"Now more than ever, we believe that sustainable companies could also prove to be more resilient and beneficial than others over the long term."
— Katherine Collins, CFA, MTS, Head of Sustainable Investing
Read more about how the Sustainable Investing team seeks alpha. Their research is key to discovering actionable insights that drive their investment decisions.
What is sustainable investing?
Sustainable investing aims to identify companies that offer potential for strong financial returns while also demonstrating a commitment to sustainable business practices and positive impact. Sustainability is typically evaluated through analysis of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, practices, and performance.
We believe an intense focus on sustainability has the potential to deliver returns to investors while also benefiting communities and the environment.
Katherine Collins,CFA, MTS, Head of Sustainable Investing
Environmental practices might include improving water quality or reducing carbon emissions. Social impact could involve fair labor practices and improvements in workplace equality and diversity. Governance issues relate to a company's leadership structures, board composition, and management incentives. As with any strategy investors should consider how these approaches might affect their overall investment plan.
We have resources for your client conversations (select a starting point):
ESG basics for your clients
What is sustainable investing?
Save this document for the fundamentals of what ESG is and is not.
Putnam's integrated approach
Investing in companies improving our world
Use this client-approved brochure to understand Putnam's investment philosophy and the funds we offer.
Putnam's impact report
Sustainability and impact report
Learn from this extensive survey how Putnam sustainable funds use ESG inputs, pursue impact, and develop new questions for future research.
Examples of sustainable business practices
Our funds
The Leaders Fund favors companies committed to sustainable practices. The Future Fund favors companies solving sustainability challenges.
Sustainable Leaders Fund (PNOYX)
This fund received a Overall Morningstar Rating™ out of 1,186 funds in the Large Growth category based on total return as of 03/31/21
Sustainable Future Fund (PMVYX)
Investing in companies with strong fundamentals offering solutions to sustainability challenges.
More about the funds
Learn about our strategy and examples and how we have impact.
Strategy and examples (PDF) How we have impact (PDF) Engagement & Stewardship Report (PDF)
A research team with diverse skills
Our team has a unique, integrated process for understanding sustainability in the context of each company they research.
Katherine Collins, CFA, MTS, Head of Sustainable Investing
Experienced as an equity analyst, portfolio manager, and head of research at Fidelity, Katherine founded and led Honeybee Capital, a sustainable research firm, before joining Putnam in 2017.
Stephanie Dobson, Portfolio Manager
Stephanie brings together experience in interpreting and applying ESG data with skills in fundamental analysis and valuation of companies.
Shep Perkins, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Equities
As CIO of Equities, Shep is responsible for providing strategic direction to Putnam's portfolio managers and equity analysts. He joined Putnam in 2011 and is Portfolio Manager of Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund.
Alexander Rickson, CFA, Quantitative Analyst
Alex provides skills both in the interpretation of ESG data and its application to the processes of risk management and portfolio construction.
Latest perspective:
New medicines and digital tools target mental health
In recent years, there have been several developments for treating mental health. These innovations — which come after decades of slower-paced advances — include novel drugs and digital offerings.
Read postHow we think about carbon, diversity, and research
Explore these graphics for examples of our distinctive views about important ESG topics such as carbon intensity, corporate diversity, and sector research.
Analyzing carbon intensity company by company
We have increased holdings in companies that we believe are leading the way in replacing hydrocarbons with renewable energy generation.
Understanding the value of diversity
Our portfolios have a higher-than-market representation of companies where women comprise 30% or more of total board membership. Diversity can improve company decision-making.
A week in the life of active research
Our sustainability and impact efforts are interwoven with our core investment research process at Putnam. Read a sample of a week of research meetings that we held with companies in December, 2019.
