Sustainable investing

When times are difficult, both shortcomings and strengths are revealed. Individuals, communities, companies, and societies have the chance to rediscover their most valuable assets. We are reminded daily of the power of good health, of social connection, and of effective systems of care, on both micro and macro scales. Likewise, for our team, many of the investments in time, energy, and resources we've made these past years have become meaningful assets that we can lean on in these challenging times. For example, we have crafted several "mental models" like the idea map and materiality map featured in this report, which help us to structure our research priorities. We have created a series of analytical tools that help us to effectively and efficiently assess both financial and sustainability data. Perhaps most important, we have established a strong collaborative spirit within the dedicated sustainable investing team, as well as within the broader Putnam investment team. All of these tools have consistently helped us to identify risks and opportunities, complementing Putnam's formal risk management processes and our core fundamental research process.

More specifically, in recent weeks we have been able to use these strengths to quickly map potential systemic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on well-being, social equity, employment, and access to care, which helped us to focus on key issues with a different perspective than many traditional investors have. With our broad network of research connections, we have been able to call upon insights from experts in governmental and non-profit organizations and from scientific research groups, which have helped us calibrate and compare potential long-term systemic effects versus the short-term volatility of the stock market. Perhaps most important, this broader research lens has helped to confirm what is unknown and unknowable at this stage of the crisis, helping us to assess risks of false confidence and false precision in a differentiated way.

All of these processes are also helping us to identify new opportunities for investment in three main types of companies: those that are providing solutions to some of our current challenges, those whose strong long-term prospects have been only temporarily dampened, and those whose businesses are well-positioned for an eventual recovery in a post-COVID-19 world. In all of these cases, our sustainability research links directly to our fundamental and valuation assessments, providing a "through line" to follow during these turbulent times.

This crisis has changed many things, and caused tremendous disruption and suffering worldwide. However, these circumstances also remind us of what is constant. Now more than ever, we believe that sustainable companies could also prove to be more resilient and beneficial than others over the long term. We believe that active management has the potential to add meaningful context and value to sustainable investing. We believe that current conditions will illuminate new opportunities and new solutions that contribute to a thriving society, planet, and economy.

We deeply value your partnership and trust, and continue to work hard and with highest integrity on your behalf, connecting our investing with the world it was meant to serve.

Katherine Collins, CFA, MTS
Head of Sustainable Investing