We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best ESG Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) stands against the other ESG stocks.
Defining ESG can sometimes be straightforward: it’s a finance and investing approach centered on managing risks related to environmental factors, social issues, and corporate governance. Although the concept emerged about two decades ago through a collaboration between United Nations officials and the finance industry, who argued that addressing ESG risks like climate change, labor disputes, and poor corporate governance can safeguard investments, it wasn’t until the late 2010s and into the 2020s that ESG evolved into a more proactive movement, rather than a reactive one.
A report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature reaching 1.45°C—closer than ever to the 1.5°C lower limit set by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Another report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also reveals that climate-driven disasters are already surpassing scientists’ initial predictions. This urgency has sparked increased interest in niche yet rapidly expanding sectors of ESG investing, such as climate-transition funds and catastrophe bonds. In 2024, global investment in clean energy is expected to hit a significant milestone, doubling the amount allocated to fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2024 World Energy Investment report forecasts that total global energy investment will surpass $3 trillion this year, with $2 trillion directed toward clean technologies like renewables, electric vehicles, and nuclear power. Furthermore, Bloomberg reports that global investment in the energy transition surged by 17% last year, reaching a record $1.8 trillion, with this growth trend continuing. Former VettaFi financial futurist Dave Nadig said:
“If you solely look at climate as your window, you’ll probably not end up not owning a lot of energy companies, not owning a lot of miners [and] not owning a lot of steel companies. So, you end up with something that looks like services, healthcare, and technology, which is a very strong bet to take.”
That said, U.S. funds with ESG goals seem to be losing popularity as of late. Despite the broader stock market’s gains, assets in the sector have dropped to around $335 billion, down from a peak near $365 billion at the end of 2021. Political criticism of ESG in the country has also has led some investors to reconsider their strategies within the sector. Moreover, ESG stocks are also grappling with other significant challenges, such as a key climate regulation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that is currently under legal dispute, and the Federal Reserve’s resistance to including environmental risks in global financial regulations.
However, despite criticism labeling the ESG sector as “woke” investing, many U.S. firms remain dedicated to ESG initiatives. Investor interest also remains somewhat robust, as these funds continue to attract attention for considering both financial performance and environmental, social, and governance factors. While there have been big outflows from the sector, many institutional investors are approaching climate risks and opportunities in their portfolios with a heightened sense of urgency, with an August analysis published in the Harvard Business Review showing that nearly three-quarters of the corporate climate commitments announced in 2021 had been fully or partially achieved. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. are among the top global underwriters of green bonds this year, while Bank of America, alongside other prominent investment banking firms, recently sponsored ESG-focused conferences in New York and Chicago.
With that in mind, ESG funds saw strong performance in the first half of the year, largely driven by their substantial investments in technology stocks. Most ESG funds that aren’t focused on renewable energy tend to allocate more to tech stocks while maintaining a lower exposure to oil and gas stocks. In the first six months of the year, the S&P 500 rose by approximately 15%, and nearly 60% of this gain was driven by the majority of the ‘Magnificent Seven’, which are often among the largest holdings in ESG funds.
Our Methodology
To create the list of top ESG stocks to buy now, we chose companies from the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF and ranked them by their percentage weight in the fund, listed in ascending order. In addition, we used hedge fund sentiments regarding each stock to illustrate how well these stocks hold up in the eyes of hedge fund investors. These were taken from Insider Monkey’s Q2 2024 database.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A group of business people discussing plans around a boardroom table adorned with a financial services company logo.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)
Percentage of holdings in the fund: 1.39%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) operates globally across sectors like Consumer & Community Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Asset & Wealth Management. In 2023, the firm achieved a 15% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 levels, advancing toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) also facilitated over $200 billion in green financing, including renewable energy projects and green bonds, contributing to its $2.5 trillion sustainable development financing target by 2030. Additionally, the bank invested over $500 million in community development programs, focusing on affordable housing and small business support in underserved communities.
On the financial front, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) delivered a robust financial performance in Q2 2024, reporting net income of $18.1 billion and earnings per share of $6.12 on $51 billion in revenue. After adjusting for one-time items, net income was $13.1 billion, with an EPS of $4.40 and revenue of $43.1 billion. The quarter highlighted the bank’s strengths across various segments, including investment banking, asset and wealth management, and Cards. Additionally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) repurchased $4.9 billion of its shares, contributing to a 30 basis point increase in its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio.
Following the earnings release, Citi raised its price target for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) from $205.00 to $215.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating. BMO Capital also reaffirmed its Market Perform rating with an unchanged price target of $205.00.
Carillon Tower Advisers said the following about JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in its fourth-quarter 2023 investor letter:
“PNC Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) performed well due to more benign inflation data, which the market likely interpreted as a sign that a recession is now less likely to occur. Recall that historically speaking, banks are hyper-cyclical stocks and typically will trade lower if investors foresee a recession, because recessions tend to trigger loan losses.”
Overall JPM ranks 9th on our list of the best ESG stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of JPM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than JPM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.