Why ESG May Finally Gain Traction

by FlexShares ETFs, 9/12/16

Until now, much of the growth in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has been concentrated among large institutional investors. But the number of financial advisors considering ESG investment products is starting to grow — whether because of idealistic convictions, updated investment guidelines or risk-reduction objectives.

The merits of ESG investing have been trumpeted for years. So why have asset flows to date lagged across retail and advisor channels? We believe that a disjointed array of investment approaches and weak risk-adjusted performance versus non-ESG alternatives has inhibited uptake. However, we also believe that the mainstream investor marketplace is eager for ESG products that combine an integrated approach to ESG best practices with enhanced risk-adjusted returns.

TO DATE, DISPARATE APPROACHES, LIMITED APPLICATION

Seven distinct approaches to ESG investing have emerged over time (see Exhibit 1). These approaches did not evolve in linear sequence but, rather, sprang from a mix of top-down (e.g., boards of directors embracing ESG principles) and bottom-up drivers (e.g., investors demanding ESG accountability from public corporations).

Implementation varies from approach to approach, but the resulting approaches typically feature poor diversification and skewed returns that have been difficult to use in standard asset allocation models.

For example:

  • A negative exclusion approach may remove certain industries/sectors from investment consideration but cause increased tracking error versus market weighted benchmarks.
  • A sustainability-themed investment may concentrate risk in certain sectors.
  • Impact-type investors argue that the most effective way to get companies to address social or environmental problems is to become an “activist” shareholder. Progress is achieved by engaging with management to set goals and regularly disclose progress.

Whatever the approach, if an ESG product is not properly diversified, its application typically is limited.

SPOTTING AN OPPORTUNITY

Large institutional investors dominated the early stages of ESG investing because they possessed the requisite expertise and governance protections of well-resourced investment committees. Typically, they invest through separately managed accounts (SMAs) or overlays exhibiting limited asset diversification. Such account structures are not workable, by contrast, for retail and advisor channels, or for institutions that lack committees of investment experts, due to asset diversification requirements and account size thresholds. Herein lays the market opportunity to create a scalable, performance-driven ESG investment vehicle.

To facilitate product development applications, index providers have started to rely on key performance indicators (KPIs) reported by public companies in their regulatory filings. KPIs are quantitative and qualitative metrics that demonstrate how effectively a company is achieving its business objectives, which often include environmental, social or governance considerations.

For example, a typical KPI for governance reporting is “percent of women on the board of directors.” Most companies disclose some ESG-related KPIs, although scope and transparency varies from firm to firm. KPI metrics are more widely disclosed by large capitalization companies than by mid-cap and small-cap firms. Presently, more than 100 KPIs are reported that can be classified as fulfilling at least one environmental, social or governance theme1.

The development curve for identifying and using KPIs in ESG applications is in its early days. The catalog of ESG-related KPIs is extensive (see Exhibit 2), but not every KPI provides incrementally additive information. Still, it is now possible for asset managers to develop and apply systematic investment strategies that evaluate a company’s risk and opportunities by examining its environmental, social and governance indicators.

Combining this type of information with traditional financial analysis and security selection is a textbook example of ESG integration. This trend has advanced to a point where the information embedded in KPIs is able to be used to better align investors’ ESG goals with shareholder value (as evidenced through stock price appreciation and risk reduction).

It is not surprising that larger capitalization firms are leading the charge to proactively communicate the connection between ESG reporting and financial performance. It is an excellent way to appeal to investors with long-term perspectives. As ESG-related metrics focus and guide management decision-making, a constructive feedback dynamic evolves. Robust interest from investors pushes companies to disclose more, which leads to even greater investor interest and more disclosure. We believe this circular engagement between investors and companies, as they identify, disclose and monitor KPIs, is immensely important when it comes to steering a firm’s management towards constructive ESG behaviors that may also boost its share price.

THE STOXX APPROACH: ANALYZING ESG KPIS FOR RISK AND RETURN

FlexShares gravitated towards a hypothesis that the best way to innovate in the ESG space is to integrate ESG-related KPIs into an investment strategy. A basic way to do this is to identify the materiality of each key performance indicator. Ideally, material KPIs would significantly impact risk/return with strong predictability.