I came across this excellent profile of ethical and sustainable green investment funds on the website The-Eco-Market.com and would love to share it with my readers:
Guide to Green Mutual Funds, Sustainable Investment FundsThere are a large number of green mutual funds in the marketplace which are a convenient way for the average investor to invest in the green sector. Green mutual funds could have investments in a number of green industries or it could be focused exclusively on one industry sector such as renewable energy or water. A true green mutual fund should employ socially responsible investment principles.
The purpose of this section is to provide readers with a cursory overview of eco friendly mutual funds and to provide the resources to allow the reader to conduct their own due diligence. The information provided here should not be considered professional investment advice. Always consult with a professional advisor before making any investment decisions.
Below is a summary overview of some of the largest green mutual funds available in the marketplace. Please note the “as of date” with the summary of each fund as the specific holdings and values in the fund will fluctuate over time.
Green Mutual Fund Directory:
Fund Name: Appleseed Fund www.appleseedfund.com
Symbol: APPLX
Investment Objective: “look to invest in sustainable companies that balance the generation of profits with an awareness of their impact on the environment and society. We seek out responsible managers who operate their businesses with the goal of creating long-term, enduring value.”
Top Holdings: (as of 9/30/2010)
Pfizer 10.9%
SPDR Gold Shares 6.3%
John B. Sanflippo & Son 6.0%
Novartis 5.1%
Johnson & Johnson 5.0%
Value of Fund: $126 million (as of 09/30/2010)
Fund Name: Integrity Growth and Income Fund www.integrityvikingfunds.com
Symbol: IGIAX
Investment Objective: “Competitive Total Returns; Disciplined Risk Management; Ethical Investment Standards ”
Top Holdings: (as of 9/30/2010)
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. 4.81%
NewMarket Corporation 4.33%
Emerson Electric Co. 4.01%
Snap-on Inc. 3.55%
Genuine Parts 3.40%
Value of Fund: $28.6 million (as of 01/31/2010)
Fund Name: Wells Fargo Advantage Social Sustainability Fundwww.wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com
Symbol: WSSAX; WSRCX
Investment Objective: "The Fund avoids investing in companies that we determine are significantly involved in:
manufacturing tobacco products;
manufacturing alcoholic beverages;
gambling operations; or
manufacturing weapons
The Fund will also avoid companies we determine to have weak corporate social responsibility and/or sustainability records. In assessing a company's corporate social responsibility and/or sustainability record, we consider the full integration of environmental, social and governance related factors into our analysis. The Fund seeks to invest in companies that we determine meet some of the following environmental, social and governance criteria:
Have sound corporate governance and business ethics policies and practices, including independent and diverse boards, independent auditors, respect for shareholder rights, and solid legal and regulatory compliance records;
Have good environmental compliance and performance records, develop and market innovative products and services, and embrace and advance sustainable development;
Provide safe and healthy work environments; negotiate fairly with their workers;
treat their employees with dignity and respect; and provide opportunities for women, minorities, and other categories of individuals who have been discriminated against or denied equal opportunities;
Contribute to the quality of life in the communities where they operate, such as through corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism”
Top Holdings: (as of 9/30/2010)
Google Incorporated- Cl A 3.60%
Emerson Electric Co. 3.50%
Johnson & Johnson 3.27%
General Mills Incorporated 3.10%
Microsoft Corporation 3.04%
Value of Fund: $6.2 million (as of 11/30/2010)
Fund Name: Dreyfus Global Sustainability Fund www.dreyfus.com
Symbol: DGYAX; DGYCX; DGYIX
Investment Objective: “To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests primarily in the stocks of companies that have sustainable operating practices and/or produce sustainable products or services and that meet certain fundamental investment criteria as described below. Companies that maintain sustainable operating practices are those, for example, that use best industry practices in their operations, provide leadership in an industry, offer the highest levels of transparency of operations and/or demand accountability of vendors, suppliers and customers. Companies that produce sustainable products or services are those, for example, that provide services to improve energy efficiency, produce products to meet the highest levels of efficiency and/or provide technologies to improve environmental performance.”
Top Holdings: (as of 10/31/2010)
International Business Machines 3.71%
Johnson & Johnson 3.45%
Rio Tinto (Britian) 2.81%
Intel 2.78%
Roche Holding AG- Genuss 2.63%
Value of Fund: $8.14 million (as of 12/23/2010)
Fund Name: Pax World Global Fund Pax Global Green Fund
Symbol: PGRNX
Investment Objective: “The Global Green Fund’s investment objective is to seek long term growth of capital by investing in companies whose businesses and technologies focus on mitigating the environmental impacts of commerce.
The Global Green Fund seeks to invest in forward-thinking companies with sustainable business models that meet positive environmental, social and governance standards, with a particular emphasis on environmental markets. The Global Green Fund avoids investing in companies that its investment adviser determines are significantly involved in the manufacture of weapons or weapons related products, manufacture tobacco products or engage in unethical business practices.
The Global Green Fund seeks to invest in companies with positive overall environmental performance and whose products or services help other companies and societies improve their environmental performance. In this regard, the Fund invests in companies whose businesses and technologies focus on goods and services that mitigate the environmental impacts of commerce, including such areas as alternative energy and energy efficiency; water treatment and pollution control; and waste technology and resource management. The Fund avoids investing in companies with significant environmental problems or worsening environmental profiles, and applies avoidance criteria on environmental issues identical to those of the other Pax World Funds.”
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
GEA Group AG 3.3%
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 3.3%
Pall Corp(Britian) 3.2%
California Water Service Group 3.2%
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. 3.1%
Value of Fund: $27.8 million (as of 11/30/2010)
Fund Name: Firsthand Alternative Energy FundFirsthand Alternative Energy Fund
Symbol: ALTEX
Investment Objective: “The Fund invests in alternative energy and energy technology companies, both U.S. and international. Alternative energy includes solar, hydrogen, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, biofuel, and biomass. Because there are no market capitalization restrictions on the Fund's investments, the Fund may purchase stocks of any capitalization.”
Top Holdings: (as of 9/30/2010)
JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd --
GT Solar International Inc. --
Meyer Burger Technology AG --
Trina Solar Limited- Spon ADR --
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company- ADR --
Value of Fund: $6.3 million (as of 9/30/2010)
Fund Name:Investors Summa SRI FundInvestors Summa SRI Fund
Symbol: IGI288
Investment Objective: “Will invest primarily in Canadian companies that have adopted progressive standards and practices toward the environment, human rights, and other social issues
Will not invest in companies whose revenues are primarily derived from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography or critical weapon systems.”
Top Holdings: (as of 8/31/2010)
Consolidate Thompson Iron Mines --
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan --
Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. --
Pacific Rubiales Energy --
Power Financial Corp. --
Value of Fund: $1.121 billion (as of 9/30/2010)
Fund Name: Investors Summa Global SRI FundInvestors Summa Global SRI Fund
Symbol: IGI589
Investment Objective: "Will invest primarily in companies from around the world that have adopted progressive standards and practices toward the environment, human rights, and other social issues.
Will not invest in companies whose revenues are primarily derived from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography, or critical weapon systems."
Top Holdings: (as of 8/31/2010)
Rio Tinto --
BHP Billiton Limited --
Man Group PLC --
Noble Group Ltd. --
LG Electronics Inc. --
Value of Fund: $6.4 million (as of 1/14/2011)
Fund Name: Investors Summa Global Environmental FundInvestors Summa Global Environmental Fund
Symbol: IGI593
Investment Objective: "Will invest primarily in companies from around the world that are creating innovative or emerging solutions to environmental issues, and/or have environmental practices that set a standard within environmentally sensitive industries."
Top Holdings: (as of 8/31/2010)
United Natural Foods --
Pure Technologies Ltd --
SMA Solar Technology AG --
Pennon Group --
IBM --
Value of Fund: $9.9 million (as of 1/14/2011)
Fund Name: RBC Jantzi Balanced FundRBC Jantzi Balanced Fund
Symbol: RBF303
Investment Objective: "To provide long-term capital growth, with a secondary focus on modest income by investing primarily in Canadian, U.S. and international equities and fixedincome securities. The fund follows a socially responsible approach to investing."
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
US Treasury Note 3.125% 15-05-2019 1.5%
Ontario Prov Cda 3.25% 08-09-2014 1.5%
Barrick Gold Corporation 1.4%
Deutsche Bundesrepublik 4.0% 04-01-2018 1.4%
Royal Bank of Canada 1.3%
Value of Fund: $32.1 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: RBC Jantzi Canadian Equity Fund RBC Jantzi Canadian Equity Fund
Symbol: RBF302
Investment Objective: "To provide long-term capital growth by investing primarily in equity securities of Canadian companies. The fund follows a socially responsible approach to investing."
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
Royal Bank of Canada 5.1%
Barrick Gold Corporation 4.8%
Toronto-Dominion Bank 4.4%
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc. 3.8%
Bank of Nova Scotia 3.5%
Value of Fund: $31.0 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: RBC Jantzi Global Equity FundRBC Jantzi Global Equity Fund
Symbol: RBF304
Investment Objective: "To provide long-term capital growth. The fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies throughout the world and follows a socially responsible approach to investing."
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
Consolidated Edison Inc 1.7%
Apple, Inc. 1.5%
Schindler Holding AG 1.3%
Compass Group PLC 1.2%
BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. 1.2%
Value of Fund: $9.8 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: PH&N (Philips, Hager & North) Community Values Bond Fund PH&N Community Values Bond Fund
Symbol: PHN610
Investment Objective: "To provide relatively high yields and stability of capital by investing primarily in a well-diversified portfolio of fixed income securities issued by Canadian governments and corporations that conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner. "
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
Ontario (Prov Of) 7.6% 02-06-2027 12.8%
Ontario Prov Cda 4.4% 02-06-2019 7.4%
Canada Hsg Tr No 1 4.1% 15-12-2018 4.1%
Toronto Dominion Bank Cds FRN 01-11-2017 3.2%
Bank Of MontrealFRN 21-06-2017 2.9%
Value of Fund: $129.5 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: PH&N (Philips, Hager & North) Community Values Balanced FundPH&N Community Values Balanced Fund
Symbol: PHN640
Investment Objective: "To provide long-term capital growth and income primarily through exposure to a well diversified, balanced portfolio of common stocks, bonds and money market securities of companies that conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner. To achieve these objectives, the fund will invest in securities of other Phillips, Hager & North investment funds. "
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
PH & N Community Values Canadian Eq Sr O 36.1%
PH & N Community Values Bond Series O 34.8%
PH&N Community Values Global Eq B 26.9%
Value of Fund: $15.4 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: PH&N (Philips, Hager & North) Community Values Canadian Equity FundPH&N Community Values Canadian Equity Fund
Symbol: PHN620
Investment Objective: "To provide significant long-term capital growth by investing primarily in a well-diversified portfolio of Canadian common stocks of companies that conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner. "
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
Royal Bank of Canada 7.8%
Toronto-Dominion Bank 7.2%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 6.1%
Suncor Energy, Inc. 4.9%
Canadian National Railway Company 3.7%
Value of Fund: $60.4 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name PH&N (Philips, Hager & North) Community Values Gobal Equity Fund PH&N Community Values Gobal Equity Fund
Symbol: PHN630
Investment Objective: "To achieve long-term capital growth by investing primarily in a well-diversified portfolio of common stocks in companies in the world's largest industrialized countries outside Canada, including the United States, and countries in Europe and the Far East, including Japan and Australia, that conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner. "
Top Holdings: (as of 11/30/2010)
Cable & Wireless Worldwide PLC 3.7%
Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR A 2.7%
Sysco Corporation 2.7%
Progressive Corporation 2.4%
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. 2.1%
Value of Fund: $58.9 million (as of 12/14/2010)
Fund Name: TD Global SustainabilityTD Global Sustainability
Symbol: TDB483
Investment Objective: "The fundamental investment objective is to seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of companies around the globe, that are viewed as contributing to the world’s future sustainability."
Top Holdings: (as of 12/31/2010)
Rio Tinto PLC- Common 3.0%
NIKE Inc- Common 3.0%
BHP Billiton Ltd- ADR 2.6%
BG Group PLC- ADR 2.4%
Praxair Inc- Common 2.4%
Value of Fund: $11.09 million (as of 12/31/2010)
