by Abigail Townsend on the ShareCast site. Better Buy: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners vs. Brookfield Asset Management The fourth and final renewable energy-related article I want to cover is titled Better Buy: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners vs. Brookfield Asset Management. It’s by John Bromels, another analyst I often feature. He states that “Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM) [is] the parent [of] Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP).” End quote. In summation, he writes that “With its superior yield, excellent management team, and more recession-resistant portfolio, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is going to be the better buy for most investors. However, those who are looking for an investment for a tax-advantaged account may not be able to invest. For these investors, Brookfield Asset Management is certainly an attractive option, as long as it's not a high dividend yield you're after.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Funds, Stocks (4) More on the subject of clean energy ESG funds, stocks, are Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2020 by Tom Konrad writing for the AltEnergy site. Many of his picks haven’t been covered in this podcast before. Mr. Konrad has a great record of stock picking! He says, quoting him that, “I’ve been publishing lists of ten clean energy stocks that I think will do well in the year to come since 2008.  With a 46 percent total return, the 2019 list has had its best year since 2009, when it managed a 57 percent return by catching the rebound off the 2008 crash.” End quote. So he’s worth paying attention too! I urge you to go to his article for his reasoning behind each choice. The link is on this podcast episode’s webpage. Forgive me if I don’t pronounce all of their names correctly. So, here are his picks: Covanta Holding Corp. (CVA) and Valeo SA (FR.PA, VLEEF, VLEEY); Green Plains Partners (GPP); NFI Group, Inc. (NFI.TO, NFYEF); MiX Telematics (MIXT); Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, a.k.a Cemig (CIG); Red Eléctrica Corporación, S.A. (REE.MC, RDEIF, RDEIY); Veolia Environnement S.A. (VIE.PA, VEOEF, VEOEY); Polaris Infrastructure Inc. (PIF.TO, RAMPF); and Pattern Energy Group (PEGI). ------------------------------------------------------------- No more heavy metals? New IBM battery chemistry research could address mineral sourcing concerns Finally, a heads-up on what could be a game-changer in the rechargeable battery field. It has the potential to significantly impact your renewable energy-related investments! Read all about in No more heavy metals? New IBM battery chemistry research could address mineral sourcing concerns by Heather Clancy at the GreenBiz site. Quoting Ms. Clancy, she says that “IBM scientists in the battery laboratory… say they have created multiple prototypes of a battery that uses a cathode free of both cobalt and nickel.” End quote. This could be big! ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links, stock symbols and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. Also, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you again on January 31. Bye for now. © 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Hello, Ron Robins here! Yes, my next podcast is January 17! January 3 podcast is cancelled due to lack of suitable news flow over the holidays. My apologies for the cancellation, but I'll have exciting and rewarding news for you on January 17. Now don't forget to take advantage of my 50% off the price of the DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. Just US$24.95. Go to my homepage at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and click the links there. Wishing you a most wonderful and sustainably prosperous 2020!

Who are the US budget's renewable energy stock and ETF winners and losers? Using MSCI and proprietary methodologies Investor’s Business Daily creates its best 50 ESG companies ranking. New PIMCO ESG money market fund. Innovative and only Catholic long/short mutual fund. New ethical and sustainable robo advisors. My 1-hour investor tutorial reduced in price! More PODCAST: US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 21, December 20, 2019 Content: (1) US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More… (2) US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More… (3) 7 Apps for Socially Responsible Investing (4) Conflicting ESG Ratings Are Confusing Sustainable Investors (5) 50 Best ESG Companies: A List Of Today's Top Stocks For Environmental, Social And Governance Values (6) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (7) Catholic Investor Long/Short Equity Fund ------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 21 titled “US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More…” for December 20, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. ------------------------------------------------------------- Special Holiday Offer: 50% Off My On-of-a-Kind Investor Educational Tutorial! Now, as I mentioned in my last podcast, I have a terrific holiday offer for you! It’s 50% off the price of my one-of-a-kind investor educational tutorial for all, my DIY Ethical Sustainable Investing Pays tutorial! Learn in 1-hour how to create an ethical-sustainable investment portfolio with ultra-low costs! No financial knowledge needed. Money-back guarantee. The tutorial is reduced temporarily from US$49.95 to just US$24.95 as a special for the holidays. Take advantage of it now by going to my site investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and click the link half-way down the right-hand column. Enroll now while the price lasts! ------------------------------------------------------------- Now to this episode. Remember that you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- (1) US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More… First, a note about the recent US budget and its renewable energy winners and losers. It provides for another year the continuation of tax credits for wind power but not for solar. It certainly isn’t positive for US-based solar power companies. However, from a global perspective – and even for the US – solar power will continue to make headway. Writing about how the new US budget affects renewable energy producers is Maxx Chatsko of the Motley Fool. He says in an article titled 2 Renewable Energy Winners and 2 Losers in the Latest Federal Budget that “The production tax credit extension could provide a lift to power generators and electric utilities such as Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL), which has 2,022 megawatts of wind power capacity coming on line in 2020 and 2021.” End quote. A second winner of the budget deal Mr. Chatsko feels is the Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ:REGI). He writes that “[It’s] the nation's largest biodiesel producer… The business estimates that it will receive a $450 million windfall from renewable fuel production from the start of 2018 through the third quarter of 2019. If production volumes continue to increase in the near future, then the three-year extension could result in an additional $1 billion in total tax credits for the company.” End quote. Mr. Chatsko says the losers from the budget are small-scale solar power companies like SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) and electric vehicle producers such as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and General Motors (NYSE:GM). For more details read his article. ------------------------------------------------------------- (2) US Budget’s Renewable Energy Winners. And More… Also, in light of the US budget deal, consider what Ben Hernandez says about three alternative power ETFs in an article titled, Investors Shouldn’t Forget to Power Portfolios with Alternative Energy. He writes that, quote, “One ETF to look at is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSEArca: LIT)... [it’s] nearly nine years old [and] tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index… One of the oldest thematic ETFs, Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF is designed to provide exposure to ‘the full lithium cycle, from mining and refining the metal, through battery production,’ according to Global X.” End quote. The second ETF Mr. Hernandez suggests tracks global wind power companies. He states that “Investors who want to capitalize on increasing reliance on wind as an alternative energy resource… can look at the First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEArca: FAN). The fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the ISE Clean Edge Global Wind EnergyTM Index… [Which] provides a benchmark for investors interested in tracking public companies throughout the world that are active in the wind energy industry.” End quote. Then for a third choice, he writes that “For investors looking for more broad-based exposure to alternative energy can give the SPDR Kensho Clean Power ETF (NYSEArca: CNRG) a look. [It] seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P Kensho Clean Power Index, which is designed to capture companies whose products and services are driving innovation behind clean power.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- (3) 7 Apps for Socially Responsible Investing Continuing on the subject of ethical and sustainable investing robo advisers from previous episodes, Barbara Friedberg wrote on the US News site her latest recommendations. They’re in a post titled 7 Apps for Socially Responsible Investing. Her top apps are M1 Finance, Axos Invest, Ellevest, OpenInvest, SoFi Invest, Personal Capital, and Betterment. These include several she hadn’t mentioned before, which are Axos, Ellevest, OpenInvest, SoFi Invest, and Personal Capital. Go to her article to see her reviews. ------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Conflicting ESG Ratings Are Confusing Sustainable Investors Now, for many of you who do your own company research, you probably wonder if the ESG scores you see are similar among the top ESG ratings’ firms. Well, a study by MIT Sloan School of Management says only rarely! The study was discussed in a Bloomberg piece by Jacqueline Poh, titled Conflicting ESG Ratings Are Confusing Sustainable Investors. The research included company ESG raters: Asset4, KLD, RobecoSAM, Sustainalytics, and Vigeo-Eiris. However, another major rater, MSCI, was not included. ------------------------------------------------------------- (5) 50 Best ESG Companies: A List Of Today's Top Stocks For Environmental, Social And Governance Values I just mentioned that MSCI’s company ESG ratings were missing from the MIT study. However, coincidentally, the US publication Investor’s Business Daily has recently published an article titled 50 Best ESG Companies: A List Of Today's Top Stocks For Environmental, Social And Governance Values – based on MSCI data. Investor’s Business Daily – or IBD – also has its own ratings that are applied to the MSCI scores. To understand IBD’s ratings go to Scott Lehtonen’s post titled How To Find And Buy The Top ESG Stocks In The Current Stock Market Rally on the IBD site. (The above links don’t work directly. Copy and paste these urls to your browser.) https://www.investors.com/research/how-to-find-and-buy-the-top-esg-stocks-in-the-current-stock-market-rally/ https://www.investors.com/research/best-esg-companies-top-stocks-environmental-social-governance-values/ ------------------------------------------------------------- (6) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF Now, do you need to park some cash in a money market fund but would prefer one that’s ESG based? Well, the following fund might be for you. PIMCO, a leading US bond firm, has recently launched a new type of money market fund. It’s called PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (NYSEArca: EMNT). Writing in ETFdb.com, in a post titled PIMCO Releases Active ESG ETF ‘EMNT’ Aaron Neuwirth says it “aims to offer higher income than traditional cash investments, with a modest increase in risk and focuses on issuers with high quality environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Catholic Investor Long/Short Equity Fund Finally, an innovative religious-values fund that’s really breaking new ground! It’s the Catholic Investor Long/Short Equity Fund. Quoting from a press release, “The Catholic Investor Long/Short Equity Fund is the only Catholic long/short mutual fund in the world, aimed at satisfying the needs of investors who appreciate ethical values-based investing. The Fund adheres to the investing principles outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).” End quote. Note though, that as a mutual fund, it’s probably only available to US investors. Don’t forget you can Google any terms that might be unfamiliar to you. ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. Also, please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. So, let’s help create a better world with our investments! Contact me if you have any questions. ------------------------------------------------------------- Special Holiday Offer: 50% Off My On-of-a-Kind Investor Educational Tutorial! And again, don’t miss out on my terrific holiday offer for you! 50% off the price of the one-of-a-kind investor educational tutorial for all, my DIY Ethical Sustainable Investing Pays tutorial! Temporarily reduced from US$49.95 to just US$24.95! Go now to my site investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and click the link half-way down the right-hand column. ------------------------------------------------------------- Talk to you again on January 3. Wishing you a most wonderful joyous and healthy holiday and happy New Year. Bye for now. Thank you for listening. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Big developments in new ESG ratings help for investors – from global leaders MSCI and Morningstar! What are the best renewable energy stocks with reliable dividends? A new day dawns in solar industry stocks as they rise. Will nuclear energy stocks gain traction? State Street launches ETF that screens S&P 500 for ESG exclusions. And more PODCAST: New ESG Ratings Help for Investors. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 20, December 6, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 20 titled New ESG Ratings Help for Investors. And More… for December 6, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Please note that in my next podcast on December 20, I’m going to make a really special offer to you! Now to this podcast! New ESG Ratings Help for Investors (1) To kick-off, I want to talk to you about some big developments on the ESG company rating’s front that can greatly help you in evaluating investments. The first is from MSCI which has developed – and made available for free to all investors – an online tool that shows their ESG ratings “[Of] 7,500 companies (13,500 issuers including subsidiaries) and more than 650,000 equity and fixed income securities globally as of October 2019” according to MSCI’s website. It’s an impressive ESG company rating platform that you should really make use of. The second and equally impressive change is the revamped Morningstar Sustainability Rating for funds. Morningstar’s Jon Hale explains that “The enhanced version differs from its predecessor in three ways: First, it is focused on material ESG risk, rather than on a broader array of ESG issues, some of which may not be financially material to investors. Second, company ESG risks can now be compared across industries, rather than only within industry peer groups. And third--the new rating is simple and transparent, no longer requiring a complicated calculation.” End quote. New ESG Ratings Help for Investors (2) By the way, material ESG risk simply means risk relevant to a company’s financial performance. The Morningstar ESG fund ratings are developed from the more granular company ESG ratings provided by one of the real pioneers and a global leader’s in this space – and that is Sustainalytics. These new ESG ratings help should provide a boon to investors! 3 Renewable-Energy Dividend Stocks to Buy Today A frequent financial writer appearing in these podcasts recommending renewable energy stocks is Travis Hoium who publishes on the Motley Fool site. In a post titled 3 Renewable-Energy Dividend Stocks to Buy Today he describes why some renewable energy dividend-paying stocks have disappointed and then recommends a particular threesome. He writes that “Renewable energy stocks that pay a dividend have been hit or miss for investors in the last few years. Many renewable energy asset owners haven't performed as well as expected because they lacked a pipeline of projects that would keep the dividend growing year after year, leading them to sell their businesses to large investors.  Ironically, the renewable energy asset owners that remain are in a better position than their predecessors because they have a smaller pool of competitors looking to buy projects and a project pipeline strategy that has worked for years. Today, the three renewable energy dividends that I think are still worth owning are from NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP), Hannon Armstrong (NYSE:HASI), and Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP).” End quote. Go to his article for his reasons for these three. 3 Solar Stocks to Buy for a New Day in Solar Energy Continuing on the renewable energy theme, Larry Ramer, an InvestorPlace contributor has some solar stock picks in his post titled 3 Solar Stocks to Buy for a New Day in Solar Energy. Regular listeners to these podcasts will be familiar with two of his picks: JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS) and SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR). His third choice is Daqo New Energy (NYSE:DQ). About these stocks he says that “Solar stocks have really taken it on the chin this year, but the huge declines are totally unjustified, creating a great buying opportunity for longer-term investors. And the recovery could be underway, JunkoSolar stock has added 7% YTD, SunPower stock has added 42% and Daqo stock has added a whopping 60% after a dismal 2018. The catalyst for the retreat of solar stocks appears to have been a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to eliminate ‘a requirement for utilities to offer long-term fixed prices for qualifying facilities.’” End quote. However, when you read Mr. Ramer’s article he makes it clear that that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision would only affect a small number of solar projects underway today. Hence, the market’s new upward reassessment of many solar renewable energy stocks. 5 Renewable Stocks To Watch In 2020 And we have more on renewable stock recommendations from an unusual source and with some equally unusual picks. It’s by Anes Alic writing on the oilprice.com site. Her article is 5 Renewable Stocks To Watch In 2020. Ms. Alic writes about her five stocks as follows: “1) NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE:NEE) [as distinct from NextEra Energy Partners] is a Florida-based clean energy company and America’s largest electric utility holding company by market cap. NEE is the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy. 2) Cosan S.A. (NYSE:CZZ) is a Brazil-based biofuels conglomerate with operations across South America and the U.K. Cosan has interests in the bioethanol space, among other energy projects. The company generates 940 MW of sugarcane bioethanol through its Raízen Energia arm, placing it among the leading producers of bioenergy. 3) JinkoSolar Holdings Co. (NYSE:JKS) [second time recommended in this episode] is the largest PV module manufacturer in the world, with a 12.8% slice of the market. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, the company shipped a record 11.4 GW of modules in 2018 and is on course to exceed that in the current year. 4) Vestas Wind Systems (OTCPK:VWDRY) is the world’s largest wind power company, responsible for more wind turbine installations than any other company, estimated at around 68,000 turbines in 80 countries. And, 5) MKS Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) While nuclear energy has been gradually falling out of favor as evidenced by shrinking investments, that does not mean that investing in the sector has stopped being profitable. One company that has been defying the odds is MKS Instruments Inc. The company manufactures a variety of nuclear fuel processing, nuclear accelerator, and uranium conversion systems… [and] holds 600 nuclear-related patents. In discussing the future for nuclear power Ms. Alic writes that “Nuclear power is presently classified as a sustainable energy source; however, it could become completely renewable if the uranium source changed from mined ore to seawater. Since the uranium mined from seawater is replenished continuously through a geologic process, nuclear energy would become as renewable as wind and solar.” End quote. Incidentally, some leading environmentalists advocate nuclear energy. Anyhow, I’m on the sidelines of this debate and I’ll leave it to those much more knowledgeable than me to decide on that. State Street launches ETF that screens S&P 500 for ESG exclusions Moving away from energy, I’d like to talk about one new and unique ESG ETF and that is State Street Global Advisors’ SPDR S&P 500 ESG Screened Ucits ETF. In an article titled State Street launches ETF that screens S&P 500 for ESG exclusions by Jessica Beard, she says that “The SPDR S&P 500 ESG Screened Ucits ETF will track the newly-launched S&P 500 ESG Exclusions II Index. The index methodology has been devised to exclude companies based on data from independent provider of ESG research and ratings, Sustainalytics.” End of quote, but quoting further, Ms. Beard adds that, ”The exclusion-based approach eliminates exposure to controversial weapons, civilian firearms, tobacco and thermal coal, as well as companies that do not comply with the principles of the UN Global Compact.” End quote. It wasn’t too long ago that most ethical and sustainable investors employed only negative screens – screening out industries and companies they disliked. Remember ESG criteria today generally does not concern itself with the actual product or services a company produces, but usually only refers to the way a company functions. Hence, this new State Street ETF should help fulfill a clear need. Also, it is based on the S&P 500 ESG Screened Index is a great plus. ------------------------------------------------------------- In closing... Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Thank you for listening. Now my next podcast is scheduled for December 20 and as I mentioned I’m going to make a really special offer to you in that episode! So be sure to listen! Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

ESG bonds and bond funds gaining investors. Municipal and non-profit bonds for ethical and sustainable investors. Analyst likes 25 sustainable stocks that make you feel good while making you money. ESG stocks beating S&P by 45% this year! Plant-based meat alternative food products gaining big in popularity with important knock-on effects for food stocks. More… PODCAST: ESG Bonds and Bond Funds, Stock Alpha, More… Transcript & Links, Episode 19, November 22, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 19 titled ESG Bonds and Bond Funds, Stock Alpha, More… for November 22, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Bonds and Bond Funds (1) Usually, when we think of ethical and sustainable investing we almost always think about stocks. But for most investors who prioritize personal values in investing, ESG bonds should also be a significant part of one’s portfolio. So now let’s get a little more into that. Incidentally, later in this podcast, I’ll talk more about some new ESG stock recommendations and about ESG stock alpha! That is, how terrifically well ESG stocks are doing! One interesting but overlooked debt asset class for ethical and sustainable investing, particularly in the US, are non-profit municipal ESG bonds. Karen Hube in an illuminating article titled, Future Returns: ESG Investing in Nonprofit Municipal Debt provides insight into this. The article appeared in Barron’s PENTA pages. In her article, Ms. Hube quotes Buck Stevenson, managing director, and portfolio manager at Silvercrest Asset Management Group in New York. She quotes him as saying that “Municipal bonds issued by small nonprofit groups working to bring about change in their communities can satisfy investors’ growing appetite for impact investing ideas while paying yields ranging from 4.5% to 6%... Community hospitals, charter schools, and organizations providing mental health care and veterans services are among the groups that are typically structured as nonprofit organizations with 501c(3) status, and can issue debt to raise funds for improvements, new facilities, equipment, and other needs.” End quote And interest received by investors in this type of debt in the US is often exempt from personal taxes. So, real after-tax yields can sometimes be pretty good! ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Bonds and Bond Funds (2) Another article on ESG bonds and bond funds is titled How Advisors Use ESG Bond ETFs by Lara Crigger on the ETF.com site. Ms. Crigger interviews several ESG analysts and portfolio managers to get their picks on ETFs comprised of ESG bonds. She first quotes Johann Klaassen, EVP & CIO of Horizons Sustainable Financial Services. Mr. Klaassen likes the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (GRNB), the Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD), the Sage ESG Intermediate Credit ETF (GUDB), and the Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB). Another interviewee, Maya Philipson, Principal of Robasciotti & Philipson recommends the PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Active ETF (MUNI). Then, Scott Arnold, Partner & Portfolio Manager at IMPACTfolio talks about how he also likes the Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD). And on a more riskier level, Mr. Arnold likes the new Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY). ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Bonds and Bond Funds (3) Regarding riskier ESG bonds and bond funds, ETFtrends.com ran an article titled High Yield is Making Its Way into ESG Investing by Ben Hernandez. He writes “The search for yield is certainly a global phenomenon given the low rates offered in government debt around the world. It opens the doors for ESG funds to shine by offering high yield bond options as in the case of BlackRock’s iShares € High Yield Corp Bond ESG UCITS ETF (EHYD) and the iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond ESG UCITS ETF (DHYD).” End quote. The article also has the following quote, “’As evidence increasingly shows that sustainability-related factors can help investors build more resilient portfolios, we are moving into an era where sustainable investing will be the standard way to invest,’ said Meaghan Muldoon, head of sustainable investing EMEA at BlackRock.” End quote. It should be noted that applying ESG and sustainability criteria to high yield bonds does have a chance to improve the quality and performance of a high yield debt in a portfolio. However, generally, high yield ESG bonds are still riskier than better-rated bonds. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG Bonds and Bond Funds (4) For a deeper inside look into ESG bonds and bond funds of the high yield variety, I refer you to this article, Looking under the hood of an ESG-focused high-yield bond fund. It’s by Jeff Benjamin at InvestmentNews. Mr. Benjamin interviews Tim Leary, lead manager of the RBC BlueBay High Yield Bond Fund (RGHYX). The fund’s portfolio consists of high yield ESG bonds. Mr. Leary commenting on his fund says that “The $54 million fund, which was launched in 2012, has an expense ratio of 58 basis points and a five-star rating from Morningstar. It has gained 13.7% from the start of the year, beating both the benchmark and the category average.” End quote Additionally, he does have this warning about his and other high yield funds – euphemistically often called ‘junk bond’ funds. Quote, “The leveraged finance markets and high-yield markets in general are a risky place to invest because they tend to be more opaque.” End quote. Furthermore, Mr. Leary says about his fund that “From a sector standpoint, we tend to be overweight financials, as well as financial services companies, cable and media names. Both from an ESG perspective but also from an overall view, we are materially underweight energy, metals and mining, and utilities.” End quote. Incidentally, you should know that there’s a big debate about greenwashing when it comes to ESG bonds and bond funds, most especially of the high yield variety. So, talk to your advisor before investing in them. ------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Alpha (1) Turning our attention back to ESG stock alpha, John Csiszar outlines 25 Investments That Make You Feel Good While You Make Money. His article was reposted on Yahoo! Finance from GOBankingRates. Most of his picks are typical of what you might find in most ESG stock indexes and funds. His picks are, in alphabetical order: 3M (MMM); Aflac (AFL); Avnet (AVT); Best Buy (BBY); Colgate-Palmolive (CL); Kimberly-Clark (KMB); Microsoft (MSFT); PepsiCo (PEP); Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL); Salesforce.com (CRM); US Bancorp (USB); Voya Financial (VOYA); Weyerhaeuser (WY); Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH); Hilton (HLT); Beyond Meat (BYND); Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA); Tesla (TSLA); Ecolab (ECL)’ Starbucks (SBUX); Fluor (FLR); Texas Instruments (TXN); UPS (UPS); International Paper (IP); Intel (INTC) ------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Alpha (2) The following two articles talk about how our trend towards vegetarianism and veganism are having on food industry trends and food-related stocks. The first article is Americans, especially millennials and Gen Z, are embracing plant-based meat products by Sheril Kirshenbaum and Douglas Buhler on the GreenBiz site. These researchers find that “With debate over the impacts of meat production intensifying, we have been tracking U.S. attitudes related to plant-based alternatives through Michigan State University’s Food Literacy and Engagement Poll. The results reveal a growing appetite for plant-based meat among consumers, especially millennials and Generation Z… Our survey found that during the previous 12 months, 35 percent of respondents had consumed plant-based meat alternatives. Of that group, 90 percent said they would do so again. Among those who had not yet eaten plant-based meat alternatives, 42 percent were willing to try them, while 30 percent of that group remained unwilling. We also identified very significant generational differences in attitudes. Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents under 40 were already eating plant-based meats, while just 27 percent of those aged 40 and over had tried these products.” End quote. The second post comes from Interactive Investor with the title Why this $5bn stock is not just for vegans by Rodney Hobson. Mr. Hobson focuses on the extraordinary stock alpha of Beyond Meat’s stock price. It soared from its IPO price of $25 to about 10 times that and is now back to around $80. His comment, “There is no shortage of rivals making vegan alternatives to meat and competition is likely to intensify. However, those companies with a solid base and proven track record are ahead of the game. Beyond Meat has been going for 10 years now.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Alpha (3) And finally, here’s a story to cheer every ethical and sustainable investor! It’s by Brendan Coffey – who I’ve previously quoted talking about the remarkable stock alpha that ESG stocks are having this year. Writing for Forbes.com, his post is titled, ESG Stocks Are Beating The S&P By 45% This Year. Yup, he says that “ESG funds are raking in the dough in 2019, pulling in $13.5 billion in new investor money in the first three quarters of the year, according to a recent report by Morningstar. But how is the ‘typical’ ESG portfolio doing? It’s handily besting the S&P 500, returning more than 32% to the S&P’s 22%, through October. That’s a 45% outperformance.” End quote. So, as one famous stock market commentator says, ‘stay with the drill!’ ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. A big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for December 6. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

A discerning reviewer discusses their seven best socially responsible and ESG fund picks. Two experts give conflicting recommendations on robo advisors for ethical and sustainable investors. Know the top ten stocks in ESG fund portfolios. Replacing old wind turbines with new ones leads to increasing profits and potential dividends for three renewable energy operators. More PODCAST: Top ESG Funds, Stocks, Robo Advisors and More… Transcript & Links November 8, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for November 8, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- This episode! 1. 7 Best US Socially Responsible Mutual Funds 2. Best Robo Advisors for Socially Responsible & ESG Investors 3. Fund Managers’ Favorite ESG Stocks 4. 1 Renewable-Energy Growth Story That Dividend Investors Won't Want to Overlook 5. 3 Clean Energy ETFs for a Brighter Future ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 7 Best US Socially Responsible Mutual Funds For US investors Barbara (Freedberg) Friedberg writes about her 7 Best Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. Now her seven picks are: 1) Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares (ticker: VFTAX) She says about this fund that “With nearly 500 companies, financials, health care, technology, industrials and consumer services are the most highly represented sectors… [It has] a 0.14% expense ratio... [and] this green mutual fund offers a 1.6% yield. The 21.1% year-to-date return is higher than the category performance.” End quote. 2) Parnassus Endeavor Fund (PARWX) Quoting her, she writes, “[The] Parnassus Endeavor Fund seeks out companies with excellent workplace environments and avoids fossil fuel investments… Year-to-date returns of 21.2%.” End quote 3) Pax Elevate Global Women's Leadership Fund (PXWIX) About this fund, Ms. Friedberg says, “Research indicates that companies with greater numbers of women in leadership roles have better performance across multiple factors, says Daniel Kern, chief investment officer of TFC Financial Management in Boston... The fund sports a reasonable expense ratio of 0.56% and a 1.9% dividend yield.” End quote. 4) Calvert Bond Fund (CSIBX) About which she writes, “Top holdings include U.S. Treasury notes and bonds as well as issues from Freddie Mac, Avis Budget Rental Car (CAR), Citigroup (C) and International Finance Corporation. Launched in 1987, the fund has an 8.2% percent year-to-date return.” End quote. 5) Calvert International Opportunities Fund (CIOAX) Ms. Friedberg comments on this fund that, “[It] holds fewer companies exposed to fossil fuels, carbon emissions, and tobacco than do the companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small- and Mid-Cap Index. The fund enjoys an 11.4% year-to-date return. The expense ratio is a hefty 1.35% but with a 1.32% yield.” End quote. 6) Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund (FITLX) Concerning this fund, Ms. Friedberg says, “[It] targets large- to mid-capitalization U.S. companies with high ESG scores… The fund has a 1.1% yield and a rock-bottom expense ratio of 0.11%. The 21% year-to-date return slams the 18.9% category average.” End quote. And finally, 7) Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX) Quoting Ms. Friedberg on this fund she writes, “Winner of the 2019 Lipper Fund Award for the best of 42 A-rated corporate bond funds, the Ave Maria family is the largest [US] Catholic mutual fund family... The year-to-date return is 6.5% with a moderate expense ratio of 0.5%. The current yield is 1.8%, lower than many corporate bond funds, likely due to the inclusion of stocks within the portfolio.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Best Robo Advisors for Socially Responsible & ESG Investors Now, I'm going to cover a piece about robo advisors,  Though reference will be to US robo advisors, a few of these advisors might be operational in other countries too. Well it seems that not everyone can agree on the best robo advisors though some recommendations do overlap! On my September 27, 2019, podcast, Investopedia recommended: M1 Finance Read review Motif Investing Read review Interactive Advisors Read review Personal Capital Read Review Now, in this article by Barbara Friedberg, titled, 5 Best Robo Advisors for Managing ESG Funds, recommends: M1 Finance. Betterment. EarthFolio. Wealthsimple. Motif Impact Portfolios. For robo advisor descriptions, go to the article’s link on this edition’s podcast page. This is the second article by Ms. Friedberg I’ve covered in this podcast. She’s obviously performing excellent work for the ethical and sustainable investing community! ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Fund Managers’ Favorite ESG Stocks So, in this podcast, we’ve so far covered the best ethical and sustainable investing funds and robo advisors. Now, let’s talk a little about the best ethical and sustainable investing stocks! Brendon Coffey in a Forbes post titled, Here Are Fund Managers’ Favorite ESG Stocks, can help us in this regard. He also explains in his post how he went about this research. Here are the top ten stocks he found in the funds: Microsoft (MSFT), The Walt Disney Co (DIS), Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL & GOOG), Danaher Corp, (DRH), Mastercard (MA), Verisk Analytics Inc, (VRSK), Linde PLC (LIN.L), American Express Co. (AXP), and Costco Wholesale Corp, (COST). His post is replete with a discussion about the pros and cons of many companies held by these funds. So, his post is well worth a read. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. 1 Renewable-Energy Growth Story That Dividend Investors Won't Want to Overlook If you’re looking for dividends and yield possibilities in renewable energy companies you should read Matthew DiLallo’s Motley Fool article titled, 1 Renewable-Energy Growth Story That Dividend Investors Won't Want to Overlook. The growth story he says is that “With today's larger wind turbines able to generate more power, wind farm operators are increasingly looking to repower legacy locations. It also certainly helps that they can earn high returns on investment with these projects, which will allow them… to increase their dividends. That's why income-focused investors won't want to overlook this key trend.” End quote. Here’s what he says about three leading companies engaged in this sector. He first writes about TerraForm Power (NASDAQ:TERP), Mr. DiLallo says that “TerraForm Power currently has three repowering projects under development… The company would replace turbines built about a decade ago with newer ones that have larger rotors, enabling them to produce 25% to 30% more power than the existing ones… [He adds] the company could increase its payout toward the higher end of its 5% to 8% annual target range through 2022 thanks to these wind repowering projects.” End quote. His second pick is NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP). About this company he writes, “NextEra Energy Partners also has some wind repowering projects under way… These investments will generate more than a 10% return on investment, helping grow the cash flow… and increases NextEra Energy Partners' ability to grow its dividend toward the high end of its 12% to 15% annual range through 2024.” End quote. His final choice is Pattern Energy (NASDAQ:PEGI), which he says is “is working on a project to repower its Gulf Wind facility… The project is an essential piece of the company's strategy to reduce its dividend payout ratio from 99% last year to a more comfortable 80% by the end of 2020. Once it achieves that targeted level, it could start growing its dividend once again.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. 3 Clean Energy ETFs for a Brighter Future Now Todd Shriber has written a post titled, 3 Clean Energy ETFs for a Brighter Future on the InvestorPlace site. He says that I quote, “These clean energy ETFs have been winners this year and will keep that bullishness going in 2020.” End quote. First, of the three ETFs, Mr. Shriber writes about is iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN). About this ETF he says, “[It] is one of the oldest and largest green energy ETFs. In fact, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, which debuted in mid-2008, has $376.2 million in assets under management, making it the second-largest green energy ETF overall.” End quote. The second ETF is the ALPS Clean Energy ETF (CBOE:ACES). About it he says, “[It’s] about 16 months old, making it one of the newer members of the green energy ETF competition, but the fund has been a stud since coming to market. This year’s gain of more than 22% proves as much.” End quote. The third pick is the Global X YieldCo & Renewable Energy Income ETF (NASDAQ:YLCO) which he says, “has a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 3.46%.” adding that, “These days, that’s sturdy regardless of asset class.” And then remarks that “The dividend buffer keeps Global X YieldCo & Renewable Energy Income ETF’s volatility low relative to standard green energy ETFs… However, that hasn’t weighed on performance as the fund is higher by more than 11% year-to-date.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for November 22. See you then. Bye for now.   © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Some of the best food funds and water stocks. Tim Nash analyzes whether Apple is superior to Samsung in manufacturing sustainability and investment returns. Another two reviews of the top ESG and climate ETFs and solar stocks. Concerned about gun stocks in your funds? Zacks analyst Nitish Marwah has found three funds without them. More PODCAST: Best Food Funds, Water Stocks, and Much More! Transcript & Links October 25, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for October 25, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Food Funds Now we’re all concerned about our own health and that of the environment, and so many of us wonder what are the best food funds and water-related investments. Well, regarding sustainable food, Maria Lettini, writes about three of the best food funds in an article titled, Three funds tapping into sustainable food trends that appear on the Portfolio Advisor site. By the way, Maria Lettini is executive director of the Fairr Initiative, a well regarded global investor network raising awareness of ESG risks and opportunities around intensive livestock production. So, she what the best food funds are! The first fund she writes about is RobecoSAM’s Sustainable Food Equities fund (ROBAGED: LX). She says, that, “This fund invests in potential solutions to the major environmental and social challenges facing the food sector.” End quote. The second fund is Pictet’s Nutrition fund (PFAGRIR: LX). In describing the fund, Ms. Lettini remarks that “This fund invests in companies that are developing solutions to help secure the world’s food supply.” End quote. The third fund, BNP Paribas’ Smart Food fund (PASMFPR: LX). Commenting on this fund, she says, that, “This fund invests in food companies that conduct a significant proportion of their business in the food supply chain and meet sustainability criteria related to issues such as carbon emissions and nutritional content.” End quote. Incidentally, investment in these funds may not be available for purchase in some countries. Also, for a good overview of plant-based protein food manufacturers, David Yaffe-Bellany has written an excellent article in The New York Times, titled, The New Makers of Plant-Based Meat? Big Meat Companies. Companies reviewed include Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Smithfield Foods, Perdue Farms, Hormel (NYSE: HRL) and Nestlé (OTC: NSRGY). ------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding companies engaged in sustainable water resources, Olivia Raimonde, writing for CNBC in a post titled, Money from socially responsible investors flows into US water stocks, discusses her three top related stocks. The first stock she covers is Aqua America (WTR: NYSE) which she says is “up about 33% in 2019”. Though she doesn’t say much more than that about the company. Her second stock is American States Water Co. (AWR: NYSE), She writes about it saying that “If an environmentally-minded fund genuinely wanted to invest based on water scarcity… [then this] is the most sensible investment as the company is based in California, which has been stricken by drought for years.” She adds that its stock price is, “up about 38% percent in 2019.” Ms. Raimonde's last stock pick is American Water Works (AWK: NYSE) which she says, “has always operated with sustainability principles in mind (and) performs slightly better than its peers in ESG ratings… The New Jersey-based company implemented a more comprehensive ESG strategy about two and a half years ago… Its stock is up about 35% in 2019.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, when you look down on your smartphone do you ever wonder if it was manufactured sustainably and whether the company making them is a good ethical investment? Well, Tim Nash in his frequent stock showdown column on Corporate Knights compares Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) and Samsung’s (OTC: SSNLF) phone manufacturing – and how these companies’ rate overall on their sustainability and stock price performance. Comparing the companies, Mr. Nash states that, “Sustainability-wise, while Samsung may have been ahead of the curve ten years ago, it’s starting to fall behind on a few fronts. Meanwhile, Apple still has more to do, but it’s been more aggressive about some of its environmental goals.  I would consider the companies tied for now but it won’t be long before Apple takes the lead if it continues on the current trajectory. From a financial perspective, it’s a bit of a toss-up. Both companies have performed well over the past five years with more potential growth as new innovations emerge that keep consumers lining up for product launches.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- ESG ETFs are hot and I’m going to reference two new articles that each recommend seven ESG ETFs. Now, I don’t have time to quote these articles on each of their recommended funds, so for the links to these articles and fund ticker symbols, go to this podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. The first article is titled, 7 ESG ETFs to Buy for Responsible Profits by Will Ashworth on the Kiplinger investment site. Mr. Ashworth suggests, Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (NYSEARCA: USSG), Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX: US), iShares ESG MSCI EM ETF (NASDAQ: ESGE), Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (BATS: NUSC), Impact Shares YWCA Women's Empowerment ETF (NYSEARCA: WOMN), Columbia Sustainable International Equity Income ETF (NYSEARCA: ESGN), and iShares ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA: EAGG). The second article, titled, 7 Great ETFs to Invest in Climate Change, is by Jeff Reeves at USA Today. His recommendations are: Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: PBW), iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQGS: ICLN), Invesco Solar ETF (NYSEARCA: TAN), First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (NYSEARCA: FAN), Invesco Cleantech ETF (NYSEARCA: PZD), SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (NYSEARCA: LOWC), and finally the Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQGS: PHO). ------------------------------------------------------------- I’ve covered many analysts in past podcast episodes who’ve recommended solar stocks. So, I was hesitant to include more solar stocks this time. However, when I saw the stocks referred to by Larry Ramer in an article titled, 3 Solar Stocks to Buy for a New Day in Solar Energy on the Investorplace site, I see he added two new companies not previously covered in these podcasts. They are JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) and Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ). On JinkoSolar, Mr. Ramer writes that “As of the end of the second quarter, the holders of JKS stock include… Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Citigroup (NYSE: C), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and UBS (NYSE: UBS).” End quote. Thus, inferring that with such large institutions believing in the company – that you might want to too. And on Daqo New Energy, he comments that “Like JinkoSolar, Daqo New Energy is likely to benefit from the relative cheapness of solar energy in China… [and]… As of June, many Wall Street heavyweights held meaningful amounts of DQ stock.” End quote. His third pick is Sunpower (NASDAQ: SPWR) – which has been recommended by analysts in many of my past episodes. Mr. Ramer says, “SunPower stock should benefit from four strong trends that are boosting solar energy in the U.S.” End quote. Mr. Ramer’s final comment is that “all three names are very cheap.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- With all the concerns around gun violence in many countries, some ethical and sustainable investors would like to invest in funds that don’t have gun-related stocks in them. However, to find such funds is an arduous endeavor. Making it simple for you is Nitish Marwah in a Zack’s article titled, 3 Weapon-Free Funds Socially Responsible Investors Can Buy. The first fund Mr. Marwah writes about is the Parnassus Core Equity Fund Investor Shares (PRBLX). Commenting on this fund he says, that “PRBLX invests in large-cap companies which have long-term competitive advantage and positive performance on ESG criteria… PRBLX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has an annual expense ratio of 0.87%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 13.5% and 10.8%, respectively.” End quote. His next fund is the Green Century Balanced Fund (GCBLX). Quoting him, he says that, it “seeks appreciation of both capital and income by investing in a diverse portfolio of stocks and bonds which meet standards for corporate environmental responsibility set by Green Century… GCBLX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and has an annual expense ratio of 1.48%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 8.9% and 6.8%, respectively.” End Quote. His third and final fund is the Parnassus Fund (PARNX) which Mr. Marwah says, “seeks appreciation of capital by investing in undervalued stocks… The fund invests in companies of any size across different market capitalizations. [and] carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of [1] and has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.6% and 9.5%, respectively.” ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for November 8. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.  

Etsy, the growing online craft marketplace seen as great ESG stock. Southwest Airlines flies high on its sustainable practices. First ever ESG ‘junk bond’ ETF debuts. Seven renewable energy stock picks. Rising wind power trends of repowering and replacement of turbines offer exciting investing opportunities. New international faith-based ESG ETF launches with global appeal. More PODCAST: Etsy, Southwest Air, ESG Junk Bonds, and more… Transcript & Links October 11, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for October 11, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you have heard of Etsy, the online craft marketplace and perhaps wondered if it’s a good ESG stock. Well, Maria Gallagher says a resounding yes to that in an article on The Motley Fool site titled, ESG Investing: Is Etsy a Responsible Investment? She says, that, quote, “Etsy boasts more than 60 million unique items, 43 million buyers, and 2.3 million sellers on its platform… Etsy scores a 9 out of 10 on The Motley Fool's Framework for ESG Compounders… It is a strong company that appears to strive intentionally to make its marketplace the best it can be for purveyors of handmade goods. There are areas for improvement, but Etsy seems to be balancing profitability, scale, and strong ESG principles.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Another Motley contributor, Dan Caplinger reviews Southwest Airlines and finds it best in the airline sector for ESG practices. His piece is titled, ESG Investing: Is Southwest Airlines a Responsible Investment? Mr. Caplinger says, “Many environmental advocates view global air travel's enormous carbon footprint as needlessly wasteful.” But he goes on saying – and I quote, that, “Currently, Southwest helps travelers visit more than 100 destinations in the U.S. along with 10 countries internationally… and it’s No. 11 on Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies in 2019… Southwest has embraced ESG principles throughout its history, even before most investors paid much attention to those concepts… it's hard to find an industry player that makes a better ESG case than Southwest Airlines… Southwest has put itself in position to thrive for years to come.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Turning to ESG bonds, we know that generally ethical and sustainable investing bonds are of high quality – and sometimes with even lower than average yields because of their great quality. Now we have a departure from that. Nuveen – which already has 9 ESG ETFs – is launching a below investment grade ESG bond fund. Andrea Riquier, in an article titled, The first-ever ESG junk bond ETF debuts, says this about the ETF, quote, “Investors are increasingly drawn to holdings that pay attention to ESG issues and financial-services firms are always on the hunt for new flavors of investments to offer. So, a new fund that seems to offer high yield as well as comply with ESG principles might seem attractive, even though it raises some questions about how appropriate it might be for investors.” End quote. Among the concerns for this type of bond are that the research into their credit-worthiness is often limited as well as the number of bonds that might fit the criterion for inclusion in this ETF. Nonetheless, it might appeal to those investors willing to assume somewhat greater risk for possible greater return on their fixed income portfolio, while still wanting it to be ESG-based. ------------------------------------------------------------- Will Ashworth, in an article titled, 7 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy for Sunny Long-Term Returns, appearing on the Investorplace website, recommends some of the same stocks that have been covered here in previous episodes of this podcast. Here are the seven stocks he recommends, much abbreviated from his post, but using his words. Quote, “1) NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) Not only is NextEra Energy the world’s largest utility, it’s also the largest producer of wind and solar energy anywhere on the planet… [its] the company’s views on energy diversity that makes it an excellent long-term investment. 2) Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP). Brookfield announced that it had increased its ownership (with partners) of TerraForm Power (NASDAQ: TERP) from 51% to 65%… TerraForm Power generates 3,634 megawatts of solar and wind power around the globe… Brookfield Renewable worldwide has 843 renewable power facilities… capable of producing 16,300 megawatts of power annually… If you want to own more than renewable energy assets, you might consider Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) which owns 61% of BEP and is one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers. If I could only own one company’s stock, Brookfield Asset Management would be at the top of my list. 3) TransAlta Corporation (NYSE: TAC). It could be better for U.S. investors to choose TransAlta Corporation as one of the best renewable energy stocks to buy rather than its 64%-owned renewable energy subsidiary TransAlta Renewables (TSE: RNW), which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange… [Then he says] if you’re an aggressive investor, I’d go with TransAlta Renewables. 4) Enviva (NYSE: EVA) Eviva is the world’s largest producer of wood pellets… The pellets themselves are sold to utilities in the U.K. and Europe that use them in place of coal to produce a cleaner electricity source… If you’re an income investor, Enviva is a very safe way to meet your annual income requirements. 5) Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQGS: REGI) Whenever you see one of those trucks sucking out the grease traps at a restaurant, it’s going to one of Renewable Energy’s 13 biomass refineries to be turned into diesel fuel… The demand for biodiesel is tremendous… I believe REGI has got room to move into the $30s on rising demand. 6) TPI Composites (NASDAQ: TPIC) TPI Composites is the largest independent manufacturer of composite wind blades for turbine manufacturers… Last year, it announced a joint development agreement with Navistar International (NYSE: NAV) to develop a composite tractor and frame rails for a Class 8 truck… With margins moving higher, the profits will follow. 7) Siemens (OTCMKTS: SIEGY) This last one gives you exposure to a global industrial player in Siemens which, amongst its many ventures, owns 59% of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (OTCMKTS: GCTAF), the world’s largest producer of wind turbines and one of the interesting renewable stocks to buy without going all-in on renewables.” End quote. Incidentally, Travis Hoium has published an article in the Motley Fool titled, Why Solar Energy Stocks Are Dropping Like a Rock but he soothes his reader's worries by saying, and I quote, that “Investors are afraid of solar energy right now, but the long-term prospects of the industry are improving.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Continuing on the subject of renewable power, Maxx Chatsko says that wind power trends in the US and around the world have gained a certain level of maturity, and now some new perspectives come into focus. In an article titled, 2 Trends in Wind Power That Investors Need to Know About in The Motley Fool, Mr. Chatsko says, that “The American wind power industry is barreling toward an important inflection point. The production tax credit (PTC), which provides a subsidy for each kilowatt-hour of electricity g enerated from wind farms… is about to be phased out… The phaseout makes sense… [and that] investors interested in renewable energy stocks can't overlook the significance of these two trends reshaping the wind power industry…” End quote. Mr. Chatsko’s says the two big new themes at play are the repowering – or replacement – of wind farms and the recycling of old turbines. Two companies he recommends concerning these trends are General Electric (NYSE: GE) for new turbines and Trex Company (NYSE: TREX) for recycling. ------------------------------------------------------------- For faith-based investors, America’s Inspire Investing has launched a new international ESG ETF with the name Inspire International ESG ETF (NYSEARCA: WWJD). Quoting Tom Lydon, of ETF Trends in an article he wrote titled, Inspire Investing Launches Faith-Based International ESG ETF, he says, that, “With an expense ratio of 0.80%, the Inspire International ESG ETF is a faith-based ESG ETF comprised of 150 biblically aligned large-cap companies outside of the United States, as measured by Inspire’s revolutionary Inspire Impact Score methodology, which measures a company’s positive impact on the world… The new WWJD is comprised of 80% developed markets companies and 20% emerging markets stocks.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for October 25. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

No cost to fossil free investing between 1927 and 2016, says new study. Two top renewable energy stocks in solar power. ESG funds showing outperformance compared to non-sustainable counterparts. Many ESG funds growing fast and attracting substantial assets. Green bond issuance makes new highs. Best US robo advisors for ethical and sustainable investors. And more PODCAST: Fossil Free Investing, ESG Profits, and more… Transcript & Links September 27, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Fossil Free Investing, ESG Profits, and more…  September 27, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Investment ideas in these podcasts are generally gleaned from market participants in the US, Canadian, UK, European, Asian and Australasian financial markets. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Fossil Free Investing Most of us listening to this podcast believe that fossil free Investing might not be a good long-term investment – for many reasons. However, we might not know the details. Well, under the title, Fossil Fuel Divestment: The Financial Case, by Katelyn M. Kriesel, of Hansen's Advisory Services, and president of The Sustainable Economies Alliance, Ms. Kriesel provides a detailed study on those details! Ms. Kriesel says this, and I quote, that, "We compare financial performance of investment portfolios with and without fossil fuel company stocks over the period 1927 -- 2016. Contrary to theoretical expectations, we find that fossil fuel divestment does not seem to impair portfolio performance. These findings can be explained by the fact that, so far, fossil fuel company stocks do not outperform other stocks on a risk-adjusted basis and provide relatively limited diversification benefits." End quote. Thus, we have a compelling case for fossil fuel investing! ------------------------------------------------------------- Continuing on a related theme, Maxx Chatsko of The Motley Fool has his top solar power energy stock picks in a post titled, 2 Top Renewable Energy Stocks in Solar Power, appearing on Nasdaq.com. In my last podcast, Mr. Chatsko picked his top wind energy stocks. By the way, his new stock picks were top choices for analysts in my previous podcasts. It just shows the potential for these stocks. Mr. Chatsko’s two picks are SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG) and Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH). He has this to say about SolarEdge, I quote, “The company develops integrated inverter systems that maximize power output from solar panels and reduce the cost of electricity produced… In the last six quarters, SolarEdge has acquired a provider of uninterruptible power supplies, a maker of lithium-ion batteries, and even a company that develops powertrain and electronics for electric vehicles. That shows the company is eager to maintain and expand its presence in the clean energy markets. With shares trading at just 17 times future earnings after a recent pullback, investors with a long-term mindset might find plenty to like about this solar stock.” End quote. On Enphase Energy, Mr. Chatsko writes, that, “Enphase Energy… develops and supplies microinverter solutions that help maximize the electricity output from solar modules… Enphase, the leader in microinverters, delivered $24.6 million in operating income in the first six months of this year, compared with an operating loss of $3 million in the first half of 2018… Enphase… is preparing to launch the first products with the next-generation IQ 8 microinverter, which boasts a 31% increase in computing power versus [its] IQ 7. That could allow for smaller, more efficient, and even simpler products for customers. Throw in the expected launch of residential energy storage products by the end of 2019, and this solar stock could have multiple growth opportunities.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- More ESG stock picks come from Evan Harvey, Global Head of Sustainability at Nasdaq. They appear in a post titled, This Correlation Between ESG Investing Scores And High Returns May Surprise You, written by Alissa Coram and Justin Nielson on the Investors Business Daily site. The three ESG stocks Mr. Harvey likes are Akamai Technologies (AKAM), Texas Instruments (TXN), and Comcast (CMCSA). On Akamai Technologies, Mr. Harvey says, “Akamai stock is all about the infrastructure for the internet as the largest content delivery network service provider. Between security solutions, e-commerce, and video streaming, they touch on a lot of areas seeing massive growth.” End quote. Concerning Texas Instruments, he says, quote, “Semiconductors are notoriously cyclical so it helps to understand where you are at in the chip cycle. They started the year out great but have had a tough time since China trade war concerns have intensified. But with optimism on the direction of talks on tariffs, chip stocks started showing relative strength.” End quote. And on Comcast, Mr. Harvey says, that, “Comcast is a great example of how top-rated companies exist in the ESG space. While many people focus on the impact of cord-cutting on Comcast's cable business, it's just as important that the cord-cutters still need internet service. Comcast is offsetting losses in video subscriptions with gains in broadband subscriptions. The profit margins on broadband are much higher, leaving little incentive to fight for the lower-value video subscriptions. With a push for expansion in wireless mobile, it's a very different bundle that Comcast stock will be pushing in the future.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Because ethical and sustainable investing is gaining mainstream acceptance, it’s not surprising to read Sanghamitra Saha of Zacks, article, titled, 6 ESG ETFs Close to or Above the $1B Asset Mark, found on Yahoo! Finance. Ms. Saha reviews each of the six ESG ETFs. Here’s what she says about each one. Quote, “1) The iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) — AUM $1.61 billion… comprises U.S. large and mid-capitalization stocks of companies with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers. It charges 10 bps in fees. 2) iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) — AUM $1.55 billion… is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the equity performance of U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 25 bps in fees. 3) Xtrackers MSCI U.S.A. ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG) — AUM $1.50 billion… is a capitalization-weighted index that provides exposure to companies with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers. The fund charges 10 bps in fees. 4) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) — AUM $1.18 billion… comprises U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 25 bps in fees. 5) iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) — AUM $969.5 million… comprises large and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada that have positive ESG characteristics. The fund charges 20 bps in fees. 6) iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF (ESGU) — AUM $967.05 million… comprises U.S. companies that have positive ESG characteristics while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the parent index. The fund charges 15 bps in fees.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, while on the subject of ESG funds, Annalisa Esposito reports on the Morningstar UK site that, ESG Funds Beat Non-Sustainable Sister Funds, and quoting her, she says that “Investors would do better to pick ESG funds rather than their non-sustainable counterparts, according to research by fund supermarket interactive investor. Morningstar data analysed by the firm reveals that funds taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account in their investments have performed better than their non-ESG sister funds.” End quote. Whether the same is true outside the UK hasn’t been demonstrated to my knowledge. However, it’s one more great reason for investing in ethical and sustainable funds compared to their ‘conventional’ equivalents! ------------------------------------------------------------- For the fixed-income side of your portfolio, green bonds are well worth considering according to many analysts. In an article, Green Bonds Are Getting Hot on Wall Street, ETF Trends features the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB). Among green bond funds, the writer of the article states, that, “The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB), the first fixed income ETF offering exposure to green bonds, has been a solid performer this year, gaining nearly 4% while currently yielding around 1.3%. Those are modest, but decent numbers, but the appetite for green bonds is increasing and that could bode well for GRNB going forward.” End quote. Illustrating how big green bond issuance is becoming, financial writer Todd Shriber quotes Bloomberg concerning the huge increase in green bond issuance this year. Bloomberg says, “Global green-bond sales have already beaten last year’s record $135 billion well before the end of 2019. Issuance of the securities has more than quadrupled in the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- To help US ethical and sustainable investors create stock and bond portfolios reflecting their personal values, Investopedia just announced its Best 2019 Robo-Advisors for Socially Responsible Investors. It concluded the four best are: M1 Finance Read review Motif Investing Read review Interactive Advisors Read review Personal Capital Read Review For links to these robo advisors see this podcast’s webpage. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. Incidentally, there is another – and some would say preferable – simple and cheap way to create a portfolio that aligns your investments with your values. Check-out my one-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look down the right-hand sidebar for the link. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for October 11. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

New US Vegan Climate ETF. It’s pros and cons. Has good debut on the NYSE. Current top renewable energy stocks. Best six stocks for millennials according to Zacks' analyst. Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management purported key holdings. The DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial offers simple way to create a stock portfolio reflecting your values! More PODCAST: First Vegan Fund, Renewable Energy Stocks, and more… Transcript & Links September 13, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for September 13, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Investment ideas in these podcasts are generally gleaned from market participants in the US, Canadian, UK, European, Asian and Australasian financial markets. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links to content, and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, the US Vegan Climate ETF (VEGN: N) finally debuted on the NYSE on September 10. First days trading saw ok action hovering around its initial price of $25 a share. On September 13 it was still hovering about that price. What disappoints many vegan-vegetarian investors is that the ETF doesn’t appear much different from regular mainstream big-cap ETFs. However, as the promoters of this ETF point out that there are few pure vegan-vegetarian stock plays and the ones that are out there are small. Also, to get a well-rounded stock ETF, it had to include big cap S&P 500 stocks. Also, because of its structure, I suspect its returns could be similar, or hopefully even a little better, than S&P 500 ETFs generally. For a good overview of this ETF see Brenton Garen’s post, Vegan ETF ‘VEGN’ Debuts on NYSE, on ETF Trends. Quoting Mr. Garen’s post, “Appearing on Fox Business Network’s Varney & Co. on Tuesday, Beyond Investing CEO Claire Smith discussed the fund with host Stuart Varney, [saying that] ‘We are taking out about 43% of the S&P 500,’ Smith said. ‘We are adding in some of the mid-caps that are more forward-thinking like Beyond Meat (BYND) and Tesla (TSLA), in order to make up some of the differentials in order to compensate for the things we are taking out. [And, generally,] the Beyond Investing US Vegan Climate Index is a passive, rules-based index of U.S. large-cap stocks, screened according to vegan and climate-conscious principles.” End quote. By the way, if, as an investor with closely held personal values, you feel uncomfortable with this and other fund options out there, there is another simple way to invest while more closely aligning your investments with your values. Check-out my one-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look down the right-hand sidebar for the link. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, I often reference The Motley Fool as that site has some great contributors writing about ESG stocks, and again I want to draw to your attention some of their research. Appearing under the title, 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now, three Motley Fool contributors review their picks. However, I’ll only quote two here as the third pick was already covered on my August 16 podcast – where Travis Hoium picked SunPower. His two colleagues made new choices in addition to the ones they chose that appeared in my August 16 post. Rich Smith picked TPI Composites (TPIC: NASDAQ) and John Bromels chose TerraForm Power (TERP: NASDAQ). Rich Smith commenting on TPI Composites said, “Shares of windmill blade-maker TPI Composites crashed hard in August after the company reported an earnings beat -- but also made a big reduction in its guidance. With roughly 40% of its production lines for windmill blades either still spinning up, or in the process of being retooled to produce new models, TPI's currently operating 30% under full capacity. [However], from a loss this year, analysts forecast TPI will grow to earn more than $4 a share in just three short years… [and that] TPI Composites stock won't stay this cheap for long,” He says, end quote. John Bromels has this to say about his choice, TerraForm Power. Quote, “[TerraForm Power] is a green energy stock that pays a dividend! Most renewable stocks… are too young and focused on growth (or just too cash-poor) to swing a dividend. But a handful of them -- mostly renewable yieldcos -- do offer dividends, and TerraForm Power's is one of the best, currently yielding about 4.6%... TerraForm looks like a buy for dividend investors and green energy fans alike.” Incidentally, Wikipedia’s definition of a yieldco ‘is a company that is formed to own operating assets that produce a predictable cash flow, primarily through long term contracts.’ ------------------------------------------------------------- Another Motley Fool contributor, Maxx Chatsko, wrote a related post, titled, 2 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in Wind Power. He likes, NextEra Energy (NEE: N) and Xcel Energy (XEL: NASDAQ), saying that they have a combined 25% of the installed wind power capacity in the United States. Elaborating on these companies, he says, that, “NextEra Energy generated more electricity from the wind and sun than any other company in the world in 2018.” And, that, “Xcel Energy doesn't directly own nearly as much wind power infrastructure as NEE, but it leans on a mix of power purchase agreements (PPA) and direct ownership to support 9,300 megawatts of installed wind power capacity. It plans to increase that to 11,100 megawatts by the end of 2021.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, it’s becoming well known that millennials are eager for ethical and sustainable stocks. Addressing that issue, Awantika Poddar of Zacks wrote a piece titled, Top-Ranked Stocks Suitable for Millennials: 6 Picks – article also appearing on Yahoo! Finance. Though its recommendations are for millennials – I don’t see why many of them wouldn’t be applicable to most investors. So, here are the six recommendations of Ms. Poddar. She writes: “1) Keysight Technologies (KEYS: N) sports a Zacks Rank #1 and a Growth Score of A. The stock has returned 54.4% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 10%. 2) Anixter International (AXE: N) flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 and a Growth Score of B. The stock has returned 10.7% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 8%. 3) Cirrus Logic (CRUS: NASDAQ) has a Zacks Rank #1 and a Growth Score of B. The stock has returned 60.4% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 15%. 4) Symantec Corporation (SYMC: NASDAQ) has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Growth Score of A. The stock has surged 23.4% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 6.9%. 5) Microsoft (MSFT: NASDAQ) has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Growth Score of A. The stock has appreciated 35.3% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 11%.” And finally, “6) Alphabet (GOOGL: NASDAQ) has a Zacks Rank #2 and Growth Score of B. The stock has returned 13.1% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 17.5%.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- One of the great heroes of sustainable investing is Al Gore, the former US Democratic Party presidential candidate. He helped create Generation Investment Management, an investment firm to invest in sustainable companies. Well, Ryan Vanzo posted an articled on GuruFocus titled, Al Gore Loves These 3 Stocks. The three stocks that Al Gore purportedly likes are, quoting Mr. Vanzo’s post: “Jones Lang LaSalle Inc (JLL: N) [which] comprises 4.1% of Generation’s portfolio, but [is] more than 14% of the shares outstanding. Generation’s stake is worth nearly $600 million. Jones Lang LaSalle is a U.S.-based commercial real estate services firm… The stock trades at just 11.3 times forward earnings… [and] looks like a reasonably priced stock with a large moat.” End quote. The second pick is, Acuity Brands Inc. (AYI: N), Quote, “Acuity Brands comprises 3.2% of Generation’s portfolio, but the firm owns roughly 8% of the entire company. Generation’s stake is worth around $460 million. Acuity is a lighting and building management firm. It’s based in the U.S. but has operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The stock trades at just 12.9 times forward earnings yet consensus estimates call for a 10.67% long-term annual earnings per share growth rate. This could be a bargain if growth estimates become reality.” End quote. The third pick is, Nutanix Inc (NTNX: NASDAQ). Quote, “Nutanix is a new holding for Generation, currently comprising 2.6% of the portfolio. The stock is down 42% on the year, so don’t be surprised if the firm adds to its position if the valuation continues to fall. Generation now owns 7.7% of the company. That’s a $375 million position, nearly 10 times the daily trading volume. Nutanix is a cloud computing software company that sells ‘hyper-converged infrastructure appliances and software-defined storage.’ Over the last five years, revenues have grown by an astounding 57% per year. Year-over-year, however, sales growth has slowed to just 7%. That’s caused a steep sell-off in shares. Part of the issue seems to be a misunderstood pivot to subscription and SaaS [software as a service] revenue streams… Revenue growth slows as customers are transitioned to the cloud, but long-term retention and profitability may rise. Generation seems to be capitalizing on the temporary confusion.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for September 27. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Analyst suggests three gun-free funds. Ten top renewable energy stocks with their ESG and analyst stock recommendations. ESG ETFs generally outperform ‘conventional equivalents.’ ESG dividend stocks. RBC Capital ideas for the best ESG stocks. Microsoft, Nike reviewed for sustainability, profits. Analyst says avoid buying WeWork stock IPO. He blasts its financial and governance performance. More PODCAST: Gun Free Funds, Top ESG Stocks, WeWork, and more… Transcript & Links August 30, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for August 30, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Investment ideas in these podcasts are generally gleaned from market participants in the US, Canadian, UK, European, Asian and Australasian financial markets. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and often bonus material to these podcasts at their episodes’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- With all the gun violence taking place in North America, it’s leading many investors to scrutinize their holdings and wanting to be rid of gun-related stocks. Well, if you’re really concerned Nitish Marwah has written an article, titled, 3 Weapon-Free Funds to Whet Your Ethical Investment Appetite. He screens outgun and related manufacturers from the Zacks Mutual Fund Ranking, and as a result, recommends: First, The New Alternatives A Fund (Symbol: NALFX). Quoting Mr. Marweh, he says, “[the fund] invests in companies that contribute to a sustainable environment. NALFX has an annual expense ratio of 1.12%, which is below the category average of 1.30%. [And] the fund has three and five-year returns of 8.4% and 5.9%, respectively.” End quote. His second choice is the Calvert Global Water Fund (A) (Symbol: CFWAX). Again, quoting Mr. Marweh, “The fund normally invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of domestic as well as foreign companies from the water industries or are involved in water-related service and technologies… CFWAX has an annual expense ratio of 1.24%, which is below the category average of 1.37%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 6.5% and 2.5%, respectively.” End quote. Finally, his third pick is the Parnassus Core Equity Fund Investor Shares (Symbol: PRBLX). Mr. Marweh says about this fund, that, “the PRBLX invests in large-cap companies which have long-term competitive advantage and positive performance on ESG criteria… PRBLX has an annual expense ratio of 0.87%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 14% and 11.2%, respectively.” End quote. Of the three funds he recommends, clearly, the Parnassus stands out as a better and lower cost performer. ------------------------------------------------------------- My next item comes from Matthew DiLallo writing for the Motley Fool in an article titled, The 10 Biggest Renewable Energy Stocks, where he gives an overview of them. (Incidentally, on this episodes’ podcast page I’ll have each company’s Sustainalytics or CSRHub ESG rankings – if available – and average analyst buy, sell, or hold opinions from Yahoo! Finance.) So, the first company is: 1) NextEra Energy (NEE: NYSE) the world's largest producer of wind and solar energy. (Rated average on ESG performance for its category and a buy average by analysts.) 2) Tesla (TSLA: NASDAQ) Mr. DiLlalo says is more than just an electric-car company. (Rated average in ESG for its category and a hold average by analysts.) 3) First Solar (FSLR: NASDAQ) focused on thin-film solar. (CSR Hub gives company high ESG marks. Yahoo! Finance shows a buy average by analysts.) 4) Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP-UN.TO) – a leader in hydropower. (Rated average in ESG for its category and a hold average by analysts.) 5) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG: NASDAQ) optimizes renewable energy. (CSR Hub gives company low ESG marks. Yahoo! Finance shows a buy average by analysts.) 6) Enphase Energy (ENPH: NASDAQ) is a leader in microinverters that converts DC power from solar panels into AC. (CSR Hub gives company low ESG marks. Yahoo! Finance shows a buy average by analysts.) 7) Ormat Technologies (ORA: NYSE) a leader in geothermal power. (A buy/hold average by analysts.) 8) TerraForm Power (TERP: NASDAQ) is focused on wind and solar in North America and Western Europe. (A hold average by analysts.) 9) NextEra Energy Partners (NEP: NYSE) has a strategy to generate high-powered dividend growth. (A buy average by analysts.) And, 10) Atlantica Yield (AY: NASDAQ) which has a diversified clean energy portfolio. (A buy average by analysts.) Again, go to this episode’s podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts for more detailed ESG and analyst opinion information. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, are you also looking for ESG dividend stocks? If so, you could check out this post titled, Why PACCAR is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (PCAR: NASDAQ)) by BNK Invest appearing on Nasdaq.com. At a recent price of around $64, its dividend yield was about 1.9%. However, though BNK Invest says PACCAR has great SRI credentials, Sustainalytics on the Yahoo! Finance site rate it as a moderate ESG performer in its category. Nonetheless, it’s difficult to find a reasonably paying sustainable dividend stock so on that basis it might be ok for some investors to consider if investment income is a high priority. ------------------------------------------------------------- A top holding in ESG funds is Microsoft. The Motley Fool writer, Tim Beyers, reviewed Microsoft (MSFT: NASDAQ) as an ESG investment in his article titled, ESG Investing: Is Microsoft a Responsible Investment? He concludes by saying that, “While Microsoft isn't perfect, a nine out of 10 on The Motley Fool's ESG Compounder Checklist is a sterling result. Should efforts to improve the company's diversity and inclusion practices continue to improve, it may not be long before we see Microsoft stick the landing alongside Accenture (NYSE: ACN), which scores a perfect 10. Keep this company on your ESG shortlist if you don't already own shares.” End quote. Microsoft is rated by Sustainalytics at Yahoo! Finance very high in its category average and has an average buy rating among analysts. ------------------------------------------------------------- Looking at another individual stock, Maria Gallagher, also writing in a Motley Fool post, reviews Nike (NKE: NYSE). Her post is titled, ESG Investing: Is Nike a Responsible Investment? She says that, quote, “Nike scores an 8/10 on our ESG checklist. This is a company that has lofty goals and is intentionally striving to meet them, which we admire. We think it's a strong ESG company with some work to do in its treatment of employees, as well as diversity and inclusion, but Nike is headed in the right direction in both of these areas.” End quote. Sustainalytics at Yahoo! Finance rates Nike’s ESG performance a little higher than average in its category. It’s also given an average buy rating by analysts. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, ESG ETFs are all the rage among ethical and sustainable investors so its good to come across George Geddes’s excellent article titled Can ESG ETFs outperform? In it, he reviews ESG ETFs from around the world and how they compare with their non-ESG counterparts. Globally he compares Deutsche Bank’s Xtrackers ESG MSCI World UCITS ETF (XZW0: L) with its non-ESG version Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF (XDWD. DE). He found the ESG version outperforming the ‘regular’ version and writes that “Since the inception of XZW0, it has outperformed its benchmark across a three-month, year-to-date and one-year time frames.” For the US, he says that “The Lyxor MSCI USA ESG Trend Leaders UCITS ETF (UESG) listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018 with a management fee of 0.25%, matching that of its non-screened version the Lyxor MSCI USA UCITS ETF (USAU: L). Again, UESG’s returns beat USAU’s but with a smaller margin.” And for Europe, he writes that “Another ESG product launched by DWS [an arm of Deutsche Bank] was the Xtrackers ESG MSCI Europe UCITS ETF (XZEU: SW) which listed at the same time as its world exposed sibling. In just 15 months, the fund has pulled in over $1.7bn in assets. XZEU was an ESG version of the company’s Xtrackers MSCI Europe UCITS ETF (XMEU: GE) which launched all the way back in September 2007… [the] XMEU has performed better than the ESG version.” These results generally appear to validate that ESG ETFs can produce returns as good – and sometimes even better – than their non ESG equivalents. I hope all these terms didn’t confuse you. Go to this episode’s podcast page for the details. ------------------------------------------------------------- Next item. On the Kiplinger.com site, Harriet Lefton writes a post titled, 5 Top ESG Stocks on RBC Capital’s ‘Best Ideas’ List. The companies are Salesforce.com, Nvidia, NextEra Energy (also referred to previously in this podcast), Microsoft (also referred to previously), and Gilead Sciences. ------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, a few points considering the upcoming WeWork IPO. Apparently, at least one writer is extremely critical of the company from both a financial and governance perspective. An article from GuruFocus.com that appeared on Yahoo! Finance, says the following about the company, “Unfortunately for those hoping to buy in on a growth opportunity, WeWork shows little sign of making good on its promised profitability.” End quote. But the real clincher, the writer says and can be seen in this quote from Stratechery, that, "The tech industry generally speaking is hardly a model for good corporate governance, but WeWork takes the absurdity [to] an entirely different level...Everything taken together hints at a completely unaccountable executive looting a company that is running as quickly as it can from massive losses that may very well be fatal whenever the next recession hits." End quote. I don’t yet know if any ESG ratings’ firm has rated WeWork, but irrespective of its profit prospects, on governance issues alone it may have real problems. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for September 13. See you then. Bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Amazon dissed as a sustainability investment compared to eBay. Livent, Brookfield Asset Management, and Sunpower, as renewable stock investments suggested by analysts. US Vegan Climate Exchange Traded ETF appears to finally arrive. Not what it seems though. ESG overlay for corporate bonds enhances portfolio performance says J P Morgan study. Unique ESG Factor ETF. More PODCAST: Amazon vs. eBay, First Vegan Fund, and more… Transcript & Links August 16, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for August 16, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Investment ideas in these podcasts are generally gleaned from market participants in the US, Canadian, UK, European, Asian and Australasian investment markets. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and often bonus material to these podcasts at their editions’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now to this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Nash at Corporate Knights has another insightful Sustainable Stock Showdown. This time comparing Amazon (AMZN.OQ) vs. eBay (EBAY.OQ)! He begins his analysis with the following critical statement, saying that, “Amazon may be primed for growth but amidst worker protests, climate concerns and military links, is eBay a better bet?” End quote. Additionally, Mr. Nash writes about Amazon’s poor sustainability record. You probably know that Amazon is a top holding in many ESG and sustainable funds. But should it be, given the previously mentioned issues! Do you feel comfortable investing in Amazon when it is heavily criticized on such issues? Writing about some of these concerns Mr. Nash says, again quoting him that, “A petition with 270,000 signatures was delivered to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos calling for better worker rights and for the company to cut ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for rounding up and deporting undocumented immigrants. Although these protests didn’t amount to much action, they certainly shone a light on Amazon’s many problems.” End quote. By contrast, on eBay, Mr. Nash writes that, and I quote, “eBay is the next largest online retail company and is a much better performer when it comes to sustainability metrics. With a focus on selling pre-owned products, about 16% of eBay’s revenues are estimated as green…eBay publishes a detailed Impact Progress Report that charts its progress on sustainability goals such as growth of sellers in ‘less-advantaged communities’ and a 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.” Close quote. In summary, Mr. Nash concludes, that, “Sustainable investors will want to consider the financial trade-offs involved in walking away from a stock with Amazonian growth, but they’ll sleep better at night owning eBay and knowing its carbon footprint won’t swallow the planet at the click of a button.” Close quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Next item is about a unique new ESG ETF called the IQS ESG Global Equity Multi-Factor UCITS ETF – now that’s a mouthful! We have this information from an article titled, Invesco launches multi-factor ETF with strict ESG criteria written by Gary Buxton in IFA Magazine. Talking about his new ESG ETF, fund manager Gary Buxton, Head of EMEA ETFs at Invesco, says, ‘Three of the biggest trends we have seen over the past decade are growing demand for multi-factor strategies, ESG investments and ETFs more generally. Proven expertise in all these areas has enabled us to respond to investor demand by delivering a multi-factor solution that adheres to strict ESG criteria and has all the benefits you would expect from our ETF structure.’” End quote. Additionally, Mr. Buxton says, again quoting him, that, “Eligible stocks are screened for compliance with the fund’s ESG Criteria, and then scored based on their attractiveness with respect to three investment factors: Quality, Value and Momentum.” End quote. Most ESG ETFs simply hold a group of stocks screened for only their ESG characteristics according to that ETFs objective – such as only renewable energy stocks, for instance. Whereas a multi-factor approach also includes further screens that might include the stocks perceived quality, value – say its relatively low price-earnings ratio, and momentum, that is the rate of acceleration of a stock’s price or volume of trading. Anyhow, it’s a unique approach and it’ll be interesting to see how well it works. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, The Motley Fool ran a story that I thought I’d like to pass on. The story title is 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now. There are three contributors, and each recommends one stock. sine qua non The first contributor is Rich Smith who favours, Livent (LTHM.N), which is a major lithium producer. Though he admits the immediate future might be difficult for the company, he looks beyond that, saying, and I quote, “If you believe, as I do, that lithium is a SIN + AY + KWAA + NOHN for storing energy generated from renewable sources like wind and solar, it makes sense to believe that Livent – one of the top three players in lithium – will outlive its present difficulties, and become much more profitable as time goes by.” End quote. The second recommendation comes from John Bromels who likes Brookfield Asset Management (BAMa.TO). This is a Canadian asset manager that holds a diverse group of renewable power assets. Mr. Bromels says, and I quote, that, “About 75% of Brookfield's assets are in good-old, reliable hydroelectric power, which helps the company generate steady cash flow and pay a hefty distribution that currently yields 5.6%... [An] MLP ownership isn't for everyone, but if you're looking to add a renewable energy company to your portfolio, Brookfield Renewable Partners is about as solid a bet as you'll find in this sector.” End quote. Now on this editions podcast page, I have a link to a good article describing MLPs for US investors. (See understanding MLPs.) Finally, Travis Hoium suggests Sunpower (SPWR.OQ). Mr. Hoium likes Sunpower because he says, “Not only are high-efficiency solar panels improving in cost-effectiveness, SunPower is adding energy storage to more projects. One-third of its commercial solar power systems now include energy storage, and the company says it will introduce a residential solar solution later this year. These new products combined with improving market conditions in the residential solar industry may make SunPower one of the biggest winners in energy in 2019.” End quote. So, check them out and see what you think. ------------------------------------------------------------- For a few podcasts now, I’ve been writing about investments relating to veganism or vegetarianism. Well, finally it appears that the first vegan-friendly ETF called the US Vegan Climate Exchange Traded ETF (VGN ETF) is planned for listing on the NYSE on September 10. However, I would deem it quite controversial – even for vegans – as it’s not what it might appear. Garry White in The Telegraph newspaper in the UK writes that “The fund is not currently investing in vegan food producers, but aims to avoid companies whose activities directly contribute to animal exploitation or environmental damage… Its largest holdings will include companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Mastercard. This means the ETF will look pretty similar to other, lower-cost alternatives… although Facebook is included in the vegan ETF because it meets its criteria, the company’s shares were thrown out of the S&P ESG Index in June because of weak oversight in the sale of its user data to advertisers.” End quote. So, see what I mean about it not being what ethical and sustainable investors might infer from its title! Garry White’s article is titled, Is vegan investing a marketing fad or a real investment trend? It’s a good read for anyone interested in the rapidly growing market of plant-based food investing. Another useful write-up on the Vegan Climate Fund can be found under the title, World’s First Vegan-Friendly Fund Opens for Trading, appearing on the VegWorld Magazine website. And, further insight can be found in this post Ethical Stock Investment To Launch On New York Stock Exchange by Liam Gilliver writing in Plant Based News. Incidentally, Beyond Meat Inc. (BYND.O) (Nasdaq) was still trading at multiples of its initial public offering price as of compiling this podcast. However, given current market dynamics and the history of stocks that go ballistic, it wouldn’t be surprising to see its share price retreat somewhat in the near future. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now for some wonderful news concerning ESG corporate bonds. For the first time, a study finds that adding ESG criterion to selecting corporate bonds boosts outcomes for investors. In an article titled, ESG overlay 'boosts outcomes for corporate bond investors': report, Susanna Rust, in IPE, writes that "[JP Morgan Asset Management] found that ESG scores could enhance portfolio outcomes via lower drawdowns, reduced portfolio volatility and, in some cases, marginally increased risk-adjusted returns. Although its study showed that using ESG scores improved gross portfolio returns for all categories of corporate bonds, this only held true for investment grade corporate debt once transaction costs were accounted for." Close quote. These are important new findings by JP Morgan. It had been found that screening sovereign bonds using ESG criteria provided better risk-adjusted returns – but corporate issues hadn't been explored much. Of course, though I trust JP Morgan to do excellent research, I'd really like to see this, and similar investment industry research, published in appropriate peer-reviewed journals. That would help ensure such research can be relied upon and is not just some investment firm 'pushing a product.' ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally and help create a better world for us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else related. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! And my next podcast is scheduled for August 30. See you then. Bye for now.

Water-related investing gains traction and has profit potential. Beyond Burger sizzle heightens interest in plant-based food producers. Unilever and Nestlé cited. Coldwater poured on cruise line investing. Morningstar ratings changes will allow investors to directly compare company sustainability scores across industries. Canada’s Responsible Investing Association website offers terrific new resources including investment values screening tool.   PODCAST: Water and Veggie Investing, Cruise Line Greenwashing Transcript & Links August 2, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for August 2, 2019 – presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing information and resources. If you hear any terms in this podcast that are unfamiliar to you, just Google them. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and often bonus material to these podcasts at their editions’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- Now many sustainable investors are getting excited about investing in water — that is companies and funds engaged with water in some way. Writing in the New York Times in an article titled, As Fresh Water Grows Scarcer, It Could Become a Good Investment, Tim Gray says, and I quote, “The prospect of shortages in the years ahead could make water a precious commodity… The United Nations Environment Program has predicted that half the globe’s population could face severe water stress by 2030. Annual expenditures of $200 billion, up from a historical average of about $40 billion to $45 billion, are needed now to keep spigots running, the U.N. said in a 2016 report.” End quote. In his article, Mr. Gray discusses several leading funds in this sector. The first is the AllianzGI Global Water Fund (AWTAX: Nasdaq) which is an actively managed fund that holds companies – and quoting the article – “[that provide] products or services to help overcome water scarcity and remedy infrastructure shortcomings… Created in 2008, the AllianzGI fund returned an annual average of 9.83 percent over the 10 years that ended in June, compared with 5.37 percent for its average Morningstar peer.” End quote. The second fund he writes about is the Calvert Global Water Fund (FWAX: Nasdaq), which is a passively managed index fund that, and I quote, “[is] divided into four subgroups — utilities, infrastructure outfits, technology providers and efficient users like Taiwan Semiconductor… The fund returned an annual average of 8.56 percent over the 10 years that ended in June.” Close quote. The third series of funds are under the umbrella of Invesco. They have three ETFs: Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO: Nasdaq) which holds US companies, and for global holdings Invesco Global Water ETF (PIO: American Stock Exchange). Both are based on Nasdaq indexes. The third fund is the S&P Global Water Index ETF (CGW: NYSE Arca). The Water Resources and Global Water funds, and quoting the article, “[have] ‘more focus on companies developing technology around delivering clean water,’ while the S&P index fund leans more toward utilities, which make up about half of its assets, said J. Jason Bloom, senior director of Global Macro E.T.F. Strategy at Invesco... The S&P Global Water Index fund returned an annual average of 11.05 percent for the decade that ended in June.” Close quote. Mr. Gray mentions two funds other funds First Trust Water ETF (FIW: NYSE Arca) and the Tortoise Global Water ESG Fund (TBLU: BATS Stock Exchange). Points to consider when investing in water include the possibility of regulatory controls and ethical considerations regarding its pricing – especially for poor people. So, though water investing looks attractive, you need to weigh your own ethical values. ------------------------------------------------------------- Continuing the water investment theme – and this being vacation time for many – some listeners might be thinking about cruise lines as an investment. Well, as far as cruise lines go, Tim Nash writing for Corporate Knights throws cold water on two of the leading global cruise line companies. Mr. Nash’s article is titled, Tim Nash’s Sustainable Stock Showdown: Can plastic pledges save troubled cruise lines? In it he reviews Carnival Corporation (CCL: NYSE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL: NYSE). Mr. Nash writes that Carnival was in the news recently as it pledged to end the use of all single-use plastics by 2021 and that this came a month after the company was fined $20 million for dumping overboard plastic waste near the Bahamas and prior to that was forced to pay a $40 million fine for illegally dumping oil. So, is Carnival becoming environmentally conscious or is this new gesture just a token event? One wonders… Concerning Royal Caribbean, Mr. Nash comments that and I quote, “Royal Caribbean has a dashboard of environmental goals for 2020 such as emissions reductions, sustainable sourcing and destination stewardship, but it doesn’t disclose targets or indicators.” End quote. My perspective is that without targets and authoritative independent review of them it’s just greenwashing. In conclusion, Mr. Nash says, quoting him, that, “The reality is both of these companies have leaky sustainability strategies, which could end up costing investors. Carnival Corporation has somewhat better transparency in its reporting but with a high carbon intensity, a poor CEO-to-worker pay ratio and a low tax responsibility, I wouldn’t blame sustainable investors for jumping ship.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Most cruise lines are noted for the terrific meals; however, I wonder if any of them are yet offering the Beyond Meat burger! Its stock has been on a tear. It’s been one of the most amazing IPOs in history with its recent stock price over $200 – over eight times its IPO price of May 2! Presently though, it’s run into some headwinds as company insiders and executives plan to sell stock in a significant secondary stock issue. Some additional treasury stock will be sold too. Again, the conclusion drawn from Beyond Meat’s success is the massive interest in meat alternatives which correspond, generally, to the significant rise in veganism and vegetarianism globally. This trend and investments related to it could become a core holding for ethical and sustainable investors. Among the global food companies best positioned for plant-based food product sales are Unilever (ULVR: London Stock Exchange) and Nestlé (NESN: Swiss Stock Exchange) this according to UK-based FAIRR, a US$5.3tn-backed investor coalition, says Andy Coyne in an article titled, Unilever, Nestle among best prepared for plant-based future. ------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you no doubt visit the Morningstar site for investment and sustainability information. You’ll be happy to know that Morningstar is improving its sustainability rankings. Quoting from an article titled, Morningstar Updates Sustainability Ratings, Gabriel Presler writes on their UK site, that, “The goal is to provide investors with a greater understanding of how the companies in their portfolios are managing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact compared to their peers. This rating change will allow investors to directly compare companies across industries.” End quote. A criticism of mine has long been the need to be able to compare sustainable investing, ESG attributes, etc., across companies in the same or similar industries. So, this change is truly welcome. ------------------------------------------------------------- Two other quick bits of potentially useful information. For Canadian ethical and sustainable investors, Canada’s revamped Responsible Investing Association website offers some terrific new resources. For instance, not only is it easy to find Canadian licensed responsible investing advisors, but investors can find Canadian mutual funds, ETFs, etc., that reflect their values by using the site’s new questionnaire feature. Simply go to https://www.riacanada.ca/ri-marketplace/ The second item is yet another warning about the proceeds of green bonds not going where you think they should be going. In a Financial Times article, titled, Clearer metrics are needed to assess green bond authenticity, Joshua Kendall, a senior ESG analyst at Insight Investment, writes that “Imagine lending money to a company to invest in green projects – and that group then using the proceeds to pay off other debt. That money has no discernible environmental impact and there is nothing you can do: it is all in the contract… Only a third of green bonds issued in the past three years met our three-stage criteria for sustainable issuance. This leads us to question the ‘green bond’ label and, more generally, it could undermine the authenticity of dedicated green bond funds.” Close quote. The conclusion? Before investing in green bonds or green bond funds be very clear about what they’re investing in really does meet with your expectations! ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top recent news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success – and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment-related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening. Come again! My next podcast is August 16. So, bye for now. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

  (Note: my next podcast is August 2.) Kellogg has the most successful vegie burger, pressure begins for IPO. More ESG stock, fund, and portfolio tips. Abandon GE, buy Schneider Electric, says Tim Nash in his stock challenge. Pot companies plan to adopt ESG as they strive to be seen as responsible, ethical, and sustainable investments. PODCAST: Kellogg’s ‘Beyond Meat,’ ESG Stock Tips, Ethical Pot Companies Transcript & Links July 5, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for July 5, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing information and resources. Please note that due to holidays my next podcast will be on August 2. Now to this podcast. And, Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and bonus material to this podcast at this edition's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, about the continuing saga of Beyond Meat. Its stock as of this writing is still holding well over $150 s share. Well, it seems that Brett Arends writing in MarketWatch has found that Kellogg has its own successful Beyond Meat competitor under the guise of its subsidiary MorningStar Farms -- and it’s going under the radar of everyone! In an article titled, Kellogg is sitting on a ‘fake meat’ gold mine bigger than Beyond Meat, Brett argues that Kellogg, whose stock price has been struggling for years, should take MorningStar Farms public and might well become even more valuable than Beyond Meat. Quoting Brett, he says, that, “Kellogg already owns the largest single ‘fake meat’ operation in the country in MorningStar Farms, a brand that has been around since the 1970s. [and he says] Where’s its IPO?” Continuing, Brett states, that, “I tried MorningStar’s ‘Grillers’ vegetarian burgers not long ago, on the recommendation of some friends. Frankly, I found them way better than Beyond Meat’s ‘Beyond Burgers’ and not obviously worse than the so-called ‘Impossible Burger’ that people are raving about. Close quote. Brett says that Kellogg won’t break out the annual sales figures for MorningStar Farms—though he believes they could be around $450 million and that compares with $290 million for Beyond Meat’s 2019 sales estimate! So, will Kellogg spin-off MorningStar Farms and do an IPO? Who knows but Sustainalytics gives Kellogg an ESG rating of 65—putting it in the 81st percentile of its peers and Reuters says analysts following the stock presently rate it as a hold. So, something you might consider. ------------------------------------------------------------- Barron’s the US investment daily paper recently published a piece by Karen Hube titled, How to Build Your Own ESG Portfolio. She says all the right things, such as the following, quoting her, "By putting your savings in funds that assess how a company is addressing (or worsening) environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, factors, you hitch your investments to good corporate citizens, and may earn above-average returns. But turning the concept into a practical investment portfolio without compromising on investing mandates such as diversification and due diligence comes with a unique set of challenges." End quote So, some great points are made in her article, but her portfolio appears overly diversified to me. Statistically, having more than fifteen stocks in diversified industries across regions will give you very little extra statistical benefit. Also, no-doubt it'll include sectors and companies that won't please you! Along similar lines, John Eade of Argus Research Group published their sustainable stock recommendations in a post, An Argus Research Portfolio for Sustainable Impact Stocks which appeared in Money Show. John likes: Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL: OQ), Ecolab Inc. (ECL: NYSE), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ: NYSE), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM: NYSE), McDonald’s Corp. (MCD: NYSE), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT: N), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC: NYSE) and a few more that you can see by clicking the link in the transcript for this podcast. Again, if you have or are interested in creating a portfolio of profitable individual stocks that reflect your values, learn how to do it properly and systematically in my one-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. Take a few seconds to check it out! Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look down the right-hand sidebar. ------------------------------------------------------------- In speaking of portfolio diversification, heavy industry is not a sector that as an ethical and sustainable investor you might consider. Nonetheless, you can’t escape the necessity for it in our society and it can have a place in your portfolio too. So, in Tim Nash’s sustainable stock showdown pulls plug on GE, he compares General Electric (GE: NYSE) with Schneider Electric (SGBSY: OTC). GE has been in the doldrums for several years. Tim says about GE, that, “GE was a great investment throughout the 20th century, but lacking a clear forward-looking strategy to transition into a low-carbon future, it’s no wonder that sustainable investors are turning out the lights on GE shares.” End quote Concerning Schneider Electric, Tim says, that, “Schneider Electric is a French energy management company making hardware and software that helps companies improve their energy efficiency… Schneider Electric at #60 on the 2019 Corporate Knights Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list, and #13 on the 2019 Corporate Knights and As You Sow Clean200 list.” Finally, he says, “If you want to keep the lights on sustainably in the 2000s, forget GE. Schneider Electric is a better investment.” ------------------------------------------------------------- Yet another new low-cost ESG ETF has been launched. It’s the Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (NYSE: SNPE). What’s special about this ESG ETF is that it tracks the new S&P 500 ESG Index. According to Todd Shriber at Benzinga in a post, Another Cheap ESG ETF is Here, Todd writes, that, the “S&P Dow Jones launched the index earlier this year and its approach to ESG investing is traditional in that it excludes tobacco companies, civilian firearms manufacturers and companies with low scores based on the United Nations Global Compact for responsible business… Continuing the quote, Todd says that, “The new SNPE allocates over 27% of its weight to the technology sector and a combined 28.23% of its weight to the health care and consumer discretionary sectors. SNPE is home to 319 stocks. The financial services and industrial sectors combine for over 20% of the fund's weight.” Now earlier I brought up the subject of over-diversification and here I’m concerned that like most other general ESG ETFs they tend to under diversify into a few key sectors—and so, for instance, when tech, health care, and financials do well, they thrive. Since these sectors have done so well in the past decade, portfolios that are heavily weighted in those sectors have generally outperformed. However, with trade frictions, anti-monopolistic sentiments and governments potentially further regulating health care costs and privacy concerns coming to the fore, it’s possible that stock market leadership might rotate to other market sectors. From another perspective that also relates in a way to diversification, is a protestation by James Gard in a Morningstar UK article. In it, he argues to be a little ‘looser’ in not being too strict in only including top ESG rated companies in your portfolio. His article is titled, Should ESG Funds Buy "Bad" Companies? James makes a point that, quote, “Investors who shun such firms may miss out if these efforts pay off in the long-term.” James further quotes Jon Hale, also of Morningstar, as follows, “Wouldn't another investor come along to take the place of the ‘responsible’ investor? And if enough investors shun a company's stock, it could become undervalued and end up outperforming for those who don't have any problem investing in it.” And by the time that happens, that poor performing ESG stock could become a leading ESG stock with great stock price gains that you would’ve missed out on. So that’s the argument for loosening your ESG stock screening. ------------------------------------------------------------- Incidentally, terrific price gains have been made with pot stocks in recent years. But can they be worthy investments for ethical and sustainable investors? That’s a complicated question. Besides the personal values issues for you, you might’ve wondered if pot companies can do well with ESG issues? Well, the pot industry is aiming to create its own ESG standards. Kristine Owram, writing in a Bloomberg article titled, Pot Firms Seek to Transition From Sin Stocks to Ethical Darlings, says, that, and I quote, "A group of 45 companies operating in the cannabis industry has crafted a set of standards that they hope could one day transform them from sin stocks into ESG darlings." This will be fascinating to watch! Can pot companies be sold as health producing ESG focused entities to institutional investors? For a great review of the pot industry from an ESG perspective see the Sustainalytics post and report, ESG Risks of Cannabis Cultivation: Energy, Emissions and Pesticides. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes or wherever you listen to this podcast. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! And as I mentioned, my next podcast is scheduled for August 2. Yes, I’m taking a break. Talk to you then. Bye for now.

Which renewable energy stocks benefit from lower rates? Beyond Meat’s wild stock success shows paradigm shift among investors for new vegan-vegetarian food investing. Comparing PepsiCo vs Coke-Cola environmentally and as investments. New robo advisor offers investing for racial justice. What to watch for to avoid greenwashing when investing. New large cap ESG ETF gets attention. PODCAST: Renewable Energy Energized, Greenwashing and Investing Transcript & Links June 21, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for June 21, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investment information and resources. Now to this podcast. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and bonus material to this podcast at this editions’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, many investors listening to this podcast are investing with an ethical-sustainable investing mindset that takes seriously the need to care for the planet and as such is already leaning towards – if not done so already – to a more vegetable-based diet. Therefore, you’ve been following with great interest Beyond Meat’s ascension to stock price heights that were unimaginable a few weeks ago. Recently, it was trading above $160—and to me, that tells us something. It says that there’s a paradigm shift taking place in the food industry centering around vegan-vegetarian foods and in my June 7 podcast I gave you some links to sites where you could find some interesting ideas for such investments. Now, also along these lines, Corporates Knights have published another good article on this industry titled, Plant burgers bring home the bacon and there you might find even more companies in this sector that you could look at. ------------------------------------------------------------- Another favorite for ethical-sustainable investors is renewable energy. In the US, despite President Trump’s attempt to get everyone excited about the fossil fuel industry there, renewable energy continues to take-off. An argument for even greater take-off is made by Travis Hoium in his Motley Fool post Why Renewable Energy Stocks Could Have a Great Year. He argues that lower US interest rates will power up renewables. Quoting him, he says, “Like it or not, renewable energy stocks' performance today is tied to what the Federal Reserve does with interest rates in any given month. The value of renewable power plants rises and falls with the market's interest rates, and the impact of their movement trickles down to influence demand for everything from solar panels to inverters and wind turbines.” End quote. Companies he likes in the solar panel area are Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) and for wind, General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Vestas Wind Systems (NASDAQOTH: VWSYF). Travis also makes other recommendations in the renewable energy sector that you can read in his post. Sophia Cai, writing in Barron’s with an article titled, Solar Power Is Starting to Shine. Here Are Some Stocks Poised to Benefit, covers Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN), SunPower (NASDAQ SPWR), Vivant Solar (NYSE: VSLR), and Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE Arca: TAN). While on the subject of renewable energy, a global new cell efficiency and modular output record were made by JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS). And what they did specifically, quoting a news release titled, JinkoSolar Breaks World Record for Cell Efficiency and Module Output states, “that the maximum conversion efficiency of JinkoSolar’s cheetah size cells and N-type cells reached 24.38% and 24.58%, respectively, during testing conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in March 2019, China's authoritative national academy for the natural sciences.” Close quote. Is JinkoSolar a buy? Well, the average of six analysts covered by Reuters rate it as hold, possibly a buy. However, these analyst opinions appear to have been made prior to JinkoSolar’s announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------- Profitably investing in renewable energy is one way we can help solve our climate change problems and thus create a less polluted world. Another is investing in companies making real efforts to reduce plastics’ pollution. Plastics’ pollution has recently been given prominence and two companies among the largest polluters of plastic are Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Tim Nash over at Corporate Knights compares them both from a plastics, environmental, and investing perspective, in his article, Tim Nash’s sustainable stock showdown: Pepsi vs. Coke plastic challenge. He says, “Forget taste tests – [its] which drink maker will be the choice of a planet-conscious generation?” His final opinion is that, and quoting him again, he says that “Coca-Cola and Pepsi are very similar when it comes to most sustainability metrics, but I’ll give Pepsi the edge thanks to its broader diversification and the disruptive potential of refillable dispenser technologies like SodaStream. Both companies have a long way to go, but Pepsi is this week’s winner of the Sustainable Stock Showdown.” End quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now doing your own investing can be daunting. Just in these podcasts, you hear about so many different investment opportunities. Because I know what this can be like, a year ago I created a simple step by step one-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Tutorial. It doesn’t require any financial knowledge or math skills and you’ll quickly learn some simple things to easily put-together a stock portfolio reflecting your values directly – and which will potentially be as profitable and at a lower cost than any other option available! So, take a few seconds to check it out! Just go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down the right-hand column for the link. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now let’s cover a few useful miscellaneous items. If you’re interested in racial justice issues there’s a robo advisor for US investors offering just that. The firm is Openinvest, and it has launched the Racial Justice Index Fund. Here’s what Openinvest says about it, quote, “OpenInvest has identified companies that hold themselves accountable to the public regarding their progress on employee diversity and their commitment to environmental justice. Our Racial Justice cause allows any investor to tailor their investments to only include those companies who are transparent about their progress on diversity targets, and to divest from those that disproportionately pollute in communities of color.” You can also read more about it a FORTUNE article titled, You Can Now Invest in a 'Racial Justice' Index Fund by Rey Mashayekhi. And there’s yet another new US ESG ETF that’s gathering attention and that is Nuveen’s ESG Large-Cap ETF (CBOE: NULC). You can read all about in Todd Shriber’s article, Nuveen Adds To ESG Roster With New Large-Cap ETF at benzinga.com. Quoting his article, “The new NULC tracks the TIAA ESG USA Large-Cap Index. The Index uses a rules-based methodology that seeks to provide investment exposure that generally replicates that of large-cap benchmarks through a portfolio of securities that adhere to predetermined ESG, controversial business involvement and low-carbon screening criteria, according to Nuveen.” Close quote. While wanting to invest ethically, sustainably, we can always be subject to ‘greenwashing’ investing. That is, investing in companies that say a lot of good things, but don’t do any real heavy lifting. I’ve always been greatly concerned about this and for decades have advocated that corporate social responsibility reports, now often replaced with sustainability reports, provide not only metrics that are material – that is, would affect their operations and stock price – but also such reports be quantifiable where possible and audited by reputable outside independent auditors. Much the same way as for financial statements. And we’re getting there! Only in this way can we get rid of greenwashing. Masja Zandbergen has written a good piece about avoiding greenwashing from a portfolio manager’s perspective in the article titled, Avoiding greenwashing in sustainable investing in Singapore’s The Business Times. It’s useful reading to see how you might avoid falling for greenwashing in your investing. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes or wherever you listen to this podcast. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! My next podcast is scheduled for July 5. Bye for now.

Exciting new ESG ETFs hit market. See reviews here. Corporate Knights stock showdowns: Exxon vs Neste (energy) and Kimberly-Clark vs Cascades (paper). Low ESG performers promising to upgrade their ESG activities can potentially outperform high ESG stocks. Beyond Meat leading a craze in vegan meat replacements that has years to run with many investment opportunities. Transcript & Links June 7, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for June 7, 2019—presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investment information and resources. Now to this podcast. And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and bonus material to this podcast at this editions’ podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- First off, I’m going to talk about two new ESG ETFs: The Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock (NASDAQ: VEIGX) and the Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: USSG) The Vanguard ETF is written-up by someone I really admire and have posted works by him before. His name is Jon Hale of Morningstar. His insightful article was posted at Yahoo! Finance. One of Jon’s main points is that this ETF is likely to be mostly comprised of low-risk ESG companies given that it’s manager, Wellington Global Stewards, manages a fund available for Europeans that has a similar risk profile. Also, for an actively managed fund, it is low cost with an estimated annual expense ratio of 0.55%. Jon likes this fund, saying that, and quoting him, “the fund does have a lot going for it out of the starting gate, including low fees, a quality subadvisor, and what appears to be well-conceived approach to ESG. I expect successful asset-gathering over time.” He does have one concern though, saying that, and I quote, “One caveat I have about the fund is that while comanagers Mandel and Courtines have years of portfolio management experience, [this fund] appears to be their first serious dive into ESG investing.” Close quote. The second ETF, the Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF has done something remarkable for an ESG ETF and that is in its first two months of trading—that is by May 29—it attained over $1 billion in assets, according to a post, titled, An Impressive Start For USSG ESG ETF, on the ETF Trends website. Another difference about this fund that some of you might like is that compared to other ESG ETFs it screens out companies engaged in alcohol, weapons, gambling, and other controversial products or activities. You should realize that ESG ratings refer to company operations and almost never to a company’s end products or services. Hence, tobacco, alcoholic beverage, and even weapons companies, can still score high on ESG factors! One other feature about this ETF and a possible reason for its terrific asset gathering performance in its first two months is that it has an annual management fee of only 0.10%! Now remember though, this is a passively managed fund tracking the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index that includes 339 stocks. ------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Nash over at Corporate Knights has another great stock showdown. He sought to find a greener energy replacement for Exxon, the giant US oil company, and found, Neste (on the Helsinki Exchange: NTOIY). Quoting Tim, “Neste is a Finnish oil refiner that is now redefining what an energy company looks like. Although it still earns most of its revenues from oil refining and gas stations, biofuels like renewable diesel are now the fastest growing part of its business, comprising half its total profits. Its biofuels are made from a combination of waste sources (animal fat and used cooking oil) and plant sources (rapeseed oil and palm oil).” Continuing quoting him, he says, “If you’re looking to divest your portfolio from fossil fuels entirely, Neste may not be the company for you. But by showing the world how an oil and gas company can successfully transition into a renewable energy powerhouse, Neste wins this week’s Sustainable Stock Showdown.” Unquote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Nash has also done another recent ‘stock showdown’—this time Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) vs. Cascades (TSE: CAS), two companies prominent in disposable paper products. Though some of you might not like the idea of investing in such companies, you can’t get away from the fact that our use of paper keeps growing despite the digital everything economy. Also, in a well-balanced all-weather portfolio, you can’t be too overweight in say, tech, and financials. All industries have their ups and downs, and yes, tech has done incredibly well but given the current concerns with privacy, tariff policies, etc., who knows what the future will be. So, yes, boring companies in boring traditional all-weather industries that have good ESG credentials have a place in most portfolios. So, Tim gives a wonderful overview of the disposable paper products industry—its pros and cons from environmental and other viewpoints—and how both companies are trying to do a better job on the issues he raises. Here are some quotes from his article, he says, that, “The forestry sector, in general, has a chequered past with impacts on biodiversity loss, climate change, and indigenous rights.” Continuing, he says, “From an investment perspective, Cascades is a much smaller company than Kimberly-Clark and pays a smaller dividend. Cascades could see higher revenue growth from expansion into areas like 100% recycled food packaging, and may provide better growth over time as the anti-plastic wave picks up. Both companies have good sustainability scores, but I’ll give Cascades the win for this week’s Sustainable Stock Showdown.” Close quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, do you select investments based solely on excluding specific industries, such as weapons and tobacco companies? If so, Masja Zandbergen, head of ESG at Swiss investment firm, Robecco, argues in a post written by Joe McGrath in Expert Investor, that a portfolio made up of such investments shouldn’t be called sustainable. I agree with that if that’s the sole basis for portfolio selection. Furthermore, if you want to screen out certain industries, that’s fine, but it’s also good to apply ESG criteria in selecting the balance of your investments. Incidentally, Ms. Zandbergen, like many in the ESG-sustainable investment industry argues that—and quoting her, saying, “she believes that companies with low ESG scores should be encouraged to improve their behaviors, through engagement.” And that’s what we all want, and it makes financial sense too. You might be aware of the several studies showing that companies with high ESG scores trade at a relative premium to companies with low ESG scores. However, did you know that low ESG scoring companies that prove to be on an upward trajectory in their ESG performance can make outsized stock price gains relative to the high ESG performers? This in part explains why companies like Robecco often pick lower scoring ESG companies and engage with them to improve their ESG activities and thereby ride the wave of that company’s improved stock price. ------------------------------------------------------------- In previous podcasts, I covered the rise of Beyond Meat. Well, its stock recently traded over $100—four times its IPO price! To me, this whole area of vegetable meat replacement food is terrifically exciting, offering new investment possibilities—and the media is onto it too! If you haven’t considered investing in this new industry, you just might want to. As is often the case, celebrities often influence public taste—sorry for the pun! A great example of media interest in vegetable meat replacement is Tom Metcalf’s Bloomberg article, titled, James Cameron Sees Global Salvation in Plant-Based Investing. James Cameron’s films have been immensely successful, grossing over $6 billion worldwide. Quoting the article, “[James and wife Suzy Amis] have increasingly focused their family office on plant-based investments, from an organic farm in New Zealand to a Canadian plant that makes protein concentrates from peas and lentils.” Unquote. The article also gives some impressive US stats, saying that, and I quote, that, “Retail sales of plant-derived meat alternatives rose by almost 25% to an estimated $770 million in the 12 months ended August 2018 from a year earlier, according to a February report by Rabobank, while vegan alternatives to products such as milk, cheese and yogurt are estimated to ring up $4.1 billion in sales.” End quote. For a good review article of this trend and other players in this industry see the Greenbiz post by Shana Rappaport, titled, It's 'impossible' to ignore the world of alternative proteins. For stocks to invest in, vegfaqs.com, suggests Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG), AAK (STO: AAK), SenzaGen (STO: SENZA) and SIMRIS (STO: SIMRIS). On this edition’s podcast webpage, you can find bonus information and links on investing in this exciting new sustainable industry. Go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this edition. (Bonus links: http://investsnips.com/list-of-publicly-traded-vegan-companies/ and https://vegconomist.com/ ) ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes or wherever you listen to this podcast. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! My next podcast is scheduled for June 21. Bye for now.

Top 100 US ESG companies for 2019 by CR Magazine. Profitably invest in harmony with your spiritual or religious ideals. Solar power breakthrough—but investing in solar has its perils. A valuable investing tip that really works. Confused who’s best, Uber or Lyft? An analyst compares them. Vanguard launches actively managed ESD ETF. And more. PODCAST: Top US ESG Companies, Solar Power Breakthrough, Investing Tip Transcript & Links May 26, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for May 26, 2019. Presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investment resources. Now to this podcast. And for any terms that are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them! Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and often bonus material at my podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- The first item to discuss is CR Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2019! CR Magazine reviewed 1,000 US companies for their ESG practices. Robbie Lock, a writer for 3BL Association, commenting on the research results wrote that “Owens Corning tops the ranking, followed by Intel, General Mills, Campbell Soup and HP Inc… Twenty-seven companies are new to the ranking in 2019 including Allstate, Delta Airlines and Mondelez International. Biggest gainers include Ball Corp., CBRE, Ford and Xylem, Inc.” Mr. Lock provides further clarification as to how CR Magazine obtains the rankings. Quoting him again, he says, ”The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking uses 134 total corporate disclosure and performance factors in seven categories: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, and stakeholders and society.” Also, that the, “There is no fee for companies to be assessed. To compile this ranking, information is obtained from publicly available resources only, rather than questionnaires or company submissions. Companies have the option to verify data collected for the ranking at no cost.” Close quote. I like the idea that companies don’t pay to be included in the research and the data compiled is from publicly available sources. ------------------------------------------------------------- The 100 Best Corporate Citizens demonstrate various degrees of above average corporate ethics, and ethics is a central theme for those wanting to apply their spiritual or religious beliefs to investing. If you’re interested in applying spiritual or religious values to investing, Meredith Jones just published in MarketWatch a post that could be of interest to you. It’s titled, “Opinion: When your faith guides your investing decisions, can you still beat the stock market?” And she says the answer can be yes. Ms. Jones reviews the leading ETFs and mutual funds for investors interested in Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian-Bible related ethics and principles. For Catholics, she likes the Global X S&P 500 Catholic Values ETF, LKCM Aquinas Catholic Equity Fund, and the Ave Maria group of funds. For those of Jewish persuasion, she says there’s only one for now and that’s the AMIDEX35 Israel Mutual Fund which invests in Israeli companies. For Muslims, there’s the Imam Fund IMANX the Amana group of funds and ETFs listed on the London Stock Exchange including iShares MSCI World Islamic ETF ISWD and the iShares MSCI USA Islamic ETF ISUS. And under the umbrella of Christian-Bible offerings, Ms. Jones reviews the Timothy Plan and Guidestone family of funds. For links to these funds go to my podcast page for this edition at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. ------------------------------------------------------------- In my last podcast, I introduced the research of Tim Nash at Corporate Knights. Well, he’s produced another research report that compares the pros and cons of investing in Uber or Lyft. You can read his full post under the title of Tim Nash’s sustainable stock showdown: Uber vs. Lyft. Personally, I’m not keen on either company because I believe competition—not just between them but also other entrants including potentially motor vehicle manufacturers themselves—will force them to keep user prices low which will continue to severely restrict profits. Also, their environmental benefits are overplayed as I mentioned in my podcast of April 12. Anyhow, this is what Mr. Nash says in conclusion, “I’d put Lyft ahead by a headlight in this week’s Sustainability Stock Showdown, but anyone that’s interested in investing in either stock should be ready to fasten their seat belts and brace for a bumpy ride.” ------------------------------------------------------------- One big area that I know might interest you is renewable energy. I have several items of news and information that I want to share with you concerning investing in this area. The first thing you should know is that developments in new products are almost overwhelming. This industry has numerous innovative players and it’s very difficult to know who will eventually be a leader. Sure, you can buy renewable energy ETFs—and a good read on what to buy is an article that appeared recently on Nasdaq, titled, 5 Clean Energy ETFs to Buy for 2019. But if you’re interested in individual companies, here’s what I’ve seen in the past two weeks. The New York Times ran an excellent piece reviewing a Danish company called Orsted. They produce massive offshore wind turbines whose energy costs are rapidly declining while already being highly competitive with new natural-gas fired plants. In solar power, there’s been a tremendous breakthrough in producing new solar panels that appear to be 20-25% more efficient than the best existing panels. A paper outlining the breakthrough appeared in ScienceDaily under the title, Breakthrough in new material to harness solar power. Who will manufacture, market and install such panels wasn’t mentioned. Incidentally, these panels do have a downside—they contain some lead. I’m sure testing in rainy and humid environments will be needed and manufacturing processes and end-of-life disposal policies will be needed too, considering that most countries will want assurance about the safe removal of lead. I did a detailed study on solar panel manufacturers a few years ago and discovered that the manufacturing processes themselves can be highly toxic. Furthermore, most countries had no end-of-life policies in place to deal with the safe disposal of the toxic components of solar panels—and that is deeply concerning! It’s possible that the companies engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and installation of solar panels could at some point be hit with levies or fines in dealing with these issues. At the time of my research, I was most impressed with SunPower and its environmental efforts. So, one thing you might want to find out before investing in solar panel manufacturers is how they perform environmentally. A great resource for this is the Solar Power Scorecard produced by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. However, their last scorecard is a little dated and I’m hoping to see their new one soon. Incidentally, Fox Business just reported on the huge growth of solar panel installation in the US in a post, titled, 2 Million U.S. Solar Installations Are Just the Start. By the way, a tip for checking how investment analysts rate solar companies—or any companies for that matter—is simply to type into Google Search the name of the company followed by Reuters—the name of the media company—after it. Click search and then click the search item that says the company name and the text Reuters quote. Reuters will then bring-up a research report. Click on analysts in the links bar and you can see how analysts rate the stock of the company you’re researching. By getting the information on how analysts rate the companies you’re interested in can be terrifically helpful in deciding which companies to invest in. It saves you a lot of time and effort. And this is exactly the kind of tip and help you get in my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial! This tutorial will be the most worthwhile 1-hour you’ll ever spend getting help with your investments! ------------------------------------------------------------- Some other exciting new developments that might interest you are the following. Vanguard, one of the world’s largest fund companies, has launched its first actively managed ESG ETF, called the Global ESG Select Stock Fund (ticker VEIGX). It will officially begin trading on June 4. This is big as ETFs are mostly ‘passively’ managed, that is they pick a group of stocks typically based on an index, whereas active management means selling and buying different stocks as the managers see fit. In recent years passive investing has usually outperformed active investing. However, who knows what the future will bring. Also, S&P Dow Jones, who have had ESG indices for many years is launching something new. They are launching ESG global indexes based on core regional and country benchmarks. What is especially interesting is that these indexes, and quoting their press release, provide “a return profile that's consistent with mainstream benchmarks that have been widely followed for years.” As an aside, what you can do, where possible, is to review the indexes that interest you and see what companies are included in them. You can often get useful ideas for new companies to look at! ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories and tips for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition. And be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes or wherever you listen to this podcast. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! My next podcast is scheduled for June 7. Bye for now!

Beyond Meat initial public offering (IPO) share price soars over $80 from $25 surprising everyone and encouraging offerings that could excite ethical and sustainable investors. Learn how to find animal-friendly investments. UN agency PRI says socially responsible investing (SRI) should wake up to modern slavery. Unilever better investment over Johnson & Johnson says sustainability analyst. Transcript & Links May 10, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! for May 10, 2019. Presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investment resources. Now to this podcast. Again, for any terms that are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them! Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and sometimes bonus material at my podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts ------------------------------------------------------------- Many of you listening are interested in ESG or SRI bond and fixed income investments. And with good reason. A recent article titled, Largest 10 Socially Responsible Fixed Income ETFs, by Todd Shriber of ETF Trends, reviews two leading funds in this space. They are the iShares Global Green Bond ETF (on Nasdaq GM: ticker BGRN) and VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (on the NYSEArca: ticker GRNB). These bond funds have great pedigrees. However, the article’s title might suggest the review is of ten SRI fixed income ETFs and that’s a little misleading. Concerning the ten listed—but not reviewed—I wouldn’t put them in the same category as the two funds examined in the article. The SRI credentials of the ten listed are mainly that they invest in government securities and blue-chip company bonds. Of course, governments fund all sorts of things that ethical and sustainable investors might argue aren’t socially responsible. And even though blue-chip companies such as Apple are frequently top SRI holdings, their bonds aren’t usually going directly to fund green projects. Whereas, the iShares Global Green Bond ETF and VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF specifically fund projects and activities related to environmental and social concerns. ------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I can’t resist the temptation to not talk about the great Beyond Meat initial public offering! It came out at $25 on May 2 and has traded over $80 since then. For a good review of what the company is and what it faces regarding competition etc., see this MarketWatch post, Beyond Meat goes public with a bang: 5 things to know about the plant-based meat maker, by Ciara Linnane. Quoting Ciara, she says, "The maker of the Beyond Burger, which is sold at Whole Foods and restaurant chain TGIF, among others, priced its initial public offering at $25 a share… raising at least $240 million at a valuation slightly shy of $1.5 billion." Close quote. Now at $80 a share Beyond Meat has a staggering market valuation of about $5 billion! I'm delighted to see this offering, as one of the most important things we can do to slow down carbon emissions and climate change, is to reduce our consumption of meat. However, some climate researchers are skeptical about the net benefit of highly processed vegetarian and vegan offerings on the climate. That this IPO went so well is a testament to the fact that even many conservative financial types are recognizing there’s money to be made in climate change. However, I suspect that most of the interest probably comes from younger investors. Furthermore, this could indicate the beginning of a thrilling era for new investment offerings that ethical and sustainable investors can get excited about! Obviously, the underwriters significantly underestimated demand for Beyond Meat’s shares. When IPOs triple in price right after being launched it means that the issuer—the company—could have gotten far more for their shares. Though Beyond Meat is probably happy, they’re probably unhappy that they could’ve raised double or triple of what they got! So, Beyond Meat is an exciting short-term play but with so many competitors to its products over the medium to long-term, it's not obvious it will be a winner yet. ------------------------------------------------------------- For a good review of what Beyond Meat’s success means for two burger chains offering vegan burgers, see this post, titled, Tim Nash's sustainable stock showdown: battle of the burger chains, Corporate Knights, Canada. Admittedly this review is of the Canadian market, but it has bearing on the US and other markets too. Of course, Americans or anyone can invest in the Canadian stocks of the burger chains mentioned in that post. After a great review, Mr. Nash finalizes his recommendation as follows, and I quote, “A&W Food Services of Canada (which has no corporate connections to A&W’s American locations) is obviously a much smaller company than Restaurant Brands, but... with a higher dividend and a lower beta, A&W provides a nice mix of income and growth potential. The chain is the clear winner.” Close quote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, for ethical and sustainable investors interested in the animal-friendliness of their investments, read this article by Meredith Jones of MarketWatch, titled, Opinion: Here’s how to check the animal-friendliness of your investments. Quoting her, she says, “It’s easy to check which individual stocks are ‘cruelty-free,’ but you can’t yet invest in a vegan investment index." She offers several ways to checking which investments are free of animal-related products and testing. If you’re interested in finding more organizations that can help you in this endeavor, check-out my Investing for the Soul sites’ pages Environmental Organizations & Resources and Organizations Promoting Corporate Ethical, Social & Environmental Responsibility. ------------------------------------------------------------- Turning to a completely different aspect of investing, let’s talk about separately managed accounts at financial institutions compared to owning a portfolio of ETFs. Now separately managed accounts aren’t for everyone as they usually require a sizeable investment. However, if you meet the threshold they could be better for US investors than ETFs, says Johny Mair at ThinkAdvisor. Mr. Mair says in an article titled, ETF vs. SMA: Which Is Better for Sustainable Investing? That, and I quote, “SMAs are ideal for values-based investing as they allow investors to actively screen for certain product areas (e.g. oil, tobacco), or ‘bad actors’ that they deem antithetical to their values. They also allow for more specificity, e.g. designating a certain percentage of revenue from carbon emissions to be included in one’s portfolio. Furthermore, because SMA investors directly own the underlying securities, they can opt to play an active shareholder role, working to impact corporate behavior through voting proxies or shareholder resolutions." End quote. Of course, for those who might not have the means for an SMA—or even for those who do—check out my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. There, in 1-hour you can get a handle on how to easily and very cheaply put together your own personal values-based profitable portfolio—nonmatter its size. ------------------------------------------------------------- In looking for companies we all want to know about their ESG ratings. However, you might not be aware of which ESG rating firms are good. Well, a new report reviews the various ESG rating services. Go to this recent post in IR Magazine, headlined, ESG Ratings – A look at the ESG ratings landscape. Register at the bottom of the page to download the PDF report. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ethical and sustainable investors are concerned with many issues, but one that they might not have thought of and which is still a global problem is modern slavery. Fiona Reynolds, head of the UN’s Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), says that ‘“There are a lot of ESG conversations around climate change ... but it is interlinked with modern slavery,’ Reynolds told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. ‘We see many climate migrants and refugees who end up vulnerable and at risk of being trafficked,’ she added.” Close quote. Another quote from the article states, that, “The U.N. estimates that some 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, from factory jobs to forced marriages.” End quote. Perhaps it’s something you might ask the companies you like who might have the potential for such involvement. The Reuters post is by Kieran Guilbert and titled, 'Look for the laggards' - investors told to target modern slavery. ------------------------------------------------------------- Lastly, another good comparative analysis by Tim Nash at Corporate Knights for ethical and sustainable investors has the title, Tim Nash’s sustainable stock showdown: Johnson & Johnson vs. Unilever. He says, and I quote,” With thousands of J&J cancer lawsuits pending, you might want to freshen up your portfolio with a cleaner company… J&J and Unilever are companies with very similar financial profiles, but, in my view, Unilever’s brand is thriving while Johnson and Johnson’s is deteriorating.” For decades, J&J has a been a favorite investment for ethical investors—but not so much anymore as Mr. Nash’s post makes clear. Yet, most ESG funds still have it in their holdings. Check your holdings and see. Perhaps you still like J&J for other reasons. However, at the very least, these lawsuits and the negative publicity surrounding them is proving costly to the firm’s bottom line and stock price. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are my top news stories for ethical and sustainable investors over the past two weeks. Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the content of this podcast or anything else investment related. I can’t say I’ll have all the answers for you and some answers I can’t give due to licensing restrictions. But where I can help I will. Now, a big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! Bye for now!

GMO, the investment firm, has ideas for climate proofing investment portfolios. Municipal bonds might have considerable climate risks. S&P’s ESG product raises conflict of interest issues as in financial crises of 2008-9. YUM! Brands takes an environmental leadership role in the food industry and radical new wind power technology could disrupt the wind energy industry. Transcript & Links April 26, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! Presented by Investing for the Soul, April 26, 2019. Now again, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them! Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and sometimes bonus material at my podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts News So, here are some key items of news for the period April 12 to 26, 2019. The first item is titled, 3 Ways to Make Your Portfolio More Climate-Aware, by Jon Hale at Morningstar. I really respect Jon. He’s doing an incredible job at Morningstar in orienting that famous investment research firm towards ESG. In his latest post he highlights the work of GMO—no that’s not genetically modified organisms—but a top-notch investment house. For decades I've heard—and you too I'm sure—that if you narrow your investment universe you will get lower returns. Well, consider this from Jon’s post, quote, "Grantham and his colleagues at GMO looked at what happens when you remove a single sector from an S&P 500-based portfolio. They created S&P 500 portfolios ex energy, ex healthcare, and ex the other eight sectors in the index, going back to 1989, 1957, and 1925. They found that the range of returns for the ex portfolios was only 50-60 basis points annualized, distributed above and below the S&P 500's return. In the case of the ex energy portfolio, it underperformed the S&P 500 by just 5 basis points annualized from 1925 to 2017, underperformed by 7 basis points annualized from 1957 to 2017, and outperformed by 3 basis points annualized from 1989 to 2017. Grantham's conclusion: 'You can divest from oil--or about anything else--without much consequence for performance.'" Close quote. So, according to GMO, divest from fossil fuels and not worry about lower returns! Nonetheless, I would be happier if this research was written-up and published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal and critiqued. Incidentally, Grantham says that the fossil fuel sector is way overpriced considering its risks. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, do you invest in, or are considering investing in, municipal or local authority bonds? Have you thought about climate change risk concerning municipal bond investments? Well, you should! Bernice Napach writing in ThinkAdvisor under the title, How to Reduce Investment Risk From Climate Change and Other ESG Woes, writes, and I quote her, that, "If no counter action is taken, such as reducing fossil fuel use, close to 60% of U.S. metro areas will lose 1% of more of gross domestic product, which will not be offset by comparable growth in other metro areas." Close quote. Think about all the risks—and costs—municipalities might face regarding fires, flooding events, excessive winds, etc. So, before investing in municipal bonds, be satisfied concerning their climate change risks and plans. By the way, this article has a great map of the US showing those areas likely to be affected by Category 4 and 5 hurricanes between 2060 and 2080. It’s quite alarming. Also, be sure to understand municipalities long-term pension and other liability risks. Many analysts believe these alone could sink many American cities in the decades ahead. Hence, even with the tax advantages in some jurisdictions, tread carefully in municipal bond waters! ------------------------------------------------------------- If you want a good understanding as to the state of ESG data and information for investors, read the post, What investors actually want from sustainability data, by Ariel C. Pinchot and Giulia Christianson on Greenbiz.com. Needless to say, it’s still a work in progress. If you’ve ever tried to analyze ESG info across companies—even in the same industry—it’s usually impossible as they often use different metrics. Furthermore, unless the data is independently audited and verified, it can’t be relied upon. The article describes in detail how these issues might be soon overcome. Incidentally, you should subscribe to Greenbiz.com. It’s a great source of information for ethical and sustainable investors. ------------------------------------------------------------- Many ethical and sustainable investors shy away from the fast food industry because of the poor health and negative environmental issues they help create. Well, here’s some good news in a post, titled, Yum! Brands shows leadership among fast food peers, takes encouraging first step to mitigate its climate change impacts. Quoting the post, “The parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut committed to pursue a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, franchises and supply chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions), and to explore purchasing renewable energy.” Sometimes it pays well to invest in companies that are just beginning to make strides on ESG issues. Studies show that such companies often offer better alpha, that is, upside stock price potential, than established ESG winners. ------------------------------------------------------------- One new interesting ESG barometer on the horizon is a new ratings’ service by S&P called S&P Evaluation. S&P will rate—at the request of the companies themselves—the ESG credentials pertaining to the company’s ability to operate successfully in the future. You can read about in the post, Official ESG Evaluations from S&P Coming to Insurance Sector in Near Future, by Don Jergler, Insurance Journal. Quoting the post, "'The ratings giant on April 11 announced the roll out of its ESG Evaluation, describing it as 'a new benchmark that provides a cross-sector, relative analysis of an entity's capacity to operate successfully in the future.'" Close quote. Well, S&P's new ESG Evaluation product sounds great. However, I see some big snags with it. First, companies request to be rated—unlike the rating groups such as Sustainalytics and MSCI, etc., who rate companies regardless of what the companies themselves might want. Secondly, though not mentioned, S&P’s standard credit ratings require companies themselves to pay to be rated. Is this yet another conflict of interest like the one that got these credit rating agencies in hot water back in 2008/9? Can you trust such ratings then? Thirdly, will the details of the ratings be public or just a rating’s number? That’s important as its the details that many ethical and sustainable investors will want to see. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now we have another survey of financial professionals showing that it’s the ‘g’ for ‘governance’ in ESG that’s really important to them. However, for many of you listening to this podcast, I’m sure that you might think the environment and or social criteria are at least equally important. I think this just illustrates the state of ESG currently. There’s still much dispute about the quantity, quality, and standardization of the E and S information for it to be in the forefront for many investment professionals. The survey was reported on Nasdaq by Kurt Schact with the title, ESG in Investment Management: New Age or Just Noise? The depth of the survey is extraordinary as 1,100 financial professionals and 23 workshops in 17 investment centers around the world took part, says the article. The survey was conducted by the CFA Institute and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). This confirms other surveys that have tried to determine the relative importance of each of the three variables that make-up ESG. What this might mean for you is that when doing your own ESG research on companies—and looking for maximum gains—you might want to weigh governance more highly than environmental and social factors. At least for now. ------------------------------------------------------------- Incidentally, if you’re invested in wind turbine companies, beware, as there’s a possible new disruptive competitor with a radically new kind of wind turbine that could be twice as efficient as present ones. This new development in wind turbine efficiency—if Vestas and others are unable to replicate it due to patents, etc.—could mean dramatic shifts in the industry ahead! See the post, Wind Power For Half The Price? Clarkson Professor Says Yes. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, there we have it for this podcast! Again, to get all the links or to read the transcript of this podcast and sometimes get additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else investment related. A big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! Bye for now! © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul. All rights reserved.

New S&P ESG 500 products will promote sustainable investing and offer needed diversification for most ethical investors. Sustainable assets leap 34% to $30.7 trillion in 2 years globally. Green bond awards help ethical and sustainable investors find green fixed income products. Ethical investors avoid Lyft IPO and suspicious of social media companies with regulatory issues. Transcript & Links April 12, 2019 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By! Presented by Investing for the Soul, April 12, 2019. Now again, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them! Also, you can find a full transcript, live links and sometimes bonus material at my podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts News Now for the exciting news to profit by for ethical and sustainable investors! The first item I want to talk about is that with all the news concerning Facebook and Google regarding the regulatory pressures they’re facing around the world, it means that somehow, investors have to take into account the potential for severe disruption in their business models and possible negative impacts on their profitability and stock prices. So this post, titled, A regulatory lens when assessing ESG risks, by Sudhir Roc-Sennet, of Vontobel Asset Management, writing in Investment Europe, is truly pertinent. Sudhir says that and I quote, "Internally we look at sustainability through an ESG-R lens, which includes regulation alongside environmental, social and governance factors. Many of our investment companies have held leading industry positions and, as a result, regulation is one of the greatest risks they face." Close quote. You might be aware that your ESG portfolio is probably top heavy with tech and social media companies. So, a review of your holdings in light of regulatory risk might be warranted. Financial stocks too are often overweighted in our ESG portfolios. So, come the next recession – which two-thirds of American economists predict in the next two years – financial stocks could again become the subject of significant regulatory and financial risk. So be careful about overweighting in sectors that have potential regulatory risks. ------------------------------------------------------------- This next piece of news excites me. It’s title, S&P unveils ESG version of 'iconic' 500 index, by Chris Sloley at CityWire Selector. I quote, "S&P Dow Jones Indices has launched an ESG-centric version of its long-running S&P 500 index as part of plans to launch a wider family of responsibility-focused indices... The index has been developed to serve not only as a performance tracking tool but also as a building block for creating new ESG index-based investment products such as ETFs." Close quote. This is exciting news for ethical and sustainable investors. The S&P 500 index and financial products based on it, are among the most popular financial products to have ever been conceived. RobecoSAM will be creating the index. They also are responsible for the FTSE4Good index. I believe many large financial institutions and pension funds have been awaiting this development to make even greater investments in ESG related investment vehicles. For yourself as well, financial products arising from this could help resolve the problem I just mentioned. That is, not being overly invested in one market segment such as tech or social media. An S&P 500 ESG product will likely be quite diversified. However, I do say that though the components of this new index will be screened for ESG characteristics – you will inevitably be investing in some industries you don’t like. Thus, if this is a concern for you, take my quick and easy DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial to learn how to create a diversified portfolio that truly reflects your values. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now the following is information that many of you will want to know about! What are the best green bonds around! Environmental Finance in London assembled a team of 24 top green bond experts to come up with the… Winners of Environmental Finance Bond Awards for 2019. These awards aren't about which green bonds made investors the most money, but, rather, included characteristics such as quality, innovativeness, best practices, etc. Nonetheless, if you're wanting to invest in, or add to your present green bond holdings, you might find some ideas among the winning green bonds here. Don’t forget, go to my podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and go to this show date for links I’m mentioning today. ------------------------------------------------------------- Speaking about investing with your personal values, I know many ethical and sustainable investors wouldn’t touch oil fracking stocks. And a lot of it is because of the environmental costs posed by fracking. Unfortunately, as a Canadian report makes clear on David Suzuki’s site – the famed Canadian biologist-environmentalist – the impacts of fracking are still largely unknown and it’s the next generation who’ll feel these impacts! See the post, As fracking booms, report finds we know little about impacts. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some great news about the growth of sustainable investing. There are two posts I want to talk about. The first, Global Sustainable Investments Rise 34 Percent to $30.7 Trillion, by Emily Chasan, Bloomberg, and the second Greenwashing purge sees sustainable funds lose share in Europe, by Siobhan Riding, of the Financial Times. Both stories reveal data from the same Global Sustainable Investment Alliance study released on April 1. On the one hand, we see a massive and continuing rise in sustainable investing globally. That’s terrific! However, on the other hand, in Europe, the actual rise in sustainable investment assets has been slower than the growth of the whole market. Now, Europe has for many years been the leader in sustainable assets under management, so it’s not a surprise to see it slowing down there. Here’s a quote from the latter article on this point, quote, “Holdings in sustainable funds made up 49 per cent of professionally managed assets in Europe at the start of 2018, compared with 53 per cent in 2016.” Close quote. So, why is it going down, again, quoting the same article, it says, “Sustainable investment funds have lost market share in Europe as a clampdown on greenwashing forces asset managers to reduce their assets in such strategies.” Close quote. And I say that’s a good thing! ------------------------------------------------------------- Hey, were you excited by Lyft’s IPO on March 29? Numerous ethical and sustainable investors weren’t. Why, because early evidence is that they’re putting more cars on the road and pulling people off public transit! Thus, adding to congestion. Also, people are tending to use these services instead of biking or walking. In short, Uber and Lyft seem to be adding to congestion, pollution, and a less healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, they are presently losing money on a grand scale. Annually, Lyft at around $900 million and Uber around $1.8 billion with little prospect of any profits from either of them soon! Lyft’s IPO stock price on March 29 was $72 and as of the time of recording this post, is in the $60 range. For a good read on them go to Environmental investors are calling Uber and Lyft's bluff when it comes to going green, by Ross Kerber & Heather Somerville of Reuters. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now, many of you listening to this podcast in the US have retirement savings accounts through your employer known as 401(k)s. But I bet you've wondered why there aren’t ethical/ESG options? Well, a recent survey by Natixis found that though, I quote, "61% of workers would increase their retirement savings if they could put their money in socially conscious investments… just 13% of workers have access to those kinds of impact investments." End quote. There appear to be several reasons why employers are reluctant to offer ethical/ESG investments in US 401(k) plans. Chief among them, according to the Natixis survey, is that employers don't feel it's right for them to "impose their morals on their employees’ investment choices." Personally, I think that answer is absurd since they're also offering many other options too, which when considered, are also 'moral choices!' In fact, I’d argue that every investment has a moral component! The second principal reason is due to the US Department of Labor making it clear that ESG couldn't be used as the main criteria for selecting investments. This, of course, reflects President's Trump's campaign to promote old and dirty industries – which usually score low on ESG measures. If you are in a situation where your employer isn’t offering the type of 401(k) investments you want to chat with your fellow employees, see how they feel too. If they’re with you, then go to your employer and make it known to them what you want in your investments. You might be surprised that they probably agree with you and just might take the actions necessary to get those ethical/ESG investment options you want! The information on this 401(k) situation is gleaned from an article titled, Workers want those hard-to-find socially responsible investments in their 401(k) plans: Survey, by Lorie Konish of CNBC. ------------------------------------------------------------- In my podcast of March 15, I discussed how some new ETFs were focusing on gender issues because more women in management seem to improve corporate financial performance. However, it seems that some of these funds don’t seriously advocate for women when it comes to stockholder resolutions concerning equal pay and pay equity disclosure, for instance. And that is rather odd. Therefore, if you invest in these funds and care about these issues, read the data gathered by Morningstar in the post Investing with equal pay in mind may be more difficult than you think, by Lorie Konish at CNBC. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, there we have it for this podcast! Again, to read the transcript and get all the links and additional information mentioned here, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else investment related. A big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! Bye for now! © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul. All rights reserved.

Where do you find green bonds? New report highly critical of most ESG indexes. Though passive ESG ETFs can be attractive from an annual cost perspective, check what’s in them and see if their holdings agree with your values. There's a strong argument that active management for ESG investing is best. And much more here Transcript & Links 29 March 2019 In this edition, I’m going to cover several recent items that I believe are most important for News to Profit By listeners. Our first story, Why ESG Is Too Nuanced for Index Investing, Frances E. Tuite, ThinkAdvisor. The writer says, that, "Active management brings deeper analysis and nimbler choices into building socially responsible portfolios." Frances makes some good points why active management of funds – rather than just sitting on a group of stocks indefinitely – can be preferable. Among the points are, and I quote, 1) “Active managers combine valuation, fundamental analysis and ESG factors into their stock selection. A passive or index strategy does not encompass individual stock selection; rather, stocks are added based on a positive or negative screen without regard to valuation or fundamental research.” 2) “An active manager may create a select and concentrated portfolio (40 or 50 names) while passive funds may hold a large diversified portfolio (in some cases over 1,000 positions) that due to liquidity needs, out of necessity, can include stocks with low ESG ratings.“ Frances says that the new Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF includes Facebook and Amazon which both now have low ESG scores by some analysts. Amazon for the treatment of their workforce and Facebook for its data issues. So, though passive ESG ETFs can be attractive from an annual cost perspective, check what’s in them and see if their holdings agree with your values. Go to this podcasts’ blog page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts to find out where to get reliable sustainable and ethical fund information for where you live. Americans at https://charts.ussif.org/mfpc/ Canadians can check out funds at https://www.riacanada.ca/ri-marketplace/investment-options/ . UK investors at http://www.yourethicalmoney.org/investments/ . For Australians and New Zealanders https://www.responsiblereturns.com.au/ . ------------------------------------------------------------- The second story, What Are Green Bonds and How ‘Green’ Is Green? By Lyubov Pronina, Bloomberg Businessweek A quick quote reads, “Because investors face the challenge of judging whether a note is truly green, regulators are working on standards to help guard against greenwashing, or misleading claims about just how good a friend to the environment an issuer is." Green bonds go to existing or new projects that have beneficial environmental or climate impacts. $580 billion of them were sold in 2018. There’s been a real problem of creating standards for them. For instance, how can you ascertain exactly what’s green? So, now the standards are coming together. Issuers in over 50 countries have sold green bonds and include institutions like the World Bank and the EU’s European Investment Bank. For a long time, ethical investors had difficulty in creating a fixed income or bond portfolio. Now, with the advent of green bonds ethical and sustainable fixed income investing is becoming a lot easier! Look into it if you haven’t already done so and get some quality green bonds in your portfolio. To get started, one good source for green bond investing is The Climate Bonds Initiative which lists most of the green bonds out there. ------------------------------------------------------------- Our third item is, The Blind Spot in Corporate Sustainability Rankings: Climate Policy Leadership, by the Environmental Defense Fund. Here’s a quote that gives the gist of the study, “The authors reviewed eight rankings by evaluating the methodologies that these systems have published online and that are available to the public. They assessed whether companies’ policy engagement activities were considered in the rankings, and how, if considered, they were tabulated as part of the companies’ overall rankings or scores...” And, “Most corporate sustainability rankings do little to encourage companies to engage in climate policy, as they neither recognize support for nor penalize opposition to climate policy." The Environmental Defense Fund has done a brilliant job in analyzing which sustainability screened stock indexes only include companies who are also screened for their environmental advocacy. The reason for such screening allows investors to better determine which companies are truly on board with combating climate change. Of the eight major indexes only two were recommended. They are Corporate Knights' Global 100 and InfluenceMap. So that’s who to go to if you really want to invest only in the most serious companies about climate change—but who also offer the potential of decent returns. ------------------------------------------------------------- My fourth item of news, is, Ethical Funds Have Never Been Cheaper As Vanguard Spurs Fee War, by Bloomberg News Quoting the article, "The price war has come to socially conscious investing. BlackRock (BLK), Vanguard Group and Deutsche Bank's (DB) DWS Group have slashed fees for exchange traded funds that track companies performing well on environmental, social and governance criteria." Incidentally, an insightful write up on Vanguard's new Global ESG Select Stock fund by Morningstar's great Jon Hale, Ph.D. is worthy of a read. Get the link on this podcasts page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, in my podcast of March 15, I mentioned how annual fund fees for ESG ETFs were now often comparable to those of conventional funds. This article goes into some depth about that. However, I absolutely maintain that if you truly want a portfolio that reflects your deep beliefs and values, the only way to do that is to buy individual stocks. I make that simple with my 1-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial. See the link on my website investingforthesoul.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- A fifth news story I want to cover is, How to Evaluate Funds that Invest in Women, by Debbie Carlson, US News Here’s an interesting quote, "Because data around gender was so thin, Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, a California-based nonprofit shareholder advocacy group focused on ESG, says his group worked with Equileap to compile more information about corporate gender policies, including policies like training, career development, safety at work, human rights and other issues... His group recently created a gender-equality funds tool that analyzes mutual funds and ETFs, taking into account these different gender attributes and giving each fund a score." There are now some good ETFs that are gender focused and I covered them in my March 15 podcast in a commentary concerning an article, Who runs the world? The global status of women in leadership. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now my next, sixth story is quite revealing, Large fund firms' support for combating climate change is all talk, as proxy voting record shows bottom performance, by Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC. Here’s a great quote! “A data analysis released by Ceres in early March shows that when BlackRock and Vanguard are measured on their up-or-down votes on climate change resolutions at stockholder annual meetings, they have among the worst voting records in the fund industry." So, the voting data would appear irrefutable that the largest American fund companies don't 'walk their talk. Senior managers of some of these huge fund companies, including Blackrock’s CEO, Larry Fink, have been loudly espousing their love for ESG. I hope it’s just a simple case that views of the funds senior managers on ESG hadn't yet filtered down to the managers making the proxy decisions who are likely engaged with other concerns. I expect that the 2019 and 2020 proxy seasons will show much-improved results. I suggest if you’re concerned about how your fund company stacks up on ESG and climate change related stockholder voting, see the Ceres report. Again, the link is on my podcast page for this show. ------------------------------------------------------------- And now the seventh and final story I want to cover, is, Investors Lose a Major Justification for Holding Tobacco Stocks, by Lisa Pham, Bloomberg. Here’s an insightful quote from it, "In recent years, a flurry of European pension funds and insurers have begun divesting their holdings, putting pressure on the share prices. BAT had its worst year on record last year, slumping 50 percent, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toughened its stance toward the tobacco industry. Philip Morris slumped 37 percent." Some of you might think it unsurprising that tobacco stocks are down. However, until recently most investors would’ve have told you that tobacco stocks are great as they’ve demonstrated terrific returns for decades! Well, I've been arguing for many years now that the days were numbered for big tobacco. In July 2010, I wrote an editorial on my Investing for the Soul site, Sin or Ethical Investing: Which Pays Best? There, I said, "Over the next five to ten years I suspect that ethical stock portfolios could outperform both the sin and conventional variety." And it looks like I’ll be proven right. ------------------------------------------------------------- So, there we have it for this podcast! Just a reminder, to download the transcript of this podcast and get all the links and additional information mentioned here, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and look for this edition. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else investment related. A big thank you for listening—and please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Come again! Bye for now! © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul. All rights reserved.

In this edition, I’m covering several items that I believe are important to listeners of Ethical and Sustainable News to Profit By! Plus, I’m doing a special review of robo-advisors and their offerings for ethical and sustainable investors in the USA and Canada. The four most recent newsworthy items for ethical and sustainable investing are: 1) Who runs the world? The global status of women in leadership. 2) ESG investing does not cost more, research shows. 3) The 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies. 4) Sustainable and ethical standards are in vogue, but only governance is affecting ratings, Fitch finds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Who runs the world? The global status of women in leadership, by Sophie L'Helias & Adria Vasil, March 9, 2019, Corporate Knights, Canada. This is a quote from their article: "Regardless of progress at the board level, the glaring reality is that the world’s largest corporations are stalled in second gear when it comes to hiring women in C-suite leadership roles. Top senior executive officers with the letter C in their title (CEO, CFO, CIO, COO, CSO) lag behind on gender in all markets." Although several reputable studies have shown that having women and diversities on boards and in management generally leads to superior financial performance, corporations generally have been slow to include them. Some further thoughts on this: Firstly, the study covered the 1,500 largest publicly-traded companies for more than three years. Secondly, in the article there’s a great country breakdown and it shows—as usual—Scandinavian countries leading. But, progress is being made by women and as an investor interested in ethical and sustainable investing, you might want to consider when investing the proportion of women and diversities on the boards and in management of the companies you’re interested in. Furthermore, there are several new funds that specifically invest in companies with higher proportions of women in management. They include: - Impact Shares YWCA Women's Empowerment ETF on the NYSE Arca exchange, under the ticker WOMN - In Canada, the RBC Vision Women’s Leadership MSCI Canada Index ETF, RLDR on the Aequitas NEO Exchange. - In the UK, Barclays Women in Leadership Total Return Index – ETF Tracker, ticker symbol WIL. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) ESG investing does not cost more, research shows, by Frank van Alphen, February 19, 2019, IPE, UK Quoting the article, "Pension funds performing well on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors don’t incur higher asset management costs, according to research. Research by Dutch consultant Gaston Siegelaer indicated that improvements to investors’ ESG policies did not increase costs either." These were Dutch pension funds that were studied. Now, most people believe that ESG investing does cost more. However, the big differential that once existed is now much lower. Also, it used to be that ethical and sustainable funds were small, that ESG information was not as available and was expensive to produce. So, for those reasons ethical and sustainable funds did have significantly higher fees. However, today, the situation is considerably different. Vanguard, in the US, now has sustainable funds with fees as low 0.12% annually! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) The 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies, by Leslie P. Norton, February 8, 2019, Barron's, USA. Barron's list is compiled by the well-known and respected SRI fund company, Calvert Research and Management. Hence, it's to be respected. Calvert has been around since 1982 and helped pioneer socially responsible investing in the US. To create the list, Calvert rated the SRI credentials of the 1,000 largest (by market capitalization) publicly held companies headquartered and incorporated in the United States I have a link in my transcript to the article (here.) Their top 5 American companies are: Best Buy, Cisco Systems, Agilent Technologies, HP Inc. and Texas Instruments. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Sustainable and ethical standards are in vogue, but only governance is affecting ratings, Fitch finds, by Chad Bray, February 26, 2019, South China Morning Post courtesy of Yahoo!, Hong Kong. This is a fascinating stat from the article: "The credit rating agency, however, found that less than one per cent of financial institutions have ESG factors that have actually driven a ratings change, with governance risk being the biggest issue. Governance includes such things as executive pay, audits and efforts to weed out money laundering." Two key points stand out in Fitch's findings. Firstly, how small an impact ESG is having on credit ratings! It makes me wonder how much credit rating agencies utilize ESG criteria. Secondly, Fitch doesn't say if the analysis was only from their company or if other ratings' agencies were involved. For instance, it would be interesting to know what differences there are in the use of ESG criteria between agencies. Ethical investors, particularly, might find that useful. However, it seems that in the future that just as these ratings agencies grade bonds—AAA, BBB, etc.--they’re likely to add ESG credit grades to stocks! This could revolutionize how we make investment decisions! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now for a special review of robo-advisors. These are automated app based low cost investment platforms. So rather than going to, say, an investment advisor or stock broker and getting advice and funds or stocks from them, there are now these apps—called robo-advisors—to do all that work for you. There was recently a great review of these in a post titled, Is your ethical investing app upselling greenwash? by Adria Vasil, March 5, 2019, Corporate Knights, Canada. Corporate Knights have produced one of the few really good analytical studies on ethical investing apps for North Americans. They believe there are some good robo apps for Americans, but not so for Canadians. Before going into their findings let me make some points. My principle concern with robo investing apps for ethical and sustainable investing is that they will still put you into a least a few investments that don’t reflect your personal values. You rarely, if ever, really feel completely comfortable with everything in their portfolio. This is because they nearly all use low cost ESG ETFs. These are mostly passive, not actively managed, funds. But the big drawback is that they’re based on ESG indexes and these indexes will rarely match your personal values. Also, these indexes tend to be poorly diversified. Often, they’re overweight in tech and financial stocks too. The 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies reviewed above is a clear example of this as their top 5 companies are related to tech. So, it’s a bit like putting all your eggs in one basket – that’s never a good idea. Also, many of the robo-advisors are new financial entities. What happens to your money if the management firm dissolves—for whatever reason? That is a concern rarely discussed but if your looking at long-term investing, it’s a very real consideration! Now in most developed countries there are usually government regulations concerning such investments so your actual principal might have a degree of protection. Also, with many data breaches in the news, how secure is your information on their site? It’s for these and many other reasons that I suggest those interested in ethical and sustainable investing take my 1-hour DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial before even considering robo-advisors, or in fact, investing at all. In my tutorial, you’ll easily learn how to create a portfolio of stocks that truly represent your personal values! And no financial is required and you won’t have to bother with any math. Furthermore, creating your own stock portfolio will likely cost you even less than the lowest fee robo-advisor! However, should you want to review some ethical-sustainable investing robo-advisors, I suggest you look at those in the Corporate Knights post. But do your own research and perhaps check with an investment professional before deciding for yourself. For Americans, Corporate Knights suggest looking at Swell and OpenInvest. While, Corporate Knights says, “For Canadians, well, robo-advisors may not be the best route for you until the companies behind them offer more truly values-driven options.” For listeners elsewhere, you might want to do a web search for reviews of robo- advisors in your country. As you would expect, robo-advisors are largely targeted at younger, tech oriented investors. So, read the research on them by Corporate Knights and other trustworthy sources, but remember my remarks here. That’s all I want to cover in this edition—though let me add a few final points. And remember, I’m here to help you grow in your investment success—and investing in opportunities that reflect your personal values! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this podcast or for anything else investment related. A big thank you for listening—and please click any of the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Bye for now! If any terms are unfamiliar to you, you might like to go to INVESTOPEDIA and scroll down to the very bottom to see their A-Z dictionary. © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul. All rights reserved.

My podcasts are planned every two weeks beginning March 16, 2019. This edition -- actually published February 26 -- is to test and obtain feedback from listeners on all aspects of its content and production. However, this podcast also contains great content! Included is a full transcript and links to all news covered and more! Podcast notes November 23, 2018 For links to all the news I’m covering today, go to my Investing for the Soul homepage. If any terms are unfamiliar to you, a good source for their definition is INVESTOPEDIA and scroll down to the very bottom to see their A-Z dictionary News 1) Green finance: a contrarian take, by Thomas Hale, November 15, 2018, FT Advisor, UK. "Renaissance’s argument thereafter is that, even if emerging markets have far lower ESG scores, directing capital their way allows for the highest overall rate of improvement, and so the greatest ethical utility. This is, unsurprisingly, an argument for more investment in EM." Points: 1) The argument presented here by Renaissance Capital, a Russian investment bank, is equivalent to the idea of investing in companies who are just beginning to engage in ESG seriously so as to take advantage of their possible rapid stock price as they're identified as a potential 'high' ESG company. As it's recognized by many investors that high ESG scoring companies also now have a premium to their stock prices. 2) Renaissance produces a wonderful graph showing how high GDP per capita is highly correlated to high ESG country scores. 3) Another quote, “As a side note, the report finds ‘virtually zero correlation’ between ESG scores and sovereign bond pricing after adjusting for per capita GDP.) Again, the argument here is that going for up and coming ESG performers in emerging countries could be a great bet for stock or bond outperformance. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From upstream to mainstream: ESG at a tipping point, November 15, 2018, by IN Research and Calvert, Investment News, USA. "In a year's time, the percentage of Millennials expressing a high level of interest in ESG investing jumped from 26% to 35%, advisers say, while the percentage of Gen Xers embracing ESG spiked from 16% to 25%. This is more than a generational story, however... Twenty-six percent of ultra-high-net-worth investors now show a high level of interest in ESG investing, advisers say, up from only 10% in 2017. Similarly, interest among very-high net worth investors shot from 13% to 19% in a year's time." Points: 1) These results are from a US survey of 300 advisors. The jump in numbers over just one-year is impressive. Demonstrates just how fast ESG is being accepted. 2) Somewhat interesting is that its regular advisors reporting the rapid growth. Generally, advisors have been ‘behind the curve’ regarding their positivity concerning sustainable, ESG and ethical investing. Now many are hurrying to get familiar with it! 3) Calvert, a well-known and respected ethical investing mutual fund manager was involved too. Not sure if this fact had a relevance to the conduct and results of the survey. Knowing Calvert, probably not. 4) You can download the full report here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Are ESG Ratings the New Credit Rating for Stock Prices? By Ginger Szala, November 19, 2018, ThinkAdvisor, USA. "A new MSCI study of ESG ratings finds they have a similar impact on share prices as do credit ratings." Points: 1) Though to me the findings are unsurprising, it is the first study to demonstrate that ESG ratings have a similar impact to credit ratings on a company's stock price. This finding will no doubt be challenged, but comes at a time when investors everywhere are looking at the inclusion of ESG criteria in their investment research. It bodes well for the mainstreaming of ESG! 2) Many credit ratings’ agencies such as S&P, Moody’s and Fitch have long been criticized for potential significant conflicts of interest and bias. They take clients’ funds to provide new issue ratings and have historically slow to act to in changing their ratings, particularly negatively, to new circumstances! So, since ESG ratings’ companies like Sustainalytics, MSCI, RobecoSAM, etc., don’t take funds for their corporate ratings—as far as I know—they may well be even a greater indicator of corporate ‘safety’ than the credit ratings’ agencies! 3) You can download the MSCI study here. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Companies Leading on Disability Inclusion Outperform Peers, by Megan Amrich, November 20, 2018, TriplePundit, USA. "Accenture, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), has released 'Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage.' This report looks at both the disability practices and financial performance of 140 companies over the past four years... Companies that 'embrace best practices for employing and supporting more people with disabilities in their workforces' are several times more likely to outperform their peers financially." Points: 1) This is a pioneering and worthy study. It might also be true that employees with disabilities feel they have to prove themselves and so are more productive. Hence, forward-looking companies know this and so increasingly employ individuals with disabilities? Thus, such employment is not always out of charity. 2) One has to wonder too, however, is that highly profitable companies feel they are able to hire more persons with disability because of the high profits? 3) Are such companies also aiming to create even higher reputation in the communities they serve? Subject:  What are the best ESG-Sustainable-Ethical indices? The range of indices is immense today. When I began to follow these around 2001, there were a handful globally, and mostly unknown. Today, it’s extraordinary the number of them and what they cover. The idea of these indices are that they can act as benchmarks for you to assess your own performance. Furthermore, there are numerous mutual funds and ETFs that you can be purchased that are based on them. For a good listing of them go to my page, Ethical Investing Stock and Bond Indices. Here are my favourites though. Equities Dow Jones Sustainability Index One of the oldest index families and an ethical investor’s favourite. “The family was launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmark and tracks the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria.” The DJSI data is compiled and analyzed by the Swiss organization RobecoSAM. They review some 10,000 companies!” Fossil Free Indexes(Global) "The Fossil Free Indexes are a suite of benchmarks designed for investable products that provide broad market exposure to index investors who wish to divest from fossil fuel companies. These investors are typically motivated either by a concern about unacceptable levels of climate change or by a concern about overvaluation and risk in the sector." These indices are capitalization weighted, meaning that larger companies have a bigger influence in the index; smaller companies a smaller weight. FTSE4Good Index Series and FTSE Smart Sustainability Index Series(Global) "The FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. Transparent management and clearly-defined ESG criteria make FTSE4Good indices suitable tools to be used by a wide variety of market participants when creating or assessing responsible investment products." FTSE Russell Green Revenues Index Series(Global) "FTSE Russell’s Green Revenues (LCE) data model and Green Revenues Index Series track companies that generate green revenues – a critical component missing from current sustainability models. Now, investors can accurately identify and support their investment in companies that stand to benefit from the world’s transition to a green economy with consistent, transparent data and indexes." I really like the concept of this index with it’s scoring based on green revenues! That means industries such as tobacco, won’t score highly, whereas in other ESG-sustainable-ethical indices, they could! MSCI ESG Indices(Global) "With 40 years of expertise in index construction and maintenance, MSCI aims to set new standards for ESG indices – allowing clients to more effectively benchmark ESG investment performance, issue index-based ESG investment products, as well as to manage, measure and report on their compliance with ESG mandates." NASDAQ Green Economy Indices What I like about these are that there’re separate indices for various types of alternative energy sectors, such as solar and wind plus indices focusing on water services and products. (Global) "NASDAQ OMX offers a complete family of indexes tracking the growing environmental and clean-energy sector, also known as the 'Green Economy.' Green Economy is the shift of economic development towards sustainable practices in business and infrastructure..." S&P Dow Jones ESG Indices They truly offer something for almost any sustainable-ethically oriented investor! Canada—Equities Jantzi Social Index(JSI) I’ve known Michael Jantzi, whose firm established this index, since the 1990s. He is head of and founded, Sustainalytics, one of the world’s leading ESG ratings’ agencies. (Canada) "In January 2000, Jantzi Research launched the Jantzi Social Index®, partnered with Dow Jones Indexes. The JSI, a socially screened, market capitalization-weighted common stock index modeled on the S&P/TSX 60 consists of 60 Canadian companies that pass a set of broadly based environmental, social, and governance rating criteria. The JSI has begun to generate the first definitive data on the effects of social screening on financial performance in Canada." Bonds S&P ESG Sovereign Bond index family “The S&P ESG Sovereign Bond Index family offers investors exposure to the same sovereign bonds as standard cap-weighted sovereign bond indices but tilts the country weights towards more sustainable countries, based on RobecoSAM’s” © 2019 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul. All rights reserved.