IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/riibaf/v80y2025ics0275531925003885.html

Methodological ESG uncertainty in portfolio sorts

Author

Listed:
  • Henriquez-Salman, Ricardo

Abstract

This study systematically examines how different portfolio choices affect returns in the context of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores. The analysis reveals substantial variations in return distributions across different geographical regions, industry sectors, and ESG scores using data from three ESG data providers. The average monthly non-standard error is 0.112% and exceeds standard errors. This sensitivity helps to explain the mixed findings in the literature and, from a signaling theory perspective, undermines the reliability of ESG scores as market signals. However, portfolios sorted on ESG disparity, reflecting consistent performance across ESG dimensions, consistently produce positive premia and alphas, suggesting that balanced ESG profiles provide more credible signals to investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Henriquez-Salman, Ricardo, 2025. "Methodological ESG uncertainty in portfolio sorts," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:80:y:2025:i:c:s0275531925003885
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.103132
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275531925003885
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.103132?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helena Naffa & Máté Fain, 2020. "Performance measurement of ESG-themed megatrend investments in global equity markets using pure factor portfolios methodology," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-34, December.
    2. Christophe Revelli & Jean-Laurent Viviani, 2015. "Financial performance of socially responsible investing (SRI): what have we learned? A meta-analysis," Post-Print halshs-01141295, HAL.
    3. Burze Yasar & Thomas Martin & Timothy Kiessling, 2020. "An empirical test of signalling theory," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(11), pages 1309-1335, April.
    4. Soebhag, Amar & Van Vliet, Bart & Verwijmeren, Patrick, 2024. "Non-standard errors in asset pricing: Mind your sorts," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Newey, Whitney K & West, Kenneth D, 1987. "Hypothesis Testing with Efficient Method of Moments Estimation," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 28(3), pages 777-787, October.
    6. Beyer, Victor & Bauckloh, Michael Tobias, 2024. "Non-standard errors in carbon premia," CFR Working Papers 24-06, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    7. Costanza Consolandi & Robert G. Eccles & Giampaolo Gabbi, 2022. "How material is a material issue? Stock returns and the financial relevance and financial intensity of ESG materiality," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 1045-1068, October.
    8. Si, Yuxiu & Wu, Gongliang, 2025. "ESG rating disagreement and supply chain bargaining power: evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 2015. "A five-factor asset pricing model," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(1), pages 1-22.
    10. Kräussl, Roman & Oladiran, Tobi & Stefanova, Denitsa, 2023. "ESG as protection against downside risk," CFS Working Paper Series 708, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    11. Kewei Hou & Chen Xue & Lu Zhang, 2020. "Replicating Anomalies," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(5), pages 2019-2133.
    12. Chen, Kan-Xiang & Erzurumlu, Yaman Omer & Gozgor, Giray & Lau, Chi Keung Marco & Turkkan, Melis, 2024. "The impact of economic uncertainty on corporate ESG performance: Global evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(PB).
    13. Florian Berg & Julian F Kölbel & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings [Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1315-1344.
    14. Paul Gompers & Joy Ishii & Andrew Metrick, 2003. "Corporate Governance and Equity Prices," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(1), pages 107-156.
    15. Albert J. Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüß & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & David Abad‐Díaz & Menachem (Meni) Abudy , 2024. "Nonstandard Errors," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 79(3), pages 2339-2390, June.
      • Albert J. Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Félix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüss & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & Gunther Capelle-Blancard, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 21033, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.
      • Utz Weitzel & Michael Razen & Sebastian Neussüs & Michael Kirchler & Magnus Johannesson & Juergen Huber & Felix Holzmeister & Anna Dreber & Albert J. Menkveld & Javier Gil-Bazo, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Working Papers 1303, Barcelona School of Economics.
      • Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Jürgen & Johannesson, Magnus & Kirchler, Michael & Neusüss, Sebastian & Razen, Michael & Weitzel, Utz, 2021. "Non-standard errors," IWH Discussion Papers 11/2021, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
      • Albert J. Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neussüs & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & Christian T. Brownlees & Javier Gil-Baz, 2021. "Non-standard errors," Economics Working Papers 1807, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
      • Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Juergen & Johannesson, Magnus & Kirchler, Michael & Neusüss, Sebastian & Razen, Michael & Weitzel, Utz & Abad-Díaz, David & Abudy, Mena, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Working Papers 2021:17, Lund University, Department of Economics.
      • Albert J. et al. Menkveld, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," CESifo Working Paper Series 9453, CESifo.
      • Albert J Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüss & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & Gunther Capelle-Blancard & David Abad-Dí, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Post-Print halshs-03500882, HAL.
      • Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Juergen & Johannesson, Magnus & Hasse, Jean-Baptiste & e.a.,, 2023. "Non-Standard Errors," LIDAM Reprints LFIN 2023002, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Finance (LFIN).
      • Albert J. Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neus ss & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & Edwin Baidoo & Michael Fr mmel & et al, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 21/1032, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
      • Francesco Franzoni & Roxana Mihet & Markus Leippold & Per Ostberg & Olivier Scaillet & Norman Schürhoff & Oksana Bashchenko & Nicola Mano & Michele Pelli, 2022. "Non-Standard Errors," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 22-09, Swiss Finance Institute.
      • Moinas, Sophie & Declerck, Fany & Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna, 2023. "Non-Standard Errors," TSE Working Papers 23-1451, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
      • Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Juergen & Johannesson, Magnus & Kirchler, Michael & Neusüß, Sebastian & Razen, Michael & Weitzel, Utz & Abad-Díaz, David & Abudy, Menac, 2024. "Nonstandard errors," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 123002, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
      • Menkveld, A. & Dreber, A. & Holzmeister, F. & Huber, J. & Johannesson, M. & Kirchler, M. & Neusüss, S. & Razen, M. & Neusüss, S. & Neusüss, S., 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2182, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
      • Albert Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüß & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & David Abad-Díaz & Tobias Adrian & Yacine Ai, 2024. "Nonstandard Errors," Post-Print hal-04676112, HAL.
      • Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Jürgen & Johannesson, Magnus & Kirchler, Michael & Neusüss, Sebastian & Razen, Michael & Weitzel, Utz, 2021. "Non-standard errors," SAFE Working Paper Series 327, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
      • Gerardo Ferrara & Simon Jurkatis, 2021. "Non-standard errors," Bank of England working papers 955, Bank of England.
      • Albert Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüß & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & David Abad-Díaz & Tobias Adrian & Yacine Ai, 2024. "Nonstandard Errors," Post-Print hal-05077550, HAL.
      • Albert J. Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Jürgen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüss & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & David Abad-Dí­az & Menachem Abudy & Tobi, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Working Papers 2021-31, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
      • Albert Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüß & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & David Abad-Díaz & Tobias Adrian & Yacine Ai, 2024. "Nonstandard Errors," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-05077550, HAL.
      • Ciril Bosch-Rosa & Bernhard Kassner, 2023. "Non-Standard Errors," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 385, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
      • Albert J Menkveld & Anna Dreber & Felix Holzmeister & Juergen Huber & Magnus Johannesson & Michael Kirchler & Sebastian Neusüss & Michael Razen & Utz Weitzel & Gunther Capelle-Blancard & David Abad-Dí, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-03500882, HAL.
      • Wolff, Christian & Menkveld, Albert J. & Dreber, Anna & Holzmeister, Felix & Huber, Juergen & Johannesson, Magnus & Kirchler, Michael & Neusüess, Sebastian & Razen, Michael & Weitzel, Utz, 2021. "Non-Standard Errors," CEPR Discussion Papers 16751, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    16. Burze Yasar & Thomas Martin & Timothy Kiessling, 2020. "An empirical test of signalling theory," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(11), pages 1309-1335, April.
    17. Liao, Qinghu & Erzurumlu, Yaman Omer & Gozgor, Giray, 2025. "Impact of market regulations on firm-specific esg performance: evidence from asian economies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Roman Kräussl & Tobi Oladiran & Denitsa Stefanova, 2024. "A review on ESG investing: Investors’ expectations, beliefs and perceptions," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 476-502, April.
    19. Patton, Andrew J. & Timmermann, Allan, 2010. "Monotonicity in asset returns: New tests with applications to the term structure, the CAPM, and portfolio sorts," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 605-625, December.
    20. de la Fuente, Gabriel & Velasco, Pilar, 2024. "Pretending to be sustainable: Is ESG disparity a symptom?," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(2).
    21. Gunnar Friede & Timo Busch & Alexander Bassen, 2015. "ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(4), pages 210-233, October.
    22. Robert G. Eccles & Michael P. Krzus & Jean Rogers & George Serafeim, 2012. "The Need for Sector-Specific Materiality and Sustainability Reporting Standards," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 24(2), pages 65-71, June.
    23. Rajna Gibson Brandon & Philipp Krueger & Peter Steffen Schmidt, 2021. "ESG Rating Disagreement and Stock Returns," Financial Analysts Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(4), pages 104-127, October.
    24. Monica Billio & Michele Costola & Iva Hristova & Carmelo Latino & Loriana Pelizzon, 2021. "Inside the ESG ratings: (Dis)agreement and performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1426-1445, September.
    25. Berg, Florian & Heeb, Florian & Kölbel, Julian, 2024. "The economic impact of ESG ratings," SAFE Working Paper Series 439, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    26. Theis Ingerslev Jensen & Bryan Kelly & Lasse Heje Pedersen, 2023. "Is There a Replication Crisis in Finance?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(5), pages 2465-2518, October.
    27. Iqbal, Najaf & Umar, Zaghum & Ruman, Asif M. & Jiang, Shaohua, 2024. "The term structure of yield curve and connectedness among ESG investments," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    28. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1993. "Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 3-56, February.
    29. Jie Huang & Peng Hu & Derek D. Wang & Yiying Wang, 2025. "The Double Signal of ESG Reports: Readability, Growth, and Institutional Influence on Firm Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    30. Danny Zhao‐Xiang Huang, 2022. "Environmental, social and governance factors and assessing firm value: valuation, signalling and stakeholder perspectives," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1983-2010, April.
    31. Kewei Hou & Haitao Mo & Chen Xue & Lu Zhang, 2021. "An Augmented q-Factor Model with Expected Growth [Abnormal returns to a fundamental analysis strategy]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 25(1), pages 1-41.
    32. Zhang, Cong & Farooq, Umar & Jamali, Dima & Alam, Mohammad Mahtab, 2024. "The role of ESG performance in the nexus between economic policy uncertainty and corporate investment," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    33. Weichieh Su & Mike W. Peng & Weiqiang Tan & Yan-Leung Cheung, 2016. "The Signaling Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Economies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 479-491, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Muck, Matthias & Schmidl, Thomas, 2024. "Comparing ESG score weighting approaches and stock performance differentiation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    2. Alves, Rómulo & Krüger, Philipp & van Dijk, Mathijs, 2025. "Drawing up the bill: Are ESG ratings related to stock returns around the world?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Horn, Matthias & Oehler, Andreas, 2024. "Constructing stock portfolios by sorting on ESG ratings: Does the rating provider matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    4. Matthias Muck & Thomas Schmidl, 2026. "Relative to whom? The impact of peer groups on ESG ratings and financial performance," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 27(2), pages 1-26, June.
    5. Lars Hornuf & Gül Yüksel, 2022. "The Performance of Socially Responsible Investments: A Meta-Analysis," CESifo Working Paper Series 9724, CESifo.
    6. Lioui, Abraham & Tarelli, Andrea, 2022. "Chasing the ESG factor," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    7. Chiah, Mardy & Long, Huaigang & Zaremba, Adam & Umar, Zaghum, 2023. "Trade competitiveness and the aggregate returns in global stock markets," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Hollstein, Fabian, 2022. "The world of anomalies: Smaller than we think?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    9. Graef, Frank & Hoechle, Daniel & Schmid, Markus, 2025. "Firm-specific versus systematic momentum," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Luo, Di & Farag, Hisham, 2024. "ESG and aggregate disagreement," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    11. Azzone, Michele & Pocelli, Maria Chiara & Stocco, Davide, 2025. "Hedging carbon risk with a network approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 676(C).
    12. Barontini, Roberto & Gioja, Luigi, 2025. "The market power of ESG index providers: The effects of rebalancing ESG-themed indices," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
    13. Lestari, Jenjang Sri & Frömmel, Michael, 2024. "Socially responsible investments: doing good while doing well in developed versus emerging markets?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    14. Fliegel, Philip, 2025. "“Brown” Risk or “Green” Opportunity? The dynamic pricing of climate transition risk on global financial markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Hearn, Bruce & Tauringana, Venancio & Ntim, Collins & Malagila, John K. & Mishra, Tapas, 2025. "Asset pricing in African frontier equity markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    16. Kim, Junyong, 2024. "Zoom in on momentum," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    17. Qian, Binsheng & Poshakwale, Sunil & Tan, Yusen, 2024. "‘E’ of ESG and firm performance: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    18. Wu, Yanran & Zhou, Riwang & Zhang, Chao, 2024. "Size and ESG premiums: Evidence from Chinese A-share market," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    19. Shi, Huai-Long & Zhou, Wei-Xing, 2022. "Factor volatility spillover and its implications on factor premia," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    20. Sirin, Selahattin Murat & Yilmaz, Berna N., 2025. "Tech firms and the renewable energy sector: Exploring the moderating effects of institutional ownership on financial connectedness," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:80:y:2025:i:c:s0275531925003885. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ribaf .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.