Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By!

Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More. This episode includes the following stocks and funds. First Solar, Enphase, Generac, Apple, Tesla, GE, Microsoft, Neo, Plug Power, Airbnb, Palantir, Bloom Energy, Ballard Power Systems, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Lucid Motors, BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF

Transcript & Links, Episode 63, July 30, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 63 published on July 30, titled "Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More" — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's site for such information.

If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts.

Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them.

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Let's begin with CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday revealed his top three solar stock plays. It's by Tyler Clifford on CNBC. Here are some quotes from the article.

"'I think your portfolio needs some solar exposure, ideally with First Solar, Enphase or Generac … We needed to wait for the big post-election shakeout before recommending the solar stocks,' Cramer said… (continuing)…

'I think that this group has a lot more room to run… Generac has been one of my favorite ways to play an increasingly unreliable electric grid, and while the stock looks expensive up here, management's got a terrific track record,' Cramer said." End quotes.

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Want to know which stocks millennials and Gen Z favour? This article reveals them. It's titled These stocks are the top picks for millennials and Gen Z by Ihsaan Fanusie appearing on Yahoo! Finance. Quoting the article.

"A recent study by financial source DailyFX revealed that Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), and GE (GE) are the most popular stocks for millennials and Generation Z investors.

The study collected data from Robinhood and examined investing preferences among millennials and Gen Z across the United States and United Kingdom for the 12 months ending April 2021… GameStop (GME) was not included in the study…

Overall, the technology and automotive industries dominated the market for young people, with companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla generating significant investment activity.

Interestingly, electric vehicle manufacturing company Nio (NIO) was the top security for millennial investors…

Sustainability has been a key factor… Plug Power (PLUG), an alternative energy company, was the top stock for the younger generations in seven states…

In the UK, Nio, Airbnb (ABNB), and Palantir (PLTR) were the younger generations' most commonly traded stocks." End quotes

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Continuing in the renewable energy theme is this article 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy If the Market Crashes. Each stock is recommended by a different analyst. Here are the names of the analysts, followed by the company they recommend, and then followed by quotes from them on that company.

One of the most exciting growth markets in renewable energy is hydrogen technology, and Bloom Energy is one of the industry leaders…

Bloom Energy hasn't gotten as much attention as Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) or Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP), both of which have higher valuations than it does. But Bloom is a better operator with more revenue and higher gross margins… it has a long growth runway into a total addressable market that management thinks could be over $2 trillion.

What Bloom Energy hasn't generated yet are profits… (but) could be profitable in the next few years.

The stock's dividend yields around 3% at recent prices, and a market crash could provide investors the chance to lock in income at an even more desirable yield.

Brookfield Renewable has a portfolio of almost $60 billion worth of renewable energy assets globally… (its) shares are up about 40% over the past year… Brookfield aims to increase shareholder distributions by between 5% and 9% annually…

The company says the Lucid Dream Edition (automobile) has an EPA-rated range of 503 miles on a full charge, and that its 1,080-horsepower engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds or less. The specs speak for themselves, but it's going to take a lot more than a hot car for Lucid to become a rival to automakers like Tesla…

Lucid's marketing strategy resembles the one used by Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)… begin with the low-volume rollout of a high-margin vehicle, then transition to a lower-margin, higher-volume strategy over time…" End quotes.

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Looking for ESG ETFs? You're in luck with this article 7 ESG ETFs to Buy Now by Jeff Reeves on money.usnews.com. Here are some quotes from him on each one.

It's… benchmarked to an MSCI index of emerging-market stocks. Emerging markets obviously hold a lot of promise because of their growth potential, but they also can be home to business practices that many Western investors would frown upon… Allocations include 35% of assets in China, 13% in South Korea and 10% in India… (It has) an impressive $8 billion in assets under management.

Another solid option for international investors… is this sister iShares fund… focused on EAFE markets – that is, Europe, Asia and the Far East. While you won't get exposure to companies in the U.S. and Canada, you do get access to developed markets to supplement the EM approach of the prior iShares fund… With nearly $6 billion in assets under management, this global ESG fund is the go-to option for those looking for exposure outside the U.S.

Another iShares fund tops this list of leading ESG funds… it's hard to argue that anyone concerned about climate change or carbon emissions would overlook the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF as one of the most important ways to invest with environmental principles in mind. With about $6 billion in assets under management, this fund is a liquid and established way for investors to play top names in the space.

At about $5 billion in total assets under management… (it) is among the most diversified when it comes to total holdings. Around 1,500 total components make up this fund, and… they are all U.S.-based corporations… it cuts out the worst based on rankings for ESG criteria and presumes the rest are above board.

Another substantial U.S.-based ESG fund… tallies a total of nearly $4 billion in assets… Comprised of a focused list of about 280 securities… About 28% of the fund is in tech, but it diversifies nicely after that with the No. 2 sector being health care at 14%.

At more than $3 billion in assets… (It's)… pretty much a kind of S&P 500 index with the 100 stocks that rank worst on social criteria being excluded from the lineup. Unfortunately, though it has more total stocks than the prior Xtrackers fund, it's even more biased toward tech with 33% of assets in the sector.

With only 200 or so holdings in (its) portfolio… the prospectus claims this ESG ETF only backs stocks with 'leading environmental, social, and governance practices.' You… get exposure to some traditionally popular domestic stocks without sacrificing your principles." End quotes.

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Adria Vasil of Canada's Corporate Knights magazine has penned an article titled ESG BS Detector: Do new "green" funds support the carbon transition? Here are some quotes from her piece.

"We look under the hood of BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF to see if it delivers on its low-carbon promise… This ETF invests in large- and mid-capitalization U.S. equity securities 'tilting towards those that BlackRock believes are better positioned to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy.'

The fund is dominated by all the standard Big Tech firms found in conventional ETF holdings… more than a quarter of this fund's holdings trip our red-flag alarms…" End quote.

• "14 energy companies with less than 20% of their near-term investment in the energy transition, including Exxon, Chevron, Kinder Morgan and ConocoPhillips.
• 8 climate-policy-blocking companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs and Valero, as well as a few energy companies.
• 3 big brands selling industrial meat, including Spam-king Hormel.
• 1 deforestation and palm oil laggard, namely Kraft Heinz Co., which Global Canopy gives a big fat zero to when it comes to its overarching commitment on deforestation (a primary contributor to climate change).

BlackRock's position: 'BlackRock's new Carbon Transition ETF (LCTU) leverages BlackRock's proprietary climate analytics to analyze a company's ability to thrive in the transition to a low carbon economy, resulting in a portfolio with almost 50% less carbon intensity than its Russell 1000 benchmark.'

Bottom line: look before you leap." End quotes.

(For Adria's previous discussion of a similar Blackrock fund see 4. The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…)

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Many of you will recall how a little-known fund, Engine No. 1, was able to muster enough support to install 3 pro-climate investors on Exxon's board of directors.

Well, now they've created a special fund to be in a position to influence the boards of numerous other companies towards pro-climate and ESG policies. Watch this interview on Yahoo! Finance titled How Engine No. 1's new $100 million ETF plans to change impact investing. (The link to this interview is on this podcast's webpage.)

The interviewer is Julie Hyman who interviews Yasmin Dahya Bilger, head of ETFs at Engine No. 1.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Jim Cramer's Solar Stocks and MUCH More."

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on August 13. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio. Stocks include Procter & Gamble, Texas Instruments, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Teladoc, Nvidia, Adobe, Microsoft Inc., ChargePoint Holdings Inc., Li Auto Inc., FuelCell Energy Inc., Ford Inc., Facedrive, Shopify Inc., Polaris Infrastructure, Telus Corporation, Shaw Communications Inc., Magna International, Enphase Energy Inc., Canadian Solar, First Solar, Proterra, Vestas Wind Systems.

PODCAST: Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio

Transcript & Links, Episode 62, July 16, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 62 published on July 16, titled "Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio" — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's site for such information.

If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts.

Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them.

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1. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio

I'll begin with Steve Booyens's article titled 7 ESG Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio that appeared on investorplace.com. I'll mention each company followed by some of his remarks on that company. Incidentally, he says "For this article, I used MSCI's (NYSE: MSCI) ESG ratings. MSCI is one of two leading ESG data providers alongside Sustainalytics." So,

"1) Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)

Long-standing brand strength has assisted Procter & Gamble in ascertaining a dividend payout for 64 consecutive years. MSCI cites factors such as product safety and carbon footprint as drivers behind the company's strong ESG rating…

A forward dividend yield of 2.54% doesn't only mean that income prospects are bright, but it also means that the company's growth is intact.

2) Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN)

Texas Instruments receives a near-perfect rating from MSCI. I like the stock as a semiconductor play due to the diversity in the company's distribution lines. A growing electronics market and a rebound in the auto market should contribute immensely to its top line moving forward…

A dividend yield of 2.1% is seen as high relative to the sector. I used the P/E price multiple and expected EPS and calculated an intrinsic value of $226, worth an upside of roughly 19%. KeyBanc's recent price target of $240 per share should breathe air into the argument.

3) C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ: CHRW)

Corporate governance and behavior have caused an upgrade to a AA rating of late for this logistics and shipping company…

The company has experienced 26.25% in year-over-year revenue growth and 125% growth in normalized net income year over year…

Judging based on relative value, the stock's very attractive… CH Robinson recently received a $117 price target from UBS, which could mean an upside of 26%.

4) Teladoc (NYSE: TDOC)

This healthcare tech stock has pulled back by over 20% over the past year after its merger with Livongo Health, followed by a class-action complaint against the latter. The stock leveled out in the last month with a 3% gain, and investors are optimistic, following the company's reported 150% year over year in revenue growth last quarter…

With a price to book ratio of 1.54 versus its five-year average of 6.52, I certainly see relative value at play.

5) Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)

Nvidia has been in a speculative space of late, but I believe that shouldn't be the case. The company is gaining market share in an expanding industry. Furthermore, Nvidia is a cash-rich company, which is being used for growth acquisitions, dividends, and share buybacks…

Analysts from BMO Capital remain optimistic as they placed a $1,000 price target on the stock last week. I think the stock could reach the $1,190 handle by next year…

Corporate governance, behavior, and human capital development are the predominant factors contributing to the company's AAA ESG rating.

6) Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE)

Adobe has been a popular stock among analysts over the past year. The company's ESG is driven by its data privacy policy, sound corporate governance, and favorable working conditions. Adobe has experienced solid growth through Adobe experience and its creative and document cloud products.

The stock has massively outperformed its sector median over the past three months…

I used the P/E multiple and multiplied it by the EPS to find a possible upside of 20%. If shares continue to be repurchased and diluted EPS continue to improve, investors could expect returns in excess of even that.

7) Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)

Corporate governance and exploiting opportunities in cleantech have assisted Microsoft in achieving a favorable ESG rating. I wrote about Microsoft in a previous article…

Microsoft has experienced 15.34% growth in its year-over-year revenue growth in the trailing 12 months… In addition, Microsoft's return on equity of 44.99% is more than six times the sector average." End quotes.

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2. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio

The next article relates to the potential for successful returns in the booming alternative energy and electric vehicle industry—though it appears miss-titled with the title Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Watch. It's by Josh Dylan which I saw on nasdaq.com. Here's some of what Mr. Dylan has to say.

"The… federal focus on EV adoption would highlight companies such as Blink Charging (NASDAQ: BLNK) and Volta Charging (NYSE: SNPR)…

(He continues.) Here are four (companies) making headlines in the stock market now.

1) ChargePoint Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CHPT)

ChargePoint is an EV infrastructure company that is based in Campbell, California. The company operates one of the largest online networks of independently owned EV charging stations. It has a strong leadership position in North America and a growing presence in Europe. The company has an established, capital-light business model with growth that is proportional to a rapidly growing EV market. ChargePoint Holdings Inc. stock is up by over 170% in the last year…

2) Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI)

Li Auto is an electric vehicle manufacturer that is headquartered in Beijing. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart EVs. In essence, it is a pioneer to successfully commercialize extended-range electric vehicles in China… LI Stock is up by over 85% in the last year.

3) FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL)

FuelCell Energy is a renewable energy company that focuses on fuel cell technology. It delivers efficient and clean solutions for the supply, recovery, and storage of energy. It also develops and maintains megawatt-scale fuel cell systems for utilities, industrial and large municipal power users. FuelCell Energy Inc. stock has seen impressive gains of over 150% in the past year…

4) Ford Inc. (NYSE: F)

Another upcoming name in the renewable space now would be Ford Inc. Sure, most would not immediately think of this legacy automobile industry giant when discussing renewable energy. However, like most of its peers, the company is pivoting hard towards the EV industry amidst global green initiatives… The company is currently planning to invest over $30 billion towards its EV divisions through 2025. Ideally, Ford hopes to electrify its entire portfolio by the end of the decade…

The company's shares have skyrocketed by over 220% since its pandemic era low." End quotes.

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3. Great ESG Stocks for Your Portfolio

Now here's an article with an intriguing title: Is This The Hottest ESG Stock Of 2021? It's by Nicholas Perry and on the oilprice.com site. Here are some quotes from the article.

"This company is Facedrive (TSXV: FD, OTC: FDVRF)… Facedrive calls itself a multi-faceted 'people-and-planet first' tech ecosystem offering socially responsible services to local communities with a strong commitment to doing business fairly, equitably, and sustainably…

Facedrive Foods helps connect people with their favorite restaurants and food stores in their area and provides them with great green deals… Facedrive Health strives to develop and offer innovative technological solutions to the most acute health challenges including its proprietary TraceSCAN wearable technology for contact tracing… Facedrive Marketplace… offers curated merchandise created from sustainably sourced materials…

We think the company's recent growth strides… could put Facedrive in a position to be one of the most attractive tech stocks in all of North America for 2021…" End quotes.

Now, Mr. Perry also has the following Canadian stock suggestions… Quote.

"1) Shopify Inc (TSX: SH)

is playing a pivotal role in the e-commerce boom. Not only does it help anyone and everyone who wants to have a try at launching their own business, it gives them the tools and resources to do so… Shopify is pushing towards sustainability in a major way.

2) Polaris Infrastructure (TSX: PIF)

Is a Toronto-based renewable energy giant with a global footprint…

3) Telus Corporation (TSE: T)

Long-standing commitment to putting its customers first fuels every aspect of its business… In fact, Telus Health is one of the country's biggest healthcare IT providers. And it's done so with sustainability in focus… (Telus also has) four consecutive years on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

4) Shaw Communications Inc (TSE: SJR.B)

… is one of Canada's leading telecom infrastructure and cloud service providers… And that's not necessarily a bad thing when you consider Shaw's sustainability goals. In fact, it is one of the biggest customers of Bullfrog Power which sources its electricity from a blend of wind energy and hydropower…

5) Magna International (TSX: MG)

… is a great way to gain exposure to the wider alternative energy boom - and by extension ESG - market without betting big on one of the new hot automaker stocks tearing up Robinhood right now…" End quotes.

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Honorable Mentions. Even more great ESG stocks for your portfolio

1) Top Solar Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now? 3 For Your List by Brett David. Quote "Best Solar Energy Stocks To Watch Now Daqo New Energy Corporation (NYSE: DQ); Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH); and Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)" End quote. Of course, Daqo is highly controversial. There's much written about it in the media.

2) These 3 Renewable Energy Stocks Are Too Cheap to Ignore by Travis Hoium who recommends First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), Howard Smith likes Proterra (NASDAQ: PTRA), and Daniel Foelber who picks Vestas Wind Systems (OTC: VWDRY).

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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 for Your Portfolio."

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on July 30. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

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

Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus… Green Bonds, Renewable Energy and ESG ETFs. Covered entities include: Vulcan Materials, Caterpillar, AECOM, Nucor, ChargePoint Technologies, iShares Global Green Bond ETF, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF, Alphabet Inc., Visa Inc., The Charles Schwab Corporation, PayPal Holdings, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Starbucks Corporation, Apple Inc., and LGBTQ100 ESG ETF

Transcript & Links, Episode 60, June 18, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 60 published on June 18, titled "Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…" — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG-sustainability or financial ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's online site for such information.

If your broker doesn't have ESG-sustainability information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to such company and fund ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts.

Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them.

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Now amid the continuing US talks on infrastructure Neha Chamaria has penned an article titled 5 Potential Winners from Biden's Infrastructure Plan. It appeared on fool.com.

I name her picks and follow them with some of her remarks.

Vulcan is the nation's largest producer of aggregates, operates across 20 states, and has equal exposure to private (residential and nonresidential) construction and public infrastructure markets, positioning it well to benefit from nearly all kinds of construction activity.

Vulcan is already experiencing strong demand… has a strong balance sheet (and) has steadily increased its dividend for years.

… might be the leading construction equipment manufacturer, but it also has significant exposure to volatile sectors like mining and oil and natural gas. That's why a pure-play equipment stock like United Rentals (NYSE: URI) could be a better potential winner from Biden's infrastructure plan.

United Rentals is the world's largest heavy-equipment rental company… Its revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 14% over the past decade.

Building anything requires planning, designing, and engineering, which is why an infrastructure consulting company like AECOM should benefit from an uptick in infrastructure spending in the U.S…. government is already its biggest client…

… is the largest and most diversified manufacturer of steel and steel products in the U.S… (and) is North America's largest scrap recycler… (Its) mini steel mills use electric-arc furnaces -- a more flexible, cost-effective method than traditional blast furnaces. (Also, Nucor) has a solid balance sheet… increasing its dividend payouts for 48 straight years.

The (US) president's infrastructure plan includes a… network of 500,000 EV chargers across the nation by 2030. Currently, there are only around 42,500 charging station locations in the U.S…

ChargePoint operates one of the world's largest EV charging networks and has a nearly 70% share of the domestic Level 2 charging network market… ChargePoint… sells hardware to station operators, which then subscribe to its software to manage the stations." End quotes.

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More and more ethical and sustainable investors are turning their attention to green bonds and the benefits they offer. Here are two articles on that theme.

The first is titled How Eco-Conscious Is Your Portfolio? 2 Green Bond ETFs To Consider by Tezcan Gecgil at investor.com. Here are some quotes from the article.

The iShares Global Green Bond ETF provides access to global investment-grade green bonds that have been issued to fund environmental projects. Furthermore… the fund is U.S.-dollar hedged. Since its inception in November 2018, net assets have grown to $212 million.

(The iShares Global Green Bond ETF)… tracks the returns of the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI Global Green Bond Select (USD Hedged) Index. (It has) bonds issued by governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy as well as the European Investment Bank and KfW Group lead the names in the roster.

Another green bond ETF that could be of interest to readers is the VanEck Vectors Green Bond which provides exposure to U.S.-dollar-denominated green bonds for financing environmentally-friendly projects.

In addition to bonds issued in the U.S. and various European countries, VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF also holds bonds from China, South Korea, Brazil, India, Chile, Indonesia and others." End quotes.

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The second article on green bonds is titled $1.2tn US giant launches core impact bond fund into Ucits market. It's by Chris Sloley and was on the citywireselector.com site. The fund is for investors in Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, UK, and Italy. Here are some quotes…

"Global investment giant Nuveen has launched its Global Core Impact Bond fund for Ucits investors to capitalise on opportunities created by 'ESG leaders'.

The multi-currency bond fund will invest across all global fixed income markets…

Focusing on perceived 'ESG leaders', the bond fund will find companies setting an example in their respective industry or sector, with respect to ESG risks and behaviours…

The fund may allocate up to 40% in emerging markets and 15% in high yield, at the managers' discretion. It will launch with $25m (€20.5m) of seed capital." End quotes.

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Since this is Pride Month and numerous LGBTQI+ investors are ethically and sustainably oriented, here's an article for members of that community. It's titled Ethical Investing for Pride Month: 10 Gay-Friendly Stocks To Buy. It's by John Csiszar and was on the gobankingrates.com site. Here are some quotes from his article.

Google, now trading under parent company Alphabet, has long been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. The company has a specific support group for the LGBTQ community, known as 'Gayglers'.

IBM was one of the first companies to include sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy, back in 1984. The company established its Global LGBT Council, designed to make the workplace safe for everyone, in 1995.

Visa has appeared on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for five years running, marking it as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ employees. Visa supports the United Nations Standards for LGBTI, which outlines five standards of conduct that the business community can use to combat discrimination against lesbian, bi, gay, trans and intersex people.

Schwab has received a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion for over 15 years… Internally, Schwab has created a diversity and inclusion group known as PRIDE, dedicated specifically to the LGBTQ+ network at Schwab.

The company has scored 100% on the HRC's Corporate Equality Index every year since 2006. Coca-Cola has also designed a separate Business Resource Group specifically to address LGBTA issues. Other LGBTQ-focused resources that Coca-Cola supports include the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and The Trevor Project.

PayPal is another company scoring a perfect 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Equality Index, and it strongly promotes LGBTQ rights. The company has a benefits flyer that outlines all its health benefits for transgender employees, from hormone replacement therapies and voice modification surgery to therapy sessions and more.

Microsoft and its employees have donated over $2 million to organizations supporting the LGBTQI+ community just over the past year… Microsoft has received a perfect 100% score on the HRC's Equality Index for 13 years running.

As with many of the other companies making the HRC Equality Index, Target has signed the Equality Act. Target has developed its own PRIDE Manifesto, designed to emphasize the company's dedication to equality. Target also produces clothing and other products indicating its backing of the LGBTQ community.

In addition to receiving a perfect 100% score on the HRC's Equality Index for 11 straight years, the company has recently donated $50,000 to the Lavender Rights Project.

Apple isn't just the largest company in America, it's also one of the most consistent supporters of the LGBTQ community. Apple has been rated a best place to work for the LGBTQ community for 15 years straight." End quotes.

Also, note this article on a new Pride fund, titled, Pride Month meets Wall Street as new LGBTQ ETF hits the market by Ernestine Siu. Quote "ProcureAM, in partnership with LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, launched the new LGBTQ100 ESG ETF." End quote.

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1. Title: My Top Renewable Energy Stock to Buy in June. "Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is the stock I think will be one of the hydrogen winners" says Travis Hoium, the article's author.

2. Title: Fidelity to Launch 5 New ESG Funds by Bernice Napach. Quoting the article, "All five new funds are actively managed and the two ETFs are Fidelity's first ETFs focused on ESG factors." End quote.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Best Infrastructure and LGBTQ Friendly Stocks, Plus…"

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well—and engaged with your ethical and sustainable values and investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on July 2. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS… these stories. "Best Health Care Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know"; "These 3 Renewable Energy Companies Are Getting Too Cheap to Ignore"; "top three green energy stocks to watch in 2021"; "Sustainable Impact Investing: 1 Cheap Stock for All Value Investors"; and "launch of Solar Energy UCITS ETF."

Transcript & Links, Episode 59, June 4, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 59 published on June 4, titled "Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS…" — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. I only mention what the analysts and writers are saying! However, there might be an odd occasion where I do add a comment.

Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's online site for such information.

If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts.

If any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply do a Google search for that term.

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Now many ethical and sustainable investors are interested in socially responsible dividend stocks. Fortunately, the staff at the Dividend Channel have identified what they believe are the 25 top socially responsible dividend stocks. But if you view more than 6 pages within 6 hours on their site then you're required to register to view more. Registration is free but do review their privacy policy and terms of use before signing up.

So, I'll just mention a few of their selected companies. The link to their site is on this podcast's webpage.

The selected companies include:

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) — 4.27% Yield

Truist Financial Corp (NYSE: TFC) — 2.91% Yield

Eaton Corp plc (NYSE: ETN) — 2.09% Yield, and

Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) — 4.30% Yield

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My first article concerns health care stocks. In one way or another, these are in nearly every ethical and sustainable investor's portfolio. Now the article I want to draw your attention to is titled Best Health Care Stocks To Buy This Week? 4 To Know by Jonathan Phillip. It appeared on nasdaq.com.

Here are the stocks Mr. Phillip's covers. I'll name them and follow on with brief quotes from him.

The company focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing product candidates for a range of serious or life-threatening diseases… Reata announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested the company to submit a request for a pre-NDA meeting for Omaveloxolone for the treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia…

Given that there is no known cure at this point for Friedreich's Ataxia, approval of this drug would be monumental for the company.

Genetron Holdings Limited is a precision oncology company that specializes in cancer molecular profiling. It also harnesses technologies in molecular biology and data science to transform cancer treatment… The company operates its businesses primarily within the China market. Genetron stock has been up by over 60% since the start of the year.

I-Mab is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that commits to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel or highly differentiated biologics. The company aims to treat diseases with significant unmet medical needs, particularly cancers and autoimmune disorders … the health care company stock has been performing extremely well. Impressively, it has risen by more than 220% over the past year with its bullish trend still intact.

This is a global health care company that offers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, Healthcare Services, and Alliances.

The company's drug Keytruda is one of the best-selling drugs in the world, generating almost $14.4 billion in revenue in 2020." End quotes.

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Now three regulars to The Motley Fool site have contributed to this article titled These 3 Renewable Energy Companies Are Getting Too Cheap to Ignore.

He says "in the case of Canadian Solar, the value is now too good to pass up… (its) ability to raise prices when costs go up should help Canadian Solar's slow and steady improvement in margin over the last decade.

Solar markets can be volatile and profitability is unpredictable, but Canadian Solar's stock is cheap enough to be a value for investors given the company's market-leading position in manufacturing and deploying solar panels." End quotes.

Quote "The market rotation away from growth and alternative energy stocks has brought many down significantly from their highs. Investors can take advantage of that by buying businesses with strong growth opportunities and income from higher dividend yields. Shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners have dropped more than 20% over the past three months. That has brought the current dividend yield to about 3.5%...

The recent drop in the share price gives investors a good entry point that will also provide a high level of income from the current dividend." End quotes.

Mr. Foelber says that "(Hannon Armstrong) provides the capital needed to make renewable projects possible. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Hannon Armstrong is in the business of making quality loans and passing its returns along to shareholders through dividends. Its long-term contracts tend to last for a decade or more, making its business relatively stable compared to other renewable energy stocks…

With a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 33 and a dividend yield just shy of 3%, Hannon Armstrong is one of the safer ways to take advantage of the renewable energy stock sell-off." End quotes.

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There's a new alternative energy article on the capital.com site. It's titled Green investing: top three green energy stocks to watch in 2021.

Here are the three they recommend followed by some quotes on each one.

… is a biodiesel production company based in Iowa that has been a Fortune 1000 company since 2018, and boasts billions of dollars in annual revenue. It is a global producer and supplier of biodiesel and other renewable fuels…

According to MarketBeat, analysts now anticipate that Renewable Energy Group will be worth about $100 a share very shortly… (It's) currently around $60.

"While PLUG may not boast the kind of EBITDA sales that appeal to some investors, it still boasts a partnership with automaker Renault to integrate its fuel cell technology into European commercial vans. That's not all – a $1.5bn investment from Korea-based SK Group also has made Plug Power an attractive investment option to consider…

Notable financial analysts, surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, estimate that Plug Power's stock price will reach $49 by the end of 2021, with others suggesting that it may reach as high as $79. (It's currently around $30.)

There are many leading solar companies in the United States, but few of them are better positioned to grow than SunPower. (It) specialises in both solar power and energy storage.

The company's flagship product is 'Maxeon,' a high-efficiency solar cell that boasts benefits over other traditional solar designs…

Sunpower's stock price has a potential to increase as more homes and businesses decide to go solar." End quotes.

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1. Title: Upcoming launch of Solar Energy UCITS ETF on London Stock Exchange offers Europe's first pure-play exposure to the global solar energy industry. Seen on etfexpress.com.

2. Title: Sustainable Impact Investing: 1 Cheap Stock for All Value Investors by Nikhil Kumar on ca.yahoo.finance.com. Quote "Dream Impact Trust (TSX: MPCT.UN)… focuses on investments that generate both strong financial returns and provide positive social and economic impacts in North American communities… The company's goal is to provide attainable and affordable housing."

3. Title: What are the top renewable energy stocks to watch in 2021? Maxim Manturov on businesleader.co.uk suggests: SunPower Corp which I just covered; First Solar, Inc.; Sunworks, Inc., ReneSola Ltd., and Daqo New Energy Corp (which is controversial for many ethical investors as it's been accused of using forced labour).

Mr. Manturov also says the three hottest renewable energy IPOs in 2021 are China Three Gorges Renewables (Group), Acciona Energia, and Infinite Blue Energy.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Socially Responsible Dividend Stocks. PLUS… "

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on June 18. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

The Top Renewable Energy Stocks and Funds covered include: Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, Equinor, Bloom Energy, SolarEdge Technologies, Enphase Energy, Generac Holdings, Daqo New Energy, CleanSpark, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., NextEra Energy Inc., SunPower Corporation, iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF, Iberdrola. Articles were taken from many leading sites including nasdaq,com, Yahoo! Finance, and kiplinger.com

Transcript & Links, Episode 58, May 21, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 58 published on May 21, titled "The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…" — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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It seems most of the stock research appearing in the media is focused on renewable energy stocks and funds. It reflects what analysts are looking at. So here are a few top articles covering that theme in the past two weeks.

The first one is titled Biden's New Infrastructure Bill Could Mean Big Things for These Renewable Energy Stocks and is found on nasdaq.com. It reviews three alternative energy stocks by three different analysts. I'll mention the analyst, their recommending stock, and a few brief quotes from them on their stock recommendation.

The company calls itself 'a sustainable infrastructure company with a majority of our business in renewable energy assets…' (Now) Importantly for investors wanting income, in the first quarter, cash available for distribution grew 7.6% over the prior year period with revenue growing almost 12%.

The company is making big moves away from oil and gas and into renewable energy… it's now drifting toward pairing its offshore oil expertise with offshore wind…

Its offshore wind portfolio leads the oil majors and is one of the largest of any operator in the world…

Bloom Energy makes fuel cells for utility and commercial-scale applications… Building a truly clean electric grid will require more wind and solar, but it'll also require huge amounts of energy storage and on-demand electricity production, both of which Bloom Energy can provide…" End quotes.

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Next in the renewable energy theme is this article by Louis Navellier who wrote a piece titled 5 Pick-and-Shovel Solar Stocks for the Green Energy Gold Rush. It's found on the kiplinger.com site. I'll mention each stock that Mr. Navellier writes about and follow it with a few select quotes from him.

Makes inverters, a key component of the microgrid that delivers solar energy to where it's needed in homes, schools, businesses, campuses and beyond…

Shares of Solar Edge Technologies have been on a tear the last two years, but have declined more recently.

Also manufactures inverter systems. Unlike 'string converters' made by SolarEdge, which draw power wholesale from all the panels in an installation, Enphase sells microinverters, which draw energy from individual panels as needed or as conditions allow, and, as a result, can be more efficient.

Though microinverters cost more, the market for them may grow faster because they can be more responsive to site-specific conditions…

Shares of the solar stock are off from their February highs of over $200, and took another hit after Enphase's first-quarter report… (But) Enphase can weather these kinds of storms for now.

… has grown handsomely selling backup generators to consumers who have become more attuned to and proactive toward power outages… in 2019, (The company has) entered the battery storage business with a pair of acquisitions…

Generac has been doing business since 1959, (and) has a global network of 7,000 dealers and … decades of customer data that it can ply with its solar offering.

Shares have been highfliers, up more than 250% since April of last year.

Is based in China and produces polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels…

Demand for polysilicon is increasing and this is boosting prices… According to Bernreuter Research, in 2021 alone, prices per kilogram for polysilicon have risen from $11 to nearly $19… which goes straight to Daqo's top line…

This could make DAQO one of the best solar stocks to have on your radar.

Offers a suite of software solutions that provide end-to-end microgrid modeling, communications and energy management… CleanSpark doesn't make money yet, but analysts are forecasting it will report a profit at the end of this quarter…

Also noteworthy, CleanSpark is ramping up its participation in the Bitcoin mining business… CleanSpark notes that 95% of the power for its mining operations is carbon free." End quotes.

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The third article on renewable energy is titled 4 Renewable Energy Stocks To Consider Buying Right Now. It's by Josh Dylan and appeared on StockMarket.com. Again, I'll mention the writer's picks and follow each one with some key quotes from the writer. Quote:

Focuses on providing cleaner, lower carbon intensity products, and services. It is a producer of biomass-based diesel in North America…

(The company has) announced a proposed offering of $500 million for green projects. The company intends to use the net proceeds to finance or refinance new and/or existing eligible green projects.

The company owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S. In particular, (it's) renewable energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, contributed $598 million in adjusted earnings, up from $529 million in the first quarter of last year. On top of that, the company along with OPAL Fuels announced plans to build Minnesota's first renewable natural gas facility.

SunPower Corporation is a provider of distributed generation storage and energy services. The company designs an all-in-one residential and commercial solution for customers… Sunpower Corp stock has risen over 500% over the past year.

The company is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems. Also, it has an intelligent platform that delivers smart, user-friendly solutions that connect solar generation, storage, and energy management…

Last week, Enphase announced an expanded collaboration with Palomar Solar, a leading solar energy installation company." End quotes.

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Getting a lot of hype recently is the Blackrock ETFs. However, Adria Vasil at Corporate Knights has posted a critical piece on the BlackRock iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN). She writes…

"This ETF 'seeks to track the investment results of an index [composed of companies] with a lower carbon exposure than that of the broad market…'

What's inside: Traditional ethical investors might gasp when they see 15 makers of controversial weapons… (a) handful of for-profit prisons, harmful pesticide-makers and mining firms tied to severe environmental damage in this ETF's portfolio and:

• 6 thermal coal-burning companies
• 11 climate-policy-blocking companies
• 4 deforestation and palm oil laggards linked to clearcuts in the Amazon rainforest and Southeast Asia… and
• 6 industrial meat companies, including Tyson Foods, America's largest beef, pork and poultry processor.

BlackRock's position: BlackRock says the ETF's MSCI weighted average carbon intensity (tons CO2e/$M sales) is just 64.74, significantly lower than the 178.5 average for benchmark MSCI ACWI Index." End quotes.

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Sometimes there are just too many good articles to cover, so I'm going to start a 'Worthy Mentions' segment where the bare bones of an article are given. For the links to these articles just go to this podcast's page at investingforthesoul.com/podcast and scroll down to this edition.

1) Is titled A Bet 20 Years Ago Made It the Exxon of Green Power and appeared in The New York Times. It's by Stanley Reed and Raphael Minder. Subtitle, "Iberdrola is a leader in wind and solar power, thanks largely to a bet its C.E.O. made 20 years ago."

2) Morningstar analyst Alyssa Stankiewicz has posted this article 15 Top Funds Leading the Way on ESG. If you aren't a Morningstar.com subscriber – you should be! Even the Basic, free plan will allow you to see the full content of this article and much more!

3) Final mention is given to the UK's FT article titled 2 top FTSE 100 ethical stocks. It's by Jamie Adams. He is recommending the following, and quoting from his article:

"Coca-Cola HBC (CCH.L): This Switzerland-based bottler of the Coca-Cola product… has consistently ranked at the top of the FTSE4GOOD Index series since its inception in 2000.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): Has proven to be an ESG leader thanks to its work in providing access to medicine… What's more, this top British firm has promised to have a net-zero environmental impact by 2030." End quotes.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "The Top Renewable Energy Stocks, Funds. Plus…"

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and engaged with ethical and sustainable investing!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on June 4. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks. Reviews the iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF, KraneShares MSCI China Environment Index ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund, iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF, Parnassus Core Equity Investor, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., Ameresco, Ormat Technologies, and VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF

Transcript & Links, Episode 57, May 07, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 57 published on May 7, titled "Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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I'm starting with Max Chen's insightful article titled Earth friendly ETFs for climate change, sustainable investing. Here are the top funds he writes about. Quote "From ETF Database… The top ETFs based on sustainable impact solutions percentages include:

iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (SDG): 72.45% rating

KraneShares MSCI China Environment Index ETF (KGRN): 71.59% rating

ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES): 68.97% rating

Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): 64.5% rating

Global X CleanTech ETF (CTEC): 62.05% rating" End quote

Mr. Chen further writes that "Investors can also look to clean energy ETFs, which invest in stocks of companies involved in providing goods and services exclusively to the clean energy industry. The largest broad clean energy themed ETFs include:

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN), which has $5.5 billion in assets under management.

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NasdaqGM: QCLN), which holds $2.6 billion in assets under management.

Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW), which boasts $2.1 billion in assets under management.

(Again the ) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES), which includes $962 million in assets under management.

Invesco Global Clean Energy Portfolio (NYSEArca: PBD), which has $418 million in assets under management." End quote.

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In the next article, that appeared on forbes.com, Rob Berger and Benjamin Curry penned an article titled The Best ESG Funds of April 2021. Here are the funds they identified.

"1) Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX)

2) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)

3) Parnassus Core Equity Investor (PRBLX)

4) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN)

5) Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX)

6) 1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund (SSIAX)

7) AllianceBernstein Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (ATEYX)"

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Now Usman Kabir takes us back to the alternative energy sector with his article 10 Best Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It appeared on Yahoo! Finance. I'll mention his picks and follow it with a few of Mr. Kabir's remarks. Starting at #10, quote,

(Which) offers solar solutions to residential, commercial and industrial clients. The firm also sells directly to a network of third-party dealers and resellers. The products that the company markets include commercial roof, carport, and ground mounted systems, as well as post-installation operations and maintenance services.

Is a Bermuda-based firm that owns several renewable power energy generating plants. The firm operates in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Europe, India, and China. It owns a total of 19,000 megawatts of power generation capability globally through hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, pumped storage, cogeneration, and biomass sources.

The products that the firm markets include solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power products. The company designs, develops, and sells these products while also offering repair and management services related to these products. The firm also equips and operates electricity-generating solar power plants. It has a fleet of solar power plants in operation with an aggregate capacity of approximately 880 megawatt.

Is involved in development and selling of hydrogen fuel cell systems that replace conventional batteries in equipment and vehicles powered by electricity. The products that the firm makes include GenDrive, a hydrogen fueled PEM fuel cell system that powers electric vehicles, and GenFuel, a hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing system…

It makes batteries, solar panels and other energy-related products as well. It has a market cap of over $649 billion and posted more than $31 billion in annual revenue in December 2020. Earlier this month, Vancouver-based investment firm Canaccord Genuity upgraded Tesla to a Buy rating and set the price target of shares at $1,071.

Is a Boston-based multinational company operating in aviation, healthcare, electronics, power, and other industries. The firm has stakes in the wind, solar, hydro, and hybrid branches of the clean energy sector. The company was founded in 1892… The firm is most famous for wind energy solutions driven by state-of-the-art wind turbines that operate both onshore and offshore for power generation needs.

Although the firm generates electric power through fossil fuels, it focuses on the capabilities installed for wind, solar, and nuclear power generation. It has a total of 28,400 megawatts of net generating capacity and serves almost 11 million people through an estimated 5.6 million customer accounts in the US. It was founded in 1925.

Designs and manufactures software-driven clean energy solutions for residential areas that focus on solar generation, home energy storage and web-based monitoring and control… The products that the company makes include a semiconductor-based microinverter, AC battery storage systems; as well as Envoy and Enlighten, which are data-based services.

Is an Israel-based solar solutions firm. It designs, develops and markets direct current optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations globally. The product list of the firm includes inverters, power optimizers, communication devices, and smart energy management solutions. The firm also has stakes in the energy storage and electric vehicle charging businesses. It offers lithium-ion cells and battery packs and uninterrupted power supply solutions as well.

Is a Shanghai-based manufacturer of solar products. It markets solar modules, silicon wafers, solar cells, recovered silicon materials, and silicon ingots. The firm provides solar integration services and also develops commercial solar power projects. It is one of the largest solar panel manufacturing firms in the world. JinkoSolar operates in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and other countries." End quotes.

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Continuing in the renewable energy theme is this article titled 3 Clean Energy Stocks Set to Beat Q1 Earnings Estimates. It's by Zacks analyst Aparajita Dutta. And found on nasdaq.com. Again, I'll list each company and then follow it with some remarks by Ms. Dutta.

Is an independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency solutions for facilities throughout North America. (It) designs and constructs a wide range of renewable energy plants using LFG, wastewater treatment biogas, solar, biomass, other bio-derived fuels, wind and hydro sources of energy. The company (has) a Zacks Rank #3.

(Ameresco) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, delivering an earnings surprise of 78.24%, on average. (It beat again on May 4.)

It has a Zacks Rank #3.

Over the trailing four quarters, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate on each occasion, the surprise being 16.08%, on average. (Also, just beat again on May 5.)

(Yes again! For details, listen to earlier mention.)

(It) has a Zacks Rank #3…

Over the trailing four quarters, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice, and missed once, the surprise being 21.65%, on average. (It actually missed forecasts in its May 3 earnings release.)" End quotes.

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Now I want to mention this article Assessing the State of the Green Bond Market. It also provides a specific ESG bond fund recommendation. It's by Todd Shriber and appeared on etftrends.com.

Quote, "The green investing conversation has long revolved around equity-based strategies, but fixed income is a growing part of the equation. Income investors can access that theme with the VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (NYSEArca: GRNB).

The VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF tracks the S&P Green Bond Select Index, which is 'comprised of labeled green bonds that are issued to finance environmentally friendly projects, and includes bonds issued by the supranational, government, and corporate issuers globally in multiple currencies,' according to VanEck…

'Compared to last year, the increase in corporate issuance has been notable, making up about 50% of total issuance. This is perhaps unsurprising in the context of the numerous corporate 'net-zero' commitments and increased pressure from investors to address climate risks.'" End quotes.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks."

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and engaged by continuing to apply your ethical and sustainable values to your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on May 21. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… Equinor, Covanta Holdings, Evergy, Ocean Power Technologies, Torchlight Energy Resources Inc., SunHydrogen Inc., Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF, Fidelity Sustainability Bond Index Fund, Calvert US Large-Cap Core Responsible Index Fund, Evoqua Water Technologies Corp., AECOM, BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF, BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF

Transcript & Links, Episode 56, April 23, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 56 published on April 23, titled "Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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In this podcast, we return to alternative energy picks. The first article is titled 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Defying Industry Challenges. It's by Zacks analyst Aparajita Dutta and is on the Zacks site. As usual, I'll mention the company name followed by select quotes from Ms. Dutta.

Based in Stavanger, Norway, is one of the premier integrated energy companies in the world… The company is investing actively in renewable energy projects, comprising power generation from solar and wind energy…

The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Based in Morristown, NJ, Covanta offers waste and energy solution to its customers by processing the waste and generating energy out of it…

The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 267.90% in the last four quarters. The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.

Based in Kansas, MI, Evergy provides clean, safe and reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. It is home to the largest electric vehicle charging network in the United States and has one of the top 10 wind portfolios of electric utilities in the country…

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)." End quotes.

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Continuing on the theme of alternative energy is Top Penny Stocks To Buy Now? (with a BIG question mark!) 4 Alternative Energy Stocks To Watch by D. Marie. The author isn't giving outright buy recommendations but as stocks to look at. Each stock offers different perspectives on what you might consider being in the speculative alternative energy space. The article is on pennystocks.com.

Again, I'll mention the company followed by a few quotes by the author on each company. Now, before I begin, some might want to skip the first one as it involves uranium mining!

Denison is a uranium exploration and development company. Its main project is the Wheeler River Uranium project located in the Athabasca Basin region in Saskatchewan… its stock price has nearly tripled in the last 6 months.

This company specializes in the development and commercialization of renewable electricity generating systems using ocean waves.

Energy Resources was an oil and gas company. However, it is now working towards meeting regulations to consummate its previously announced business combination with Metamaterial Inc. It develops high-performance materials and nanocomposite products used in things like solar energy and auto applications.

The final energy penny stock to watch just saw a massive price increase. SunHydrogen is a solar technology company based in California. It is developing solar-powered nanoparticle systems to act as photosynthesis, to separate hydrogen from water." End quotes.

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In this next article, I return to ESG ETF recommendations. These are from two analysts -- Paulina Likos and Matt Whittaker -- who wrote an article titled 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds. It was on the Yahoo! Finance site. Again, I'll first mention the fund's name followed by quotes from the authors concerning that particular fund. Quote:

According to Vanguard, (this) ETF excludes stocks of certain companies that don't meet standards of U.N. global compact principles and companies that don't meet certain diversity criteria. Stefano Safaei, managing director of investments at Wedbush Securities, highlights (a) low expense ratio and impressive performance as attractive features for investors.

Some of the fund's criteria include excluding companies that have significant direct exposure to fossil fuel real assets, investing in companies with fair employment practices and seeking assets that have respect for human rights.

Most of its securities are a part of the MSCI ACWI ex USA ESG Index, a capitalization-weighted index that offers investors exposure to large and midcap companies in developed and emerging markets with high ESG performance.

This Fidelity fund follows the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Choice Bond Index, which includes investment-grade debt securities.

According to the fund's fact sheet, its holdings had 88% lower fossil fuel reserves, 100% lower tobacco exposure and 83% lower toxic emissions than the Russell 1000.

The fund, made up of large-cap U.S. equities, tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index.

… seeks environmentally conscious companies that have demonstrated their ability to manage environmental risk and have above-average growth potential."

End quotes.

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Infrastructure continues to gain interest from ethical and sustainable investors. So, I've got one more article here. It's titled 10 Best Stocks That Will Gain From Biden's Job and Infrastructure Plan. It's by Usman Kabir and appeared on Yahoo! Finance.

So, I'll mention the stock and follow it with a few select quotes from Mr. Kabir. Quote, starting with no. 10.

… is an Ohio-based company in the mining and steelmaking business… (and) the largest steelmaker in the country.

Quanta Services, Inc. is a Houston-based company that provides infrastructure services for communications, industries, electric power companies and pipeline projects… it is one of the key players in the American market that focuses on modernization of the electrical grid using renewable energy.

In the US, the firm is the largest producer of construction aggregates, namely gravel, crushed stone, sand, and concrete.

American Tower Corporation (REIT) is a Boston-based real-estate investment trust that owns and operates mobile phone towers across the world. American Jobs Plan envisions spending more than $100 billion to widen the high speed broadband nest in the country.

Applied Materials, Inc. is a California-based firm that supplies equipment, services and software for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips… As broadband occupies a top priority in the American Jobs Plan, the digital acceleration of the economy from high-speed internet is expected to drive the demand for these chips.

American Electric Power Company, Inc. is an Ohio-based electric company meeting the electrical needs of millions of American citizens in more than ten states across the country. President Joe Biden has marked $100 billion to modernize the American electrical infrastructure.

Union Pacific Corporation is a Nebraska-based railroad holding company. It is one of the largest rail providers in the Western US, posting strong profits that it expects to grow by 31% over the next two years.

The firm offers capital systems and related recurring services for treating industrial process water, utility water, and wastewater… Evoqua also makes products that filter and separate clean and dirty water. Since the American Jobs Plan envisions the provision of clean water to every American household, the firm could benefit from it.

… is one of the largest game companies in North America and Europe. US President (Biden) has pushed for increased access to high-speed broadband across the country… The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the stock of the firm higher owing to increased video-game demand.

… is a California-based American engineering firm. Since infrastructure spending forms the biggest chunk of the American Jobs Plan, the firm will stand to gain a lot from the multitude of new projects that will be initiated by the US government… It also operates an environmental and risk management department for big projects.

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Now a quick piece of interesting news titled BlackRock Launches Two Carbon Transition ETFs, 'LCTU' & 'LCTD' by Aaron Neuwirth. Published on etftrends.com. Quote, "The BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (LCTU) and the BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF (LCTD) invest in large- and mid-cap companies. The two funds raised more than $1.5 billion… The day-one investments into the BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF make it the largest ETF launch ever." End quotes.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Alternative Energy Picks and Surprises. Plus… "

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on May 7. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

'Feel Good' Investments That Make Money! Include 3M, Aflac, Best-Buy, Colgate-Palmolive, Kimberley-Clark, Microsoft, Pepsico, Salesforce, U.S. Bancorp, Weyerhaeuser, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Meat, Tesla, Ecolab, International Paper, Apple, Wex Inc, Unilever PLC, Home Depot, Toyota Motor, Alibaba, Pax Large Cap Fund, SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II, ON Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies, Aptiv, Trane Technologies, NextEra Energy

Transcript & Links, Episode 55, April 9, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 55 published on April 9, titled "'Feel Good' Investments That Make Money!"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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I start with a list of recommendations that originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com. It's titled 15 Investments That Make You Feel Good While You Make Money and is by John Csiszar. As usual, I'll mention the company name followed by some brief comments by Mr. Csiszar.

International conglomerate 3M views its Code of Conduct as not just a representation of its values but a competitive advantage as well… 3M… provides a number of well-known products, from Post-It notes to Scotch tape. Over the past year, the stock is up about 52%.

The company believes that acting ethically and responsibly is an important part of its business and is the only insurance company to make Ethisphere's list every year since 2007, including 2020.

The threat of competition from the likes of Amazon and other online retailers drove Best Buy's stock below $12 in 2012 before it executed an amazing turnaround that pushed it to new highs in 2020… In 2020, Best Buy made Ethisphere's list of Most Ethical Companies for the sixth time.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products brand… In addition to operating by a Code of Ethics, Colgate-Palmolive has an Ethics Line that employees can contact to get advice or ask questions about potential violations of the company's policies. It also operates a Sustainability website.

In 2017 alone, the maker of Huggies, Kleenex, Scott and other leading brands conducted 238 social compliance audits across its supply chain… Its board of directors includes 11 independent members and has 31% minority representation.

The software giant is well known for the charitable work of the founder, former CEO and current board member Bill Gates. Microsoft also has placed on Ethisphere's list of most ethical companies nine years in a row.

PepsiCo is now one of the world's leading providers of food and beverages, with brands ranging from Quaker and Gatorade to Frito-Lay and Tropicana.

In terms of sustainability, diversity and engagement, PepsiCo has earned numerous awards.

Salesforce is much loved on Wall Street, with analysts slapping an average 'strong buy' rating on the stock… Salesforce… (says it) 'brings customers and companies together' through customer relationship management solutions…

In 2021, U.S. Bank was named to the Ethisphere's world's most ethical list for the seventh year in a row… U.S. Bank also has committed to reducing its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2029 and 60% by 2044, using 2014 as a baseline.

The company is one of the largest private landholders in the U.S. It has used that land for more than a century, primarily to produce wood products.

Weyerhaeuser has placed on the Ethisphere list 11 times.

In 2020, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was tagged by Ethisphere for the second year in a row as one of the world's most ethical companies…

Analysts see good things ahead with an average 'strong buy' rating.

Beyond Meat was one of the most noteworthy IPOs of 2019, skyrocketing from an initial offering price of $25 to a high of $72.75…

One reason for the excitement around the stock is that its main products are plant-based alternatives to meats.

Tesla stock in 2020 was particularly volatile, skyrocketing over 740% by year's end.

In terms of trying to be an ethical company and advancing the human race, Tesla has made some extraordinary gestures. In 2014, for example, Musk announced that he was no longer protecting Tesla patents on electric vehicle technology, making them open-source and available to any interested parties.

Ecolab has been on Ethisphere's most ethical list since its inception in 2007, marking 14 consecutive years of receiving the honor…

Ecolab keeps striving to improve in the future, setting sustainability goals of halving its carbon emissions by 2030.

The stock has been a huge winner, rising more than 80% over the past five years.

International Paper is considered a cyclical stock… For now, analysts are lukewarm on the company, with an average 'buy'…

From an ethical standpoint, International Paper is a standout, having appeared on Ethisphere's list for 15 straight years." End quotes.

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Here's another group of stock picks for ethical and sustainable investors from investorplace.com. It's titled 7 ESG Investments to Buy for Ethical Investing and it's by Will Ashworth. Again, first, the company name followed by brief comments from the article's author.

Apple became the world's most profitable company earning $59 billion, more than any other public company on the planet… Apple's planning to launch its iPhone 13 lineup in late September or early October. Wedbush Securities estimates that it will produce 25% more phones for the iPhone 13 than it did for last year's models.

I would continue to expect big things from Apple. The fact that it meets ethical investing standards is a bonus.

Microsoft is said to be in discussions to buy invite-only chat platform Discord for more than $10 billion. In December, after obtaining new funding, Discord had an enterprise value of $7 billion. Although Microsoft and other interested parties are having discussions with the platform, it's thought that the company would prefer to go public.

If you've got a fleet to run, lots of corporate payments, or looking to improve the way you administer your company's health and benefit plans, Wex is there to help… WEX stock is up about 96% in the past year.

Unilever… continues to be a bit of a mystery from a performance perspective. Down 6.23% year-to-date through March 29, but up almost 15% over the past 52 weeks, it's hard to know which stock will show up over the long haul.

On March 24, Toyota announced a partnership with Isuzu Motors (OTCMKTS: ISUZY) and Hino Motors (OTCMKTS: HINOY) to develop small commercial trucks powered by both electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells…

Investors can be sure that Toyota will do what it takes to remain relevant in the automotive industry.

Home Depot's stock's continued its momentum so far in 2021… Over the past year, it's up 58%.

As the housing bull continues to roar, there is no doubt that Home Depot will continue to outperform the markets as a whole.

It's been a year of controversy for China's largest e-commerce company.

The latest issue involves the Chinese government pushing the company to sell some of its media assets, which includes the South China Morning Post because it fears Alibaba holds too much influence over public opinion in the country." End quotes.

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Due to limited space, I'm just going to mention the names of the funds and companies recommended in this article titled Opinion: Top money managers expect these green-energy companies to benefit most from Biden's infrastructure plan. It's by Michael Brush. Go to this podcast's page for more information at https://investingforthesoul.com/podcasts/.

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My next article is titled: These infrastructure stocks could rise up to 41% in a year on Biden's massive spending plan, analysts say. By Philip van Doornin on MarketWatch.

Quote. "Here is an updated list (see table on this podcast's page) of Wall Street analysts' favorite U.S. infrastructure stocks.

Starting with the 100 stocks held by PAVE, there are 75 covered by at least five analysts polled by FactSet."

(FactSet)

Also, quote, "Only four have 100% 'buy' or equivalent ratings:

• Columbus McKinnon Corp. (CMCO)
• Builders FirstSource Inc. (BLDR)
• Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI)
• Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX)" End quote.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "'Feel Good' Investments That Make Money!"

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on April 23. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Top Infrastructure Stocks And More. They include Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta Materials, Vale, Caterpillar, Deere, United Rentals, Freeport-McMoRan, Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation, Eaton, Crown Castle International, American Water Works, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund, Trillium ESG Global Equity Fund, Shelton Green Alpha Fund, Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate Fund, TIAA-CREF Green Bond Fund

Transcript & Links, Episode 54, March 26, 2021

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 54 published on March 26, titled "Top Infrastructure Stocks. And More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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Now, I'm starting by talking about top infrastructure stocks. infrastructure stocks. This sector is hot right now because government infrastructure spending is making huge leaps around the world.

However, remember, that building infrastructure to support transportation developments or electricity generation with solar or wind, etc., requires huge amounts of mining and basic resources no matter how you build it. Most ethical and sustainable investors will be fine with this while others won't.

So, this article 12 Best Infrastructure Stocks for Biden's Next Big Plan by Charles Lewis Sizemore is timely. It's another great analysis you can find on Kiplinger.com

I'll mention Mr. Sizemore's recommendations followed by some brief quotes by him on each company.

Incidentally, to check on the sustainability profiles of each company, Yahoo! Finance is a good place to start. Enter the company name in their search box and look for the 'Sustainability' tab on the navigation panel.

It's America's largest producer of construction aggregates, which includes things like crushed stone, sand and gravel, and a major producer of asphalt and cement. Aggregates make up 76% of the company's revenues and 91% of its gross profit…

Marietta is a building materials company that specializes in the materials used in large construction and infrastructure projects. Among other things, it makes crushed sand and gravel products, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt, and paving products and services… Martin Marietta's chemical products are used in flame retardants, wastewater treatment, and assorted environmental applications.

Brazil's Vale is first and foremost a miner of iron ore. Vale also is the world's leader in nickel mining, and is a significant producer of copper, gold, silver and other metals…

80% of its electricity usage is already sourced from renewables, primarily solar and wind farms.

… the largest domestic steelmaker in North America.

Easily the most iconic maker of construction and mining equipment… Much of the reason for its poor performance in the years leading up to 2020 was weakness in emerging markets… But looking ahead, Caterpillar's exposure to EMs should be considered a positive once again.

… is known best as a maker of tractors and other heavy-duty farm equipment… It's also a major producer of construction and forestry equipment.

United operates a network of 1,165 rental locations… (in) two segments: General Rentals and Trench, Power and Fluid Solutions. The General Rentals segment rents out what you would think of as typical construction equipment: backhoes, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, boom lifts, etc. The Trench, Power and Fluid Solutions segment rents out specialty equipment specifically designed for underground work and fluid treatment.

… it's one of the world's largest and best-run copper miners…

Electric vehicles use about four times as much copper as traditional internal combustion vehicles. Also, the transition to solar and wind energy will require major investments in copper, too, as renewable energy uses more than four times as much copper as good, old-fashioned oil and gas.

Together with its sister company Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), Brookfield is one of the largest diversified infrastructure stocks in the world, with operations spanning utilities, transportation, energy and even data infrastructure.

Eaton isn't a pure play on green energy. But, as a major supplier of electrical components and systems, it is an important part of the story. Wind and solar farms have to be integrated into the national grid, and that's exactly what Eaton does.

Biden's campaign pledge to 'build back better' specifically… included a promise to provide universal broadband coverage.

Crown Castle owns more than 40,000 cell towers and around 80,000 route miles of fiber supporting around 80,000 small cells.

Mobile data usage will continue to grow at a blistering rate for the foreseeable future, and Crown Castle is a solid way to play that trend. It also happens to pay a respectable 3%-plus dividend, and it's stated goal is to grow that cash distribution by 7% to 8% per year.

If you're looking for a single one-stop shop, the Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF is a solid choice…

Per its investment mandate, (it) 'seeks to invest in companies that stand to benefit from a potential increase in infrastructure activity in the United States,' and in raw materials, heavy equipment and construction in particular." End quotes.

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Two more top infrastructure stocks are included in this article 3 Top Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years by Neha Chamaria. It appeared on fool.com.

First, American Water treats and delivers more than a billion gallons of water every day… Second, it has predictable capital deployment plans that almost assure earnings, and with earnings comes dividend growth… Third, work on President Biden's aggressively campaigned infrastructure bill is already under way, and clean water is one of his top priorities. American Water Works is in the sweet spot.

The company foresees 7% to 10% compound annual growth over each of the next five years in earnings per share (EPS) and dividends. American Water is a best-in-class utility dividend stock, having increased its dividend every year since going public in 2008.

(It) wants to grow its annual dividend by 5% to 9% and deliver 12% to 15% annualized returns in the long term. That's an easily achievable goal given the massive growth opportunity ahead for the company as the world shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy. With Biden also proposing a monster climate plan emphasizing clean energy, Brookfield is a surefire winner in the making.

Brookfield is one of the world's largest publicly traded renewable companies and among the best you could find to bet on in the industry given its diversity: The company primarily deals in hydropower, but it has recently expanded into solar and wind energy such that hydropower now makes up only about 66% of its portfolio.

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Moving onto a familiar theme, Matt Whittaker gives his 7 Green Mutual Funds to Buy Now. It was posted on USNews.com.

While the fund is passively managed and tracks an index, it does represent a broad set of companies screened for certain ESG factors. The fund also comes with a low annual expense ratio of 0.14%.

(Is) actively managed (and) participates in shareholder activism… This fund invests domestically and internationally, including emerging markets… The fund's expense ratio is a bit high, at 1.3%.

This fund's stated investment objective is to 'achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in stocks in the green economy,' and Earth Equity Advisors CEO Peter Krull likes its forward-looking philosophy. 'They owned Moderna (MRNA) before anyone knew who the hell Moderna was… (The fund) has an expense ratio of 1.28%.

Vert Asset Management says the real estate sector offers ESG investors opportunities to capitalize on companies increasing the value of their buildings by making them 'healthier, more efficient and more profitable…' It comes with an expense ratio of 0.5%.

Investing internationally can carry more risk than domestic picks, both for returns as well as environmental sustainability. That said, putting money abroad can also mean higher returns – and it doesn't have to mean investing in companies with shoddy environmental practices… Thornburg Better World International Fund has a higher expense ratio than others on this list, at 1.83%.

Calvert seeks to invest in companies that, among other things, manage water scarcity and ensure efficient and equitable access to clean sources, diminish climate-related risks, and drive sustainability innovation and resource efficiency.

The fund 'invests in bonds whose proceeds target positive outcomes via renewable energy, climate change, and natural resource projects and initiatives without compromising return potential,' according to its website. It comes with an expense ratio of 0.8%." End quotes.

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Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Top Infrastructure Stocks. And More…"

To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or wherever you download or listen to this podcast.

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing!

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you next on April 9. Bye for now.

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.