Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By!

Jim Cramer's hydrogen stocks: Linde and Plug Power. Other ESG, sustainable, and infrastructure stocks covered are Apple, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Steel Dynamics, Edison International, Duke Energy, Algonquin Power and Utilities, AES Corp., JinkoSolar, SolarEdge Technologies, NextEra Energy, Bloom Energy, United Rentals, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Nucor, Halma, and Croder. Analysts from The Motley Fool and MoneyShow

PODCAST: Jim Cramer's Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 43, October 23, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 43 published on October 9 titled "Jim Cramer's Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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Jim Cramer's Hydrogen Stocks

Well if you live in North America and interested in money you've no doubt heard of Jim Cramer and his 'Mad Money' show. Now he's talking-up hydrogen. Mr. Cramer is quoted extensively in an article by Tyler Clifford titled 'I'm bullish on hydrogen' — Jim Cramer breaks down his top hydrogen plays. Here are some quotes from the article.

"[Jim Cramer] is now endorsing the stocks of Linde and Plug Power, the first as a conservative play on the space and the second as a more speculative undertaking…

1) Linde, an Ireland-domiciled industrial gas company that handles production and distribution, is valued by the market at $126.1 billion…

2) Plug Power, based in Latham, New York, produces hydrogen and fuel cell systems with its eyes on industrial vehicles… The stock has surged more than 480% year to date…

Cramer recommended waiting to buy Plug Power on a pullback." End quotes.

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ESG Investors Will Love These 3 Stocks

We again have a threesome in one article from The Motley Fool, each recommending a different stock. The article is titled ESG Investors Will Love These 3 Stocks. Here are their picks followed by relevant quotes by the recommending analyst.

"1) Travis Hoium likes Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) -- The Motley Fool

Companies that focus on environmental, social, and governance issues do so with everything they do… That's why Apple is a great ESG stock.

[Some] highlights of Apple's environmental focus:

• Apple's operations are already carbon neutral.
• By 2030 Apple plans to make all of its products and manufacturing suppliers carbon neutral.
• Apple has nearly 400 megawatts (MW) of solar, including on the roof of its headquarters, which is more than any other company in the U.S….

2) Howard Smith likes Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP) -- The Motley Fool

Brookfield Renewable has an investment portfolio of over 5,300 power-generating facilities globally. Its ownership and investments consist of hydroelectric, solar, and wind power… Side with a proven winner by investing in Brookfield Renewable Partners.

3) Jason Hall picks Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD) -- The Motley Fool

Conscious capitalism also requires investors put their money in companies making dirty industries cleaner and more sustainable.

Steel Dynamics hits the mark:

• 83% of the inputs are recycled or internally generated.
• Energy intensity and emissions are 11% and 13%, respectively, of global steel production averages.
• 99% of water is reused and 99% of mill byproducts are recycled…

Since going public over 20 years ago it has trounced the S&P 500, and has… a dividend yield near 3% after more than a decade of yearly double-digit increases." End quotes.

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9 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy

It's impossible to get away from alternative energy in this podcast as it's probably the most frequent ESG related industry covered anywhere. This article is titled 9 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy and is by the MoneyShow.

Here are some relevant quotes.

"1) Edison International (EIX)

Last month, the California utility won regulators' approval for the largest build of EV charging stations and energy storage in US history. Edison is cheap because of understandable concern about the durability of California's new utility wildfire insurance in a season of record heat…

Edison sells for just 11.2 times earnings and pays a yield of nearly 5 percent.

2) Duke Energy (DUK)

There's uncertainty about how much North Carolina regulators will approve of its planned investment on power grid improvement and coal ash cleanup. [Also], arguably no US utility has a bigger opportunity to rate base solar…

Buy up to $90.

3) Algonquin Power and Utilities (AQN) and AES Corp (AES)

As for companies combining contracted renewables with regulated utilities, the best buys are Algonquin Power and Utilities for the most conservative investors, and AES Corp. for everyone else.

AES's… real appeal is an unrivaled global pipeline of new wind and solar generation along with energy storage… AES shares are now up nearly 30 percent since July… it's still a buy up to 22.

As for Algonquin, new management looks set to continue the roughly two-thirds utility, one-third contracted renewables earnings and growth strategy… Buy at $14 or lower.

5) JinkoSolar (JKS)

Is the largest solar panel producer in the world… And its global business is booming, with a recent agreement to supply bifacial modules — which produce solar energy from both sides of the panel and generate 40% more power than current mainstream utility products — in Chile and in Vietnam…

JinkoSolar went ballistic on enormous volume both before and after earnings.

6) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)

Aims to disrupt the entire electricity grid along with traditional power generation… It's a great story…

7) NextEra Energy (NEE)

Its FPL division serves the state of Florida and is the largest regulated electric utility in the country. But the company's alternative energy segment is its fastest-growing business.

In fact, NextEra Energy Resources is now the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. And it's also becoming a world leader in battery storage capacity… NextEra is very attractive today.

8) Plug Power (PLUG) (Yes, again!)

Its technology is based on fuel cells, which use hydrogen today to generate electricity in the harshest off-grid environments, which power electric industrial vehicles like forklifts, and which will soon be powering on-road vehicles as well develops…

Financially, the company has not yet turned profitable, and there are no profits visible in the year ahead… As for the stock, it's hot, hitting new highs.

9) Bloom Energy (BE)

Is a fuel cell stock. [The] cells generate electricity from natural gas, biogas or hydrogen to provide highly reliable on-site power to liberate businesses (like Walmart, Ikea, Oracle and eBay) from unreliable electric grids…

In late June, management disclosed a partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries, which is the world's third-biggest shipbuilder, to provide power plants for ships…

Earnings are not in sight yet, but the stock has been gaining strength and just recently broke out to a new high so it can be bought here, too." End quotes.

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3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now

There's no doubt that after the US election infrastructure spending will be top-of-mind for the incoming administration. And construction industry companies might be a fit for some ethical and sustainable investors. Here's a new article by Neha Chamaria on The Motley Fool site has this in mind. It's titled 3 Top Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Here are the three stocks each followed by some relevant comments from Ms. Chamaria.

1) "United Rentals (NYSE:URI) -- The Motley Fool

Some notable facts about the company:

• United Rentals has roughly 13% share in the North American equipment rental market.
• The company's revenue clocked 14.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2009 and 2019.

2019 was a record year for United Rentals with revenue soaring 16% to $9.3 billion…

2) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIPC) (NYSE:BIP) -- The Motley Fool

The bulk of Brookfield's businesses generate stable and steady income and cash flows under long-term, fixed-rate, or regulated contracts. That is why the company hasn't just paid, but has grown, its dividend per share at a CAGR of 11% between 2009 and 2020. The dividend [is] currently 4%...

Brookfield is now increasingly betting on high-growth areas like 5G technology… shareholders can easily expect double-digit annual returns from this stock.

3) Nucor (NYSE:NUE) -- The Motley Fool

This company is the leading manufacturer of steel… a raw material that's indispensable for building infrastructure assets, from bridges and dams to pipelines and rail tracks… Nucor should benefit hugely from an uptick in construction activity… With a 3.4% yield, Nucor is a great stock to own at all times." End quotes.

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2 sustainable investments for 2020 that I like

Now two stock recommendations from a UK Motley Fool contributor, Kirsteen Mackay. Her article is titled 2 sustainable investments for 2020 that I like.

Again, I'll state the company followed by select quotes from Ms. Mackay.

"1) Halma (LSE:HLMA) -- The Motley Fool

Halma is considered a sustainable company because it offers solutions to ensuring clean water and infrastructure safety… I think this looks a resilient company with a solid future ahead. It offers a small dividend yield (less than 1%) and the likelihood of continued growth.

2) Croda (LSE:CRDA) -- The Motley Fool

Croda International is a chemical and technology company found in some top sustainable investment funds… Its solutions are essential to products found in health and beauty, engine lubricants and plastics…

The STOXX Europe Sustainability Index contains both Halma and Croda…" End quotes.

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End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Jim Cramer's Hydrogen Stocks. And Much More…"

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

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

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

Contact me if you have any questions.

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

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on November 6. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Climate change investing is hot! Swiss Saxo Bank had a 78% year-to-date gain on a group of 56 global stocks. All were highlighted in January as the best positioned to benefit from climate change policy. Renewable energy stocks from The Motley Fool. New PIMCO ESG Income Fund and Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF. More

PODCAST: Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 42, October 9, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 42 published on October 9 titled "Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. Climate Change Investing Outperforms!

Now, would you like to get a 78% year-to-date return on a portfolio of green and ESG stocks? Well, James Phillipps wrote an article for Forbes titled Climate Change Investing May Not Be Your Thing, But A 78% YTD Return Is.

Here are some quotes from Mr. Phillipps' article. He says "There is an absolutely gigantic wall of money moving into environmental stocks and it is only going to get bigger.

The European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB), and China have all announced major policy initiatives in the past fortnight underlining their commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The strategy has been a standout performer through the Covid-19 pandemic. A basket of 56 global stocks which Saxo Bank highlighted in January as the best positioned to benefit from climate change policy is up a whopping 78% year to date. That compares to the S&P 500's 1.2% rise and 24.5% for the S&P Information Technology sector." End quotes.

You can get a full downloadable list of these companies with their respective stock returns by going to the article titled Green stocks are the next mega trend in equities. It appears on the Saxo Bank's website. The list is titled 'Inspirational list of stocks with exposure to the climate theme.' You can also get the direct link from this podcasts' page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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2. Climate Change Investing Outperforms!

Continuing on the climate change investing theme is an article titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in October. I found it on Nasdaq.com though it was written for The Motley Fool site. Each recommendation is by a different analyst.

I'll first mention the analyst's name followed by the stock they recommend and a few quotes from them about the stock. Quote.

1) "Travis Hoium recommends SunPower (SPWR)

Customers can go on its website and get a solar design in less than a minute, replacing costly door-to-door sales that have long driven the industry's sales. SunPower then provides those leads to local partners, who use SunPower-provided solar panels, monitoring, and racking for their solar installation. Long term, working with these smaller, more nimble installers and leveraging digital sales should lead to better pricing and a higher market share for SunPower in residential solar.

Commercial solar is another big market, and SunPower is the No. 1 provider in the U.S. It designs solar systems for large industrial rooftops, and adds monitoring and in some cases energy storage. This isn't a high-margin business yet, but if SunPower can reduce costs, it could make commercial solar into a big and profitable business with a $3.5 billion pipeline and $400 million of contracted backlog…

Given the growth potential for solar in the U.S., investors should be excited about this business disrupting the market long term.

2) Howard Smith likes NextEra Energy (NEE)

Long-term investing is the right way to grow wealth. But if short-term concerns are keeping you up at night, an investment that might fit your needs is NextEra Energy…

… it's easy to pick NextEra as a winner in the race to renewable energy production. Its subsidiary, NextEra Energy Resources, along with its affiliates, is the world's largest generator of wind and solar power. NextEra recently increased its near-term growth expectations, saying earnings for 2021 will be higher than its previous guidance, and extended its 6% to 8% annual growth expectations through 2023. It also announced a 4-for-1 stock split, as its shares have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 over the past several years.

Along with that growth, however, comes a more stable electric utility business. NextEra owns Florida Power & Light, the largest regulated electric utility in the U.S. by retail megawatt-hour sales, as well as Gulf Power, which serves the northwestern part of Florida. Though NextEra's dividend yield is lower than typical utilities at about 2%, it balances that with its growth in renewables.

So if you want to get into renewables ahead of the election, NextEra Energy might be the right stock for you. Regardless of politics, this business will continue its growth strategy, and is anchored with an electric utility to weather any ups and downs that may come from legislative policy direction.

3) Jason Hall recommends Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN)

There's a wonderful company based just north of the border in Canada, Algonquin Power & Utilities, that looks worth buying right now.

What makes Algonquin appealing? Like NextEra, it operates both regulated utilities and a non-regulated business selling wholesale power (called Liberty Power), and has focused heavily on developing renewable power assets. These include wind and solar, as well as using wood pellets made from waste wood instead of coal and natural gas in some of its older facilities. But I think Algonquin is in a better position to turn the growth of its unregulated renewable power business into outsize returns for investors. Algonquin generated $1.6 billion in revenue over the past year, less than 10% of NextEra's $19 billion in revenue.

Moreover, Algonquin just looks cheap right now, trading for about 15 times trailing earnings, while its dividend yield of 4% at recent prices is also very attractive. And since implementing a dividend in 2012, the payout has increased 126%; better yet, the payout ratio -- the percent of earnings it pays in dividends -- is below 50%, meaning it's both secure, and there's room to continue growing the dividend along with earnings in the years to come.

Whether you already own NextEra or not, or are just looking for another clean utility to own, Algonquin should be high on your list. At recent prices, it's worth buying now." End quotes.

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3. Climate Change Investing Outperforms!

When one of the world's most prestigious fixed income firms launches an ESG income fund you know that green income funds have arrived! The announcement of the fund came in a press release titled PIMCO Launches PIMCO ESG Income Fund Class A (PEGAX).

Here are some quotes from the press release concerning the fund. Quote, "PIMCO, one of the world's premier fixed income investment managers, has launched the PIMCO ESG Income Fund, which targets investments with strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials, while aiming to maintain a high and consistent level of dividend income for investors…

PIMCO's ESG Fund offerings include the Total Return ESG Fund, the Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG Exchange-Traded Fund, and the Climate Bond Fund… Like other products in the Income Suite, the PIMCO ESG Income Fund pursues a global, multi-sector and flexible approach, but is uniquely dedicated to ESG-related investments for those who want to pursue income from more sustainable sources.

PIMCO has been investing in socially responsible investments since 1989 and launched its first ESG-dedicated funds in 2017. PIMCO's sustainable assets under management have grown to $157 billion, as of August 31, 2020." End quotes.

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4) Climate Change Investing Outperforms!

Continuing in the fixed income space is yet another new ESG bond fund. The Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB).

Based on a press release, here are some key quotes.

"The fund provides investors access to the US corporate bond market and expands Vanguard's current index-and-actively-managed ESG offerings. Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF seeks to track the performance of Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Corporate SRI Select Index and is listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe) with a low expense ratio of 0.12 per cent…

Vanguard has offered ESG funds to US investors for more than two decades, beginning with Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) in 2000. In recent years, Vanguard has broadened its equity ESG lineup with the addition of two ETFs, Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF (ESGV) and Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX), and an actively-managed offering, Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock Fund (VESGX). Vanguard ESG US Corporate Bond ETF marks Vanguard's initial entrance into the ESG fixed income market, an area that is growing in investor demand. US investor assets in ESG fixed income mutual funds and ETFs doubled in 2019 to USD850 million, and today, stands at USD1.8 billion. The new ETF will further complement Vanguard's ESG suite, offering asset class diversification through US corporate bond market exposure." End quotes.

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End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Climate Change Investing Outperforms! And more…"

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

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

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

Contact me if you have any questions.

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

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on October 23. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Vegan fund outperforms (VEGN). "Since inception, VEGN has returned 27.69%... against the S&P500 Index's 19.75% through to end August 2020, says Beyond Investing." Other stocks and funds covered are Beyond Meat, Moderna, Genius Brands International, Nikola, Gevo Inc., Taronis Fuels, Inc., EarthRenew Inc., Tesla, Inc., Plug Power Inc., Workhorse Group, Inc., Algonquin Power. And more

PODCAST: Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 41, September 25, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 41 published on September 11 titled "Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…

A year ago in my podcast of September 13, 2019, I covered the launch of the US Vegan Climate ETF VEGN. Well, the ETF Professor at Benzinga.com published a piece that also appeared on MarketWatch titled In First Year, Nifty Vegan ETF Struts Its Stuff.

Here are some quotes from the article.

"[The US Vegan Climate ETF, stock symbol, VEGN], celebrated its first birthday last week [and] tracks the Beyond Investing US Vegan Climate Index. That benchmark… is designed to provide investors with exposure to companies 'zero animal exploitation and zero fossil fuel, represents a portfolio of stocks with lower greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and fresh water utilisation as compared to the S&P500 Index,' according to Beyond Investing…

'Since inception, VEGN has returned 27.69% total return on market price against the S&P500 Index's 19.75% through to end August 2020…' according to Beyond Investing.

Vegan Climate ETF

implements an array of impact metrics, including greenhouse gases, water utilization, water generation, social good, environmental benefit, environmental harm and social harm, in constructing its portfolio…

'Since its conception, Beyond Investing has always avoided companies involved in unethical practices towards animals, people, and the planet,' said VEGN's issuer. 'Its stringent screening process weeds out animal exploitation, child labor, high carbon intensity, the burning or extraction of fossil fuels, single-use plastics, and any other activity deemed to have a significant negative impact on the environment….'

'Demand for meat and dairy products has declined for the first time in nine years,' notes Beyond Investing. 'Leaving aside the documented links between environmental destruction, animal exploitation, and the emergence of COVID-19, slaughterhouse stoppages because of high worker infection rates, resulting in on-farm killing and disposal of animals, have been Public Relations disasters for the industry. Conversely, sales of plant-based products have been booming." End quotes.

Further support for the vegan/vegetarian investing theme is coming from the climate campaign movement as a headline in a recent Financial Times article titled Climate campaigners turn their focus from fossil fuels to meat—makes clear!

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16 of the Most Popular Stocks Among Millennials

Next, we have another good report from Kiplinger, titled 16 of the Most Popular Stocks Among Millennials written by Charles Lewis Sizemore. I've picked from them four stocks that might be considered by most ethical and sustainable investors. For the full list click the article link in this podcast episode.

Mr. Sizemore writes that "For a generation known for doing things its own way and projecting their values with their pocketbook, the stock portfolios of Millennials are remarkably conventional.

What's far more interesting about the list, however, is which stocks have become more popular among Millennials across the year…

All [these stocks] have seen significant jumps in the rankings since the end of March, and several will likely surprise you.

1) Moderna (MRNA, $57.56)

Is popular among Millennials, coming in at 40th in the second quarter after not being ranked at all in the first.

It's not hard to see the investment play here. Moderna is one of the leading candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine.

2) Beyond Meat (BYND, $143.04)

Which makes plant-based veggie burgers and other meat substitutes, climbed the ranks over the past quarter from 50th to 41st.

3) Genius Brands International (GNUS, $1.05)

Has suddenly found itself popular with Millennials. The stock was unranked in the first quarter but now finds itself ranked 46th. Genius Brands creates and licenses 'content with a purpose for toddlers and young children'. That's a fancy way of saying educational cartoons.

4) Nikola (NKLA, $37.57)

Is very much a Millennial story stock. Nikola makes electric and fuel-cell 18-wheeler trucks… It only went public on June 4. But by the end of June, it had already rocketed higher to become the 49th most popular stock in Millennial portfolios." End quotes.

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3 Alternative Energy Penny Stocks to Watch Today

I've talked a lot about renewable and alternative energy stocks in these podcasts, but one segment in that area I haven't covered are really small companies. Joseph Keller has penned an article titled 3 Alternative Energy Penny Stocks to Watch Today that appeared on the microsmallcap.com site.

I'll mention the name of each company followed by some of Mr. Keller's remarks about that company.

"1) Gevo Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO)

"Gevo Inc. is a biofuel and renewable chemicals company based outside of Denver, Colorado… As has been the case for most green technology stocks, Gevo's stock price took a tumble throughout the first three months of the year. On August 20, however, the company's stock price more than tripled to $1.84 per share after Gevo announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement for a $50 million registered direct offering.

2) Taronis Fuels, Inc. (OTC:TRNF)

Taronis Fuels is a clean technology company based out of Phoenix, Arizona, focused on offering energy solutions using proprietary clean gas technology…

Taronis Fuels' stock took a slide as the COVID-19 pandemic choked markets, going from $0.23 per share in early March to $0.08 on March 23.

3) EarthRenew Inc. (CSE:ERTH)

Based in Calgary, Alberta, EarthRenew Inc. is an agricultural technology company with proprietary technology that transforms livestock waste into organic fertilizer…

After taking a fall to $0.15 per share in late March, EarthRenew recovered to reach a high of $0.40 per share in mid-June… On August 26, EarthRenew released the results from field trials conducted with Lethbridge College. These results showed that EarthRenew's fertilizer formulations increased plant growth by up to 207% for barley and up to 49% for peas during the germination phase."

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3 Stocks to ELECTRIFY Your Portfolio's Returns

More on energy by a new analyst to this podcast. His name is Sidharath Gupta and he wrote an article titled 3 Stocks to ELECTRIFY Your Portfolio's Returns that appeared on the stocknews.com site.

As usual, I'll mention the name of the recommended company followed by relevant quotes about that company from the article.

"1) Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)

Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, electric vehicle powertrain components, and stationary energy storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. It is the world's only fully integrated sustainable energy company.

The stock gained 406% year-to-date to close yesterday's session at $423.43. Strong product demand from China and its battery unique development are primarily driving the stock higher. The stock is up more than 395% in the last six months.

[Tesla has an overall POWR Rating of B.]

2) Plug Power Inc. (PLUG)

PLUG is an alternative energy technology provider that engages in the design, development, manufacture, and commercialization of fuel cell systems for the industrial off-road markets worldwide. It provides hydrogen fuel cell turnkey solutions for the electric mobility and stationary power markets…

The stock is up more than 134% in the last three months and is trading 10.5% below its 52-week high of $14.35.

PLUG's POWR Ratings reflect a promising outlook. It has an overall rating of 'Buy.'

3) Workhorse Group, Inc. (WKHS)

Designs, manufactures, and sells electric, high-performance, medium-duty trucks… The stock has gained more than 822% year-to-date to close yesterday's trading session at $28.03. The stock… skyrocketed in June when the company announced that two of its electric delivery vans had completed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards testing, paving the way for its sales and production in the United States. The stock has increased by more than 1662% in the past six months.

Workhorse Group's strong momentum is reflected in its 'strong buy' POWR Rating." End quotes.

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Algonquin Power

Another name in the renewable energy field is Algonquin Power (TSX:AQN)(NYSE:AQN) recommended by Robin Brown in a post titled 2 Top TSX Income Stocks to Buy in September 2020. I saw it on the Canadian Motley Fool site.

Mr. Brown says this about the company, quote "Investors benefit from a very predictable cash flow stream from the regulated natural gas, electricity, and water distribution businesses. They also benefit from the favourable ESG and green investing tailwinds that will fuel green energy earnings and multiple expansion for many years ahead. By combining these two unique segments, investors get stability, consistency, and growth… The stock is paying a nice 4.5% dividend, but there's lots of room for that to grow." End quote.

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End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: "Vegan Fund Outperforms. And More…"

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

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

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

Contact me if you have any questions.

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

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on October 9. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Green energy growth stocks in North America, India, and elsewhere. They include SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., Enphase Energy, Inc., Canadian Solar Inc., Azure Power Global Ltd., NextEra Energy Partners, Clean Energy Fuels, and TPI Composites. Australian analyst makes their investment picks: BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF, Magellan High Conviction Trust, BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF. More

PODCAST: Green Energy Growth Stocks. And More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 40, September 11, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 40 published on September 11 titled "Green Energy Growth Stocks. And More… "— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. Green Energy Growth Stocks.

I start with a new analyst to this podcast, Aditi Ganguly, who wrote an article about green energy growth stocks titled 4 Green Energy Stocks to GROW Your Portfolio that appeared on stocknews.com.

I'll mention each stock followed by some of her quotes related to that company.

"1) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG)

… designs, manufactures and sells direct current (DC) optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations… On June 23rd, SolarEdge Technologies launched its new Energy Hub Inverter with Prism technology to provide higher flexibility in home backup for residential and commercial users.

As a result, SolarEdge Technologies maintained healthy financial performance amid the pandemic… GAAP net income increased 11% year-over-year to $36.70 million… SolarEdge Technologies expects its revenues to be in the range of $325-$350 million for the third quarter ending September 2020…

Its earnings per share is expected to grow 20% per annum over the next five years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $229.49 in August. SolarEdge Technologies is rated an A Overall [in our] POWR Rating.

2) Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH)

… is the world's leading supplier of microinverters, with a dominating global market presence. Its semiconductor-based microinverter converts individual solar molecule energy and combines it with its patented networking and software technology for energy monitoring and control services…

Though Enphase Energy's revenue for the second quarter that ended in June 2020 indicates a year-over-year decline, the company reported a record non-GAAP gross margin of 39.6%... Gross profit increased 6.67% from the same period last year to $48.38 million. Enphase Energy's earnings grew 314.7% over the past twelve months…

Enphase Energy, Inc. is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system.

3) Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)

… develops and manufactures solar power products such as solar ingots, wafers, cells modules, etc. through two segments – module and Systems solutions (MSS) and Energy…

Canadian Solar's… Net revenue for the second quarter (was) $696 million (and) surpassed the estimates of $630-$680 million… The consensus revenue estimate of $861.93 million for the third quarter ending September 2020 indicates a 13.4% rise year-over-year… EPS is expected to grow 20% per annum over the next five years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $26.72 in August.

It's no surprise that Canadian Solar is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system.

4) Azure Power Global Ltd. (AZRE)

… owns and operates solar power plants in India under long-term contracts with government agencies, non-governmental energy distribution companies and commercial customers. It has 43 utility scale projects and multiple commercial rooftop projects. Azure Power has been named the most sustainable company in the solar energy industry by the World Finance magazine. It has also been ranked as the top 10th global renewable power producer by Sustainalytics…

The consensus revenue estimate of $43.90 million for the fiscal second quarter ending September 2020 indicates an 8.9% increase year-over-year. Azure's earnings per share is expected to grow 108% annually over the next 5 years… The stock hit its 52-week high of $25.62 in August.

Azure is rated a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system." End quotes.

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2. Green Energy Growth Stocks.

The Motley Fool has again delivered a post on green energy growth stocks. It's titled Love Renewable Energy? Buy These 3 Stocks. Three analysts each write about one stock recommendation.

I'll first mention the analyst's name, then the company they recommend, followed by relevant quotes from them on the company they recommend.

"1) Travis Hoium likes NextEra Energy Partners (NEP)

The real bottleneck in the renewable energy industry isn't technology or cost or any other operating limitation. The bottleneck is really around building and financing more renewable energy projects… That's where NextEra Energy Partners comes in.

NextEra Energy Partners is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy (NEE), which owns 5,330 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar assets that have an average of 15 years remaining on contracts to sell electricity to utilities…

What makes this a great stock to own long term is the company's growth prospects. Through NextEra Energy, it has a large pipeline of renewable energy assets to buy with long-term contracts. That flow of projects is expected to fuel a 12% to 15% increase in the dividend through at least the end of 2024…

2) Howard Smith suggests Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE).

… A growing number of transportation fleet operators are arranging to move away from fossil fuels… Clean Energy Fuels has a solution for them today…

Clean Energy operates approximately 550 natural gas fueling stations in the U.S. and Canada. Its core, and growing, product is a renewable natural gas (RNG) branded Redeem. Renewable natural gas is derived from organic waste from dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants…

Redeem reduces carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to diesel or gasoline. Energy giants are taking notice. Total has a 25% stake and supply contract with Clean Energy. And Chevron and BP have also partnered with the company.

3) Jason Hall recommends TPI Composites (TPIC).

Some of the best investments in the green energy space are often companies the average person – or even most investors – have never heard of.

One that certainly meets that mark is TPI Composites, with shares up 117% since going public in 2016, nearly doubling the gains of the S&P 500 over the same period.

The thesis is simple: It already has a massive share of the global wind turbine blade market, but the next two decades will see an acceleration in the deployment of wind turbines, and the world's biggest wind turbine makers will come to be more reliant on TPI Composites for their blades.

Looking forward, TPI Composites could prove the best growth stock in renewable energy." End quotes.

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3 ASX shares I'd happily buy every month.

Now I have some recommendations from an Australian analyst. The article is titled 3 ASX shares I'd happily buy every month. It appeared in the Australian edition of The Motley Fool.

As usual, I'll say the name of the company followed by a few relevant remarks from the article's author, Mr. Tristan Harrison. Though the first two funds aren't strictly ESG funds, their holdings indicate a strong ESG bias.

"1) BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Some of the companies in its holdings are: Apple, Nvidia, Adobe, Facebook, Intuitive Surgical, Accenture, Intuit, Nike, Alphabet and Texas Instruments. I like that its holdings aren't limited to just one country.

The returns have been strong since inception in November 2018 [returning] 18.8% per annum.

2) Magellan High Conviction Trust (ASX: MHH)

This is a listed investment trust (LIT) which invests in the highest-quality businesses that it can find at a good price.

It maintains a portfolio of a limited number of names, around 10 or so… it picks businesses that are listed in other places like the US or Asia.

Some of its highest-conviction picks are: Alibaba, Alphabet, Microsoft, Tencent and Facebook… Since inception in October 2019 it has returned 10.4% per annum after fees.

3) BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI)

This ETF, which is all about picking sustainable businesses, has performed very strongly.

Since inception in January 2017, BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF has returned an average of 20.3% per annum… Its top holdings include names like Apple, Nvidia, Mastercard, Visa, Home Depot, Adobe, Paypal, Tesla, Netflix and Toyota." End quotes.

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Franklin Templeton Launches Muni-Focused Green Bond Fund.

I mostly talk about stocks, but green bonds need to be covered too. One notable new green-ESG bond fund has been launched by one of the mutual fund industry's pioneers, Franklin Templeton. Here's an article describing the fund that appeared in ESG Today titled Franklin Templeton Launches Muni-Focused Green Bond Fund.

Quote "Global investment manager Franklin Templeton announced that it has launched the Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund (FGBKX: US). The new fund will invest in muni green bonds, including climate bonds, sustainability bonds and environmental impact bonds, seeking to maximize income exempt from federal taxes…" End quote.

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Ending Comments

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

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

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and ESG wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on September 25. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. "3 Alternative Energy ETFs For A Biden White House". "7 ESG Stocks That Will Deliver for Every Stakeholder". "4 Socially Responsible Funds to Invest in for Solid Returns". "3 Oil Companies That Are Becoming Renewable Energy Stocks". Stocks reviewed include Microsoft, Salesforce, McDonald's, Blackrock, Xoetis, Deere & Company, and Progressive

PODCAST: ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 39, August 28, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 39 published on August 28 titled "ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…

In my last podcast, I covered analysts' views on what stocks would do well under a Biden presidency. Well, a Benzinga.com post, which I saw on MarketWatch.com, had its say in a post titled 3 Alternative Energy ETFs For A Biden White House.

Here are its recommendations with relevant quotes following them.

Quote: "Indeed, Biden has an ambitious plan for renewable energy in the U.S… With that in mind, here are some renewable energy ETFs to consider in advance of Election Day and, if Biden wins, beyond.

1) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES)

Things could come up aces for the ALPS Clean Energy ETF if Biden wins the White House… [The fund is] up 52.55% this year and has more than doubled since its 2018 debut…

[The] ALPS Clean Energy ETF doesn't just focus on wind and solar… Other exposures include smart grid, electric vehicle and energy storage, biomass/biofuel, fuel cell makers and geothermal producers…

2) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN)

The second-largest renewable energy ETF by assets, the Invesco Solar ETF is higher by more than 70% this year…

3) VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG)

The VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF tracks the Ardour Global Index, which is 'intended to track the overall performance of low carbon energy companies which are those companies primarily engaged in alternative energy' according to VanEck." End quotes.

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2. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…

An 'almost regular' analyst to these podcasts is Will Ashworth, an InvestorPlace contributor. His most recent article is titled 7 ESG Stocks That Will Deliver for Every Stakeholder.

In the article, he writes about the recommendations of his interviewee, Randall Dishmon, senior portfolio manager at Invesco. Here are the stocks discussed followed by some quotes from the article.

1) Microsoft (MSFT)

If you've held Microsoft stock since the board appointed Nadella CEO on Feb. 4, 2014, and are still holding, you're sitting on a 450% unrealized profit… [and] according to financial data company EPFR, $2.34 billion in Microsoft stock was held by ESG funds at the end of 2019, the largest weighting of any U.S.-listed company.

'Microsoft says it's taking a tough line on its environmental footprint. It says it will be 'carbon negative' by 2030, and that by 2050 it will have removed all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded in 1975,' says Quartz contributor John Detrixhe reported in February…

2) Salesforce (CRM)

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff began to talk about stakeholder capitalism in October 2019…

Benioff wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times that argued we need a new capitalism… saying that 'In the United States, income inequality has reached its highest level in at least 50 years… It's no wonder that support for capitalism has dropped, especially among young people.'

[Will Ashworth continues saying that] … over the past 15 years, Salesforce has delivered an annualized total return of 26.3%...

3) McDonald's (MCD)

Former CEO, Steve Easterbrook, was terminated last November by McDonald's. He was having a consensual relationship with a company employee. Let go without cause, Easterbrook's severance package was worth almost $42 million…

New evidence has come to light, suggesting that not only did Easterbrook have one inappropriate relationship, he had three others…

Generally, I consider McDonald's to be an excellent company. I believe that these revelations will move McDonald's to more closely examine how it compensates its senior executives.

4) BlackRock (BLK)

This isn't the first time that I've included BlackRock in a list of ESG-friendly stocks to own. In October 2019, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink made my list of 10 stocks whose CEOs care about all stakeholders…

In July, Fink told CNBC… 'The one thing that is very clear in this Covid world … [is that] stakeholder capitalism is only going to become more and more important, and the companies that focus on all their stakeholders — their clients, their employees, the society where they work and operate — are going to be the companies that are going to be the winners for the future," Fink stated.

I couldn't agree more. It just makes good business sense.

5) Zoetis (ZTS)

"Zoetis appears to be a company that's working on improving its ESG characteristics.. And while the company does lag its peers slightly on environmental and social measures, it should be noted that the company's sole focus on veterinary medicines presents a distinct risk profile compared to its human-focused pharmaceutical peers," Federated Hermes writes…

As an animal lover, it's always nice to see animal-related businesses doing well by doing good.

6) Deere & Company (DE)

According to CSR Hub, John Deere, the world's largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has a CSR/ESG rating of 83, putting it in the top quartile amongst 19,881 companies. And compared to 887 peers in machinery manufacturing, it has a much higher score than the industry average…

In the past three months, John Deer stock has rebounded nicely, generating a 51% total return, significantly higher than its farm and heavy construction peers and more than double the returns of the U.S. markets as a whole…

7) Progressive (PGR)

Per its name, Progressive likes to think outside the box. Recently, it announced that it was entering the voluntary benefits market through its partnership with Pets Best, a provider of pet health insurance founded in 2005…

What does this have to do with ESG? CEO Tricia Griffith is one of only 30 female chief executives in the S&P 500. With women accounting for just 6% of the index's CEOs, Progressive is undoubtedly paying attention to both governance and social issues… In 2018, Griffith was named Fortune's Businessperson of the Year…

In the four years Griffith has held the top job… Progressive stock is up 170%." End quotes.

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3. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…

Zacks is known for its great research. And they've been increasingly covering the ESG investment space. Their latest piece is titled 4 Socially Responsible Funds to Invest in for Solid Returns. I found it on the Nasdaq.com site.

As usual, I'll state the investment pick followed by their relevant comments about it.

"1) Pax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class (PXWEX)

[This fund] aims for returns on investment that exceed the price and yield performance of the Impax Global Women's Leadership Index…

[The] Pax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class has an annual expense ratio of 0.80%, which is below the category average of 1.10%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 6.9% and 7.3%, respectively.

2) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX)

The fund primarily invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that provide business services related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support etc…

[The] Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has an annual expense ratio of 0.85%, which is below the category average of 1.10%. The fund has three and five-year returns of nearly 2% and 6.4%, respectively.

3) [The] New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX)

… primarily invests in common stocks of companies…

[The] New Alternatives Fund Class A has an annual expense ratio of 1.08%, which is below the category average of 1.28%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.4% and 8.8%, respectively.

4) [The] Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX)

… aims for capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of its assets in mid-sized growth companies…

[The] Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has an annual expense ratio of 0.84%, which is below the category average of 0.92%. The fund has three and five-year returns of 7.9% and 8.7%, respectfully." End quotes.

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4. ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…

Now here's a thought. How about investing in oil companies that are transitioning to renewable energy? Three analysts writing for The Motley Fool share their thoughts in a post titled 3 Oil Companies That Are Becoming Renewable Energy Stocks. Due to time limitations, I'll just mention the companies. Go to my blog post for the article link.

The three companies are Total (TOT), Valero Energy (VLO), and Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE).

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Ending Comments

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: "ESG Stocks, ETFs, For August. And More…"

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and ESG wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on September 11. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Souls.

These stocks could thrive under Biden: Procter & Gamble, Trane Technologies, AvalonBay Communities, Rockwell Automation, Acuity Brands, Osram Licht, Hubbell, Schneider Electric, Ameresco, NXP Semiconductors, ON Semiconductor, Avangrid, Eaton, Ormat Technologies, NextEra Energy, TPI Composites, Orsted, Trimble, Koninklijke DSM, and Agilent Technologies. So writes Michael Brush who interviews leading ESG fund managers. There's more too

PODCAST: These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 38, August 14, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 38 published on August 14 titled "These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1) These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…

Now with the US political season heating up, MarketWatch published an article titled These 'green' stocks would thrive under a Biden administration, according to fund managers. It's written by Michael Brush.

Below, I'm quoting Mr. Brush at length.

Quote. "It's increasingly likely that the Democrats will win the White House and the Senate. For investors, that means it's time to review the environmental, social and governance (ESG) sector, with an emphasis on 'green' stocks that might do well under a Joe Biden presidency.

For key insights and stock ideas, I (that is Michael Brush) recently spoke with three ESG fund managers with outperforming records, according to Morningstar, and a policy analyst from one of the companies.

Highlights of the Biden plan

First, Biden's plan is ambitious. He wants a carbon-neutral power-generation sector by 2035…

'Everything he is doing aligns with the strategy that we as ESG investors have been arguing for, for years,' says Cheryl Smith, who manages the John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund JHJRX, +0.25%. The fund beats its Morningstar large-cap blend benchmark by three percentage points, annualized, over the past three years…

'I think it's great to have all these plans. The difficulty is executing them,' says Hubert Aarts of the Pax Global Environmental Markets Fund PGINX, +0.11%... Aarts is worth listening to because his fund outperforms its world large-cap stock category by 6.6 percentage points over the past year, says Morningstar.

Fuel for Investing Smarter

'The energy transformation is a transition which will happen with or without politicians,' says Jonathan Waghorn of the Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund GAAEX, -0.46%. His fund beats its small- and mid-cap value sector benchmark by 34 percentage points over the past year, and 13.6 percentage points annualized over the past three years, according to Morningstar.

Stocks

It can be tricky to wrangle with investing in environmentally friendly stocks, because there's no clear sector labeled 'alternative' or 'clean' energy, says Waghorn.

Smith, at the John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund, includes companies with good internal eco-friendly policies, to broaden the playing field. This extends her reach into even consumer staples like Procter & Gamble PG, -0.25%, which she says is taking significant steps to become carbon neutral and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Green buildings

Making buildings more energy efficient is the 'low-hanging fruit' of green initiatives because there is so much companies can do to reduce energy consumption in their buildings.

Smith… likes Trane Technologies TT, 1.84%, which offers energy-efficient climate-control systems, and the real estate investment trust AvalonBay Communities AVB, -0.27%, which specializes in energy-efficient buildings.

She cites Rockwell Automation ROK, 2.30%, which has a division that helps companies monitor energy usage and waste.

Aarts… singles out Acuity Brands AYI, 3.00%, Osram Licht OSAGY, -3.14% and Hubbell HUBB, 0.81% in energy-efficient lighting, and Schneider Electric SBGSY, 1.45%, which sells products that help companies improve energy efficiency.

Waghorn… points us to Ameresco AMRC, 0.16%, which helps companies improve energy and lighting efficiency.

2. Green autos

But it makes sense to still consider some of the 'arms dealers' to the green car space. Here, Smith likes NXP Semiconductors NXPI, 1.75%, which sells semiconductors used in electric-powered vehicles. Waghorn likes Samsung SDI, a Korean pureplay on lithium-ion batteries that is building partnerships with European car manufacturers. Another play here that he likes: ON Semiconductor ON, 3.01%, which sells power-management chips used in the electric-vehicle space.

3. Renewable-energy companies

In this area, Smith… singles out Avangrid AGR, 0.39%, a major supplier of power generated from offshore wind sources. She also highlights Eaton ETN, 3.47%, which sells gear that helps improve efficiency of the power grid so it can better handle power from alternative-energy sources.

Waghorn owns Ormat Technologies ORA, 0.67%, a geothermal power generator, NextEra Energy NEE, -1.69%, the largest generator of renewable energy, and TPI Composites TPIC, -4.01%, a materials-science company that sells lightweight materials used in wind turbine blades.

Aarts highlights Orsted DNNGY, +1.34%, a green-energy provider based in Denmark.

Green agriculture

In this space, Aarts… likes Trimble TRMB, 0.91%, because it offers satellite images used by farmers to reduce waste of pesticides and water… He also cites Koninklijke DSM RDSMY, +0.05%, a Dutch company that sells 'clean cow' food that reduces the emission of methane from bovines.

He also says Agilent Technologies A, -0.18% will play a role in green farming because it sells gear used in testing levels of pollution in water, air and soil." End quotes.

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2) These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…

Three writers at The Motley have each chosen their top pick in a post titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in August.

Bloom Energy

Travis Hoium likes Bloom Energy. He writes, that, "Bloom Energy recently announced a solid oxide electrolyzer that will convert electricity and water into hydrogen fuel, which is usable in electricity-generating fuel cells. This could make hydrogen a viable fuel for shipping, long-haul trucking, and even grid applications. It's even possible that hydrogen fuel could be pumped around the country using pipelines.

Bloom Energy isn't yet profitable, but it has the chance to upend fossil fuel energy as we know it." End quote.

NextEra Energy

Howard Smith suggests NextEra Energy. He says that "NextEra Energy is a Florida-based company that owns Florida Power & Light, the largest regulated electric utility in the U.S… as well as Gulf Power. Its other subsidiary is NextEra Energy Resources. This segment, along with its affiliates, is the world's largest generator of wind and solar power, and invests in battery storage.

NextEra estimates it can provide investors an annual total return of 10% to 12% through 2022 with earnings growth and dividends, in large part due to growth in the renewables segment." End quote.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

Jason Hall recommends Clean Energy Fuels Corp. Mr. Hall writes that, quote "Clean Energy Fuels hasn't been a good investment over the past seven or eight years. Management made a leveraged bet that trucking would shift quickly from diesel to natural gas. But the bet backfired during the last oil collapse when growth slowed to a crawl…

Instead of focusing on those past mistakes, investors would do well to take a hard look at the company…

Here's the major reason it's a buy-now stock: For all the press that electric and hydrogen trucks get, renewable natural gas is the leader in zero-emissions fuels for trucking and is likely to remain so for years to come. Clean Energy Fuels is the dominant supplier of renewable natural gas." End quote.

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Worried About Investing Ethically? These 2 ETFs Can Put You On The Right Track.

From investing.com, there's this article titled Worried About Investing Ethically? These 2 ETFs Can Put You On The Right Track. I'll first mention the ETF and follow it with relevant quotes from the article.

1. The Vanguard ESG US Stock Fund (NYSE: ESGV)… seeks to track the performance of the FTSE US All Cap Choice index.

The fund is screened for certain ESG criteria and specifically excludes stocks of companies in: adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, fossil fuels, gambling and nuclear power. Additionally, stocks of individual companies that do not meet certain diversity criteria as well as the principles of the United Nations Global Compact are not included.

Year-to-date, the fund is up over 7%. On Aug. 5, it hit an all-time high of $61.08.

2. iShares MSCI Global Impact ETF (NASDAQ: SDG)… follows the MSCI ACWI Sustainable Impact index.

This benchmark index is composed of positive impact companies that derive a majority of their revenue from products and services that address at least one of the world's major social or environmental challenges as identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as education or climate change." End quotes.

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Franklin Templeton Launches Muni Green Bond Fund.

Now I also thought that this might interest many ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled Franklin Templeton Launches Muni Green Bond Fund. The article's author is Emily Holbrook.

These are some of her remarks. Quote, "Franklin Templeton has launched the Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund, one of the few strategies solely focusing on muni green bonds. The fund seeks to maximize income exempt from federal income taxes by investing in green bonds, including climate bonds, sustainability bonds, and environmental impact bonds…

Franklin Templeton said the municipal green bond market is young and continues to evolve… The universe of US municipal green bond issuers includes states, cities, municipal water and sewer enterprises, transportation systems, universities, and hospitals, among others." End quotes.

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Ending Comments

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: "These Stocks Could Thrive Under Biden. More…"

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on August 28. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Articles reviewed: the 7 Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. Better Buy: Plug Power vs. Canadian Solar. 4 ESG Funds to Buy for Purpose and Profit. How sustainable are Wealthsimple's new socially responsible funds? US SIF Foundation Launches Sustainable Investing Course for Individual Investors. A reminder about my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial! And more

PODCAST: Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. More…

Transcript & Links, Episode 37, July 31, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 37 published on July 31 titled "Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. More…"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

-------------------------------------------------------------

1) Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs

I start with the recommendations of a usnews.com piece that I found on the wtop.com site. It's titled 7 Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. Here are the recommendations each followed by a brief quote from the article.

Renewable Energy ETFs

1) Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) offers exposure to global technology and utilities stocks that can benefit from demand for solar… The Invesco Solar ETF tracks two dozen solar energy companies such as First Solar (FSLR) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)… Since TAN owns fewer companies, the price can be more volatile than other renewable energy funds with a larger number of companies.

2) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN). This ETF tracks the S&P Global Clean Energy Index and includes companies that produce solar, wind and other renewable power sources globally…

Renewable Energy Stocks

3) NextEra Energy (NEE) is a utility company that owns Florida Power & Light Co. and Gulf Power Co., along with wind and solar assets… NextEra Energy trades at a 50% premium compared with regulated utilities on 2022 price to earnings, 'implying that investors are willing to assign a significant growth premium to the management team,' says Michael Underhill, chief investment officer at Capital Innovations in Wisconsin.

4) Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY) is a Danish company that designs, manufactures and installs wind turbines globally… 'As consumers migrate towards renewable energy sources, it may change the composition of inflation, reducing the power of traditional oil and energy to hedge inflation, so investors will need renewable energy to hedge against inflation in the long term,' says Jodie Gunzberg, managing director, chief investment strategist at Morgan Stanley, Wealth Management Institutional

5) Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) Brookfield Renewable Partners is a global renewable power platform with 19,300 megawatts of capacity and 5,288 generating facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The company is one of the largest owners of renewable assets globally, 75% of which is hydro, and generates a 4.5% dividend yield with a 5% or higher dividend growth.

6) Iberdrola (IBDRY) is a Spanish utility company that owns wind assets. The company announced in June that it will invest $4.5 billion during the next four years in France to develop renewable energy, including onshore wind, solar photovoltaic and offshore wind capacity auctions. The company is a 'best-in-class wind developer company,' Underhill says.

7) ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) invests in the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index, a benchmark index. The three top holdings are Cree (CREE), Tesla (TSLA) and Enphase Energy (ENPH) as of May 31." End quotes.

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2. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs

Continuing on the subject of renewable energy, Scott Levine has written a post on The Motley Fool site titled Better Buy: Plug Power vs. Canadian Solar.

Here are some quotes that might interest you concerning his discussion.

"Skyrocketing more than 180% year to date, shares of Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) have soared in 2020, extending the 149% run-up they experienced in 2019. Why? Primarily, investors are growing more confident that the company is on track to meet management's 2024 projection of generating sales of $1.2 billion, operating income of $170 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $200 million.

Fortifying its position as an industry leader, Plug Power completed two acquisitions in June that will help the company become a formidable competitor in hydrogen generation…

Unlike its bankrupt peers… Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) has prospered over the past two decades, and investors are confident that plenty of sunny days remain…

The company's supporters will also point to Canadian Solar's burgeoning energy business, which deals in the development of solar power projects. Currently, it has 1 gigawatt-peak (GWp) in operation, with 3.7 GWp in backlog and 12 GWp in the pipeline. Additionally, Canadian Solar's focus on the energy storage market is also a source of enthusiasm since the company has 2,820 megawatt-hours of storage projects in the pipeline…

Putting the price tags into perspective

… For Plug Power, which is unprofitable and doesn't generate positive operating cash flow, the traditional valuation metrics are unhelpful. Instead, we can assess the stock in terms of sales, and in doing so we find that it trades at a multiple of 9.4 -- well above its five-year average ratio of 3.6, and considerable higher than the S&P 500 P/S ratio of 2.3… Plug Power seems to be too richly valued at this point.

Canadian Solar, on the other hand, currently represents a bargain. Shares are trading at 2.3 times operating cash flow, which is a discount to its five-year average multiple of 4.1." End quotes.

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3. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs

This article is by a Zacks analyst familiar to you, Nitish Marwah. His latest post is titled 4 ESG Funds to Buy for Purpose and Profit and can be found on Nasdaq.com.

As usual, I'll say the fund name and follow it with brief comments by the author.

"1) New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) fund invests in companies that contribute to a sustainable environment. The fund seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective…

The New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1… The fund has three and five-year returns of 10.4% and 8.8%, respectively.

2) TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class (TSBRX) fund invests the lion's share of its assets in bonds while favoring long-term total return through income and capital growth. The fund gives special consideration to companies that satisfy its ESG criteria…

The TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond Fund Retail Class has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2… The fund has three and five-year returns of 4.6% and 3.9%, respectively.

3) Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX) fund aims for capital appreciation. The product invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that provide business services related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support.

The Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2… [It] has three and five-year returns of 2% and 6.4%, respectively.

4) Pax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund Individual Investor Class (PXWEX) seeks returns on investment that exceed the price and yield performance of the Pax Global Women's Leadership Index…

The fund has three and five-year returns of 6.9% and 7.4%, respectively." End quotes.

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4. Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs

Tim Nash publishing on the Corporate Knights site has another outstanding analysis. Mr. Nash reviews two Toronto Stock Exchange ETF's in an article titled How sustainable are Wealthsimple's new socially responsible funds? (Now as ETFs, they're generally available for purchase globally.)

Here are some of his remarks.

"I wasn't impressed when Wealthsimple launched its first socially responsible portfolio in March 2016… Wealthsimple's updated socially responsible portfolio is chiefly made up of two new ETFs: the Wealthsimple North America Socially Responsible ETF (ticker: WSRI) that includes Canadian and U.S. companies, and the Wealthsimple Developed Markets ex-NA Socially Responsible ETF (ticker: WSRD) that includes companies from Europe, Japan and Australia.

The new ETFs explicitly exclude weapons manufacturing, defence contracting, tobacco, alcohol, adult entertainment and any company found to be in violation of the UN Global Compact (principles covering human rights, child labour and corruption). The new funds also exclude companies related to oil, gas and coal, making them fossil-fuel free…

Does the new portfolio, as advertised, let people 'invest in a better world'? Well, not quite… But the portfolio has lacklustre exposure to companies whose main business is providing sustainable solutions such as renewable energy, electric cars, green buildings and energy efficiency – all themes that are outperforming with good long-term growth prospects…

For the time being, investors who want to invest in sustainable solutions will need to incorporate additional products like green ETFs or community bonds if they want their investment to have a positive impact." End quotes.

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Finally, for those of you new to ethical and sustainable investing, particularly if you're an American, check this out: US SIF Foundation Launches Sustainable Investing Course for Individual Investors. Quote "The course, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, provides a brief overview of the development of sustainable investing and summarizes the investment options and strategies available." End quote.

However, if you want help creating an ethical and sustainable portfolio, see my DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Pays Tutorial.

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Ending comments

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: "Best Renewable Energy Stocks and ETFs. And More…"

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on August 14. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on August 14. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

ESG stock and fund picks for July include blue-chip names, alternative and renewable energy companies, yieldcos, a money market fund, and more. Top analysts from InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool, Forbes, and wallst.com, offer their recommendations. With stock market optimism near new highs, ESG and sustainable investing analysts are increasingly focused on finding tomorrow's winners today

PODCAST: ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Transcript & Links, Episode 36, July 17, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 36 published on July 17 titled "ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

The first article is by David Moadel on InvestorPlace. It's titled 5 ESG Stocks to Buy for Conscientious Investment Gains. I'll first mention a company he recommends then follow with some relevant quotes from him.

1) Cola-Cola (KO). Since 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded over $1 billion in grants to support sustainable-community endeavors worldwide…. Each year, the company strives to give back 1% of the previous year's operating income… it sports a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 3.65% as well as a very reasonable trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78.

2) Salesforce (CRM). Long-term stakeholders of customer relationship management (CRM) platform Salesforce have done well financially… Salesforce wants to achieve 100% renewable energy use by the year 2022. (It's stock] trajectory is clearly to the upside.

3) 3M (MMM). 3M sends its best and brightest to cities in various global localities to work alongside organizations, nonprofits and local municipalities… Currently, 3M delivers a forward annual dividend yield of 3.8%. Plus, the stock features a trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 17.9. These metrics highlight a strong profile that any ESG investor can feel good about.

4) NextEra Energy (NEE). [Is] currently the world's biggest solar and wind energy producer… 'NextEra has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions rate by 52 percent since 2001 and is targeting a reduction of more than 65 percent by 2021, relative to a 2001 baseline,' according to analysts at RBC Capital… NextEra Energy stock should keep investors satisfied with a forward annual dividend yield of 2.34%.

5) McDonald's (MCD). McDonald's has a goal of procuring 100% of the company's 'guest' (i.e., customer) packaging from recycled, renewable or certified sources… Turning our attention to McDonald's stock, we can observe that it offers a tasty forward annual dividend yield of 2.74%." End quotes.

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2. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

A new analyst to this podcast is Paul Ausick who has penned an article titled 7 Alternative Energy Stocks With Massive Market Growth in the Coming Years. He writes about some familiar companies to the listeners of this podcast. His article was found on the walllst.com site.

Here are some quotes and recommendations from him.

Alternative Energy Producers

"1) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) [Plug Power] offers hydrogen fuel cell solutions for electric vehicles and electricity markets in North America and Europe. The company announced two acquisitions… and the stock price shot up 20% following the announcement… The consensus price target is $9.34 and the high target is $14.00 from H.C. Wainwright. At the high target price, the stock has an implied upside of 71.2%.

2) Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) designs, manufactures and sells solid-oxide fuel cells for on-site power generation… the consensus price target is $11.00. At the high price target of $21.00, the implied upside on the stock is 67.6%.

3) First Solar Inc. (NYSE: FSLR) designs and manufactures its own modules, and the company's systems segment designs and builds solar energy systems… The consensus 12-month price target on the stock is $53.57, with the high target set at $75.00 per share. At that price, the implied upside to Wednesday's closing price is 29.2%.

4) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP) is a Bermuda-based yieldco that owns and operates some 19 GW of renewable generating in all parts of the world… the consensus price target is $35.63… Brookfield is significantly overvalued, but the firm's dividend yield is 4.4% and the implied upside to the high target is 28.3%.

5) Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) designs, develops, installs, owns and maintains residential solar energy systems in the United States. The company recently acquired rival Vivint Solar Inc. (NYSE: VSLR) for $3.2 billion in stock… The consensus price target is $24.43, and the high target was set Monday at $31.00. At that high target price, the implied upside is 9.7%." End quotes.

Yieldcos

6) NextEra Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: NEP) is a yieldco that buys, owns and manages contracted clean energy projects and natural gas pipelines in the United States… At the high price target of $65.00, the implied upside on the stock is 18.3%. NextEra Energy Partners pays a dividend yield of 4.17%.

7) Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure PLC (NASDAQ: AY) is a U.K.-based yieldco that owns and manages renewable energy and other assets (including natural gas) in several countries in the Western Hemisphere and in Spain, Algeria and South Africa… The high price target of $34.00 implies an upside of 13.9%. The company also pays a dividend yield of 5.57%.

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3. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Travis Hoium has again written about his favourite renewable energy stocks that mirror some of the comments made by the previous analysts. Mr. Hoium's article is titled 3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy in July and as usual, appeared on the Motley Fool site.

Once more, I'll mention the companies followed by his relevant quotes.

"1) NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP). [Yes this is obviously a favourite of these analysts! Now getting back to the quote…] NextEra Energy Partners owns and operates wind- and solar-power generating assets, paying up front for the projects and then collecting revenue over the course of decades as they produce electricity… Management says that it expects to boost the dividend by 12% to 15% annually through 2024, so even with the payout yielding 4.1% today, this dividend stock has a lot of upside ahead.

2) SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR). SunPower is about to spin off its high-efficiency solar manufacturing business as Maxeon Solar Technologies… The new SunPower will still use Maxeon solar panels… Today with the SunPower Design Studio, you can have a solar installation designed for your house and get a price quote online in a matter of minutes… Over the next few years it may even become the biggest residential solar company in the U.S., a title it already holds in commercial solar.

3) Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ). The solar industry is booming worldwide, and Canadian Solar is one of the industry's biggest manufacturers and project developers… Canadian Solar is one of the few manufacturers that is still building and selling large solar projects, and with a backlog and pipeline of 15.7 gigawatts of new projects, this business could generate billions of dollars of future revenue." End quotes.

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4. ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July

Forbes MoneyShow posted an article by Jim Woods titled 3 Socially Responsible ETFs For Impact Investing. These ETFs have been covered here several times before but it's always interesting to see analysts providing their unique perspectives.

As usual, I'll mention each one followed by quotes from Mr. Woods.

"1) The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF (ESGU) tracks an index composed of U.S. companies that have been selected and weighted for positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics… Portfolio optimization software is used to maximize the fund's stake in highly rated companies, while also staying true to market-like exposure… The iShares ESG MSCI U.S.A. ETF seeks similar risk and return to the MSCI USA Index, while achieving a more sustainable outcome.

2) Goldman Sachs GS +1% JUST U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (JUST) has been created to specifically reflect the importance of corporate social responsibility. The ETF tracks an index of U.S.-listed large-cap stocks that are selected through the use of a survey that ranks companies for their practices…

According to JUST Capital… companies [in the index are] more likely to pay their workers a living wage, create jobs in the United States at a greater rate, produce less greenhouse gas emissions, give more to charity and pay less in fines for unethical behavior. This ETF's launch also was a stunning success.

3) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT). As an actively managed exchange-traded fund, compared to a money market fund, the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF seeks greater income and total return potential by investing in short-term debt securities with an environmental, social and governance (ESG) screen…

Investors will not solely be exposed to U.S.-based debt… For socially conscious investors… Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF may be worth consideration." End quotes.

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End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: "ESG Stock and Fund Picks for July."

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on July 31. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

Hello, Ron Robins here on July 3. I sincerely apologise but due to technical factors I'm unable to provide you with my usual podcast today. I'm, really sorry about that.

My next podcast is scheduled for July 17.

Talk to you then.

All the very best and do take care in these most difficult times. Wishing all my American listeners, particularly, a wonderful Independence Day.

So, signing off. This is Ron Robins.

Sustainable pandemic portfolios exhibit many options. They include companies in industries such as renewable energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, biotech, information technology, etc. Read this post for ideas. Also, discover the companies that have failed to disclose climate data. Do you invest in them? Plus, an ETF that invests in companies promoting minority empowerment. And much more

PODCAST: Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Transcript & Links, Episode 34, June 19, 2020

Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 34 published on June 19 titled "Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios"— and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources.

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Zacks is one of our favourite research groups in these podcasts. Recently viewed on Yahoo! Finance is a new article by them titled ESG Investing Trend to Stay Strong Post Pandemic: 5 Top Picks. Here are the five, quoting first their names, and then Zacks comments on each one. Incidentally, a Zacks Rank #1 is a strong buy and a 2 rank is a buy.

Quote, "1. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceutical products. The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 12.8% compared with the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's projected earnings growth of 7.9%... Eli Lilly and Company flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.

2. AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals. The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 19.8% compared with the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's projected earnings growth of 7.9%... AbbVie sports a Zacks Rank #1.

3. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) operates as a visual computing company. The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 36.4% against the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry's projected earnings decline of 14.3%... NVIDIA holds a Zacks Rank #2.

4. Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) provides security solutions [in] all parts of IT infrastructure. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.6% for the current year against the Zacks Security industry's estimated decline of 15.3%... Fortinet carries a Zacks Rank #2.

5. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) discovers, develops, and sells biopharmaceutical products world. The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 30.9% compared with the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's projected earnings growth of 7.9%... Bristol-Myers Squibb holds a Zacks Rank #2." End quotes.

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2) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Also from Zacks, Nitish Marwah has written a piece titled Make Beaucoup Money With These 4 Socially Responsible Funds, I found it on Nasdaq.com. (Bow Koo). Again, I'll mention the fund followed by brief quotes on that fund from the article.

Quote, "1. New Alternatives Fund Class A (NALFX) invests in companies that contribute to a sustainable environment. The fund seeks long-term capital growth with income as its secondary objective… New Alternatives Fund Class A has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 1.08%.

2. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio (FSLEX). The fund invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that provide business services related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies or other environmental support etc.… Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.85%.

3. Parnassus Core Equity Fund - Investor Shares (PRBLX) [It] invests in large-cap companies which have long-term competitive advantage and positive performance on ESG criteria… Parnassus Core Equity Fund - Investor Shares has an annual expense ratio of 0.86%.

4. Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor (PARNX) seeks appreciation of capital by investing the lion's share of its assets in mid-sized growth companies. The Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund - Investor has an annual expense ratio of 0.84%." End quotes.

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3) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Continuing with a big theme in this podcast is that of renewable energy. A post titled 6 Alternative Energy Stocks Still Have Significant Upside Potential and written by someone new to these podcasts, Jon C. Ogg. It appeared on the 24/7wallstreet.com site. Following the same procedure, I'll first mention the company and then quotes related to that company from the article.

Solar Related

2. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) Shares of Enphase Energy Inc. saw a sixfold rise from the start of 2019 into late summer, and after pulling back it ran even higher up to $70 or so… Enphase… offers semiconductor-based microinverters for solar panels AC battery storage systems… earnings growth is expected to be almost 40% from 2020 to 2021.

5. Vivint Solar Inc. (NYSE: VSLR) offers distributed solar energy to residential customers by owning and installing solar energy systems in long-term contracts… The company recently closed on $545 million in new financing from two combined packages, and its revenues are expected to grow in 2020 and in 2021. It is expected to reach profitability again in the next two years.

Other

"1. Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) After coming public in late 2018 just in time to catch the market crater in the fourth quarter of that year, Bloom Energy Corp. has struggled… A clean stationary platform of solid oxide fuel cell technology for reliable and uninterruptible power is the driving force. Bloom Energy cannot only blame circumstances for its lack of enthusiasm, but this was always considered one of the future cleantech leaders prior to its initial public offering.

3. Green Plains (NASDAQ: GPRE) is one of the independent leaders in ethanol. It also has been using the alcohol to make hand sanitizers… Again, this is not the primary thought that might come to mind in alternative or renewable energy with other aspects of its business, but it has a primary role when it comes to ethanol.

4. Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) Despite a weaker overall market, Plug Power Inc. stock managed to rise during the first half of the week of June 12. The maker of hydrogen fuel cell systems that replace conventional batteries saw some rekindled interest after it was started as Overweight and assigned a $7 price target at Barclays.

6. Capstone Turbine (NASDAQ: CPST) [This one] is extremely speculative. Capstone Turbine Corp. develops and sells microturbine technology solutions for stationary distributed power generation. With a mere $25 million market capitalization, there have been no recognizable analyst calls in quite some time here… Capstone has been a chronic disappointment in its 20-year history as a stock. Again, this one is speculative even for the speculative sector." End quotes.

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4) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Now, this is important for all ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled Top investors publish list of companies that have failed to disclose climate data and appear on the Business Green site. It's written by James Murray. So why do companies not disclose such data? Do they have something to hide? To see the list go to this page.

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5) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Another new analyst to these podcasts is Reuben Gregg Brewer. He's written a piece with the title 3 Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Right Now. These stocks are often mentioned in these podcasts.

Quoting Mr. Brewer, "Companies that own infrastructure often pay generous dividends from the reliable cash flows their assets generate. If that sounds like something you'd like to have in your portfolio, then you should take a close look at diversified Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BIP), midstream-focused Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), and utility NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) right now." End quote.

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6) Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios

Our friend Tim Nash over at Corporate Knights has another insightful post titled Pandemic Portfolio: Spotlight on the NAACP Minority Empowerment ETF.

He writes that,

"Protests have erupted across the world calling for racial equality and police reform. Although these protests have had little impact on the market, they've raised a good question: can investors support companies that promote minority empowerment while earning market-rate financial returns?

The NAACP Minority Empowerment ETF (NACP) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) from Dallas-based Impact Shares, which specializes in socially conscious ETFs. According to its fact sheet, the NAACP ETF 'is designed to provide exposure to U.S. companies with strong racial- and ethnic-diversity policies in place, empowering employees irrespective of their race or nationality.'

… Since its inception in July 2018, the NAACP Minority Empowerment ETF has closely tracked and actually outperformed the S&P 500 by about 4%... [though with] only about US$4 million in assets under management, liquidity issues could arise… the fund has a high management-expense ratio (MER) of 0.75%... " End quotes.

Lastly, Mr. Nash says, "I'm happy there's an option for investors to support companies that are leading on diversity policies and minority empowerment." End quote.

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End Comment

Well, these are my top news stories and tips for this podcast: Sustainable Pandemic Portfolios.

And to get all the links, stock symbols, and more, or to read the transcript of this podcast and with additional information too, please go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode.

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

And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. That way you can help promote not only this podcast but ethical and sustainable investing globally. We can all do our part in helping create a better world – especially in these deeply troubled times.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stay well, healthy, and wise!

Thank you for listening.

Talk to you again on July 3. Bye for now.

© 2020 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.