PODCAST: The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

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

PODCAST: The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

Transcript & Links, Episode 57, May 07, 2021

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

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

And Google any terms that are unfamiliar to you.

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1. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

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

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

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

ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES): 68.97% rating

Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): 64.5% rating

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

Clean Energy ETFs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

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

“1) Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX)

2) iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)

3) Parnassus Core Equity Investor (PRBLX)

4) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN)

5) Shelton Green Alpha Fund (NEXTX)

6) 1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund (SSIAX)

7) AllianceBernstein Sustainable Global Thematic Fund (ATEYX)”

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3. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

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

“10) SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR)

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

9) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP)

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

8) Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

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

7) Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG)

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

6) Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA)

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

5) General Electric Company (NYSE: GE)

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

4) NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE)

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

3) Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH)

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

2) SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG)

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

1) JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS)

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

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4. The Top Climate Change ETFs and Stocks

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

“1) Ameresco (AMRC)

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

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

2) Ormat Technologies (ORA)

It has a Zacks Rank #3.

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

3) SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)

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

(It) has a Zacks Rank #3…

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

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5. The Top Climate Change Bond ETF?

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

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

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

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

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Ending Comment

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

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

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

© 2021 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.