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The risk-adjusted return potential of integrating ESG strategies into emerging market equities

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  • Matthew W. Sherwood
  • Julia L. Pollard

Abstract

This study purposed to quantify the performance potential of integrating ESG research within emerging market investment strategies, as well as the potential for risk diversification through investments in emerging markets. This study evaluated literature on investing in both emerging markets and integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research-based strategies. This study examines real data on ESG and non-ESG integrated emerging market indices, both region-specific and country-specific. This examination includes measuring historical returns, beta, the Sharpe ratio, the Sortino ratio, the Conditional Value at Risk, skewness, and the Omega ratio for ESG and non-ESG integrated emerging market indices. Paired t-test analysis is incorporated in the measurement of the data. The results of the study indicate significant outperformance based on ESG integration. The implications of this study indicate that integrating ESG emerging market equities into institutional portfolios could provide institutional investors the opportunity for higher returns and lower downside risk than non-ESG equity investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew W. Sherwood & Julia L. Pollard, 2018. "The risk-adjusted return potential of integrating ESG strategies into emerging market equities," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 26-44, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jsustf:v:8:y:2018:i:1:p:26-44
    DOI: 10.1080/20430795.2017.1331118
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    2. Li, Xuepeng & Xu, Fengmin & Jing, Kui, 2022. "Robust enhanced indexation with ESG: An empirical study in the Chinese Stock Market," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Lööf, Hans & Sahamkhadam, Maziar & Stephan, Andreas, 2022. "Is Corporate Social Responsibility investing a free lunch? The relationship between ESG, tail risk, and upside potential of stocks before and during the COVID-19 crisis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    4. Xiaoling Yu & Kaitian Xiao, 2022. "Does ESG Performance Affect Firm Value? Evidence from a New ESG-Scoring Approach for Chinese Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-40, December.
    5. Lite J. Nartey & Witold J. Henisz & Sinziana Dorobantu, 2018. "Status Climbing vs. Bridging: Multinational Stakeholder Engagement Strategies," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(2), pages 367-392, June.
    6. Takashi Kanamura, 2023. "Clean energy and (E)SG investing from energy and environmental linkages," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 9779-9819, September.
    7. Pedro Antonio Martín-Cervantes & María del Carmen Valls Martínez, 2023. "Unraveling the relationship between betas and ESG scores through the Random Forests methodology," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 1-29, September.
    8. Vincenzo D’Apice & Giovanni Ferri & Francesca Lipari, 2020. "Sustainable Disclosure Policies and Sustainable Performance of European Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Mouncif Harabida & Bouchra Radi & Jean-Pierre Gueyie, 2022. "Socially Responsible Investment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Morocco, Egypt and Turkey," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(4), pages 1-65, April.
    10. Charney S. Akala & Taryn Neuhaus & Indrani O' Leary-Govender, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Sustainable Investment Approaches," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-72, December.
    11. Ferrat, Yann & Daty, Frédéric & Burlacu, Radu, 2022. "Does a sustainability risk premium exist where it matters the most?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    12. Rehman, Mobeen Ur & Ahmad, Nasir & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Asymmetric multifractal behaviour and network connectedness between socially responsible stocks and international oil before and during COVID-19," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 587(C).
    13. Muneer Shaik & Mohd Ziaur Rehman, 2023. "The Dynamic Volatility Connectedness of Major Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Stock Indices: Evidence Based on DCC-GARCH Model," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 30(1), pages 231-246, March.
    14. Rahat, Birjees & Nguyen, Pascal, 2022. "Risk-adjusted investment performance of green and black portfolios and impact of toxic divestments in emerging markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    15. Fu, Changluan & Yu, Chenyang & Guo, Mengting & Zhang, Lin, 2024. "ESG rating and financial risk of mining industry companies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    16. Wang, Junkai & Qi, Baolei & Li, Yan & Hossain, Muhammad Istiaque & Tian, Haowen, 2024. "Does institutional commitment affect ESG performance of firms? Evidence from the United Nations principles for responsible investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    17. Liang, Yuchao & Tan, Qi & Pang, Jun, 2024. "Bless or curse, how does extreme temperature shape heavy pollution companies' ESG performance?-Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Nemoto, Naoko & Liu, Lian (ed.), 2022. "Strengthening Environmental, Social, and Governance Investment under COVID-19," ADBI Books, Asian Development Bank Institute, number 26, Décembre.

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