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A factor approach to the performance of ESG leaders and laggards

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  • Naffa, Helena
  • Fain, Máté

Abstract

We introduce a factor approach to performance measurement of global ESG equity investments. We construct ESG pure factor portfolios (PFP) following Fama-MacBeth; then, applying Fama-French (FF) spanning regressions that simultaneously test performance and the validity of adding new ESG factors to the FF 5-factor model. To address endogeneity, we use a GMM-IV estimator. Our ESG portfolios do not generate significant alphas during 2015-2019, corroborating the literature's neutrality argument. We find no sufficient evidence for ESG factors to complement FF5. PFPs, nevertheless, may serve as ESG indices to quantify investment portfolio sustainability risks via performance attribution of the ESG factor tilt.

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  • Naffa, Helena & Fain, Máté, 2022. "A factor approach to the performance of ESG leaders and laggards," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:44:y:2022:i:c:s1544612321001549
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102073
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    2. Claudio Boido & Antonio Fasano, 2023. "Mean-variance investing with factor tilting," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(2), pages 1-24, June.
    3. Michele Azzone & Maria Chiara Pocelli & Davide Stocco, 2023. "Hedging carbon risk with a network approach," Papers 2311.12450, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.
    4. Chen, Yu & Lin, Boqiang, 2022. "Quantifying the extreme spillovers on worldwide ESG leaders' equity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
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    7. Nektarios Gavrilakis & Christos Floros, 2024. "Volatility and Herding Bias on ESG Leaders’ Portfolios Performance," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, February.
    8. 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.
    9. Zanin, Luca, 2023. "A flexible estimation of sectoral portfolio exposure to climate transition risks in the European stock market," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    10. Wadhaah Ibrahim Almubarak & Kaouther Chebbi & Mohammed Abdullah Ammer, 2023. "Unveiling the Connection among ESG, Earnings Management, and Financial Distress: Insights from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-23, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sustainable investing; ESG; Performance measurement; Pure factor portfolios; Sustainability risks; GMM-IVd method;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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