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Risk-return performance of optimized ESG equity portfolios in the NYSE

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  • López Prol, Javier
  • Kim, Kiwoong

Abstract

The literature on the risk-return performance of equity portfolios depending on their ESG score is mixed. While most studies use some variant of Fama-French, we optimize equity portfolios of the NYSE between 2018-2019 according to the Markovitz mean-variance framework depending on their ESG scores to better reflect the behavior of financial agents. We then systematically analyze the optimal and efficient portfolio performance and find that high ESG portfolios have lower volatility and even lower returns, resulting in lower Sharpe ratios. The lower performance of high ESG portfolios is homogeneous across the three ESG components and robust across specifications.

Suggested Citation

  • López Prol, Javier & Kim, Kiwoong, 2022. "Risk-return performance of optimized ESG equity portfolios in the NYSE," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:50:y:2022:i:c:s1544612322004895
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103312
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    3. Gong, Xiaomin & Xie, Fei & Zhou, Zhongsheng & Zhang, Chenyang, 2024. "The enhanced benefits of ESG in portfolios: A multi-factor model perspective based on LightGBM," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Zhang, Jitao & Yang, Yongliang, 2023. "Can environmental disclosure improve price efficiency? The perspective of price delay," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    5. David Buckle, 2023. "The futility of measuring relative performance of ESG portfolios if ESG investing improves the market performance," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(7), pages 601-607, December.
    6. Li, WeiWei & Padmanabhan, Prasad & Huang, Chia-Hsing, 2024. "ESG and debt structure: Is the nature of this relationship nonlinear?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Kudryashov, Alexander, 2023. "ESG Transformation: A Roadmap for Russia’s Sustainable Development /– Tallinn : OPEN EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SCIENCES OÜ, 2023," OSF Preprints 6j8ux, Center for Open Science.
    8. Tatarnikova, Olga & Duchêne, Sébastien & Sentis, Patrick & Willinger, Marc, 2023. "Portfolio instability and socially responsible investment: Experiments with financial professionals and students," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    9. Laurentiu Paul Baranga & Elena-Ioana Tanea, 2022. "Introducing the ESG reporting - benefits and challenges," Journal of Financial Studies, Institute of Financial Studies, vol. 13(7), pages 174-181, November.
    10. repec:fst:rfsisf:v:13:y:2022:i:13:p:174-181 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Kumar Manaswi & Archana Singh & Vikas Gupta, 2023. "Building a Better Future with Sustainable Investments: Insights from Recent Research," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 17(2), pages 320-343, August.
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    13. MCarmen Martínez‐Victoria & Alfons Oude Lansink, 2024. "Risk and return efficiency of manufacturing firms: Integrating corporate social responsibility performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3735-3744, September.

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