Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By!

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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1. 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.

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1. 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.

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1. 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.

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1. 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.

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1. 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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.