This strategy holds securities with low exposure to ESG risk relative to those of its peers in the Morningstar US Equity Large Cap Growth category, earning it the highest Morningstar Sustainability Rating of 5 globes. ESG risk measures the degree to which material environmental, social, and governance issues, such as climate change, biodiversity, human capital, as well as bribery and corruption, could affect valuations. ESG risk differs from impact, which is about driving positive environmental and social outcomes for society’s benefit.
One key area of strength for Steward Large Cap Growth Fund is its low Morningstar Portfolio Carbon Risk Score of 3.12 and very low fossil fuel exposure over the past 12 months, which earns it the Morningstar Low Carbon Designation. Thus, the companies held in the portfolio are in general alignment with the transition to a low-carbon economy. By prospectus, the fund aims to avoid, or limit its exposure to, companies associated with tobacco, and, as expected, the fund is not currently invested in such companies.
One potential issue for a sustainability-focused investor is that Steward Large Cap Growth Fund doesn’t have an ESG-focused mandate. A fund with an ESG-focused mandate would have a higher probability to drive positive ESG outcomes. The fund exhibits relatively high exposure (11.77%) to companies with high or severe controversies. Companies with controversies may be involved in incidents such as corruption, employee abuses, and environmental incidents that have a negative impact on stakeholders or the environment. Severe and high controversies can have significant financial repercussions, ranging from legal penalties to consumer boycotts. In addition, they can damage the reputation of both companies themselves and their shareholders.
United States