Ethical & Sustainable Investing News to Profit By!

Ron Robins
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These podcasts will help you find stocks, funds, and bonds that reflect YOUR personal values. Each podcast is filled with top analyst investment picks encompassing the best sustainability, ESG, and ethics traits. My name is Ron Robins and I've been following this style of investing since the 1970s. Now it's mainstream because it can be very profitable too! Beginning in 1969, I held investment industry positions in investment analysis, over-the-counter stock trading, and global private equity sales. And for almost two decades I've been a leading writer and tutor in ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible investing (SRI). I've been interviewed or quoted in The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Forbes, The Financial Post, BNN, The Globe & Mail, and numerous other media. In 2002, I founded the globally popular and highly respected ethical investing website, Investing for the Soul. Now, it's my pleasure to help you with these podcasts to be successful in profitably applying your personal values to your investments. And, please subscribe to my RSS feed and my blog.

  1. 6d ago

    July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes articles on the top sustainable pharmaceutical companies, clean energy ETFs, and more! By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 169, July 31, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 169, published on July 31, 2026, titled "July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." Now, before I begin, I want to apologize if my voice at any time sounds a little rough! This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a terrific crop of 27 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Sometimes companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 4 to quote from. Titles and links to the other 23 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top 10: Sustainable Pharmaceutical Companies from sustainabilitymag.com I'm beginning this podcast with an article that reviews an industry that is controversial for some ethical and sustainable investors. Nonetheless, the sponsor of this industry analysis needs to be considered. The title of the article is: Top 10: Sustainable Pharmaceutical Companies from sustainabilitymag.com. It's by David Weston. Here is some of his analysis. "Here we present the pharmaceutical companies leading in corporate responsibility, innovation and dedication to a healthier, increasingly sustainable future. 10. Boston Scientific (BSX) Founded: 1979 HQ: Marlborough, US Net Zero Target: 2050 In the short term, it aims to achieve a 46.2% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 – compared to a 2019 baseline. By 2050, it wants to achieve a 90% absolute reduction. 9. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Founded: 1974 HQ: Eden Prairie, US Net Zero Target: 2050 UnitedHealth Group is working to source 100% of its energy from renewable sources and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2030. 8. Danaher (DHR) Founded:1969 HQ: Washington, DC, US Net Zero Target: 2050 Danaher's 2025 Scope 1 and 2 emissions were 30% lower than the 2021 baseline, with 70% of the electricity consumed in its operations drawn from renewable sources. 7. Elevance (ELV) Founded: 1944 HQ: Indianapolis, US Net Zero Target: 2030 Elevance Health… uses 100% renewable electricity, and encourages suppliers to adopt science-based targets… Its initiatives include energy and water efficiency, responsible waste management and low-carbon commuting. 6. Medtronic (MDT) Founded: 1949 HQ: Minneapolis, US Net Zero Target: 2045 Medtronic aims to have 75% of its suppliers backed by science-based targets by 2030… Medtronic also wants to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 52% by FY30 from a 2020 base year. Top 5... 5. McKesson (MCK) Founded: 1833 HQ: Irving, US Net Zero Target: Reduce direct GHG emissions by 50% by 2032. It aims to reduce direct GHG emissions by 50% by 2032 from a 2020 base year. 4. Bayer (BAYN) Founded: 1863 HQ: Leverkusen, Germany Net Zero Target: Before 2050 By the end of 2029, it targets a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from a 2019 baseline. Strategies include… transitioning to 100% renewable electricity. 3. CVS Health (CVS) Founded: 1963 HQ: Woonsocket, US Net Zero Target: 2050 In 2021, CVS Health emerged as a global leader by securing SBTi validation for its net zero targets… The company is targeting 50% renewable electricity by 2040. 2. Haleon (H6G.SG) Founded: 2022 HQ: Weybridge, UK Net Zero Target: 2040 Haleon uses 100% renewable electricity across its production facilities. 1. Thermo Fisher Scientific (TN8.F) Founded: 2006 HQ: Waltham, US Net Zero Target: 2050 Thermo Fisher Scientific… interim targets including a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2018 levels and 80% renewable energy use by 2030." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Riding the Green Wave: Clean Energy ETFs Benefiting from etftrends.com Now the case for green energy is clearer than ever, and this article offers reasons for it and what investments to look at. It's titled Riding the Green Wave: Clean Energy ETFs Benefiting from etftrends.com. It's by Ryan Schloesser, and here are some quotes from his article. "Following a multi-year slump in clean energy ETF performance, geopolitical tensions sparking global energy security concerns and energy demand from AI data center projects have driven clean energy investment in 2026… (Starting with) Gains in (3) Global Clean Energy (ETFs) 1. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) tracks the performance of the S&P Global Clean Energy Index… (The) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has climbed over 20%, and has received inflows of $507 million so far in 2026. 2. Fidelity Clean Energy ETF (FRNW) tracks the Fidelity Clean Energy Index, targeting global companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from renewable energy. The fund has seen a return of 17.3% and inflows of $60 million this year.  3. Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF (PBD) follows the performance of the WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index… (The) Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF has climbed 19% and recorded inflows of $6.5 million in 2026.  Capturing the North American Energy Shift (are the following 4 funds) 1. Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) tracks the WilderHill Clean Energy Index… The fund has climbed 20.6% this year with outflows of -$305.2 million as surging Treasury yields and potential interest rate hikes pressure smaller-cap holdings.  2. First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) tracks the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index targeting North American companies across the green value chain… The fund has grown 27.2% this year and received inflows of $110 million.  3. ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) and 4. (the) ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY) both provide North American exposure to the clean energy sector. (The) ALPS Clean Energy ETF tracks the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index… Focusing more on the electrification infrastructure component of the clean energy transition, (the) ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF tracks the Ladenburg Thalmann Electrification Infrastructure Index, providing exposure to the companies physically supplying electricity and grid infrastructure. This year, the funds have returned 5.4% and 22.7%, with inflows of $12.8 million and $58.6 million, respectively.  (And 2) Pure Play (Funds with) Exposure to Solar and Wind 1. Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) offers concentrated exposure to a portfolio of companies involved in the global solar value chain by tracking the MAC Global Solar Energy Index. 2. First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) tracks the ISE Clean Edge Global Wind Energy Index. (The) Invesco Solar ETF has returned 14.7% with inflows of $536.1 million in 2026, while (the) First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF has risen 21.8% and recorded inflows of $62.8 million over the same period." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) 3 AI Infrastructure Stocks That Could Double by 2027 from finance.yahoo.com Many ethical and sustainable investors are heavily invested in the AI sphere. So as an homage to them, I have this recent article titled 3 AI Infrastructure Stocks That Could Double by 2027 from finance.yahoo.com. It's by Will Healy at fool.com. Here's a bit of what he says in his article. "1. Nvidia (NVDA) trades at a P/E ratio of 31, which is actually less than the S&P 500 average of 32. This has occurred as Nvidia's revenue grew by 85% yearly in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 (ended April 26). When also considering the 211% profit increase for the same period, the earnings multiple would arguably appear low even if Nvidia's stock price were to double. 2. CoreWeave (CRWV) As one of the leading neocloud companies, CoreWeave has drawn increased attention. Amid the potential for massive stock gains, huge losses and rapidly rising debt levels have soured some investors on this company… CoreWeave has Nvidia as an investor and a partner. That gives the company capital and access to Nvidia's latest technology, giving CoreWeave a competitive advantage. 3. Meta Platforms (META) Facebook parent Meta Platforms is in the process of transitioning into more of an AI-oriented enterprise. The company pledged to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion in capital expenditures (capex), most of which will probably go to building more AI infrastructure… Indeed, the 26% forecasted revenue increase for 2026 is a slowdown from Q1. Nonetheless, that would put downward pressure on an already low P/E ratio if the stock price stayed the same. Moreover, if Meta's AI inspired more confidence, its current valuation indicates the stock price could double without making Meta an expensive stock." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Top Wind Energy Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Solid Long-Term Returns -- from Zacks.com Lastly, I have this article covering a sector that most of you are concerned with. It's titled Top Wind Energy Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Solid Long-Term Returns -- from Zacks.com. It's by Avisekh Bhattacharjee. Here are some quotes from his article. "(Note that this is) an updat

  2. Jun 25

    June 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    June 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes articles on the best fuel cell stocks and Canada's most sustainable companies. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 168, June 26, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 168, published on June 26, 2026, titled "June 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." Now, before I begin, I want to apologize if my voice at any time sounds a little rough! This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 16 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Sometimes companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 4 to quote from. Titles and links to the other 12 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- Fuel cell stocks have attracted considerable investor attention recently, particularly for their potential to power AI data centers. Here is the first of two articles concerning their extraordinary rise in 2026. You could glean from these articles if investing in them still makes sense for you. Which Fuel Cell Stock Has Dominated in 2026: Plug Power, FuelCell, or Bloom Energy? The first article is titled Which Fuel Cell Stock Has Dominated in 2026: Plug Power, FuelCell, or Bloom Energy? From finance.yahoo.com. It's by David Moadel. Here are some key quotes from Mr. Moadel. "Fuel cell stocks have been one of 2026's loudest comeback trades, but the leaderboard isn't close. Bloom Energy stock has crushed its two main peers year to date (YTD), riding AI data center demand and a string of earnings beats. FuelCell Energy stock sits in a distant second, and Plug Power stock rounds out the trio… Bloom Energy: (NYSE:BE) The Clear 2026 Leader Bloom Energy stock is up 219% YTD in 2026, far ahead of its fuel cell peers. Shares trade at around $278, and the company carries a market cap of roughly $79.09 billion, which dwarfs Bloom Energy's rivals. FuelCell Energy: (NASDAQ:FCEL) A Distant Second FuelCell Energy stock is up 135% YTD in 2026, a strong rebound but well behind Bloom Energy stock. Shares trade at $17 and change, with a market cap near $1.16 billion. Plug Power: (NASDAQ:PLUG) Third Place Plug Power stock is up 42% YTD in 2026, the weakest finish among the three names. Shares trade at $2.81, making PLUG stock a low-priced name that could swing hard on news. What to Watch From Here The 2026 scoreboard for Bloom Energy, FuelCell Energy, and Plug Power tells a clear story. Bloom Energy leads on both share-price performance and underlying business momentum, while FuelCell and Plug Power are riding sector enthusiasm off low bases. Investors weighing their exposure may want to moderate their position sizes given how far these names have already run." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Bloom Energy vs. FuelCell Energy: Which Clean Energy Stock Leads The second of the two articles on the fuel cell stock boom is this one. It's titled Bloom Energy vs. FuelCell Energy: Which Clean Energy Stock Leads. It's by Jewel Saha at Zacks. Now some top quotes from the article. "Key Takeaways Bloom Energy shows bigger 2026-2027 EPS estimate gains over 60 days than FuelCell Energy. Bloom Energy's return on invested capital is 5.67% versus FuelCell Energy's -14.9%, showing a wide efficiency gap. FuelCell Energy has lower debt-to-capital, but Bloom Energy led in 1-year share price gains. Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) is well positioned to benefit from rising demand for reliable, low-carbon and on-site power solutions. Its solid oxide fuel cell technology delivers highly efficient and ultra-clean electricity, enabling businesses to reduce dependence on increasingly stressed power grids. FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) also offers investors exposure to the growing market for clean, reliable and distributed energy solutions. The company stands to benefit from increasing adoption of hydrogen production, carbon capture technologies and on-site energy systems designed to reduce grid pressure while supporting decarbonization goals Bloom Energy & FuelCell Energy's Earnings Estimates The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's earnings per share in 2026 and 2027 implies an increase of 50.39% and 38.19%, respectively… The same for FuelCell Energy's earnings per share in 2026 and 2027 remained unchanged. Return on Invested Capital Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) measures how effectively a company uses debt and equity to generate profits. It shows the return earned on each dollar invested and helps investors evaluate how efficiently management allocates capital to value-creating opportunities. ROIC of Bloom Energy is currently pegged at 5.67% against FuelCell Energy's negative 14.9%. Debt to Capital & TIE Ratio These firms need substantial funding for research and development, production expansion and large-scale project builds. FuelCell Energy's current debt to capital is 17.54% compared with Bloom Energy's 73.3%. The Times Interest Earned (TIE) ratio, commonly referred to as the Interest Coverage Ratio, evaluates a company's ability to meet its regular interest obligations using operating earnings. At present, Bloom Energy's TIE ratio is 1.3 against FuelCell Energy's TIE of negative 16.6. Valuation Bloom Energy's shares are trading at a premium compared with FuelCell Energy's shares on a Price/Sales F12M basis. Bloom Energy's shares are presently trading at P/S F12M of 17.86X compared with FuelCell Energy's 6.85X. Price Performance In the past year, shares of FuelCell Energy have gained 377.3% compared with Bloom Energy's rally of 1470.2%. Summing Up Based on the above discussion, it is evident that Bloom Energy has a marginal edge over FuelCell Energy based on better earnings estimate movement, healthier price performance in the past year and much better return on invested capital. Bloom Energy currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while FuelCell Energy has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)." End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds This next article provides a good overview, with recommendations, of funds that many of you might be interested in. It's titled 7 Best Socially Responsible Funds from money.usnews.com. It's by Jeff Reeves. Here are some quotes by Mr. Reeves on each of his picks. "For those who care about socially responsible investing, this list of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help investors vote with their wallets by supporting companies that align with their values. Fund Expense ratio Assets under management iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ticker: ESGU) 0.15% $17.4 billion Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) 0.09% $12.4 billion State Street SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETF (EFIV) 0.10% $1.1 billion iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) 0.20% $11.6 billion iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) 0.25% $7.1 billion iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) 0.39% $3.1 billion State Street SPDR MSCI USA Gender Diversity ETF (SHE) 0.20% $322 million 1. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) This iShares fund is the largest ETF that invests in companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. It's also an index fund with an affordable expense ratio. 2. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) Though slightly smaller than iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF in terms of assets, this Vanguard ESG ETF is significantly larger when it comes to its portfolio, with more than 1,200 companies across the U.S. stock market. 3. State Street SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETF (EFIV) This fund starts with the popular S&P 500 benchmark, then excludes stocks that don't align with ESG criteria, including companies involved with tobacco, coal and other less savory business lines. 4. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) A variant on this theme, iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF offers exposure to overseas investments with a focus on developed markets in the EAFE region – that is, Europe, Australasia and the Far East. 5. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) For investors looking to tap into growth overseas while avoiding morally questionable businesses, this ETF offers emerging market exposure as well as peace of mind. 6. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) Moving toward companies with a direct stake in making a difference in the world, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF is the largest clean energy ETF on Wall Street. 7. State Street SPDR MSCI USA Gender Diversity ETF (SHE) This gender diversity ETF seeks to prioritize U.S. companies that lead their sector in their commitment to promoting and supporting gender diversity throughout all levels of the organization." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Magnificent Green ETFs to Buy in 2026 This last article follows on from the previous one on various ESG ETFs. It's titled 3 Magnificent Green ETFs to Buy in 2026 found on the website theglobeandmail.com. It's by Dana George at The Motley Fool. Here are some quotes from the article. "Key Points 'Green' refers to assets that work toward environmental sustainability. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF is one of the oldest, most popular clean energy ETFs. While Invesco has the highest expense ratio of the three ETFs, it has experienced significant gains

  3. May 28

    May 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    May 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Podcast includes articles on hydrogen/fuel cell stocks and the world's most influential companies. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 167, May 29, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 167, published on May 29, 2026, titled "May 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." Now, before I begin, I want to apologize if my voice at any time sounds a little rough! This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 32 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Sometimes companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 3 to quote from. Titles and links to the other 29 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Best Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Stocks to Buy Now from insidermonkey.com Many of you are interested in hydrogen stocks, so I thought this article would be good to start this podcast. It's titled 9 Best Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Stocks to Buy Now from insidermonkey.com and is by Fatima Gulzar. Here are some quotes. "We used screeners to identify Best Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Stocks and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. 9. FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL) On March 23, 2026, FuelCell Energy announced the introduction of a standardized '12.5-megawatt' packaged power block that offers on-site electricity to data centers… It positioned the system as a speedier deployment option in power-constrained markets… FuelCell Energy is a firm that develops, designs, manufactures, constructs, and services high-temperature fuel cells for clean electricity generation… It operates in three geographical segments: the United States, South Korea, and Europe. 8. Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP) Ballard Power Systems designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services fuel cell products. It specializes in power products for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationery, and developing market applications, as well as service delivery, which includes technical solutions, after-sales services, and training. 7. Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) On April 9, 2026, Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino updated Plug Power's price target to $2.75 from $2.50. It maintained a Neutral rating on the stock… Plug Power is an alternative energy technology firm. It designs, develops, commercializes, and manufactures hydrogen and fuel cell systems for the material handling and stationary power fields. 6. New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR) On April 21, 2026, Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen increased New Jersey Resources Corporation's price objective to $61 from $54. It maintained an 'Outperform rating' on the shares… New Jersey Resources Corporation is a holding company. It provides regulated natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage services, as well as certain unregulated enterprises. It works in five segments: natural gas distribution, clean energy ventures, energy services, storage and transportation, and home services and other. 5. Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) On April 14, 2026, Reuters reported that Bloom Energy will supply Oracle with up to '2.8 gigawatts' of fuel cell capacity under an upgraded deal, which shows rising power demand due to artificial intelligence. The corporations have already signed for an initial 1.2 gigawatts… Bloom Energy manufactures and installs power production platforms based on solid oxide fuel cells. Bloom Energy Server turns conventional low-pressure natural gas or biogas into electricity using an electrochemical method that does not include combustion. 4. BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) BP is an integrated oil and gas corporation that provides carbon products and services. It operates in three segments: gas and low-carbon energy, oil production and operations, and customers/products. 3. Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) On April 20, 2026, Truist analyst Jamie Cook raised the Cummins price objective to $730 from $703. It retained a Buy rating on the stock… On April 13, 2026, Wells Fargo lifted its price objective for Cummins to $693 from $630… Cummins is a U.S.-based firm that designs, manufactures, and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric and hybrid powertrains, and related components. Its segments include Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and Accelera. 2. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) On April 24, 2026, RBC Capital raised Air Products and Chemicals' price target to $338 from $325. It maintained an Outperform rating… On April 24, 2026, Air Products and Chemicals declared that it will build, own, and operate a brand new air separation facility in Cocoa, Florida. The facility will produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and argon… Francesco Maione, president of the Americas, said that the location will help space launch operators in Florida and also position the corporation to meet increased demand from the booming space launch industry… Air Products and Chemicals manufactures and distributes atmospheric gases. It operates in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Corporate and Other. 1. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) On April 24, 2026, TheFly reported that RBC Capital analyst Arun Viswanathan raised Linde's price objective to $552 from $512. It retained an Outperform rating… Linde is a global industrial gas and engineering firm. It designs and manufactures industrial gas production equipment. The company also provides gas production and processing services for olefin plants, natural gas plants, air separation plants, hydrogen and synthesis gas plants, and other plants." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- TIME Reveals the 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies in the World from time.com This article offers a unique company ranking that will interest many of you. TIME Reveals the 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies in the World from time.com. It's by TIME PR. Now some quotes – however, note that many of the highly ranked companies are private! "The 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies issue features three worldwide covers, each spotlighting top executives from a company on the list with an in-depth profile, including: Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (GOOG) and Google; Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast), founder of Beast Industries; and Hailey Bieber, co-founder of Rhode… To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors, and polled its global network of editors and correspondents, as well as outside experts. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward.  In addition to the 100 companies featured on the list, TIME unveils the TIME100 Companies Impact Awards—recognizing five standout companies making meaningful contributions in the fields of AI, Health, Sustainability, Equality, and Culture.  The 2026 TIME100 Companies Impact Award recipients are: Waystar (WAY) for Impact in AI, Xenco Medical for Impact in Health, Sun King for Impact in Sustainability, CareMessage for Impact in Equality and Depop for Impact in Culture.  See the complete 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list: here." End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Poised to Benefit From Wind and EV Growth from zacks.com Now, an article featuring a sector that interests all ethical and sustainable investors. The article's title is 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Poised to Benefit From Wind and EV Growth from zacks.com and is by Tanvi Sarawagi. Here's some of what the writer has to say about their picks. "1. Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) Based in San Jose, CA, the company generates and distributes renewable energy… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's 2026 sales implies an improvement of 80.3% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 151.3% year over year. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. Montauk Renewables (MNTK - Free Report) Based in Pittsburgh, PA, the company is a fully-integrated renewable energy company. Montauk specializes in the management, recovery and conversion of biogas into renewable energy… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Montauk Renewables' 2026 sales implies an improvement of 21.5% year over year. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 700% year over year. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3. FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) Based in Danbury, CT, the company makes ultra-clean, highly efficient power plants that can run on fuels like renewable biogas and natural gas, producing electricity with far less pollution and fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil-fuel plants… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's fiscal 2026 sales implies an improvement of 0.9% year over year. The estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings implies

  4. Apr 23

    April 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    April 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes articles on wind energy, AI infrastructure stocks, and top 20 ESG ETFs. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 166, April 24, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 166, published on April 24, 2026, titled "April 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 10 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 3 to quote from. Titles and links to the other 7 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top Wind Energy Stocks to Buy For Long-Term Portfolio Gain on finance.yahoo.com My first article concerns a sector important to sustainable investing: wind energy. President Trump's antagonism towards wind energy is causing some investors to be concerned about the sector. However, many energy analysts believe that wind energy does have a great future. Hence, I'm beginning this podcast with a recent article titled Top Wind Energy Stocks to Buy For Long-Term Portfolio Gain on finance.yahoo.com. It's by Zacks Equity Research. Here are some quotes from the article. "1. Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) Based in Charlotte, NC, is a premier utility service provider offering efficient power and energy services. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is currently focused on expanding its scale of operations, implementing modern technologies at its facilities as well as enhancing its renewable generation portfolio by investing heavily in infrastructure and expansion projects… Such solid renewable capacity maximization plans should enable the company to further bolster its footprint in the expanding renewable energy market. 2. Constellation Energy (CEG) Headquartered in Baltimore, MD, is a well-recognized provider of electric power, natural gas and energy management services to 2 million customers across the continental United States. Constellation Energy operates 27 wind projects across 10 states that are capable of producing about 1,400 MW of electricity, of which about 750 MW are Constellation-owned. This Zacks Rank #2 company is launching a $350 million initiative to increase the output and lifespan of its portfolio of renewable energy sources. 3. Consolidated Edison (ED) Based in New York, it is a diversified utility holding company with subsidiaries engaged in both regulated and unregulated businesses. The company is involved in the regulated electric, gas and steam delivery businesses across the US. The Zacks Rank #2 company is currently building the Brooklyn Clean Energy Hub, a transmission substation that will strengthen New York's power grid and provide the flexibility for offshore wind resources to interconnect to it during construction and after commencing operation. 4. DTE Energy (DTE ) Detroit, MI-based, is a diversified energy company that develops and manages energy-related businesses and services. The Zacks Rank #2 company has been investing steadily to enhance its renewable generation assets. DTE aims to invest more than $10 billion in the clean energy transition over the next 10 years… The 50-plus wind and solar parks, under this program, already generate enough clean energy to power more than 835,000 homes." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) 6 Best Energy Stocks for the AI Power Grid Buildout from money.usnews.com This second article is also about energy stocks, but from an AI perspective. It's titled 6 Best Energy Stocks for the AI Power Grid Buildout from money.usnews.com. It's by Matt Whittaker and reviewed by Rachel McVearry. Here's some of what they have to say. Note that 2 of these stocks focus on natural gas and thus will not interest some of you. "The computing power required for artificial intelligence is much higher than for conventional computing. For example, a ChatGPT search takes about 10 times more electricity than a traditional Google search, according to Kanoppi, a tech company that provides carbon footprint insights for websites. 'The compute and networking infrastructure being built to run current and future AI systems are increasing in both scale and power density,' says John Campbell, senior portfolio manager with Allspring Global Investments… AI data centers also need power to keep the rows upon rows of computers cool enough to keep working… Here's a look at six energy stocks that could power up a portfolio amid the artificial intelligence data center buildout: 1. Powell Industries Inc. (POWL) Campbell points to this energy sector electrical equipment manufacturer as a momentum play… The company has a $1.4 billion backlog of business, with commercial and industrial growth driven by data centers, he notes. He also points to expanding gross margins, improving product mix, good execution and a strong balance sheet with effectively no outstanding debt and about $475 million in cash. Investing in Powell is not without risk, however, as shares are trading at roughly 31 times consensus forward earnings, which Campbell calls an 'extended valuation.' 2. Array Technologies Inc. (ARRY) This company makes ground-mounted, motorized systems that help solar arrays follow the sun to maximize electricity production. It also may be a bargain, with its shares down around 27% this year and Campbell calling it an 'out-of-favor opportunity.' The company grew its revenue 40% in 2025 as order bookings hit a record and volume grew significantly, but its shares sold off because of a disappointing outlook for 2026, Campbell says. 'The increased demand for its product set is fueled by increasing grid energy demand, coupled with the AI infrastructure buildout,' he says. After the sell-off, the company's shares are trading around 10 times consensus estimates for forward earnings, representing a significant discount to its nearest competitor, Nextpower Inc. (NXT), according to Campbell. 3. National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) Turning to the extraction side of the AI energy equation, Campbell likes this natural gas producer operating in the productive Appalachian Basin that also gathers, transports, distributes and markets the fuel… 'National Fuel Gas Co. is actively positioning itself as a preferred partner for the massive power demand generated by AI and data centers,' Campbell says… Risks for National Fuel Gas Co. include relatively high debt and the capital-intensive nature of the regulated businesses. 4. NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) In December, this utility company announced an expansion of its partnership with Google, saying the companies would collaborate to develop new gigawatt-scale data center campuses across the U.S. NextEra's energy generation capacity mix spans what will be needed for the AI data center buildout. More than half of this capacity is from renewable sources, followed by natural gas and then nuclear. The company plans to add up to 30 gigawatts of generation capacity by 2035 to help power data centers and artificial intelligence… That includes another deal with Google to restart a nuclear plant in Iowa. 5. Archrock Inc. (AROC) Murillo also points to this natural gas compression services and equipment company that serves the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. Compressing natural gas helps it move from wells through pipelines to processing and storage facilities… 6. Energy Vault Holdings Inc. (NRGV) One drawback to renewables such as solar and wind for artificial intelligence data center power is their intermittency. They don't produce electricity when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. To help smooth this out, companies are deploying batteries to store energy and release it when renewable assets aren't actively generating electricity. Energy Vault develops, deploys and operates utility-scale energy storage solutions including battery, gravity and green hydrogen technologies. Last month, the company announced a deal with battery manufacturer Peak Energy to launch energy storage architecture with lower cooling requirements and improved ability to handle high-volatility power demands created by AI training and inference workloads." End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) The Top 3 Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now from finance.yahoo.com Increasingly, sustainable investors believe that nuclear energy stocks are permissible in their portfolio. So I'm including in today's podcast this article titled The Top 3 Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now from finance.yahoo.com. It's by John Bromels at fool.com. Now, a few quotes. "With the war in Iran pushing oil and gas prices higher, and the AI revolution contributing to higher electricity prices, alternative energy sources are looking pretty attractive right now. Perhaps none are looking as attractive as nuclear power, which has the advantage of not requiring constant refueling from unpredictable suppliers and the ability to be built anywhere… Here are the top three nuclear stocks to buy right now for investors who want to ride this exciting energy trend. 1. Oklo (NYSE: OKLO)  Early-stage nuclear start-up Oklo has already scored some big wins in its quest to make small modular nuclear

  5. Mar 27

    March 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    March 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes an article with a terrific ranking of companies by their ethical standards. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 165, March 27, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 165, published on March 27, 2026, titled "March 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 18 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 3 to quote from. The other 15 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition, along with their titles and links. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Best 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy and Hold for Decades from fool.com In this episode, I begin with an article on an investment sector at the core of most ethical and sustainable investors' portfolios: renewable energy. The article's title is The Best 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy and Hold for Decades from fool.com. It's by Reuben Gregg Brewer. Here are some quotes on each of his picks. "1) Brookfield Renewable is 100% clean (BEP)(BEPC) Brookfield Renewable has exposure to hydroelectric, solar, wind, battery storage, and nuclear power… The assets… are spread across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. If you are looking for a simple way to participate in the shift toward clean energy, Brookfield Renewable is a good choice… The one wrinkle is that you can buy Brookfield Renewable in two different ways. The partnership share class offers a distribution yield of 5.2% while the corporate share class has a dividend yield of 3.8%. They represent the same business and have the same dividend payment; the difference is that the corporate shares are in higher demand among institutional investors. Small investors should feel comfortable with the partnership. 2) NextEra Energy is a giant in two businesses (NEE) NextEra Energy operates one of the largest regulated electric utilities in the United States. That is the foundation on which it has built one of the largest solar and wind power businesses in the world. This combination has led to 11% annualized dividend growth over the past decade. Half that rate of dividend growth would be considered good for a utility. NextEra Energy's dividend yield is 2.7%, which is actually above the utility average of nearly 2.5%... That said, management is calling for dividend growth to slow to a still very healthy 6% in 2027 and 2028. 3) TotalEnergies mixes the old with the new (TTE) TotalEnergies will be the hardest sell as a clean energy investment because it is an integrated energy giant. That means that it is a vertically integrated oil and natural gas business. If you only want clean energy, you probably won't want to buy TotalEnergies." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Best Ethical Companies to Invest In Now According to Reddit from insidermonkey.com My second article has some unusual investing options for many investors coming to my podcasts. It's titled 11 Best Ethical Companies to Invest In Now According to Reddit from insidermonkey.com and is by Noor Ul Ain Rehman. Here are some quotes from the article. "We first sifted through relevant threads on Reddit to compile a list of the best ethical companies and then selected the top 11 that were the most popular among elite hedge funds as of Q3 2025. We sourced the hedge fund data from Insider Monkey's database. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment… All data was recorded on March 17… ​Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. 11. The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Morgan Stanley lifted the price target on The Hershey Company to $247 from $238 on March 16, maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors that it believes the market is overly focused on pricing rollback risk and is underestimating the earnings recovery from cocoa normalization beginning in the second half of 2026 and accelerating into 2027. 10. Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ:CTSH) On March 16, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation announced the launch of Cognizant AI Factory, which is a multi-tenant, enterprise-grade offering powered by Dell Technologies (DELL) and NVIDIA AI (NVDA) infrastructure and software platform. Management stated that the Cognizant AI Factory is designed to help organizations scale artificial intelligence more securely, efficiently, and responsibly, and aims at unifying the management of the AI lifecycle in a single environment. 9. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB) Piper Sandler cut the price target on Kimberly-Clark to $114 from $133 on March 13 and maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors that the company's Q1 top-line momentum is tracking in line with what it had expected, with costs hedged roughly nine months out, securing roughly the balance of 2026. However, Piper also stated that if increased oil costs persist, there could be a risk to the outlook for 2027… Kimberly-Clark sells its products under various brands, including Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, DryNites, Huggies, and others. 8. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) March 16, Ecolab was upgraded to Buy from Hold by Berenberg, with the firm adjusting the price target on the stock to $326 from $300. Berenberg told investors in a research note that (Ecolab) will raise prices across all products, services, and geographies by 10%-14%, adding that it anticipates the price increases to be implemented swiftly and become a 'sticky component of Ecolab's structural pricing, rather than being rolled back'. The firm views Ecolab as a net inflation beneficiary… Ecolab offers hygiene, water, and infection prevention solutions and services. 7. FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) On March 10, JPMorgan lifted the price target on FedEx to $424 from $294 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm told investors that it updated the company's model ahead of the earnings report. 6. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) TD Cowen cut the price target on Accenture to $275 from $282 on March 16, maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm told investors that it updated its model ahead of the fiscal Q2 results, saying that, considering raised macro uncertainty and no clear end in sight with the Iran conflict, it believes that it is now reasonable that Accenture could just leave its FY26 growth guide as is… Accenture is a global professional services company that combines technology and leadership in data, cloud, and AI with functional expertise, industry experience, and global delivery capability. 5. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) March 16, Salesforce, announced the commencement of the prepayment and initial delivery of around 103 million shares under its previously announced $25 billion accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreements. The company entered into these agreements on March 11, 2026, with certain financial institutions. Management stated that the transaction marks the largest accelerated share repurchase in history, and represents the immediate execution of half of the $50 billion aggregate Share Repurchase Program authorized by Salesforce's Board of Directors in February 2026. Salesforce, designs and develops cloud-based enterprise software for customer relationship management. 4. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) ServiceNow, was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral by BNP Paribas on March 16, with the firm setting a $140 price target. The rating update came the same day ServiceNow, announced an expansion of its partnership with Carahsoft Technology Corp. to extend availability to the ServiceNow AI Platform across Carahsoft's full reseller ecosystem in the U.S. and Canada… ServiceNow, offers an AI platform for business transformation, boosting productivity and maximizing business outcomes. 3. Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) On March 16, TD Cowen lifted the price target on Micron Technology, to $500 from $450 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. The firm told investors that it updated its model ahead of the company's fiscal Q2 earnings, where a strong beat is expected. TD Cowen also said that while it continues to see upside to the buy-side view even after earnings, the majority of the long-term stock returns could be driven by re-rating… Micron Technology, provides innovative memory and storage solutions. 2. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Eli Lilly was downgraded to Reduce from Hold by HSBC on March 17, with the firm bringing the price target on the stock down to $850 from $1,070. The firm told investors in a research note that it believes expectations for the total addressable market for obesity are elevated at over $150 billion, and the market is likely to be in the range of $80 billion -$120 billion by 2032, with price competition 'likely to be significant'. Eli Lilly develops, manufactures, discovers, and sells pharmaceutical products. 1. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Mastercard announced on March 17 a definitive agreement for the acquisition of BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. BVNK is a leader in stablecoin infrastructure. Management stat

  6. Feb 27

    February 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    February 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes an article on the most sustainable companies by sustainable revenues, and more. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 164, February 27, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 164, published on February 27, 2026, titled "February 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a huge crop of 20 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 3 to quote from. The other 17 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition, along with their titles and links. ------------------------------------------------------------- Clean200 companies hit $2.8 trillion in sustainable revenues I'm starting this episode with one of my favourite rankings. It's titled the Clean200 companies hit $2.8 trillion in sustainable revenues on corporateknights.com. The introduction is by CK Staff. Here are some quotes from the introduction. "Since 2016, the shareholder-advocacy non-profit As You Sow and Corporate Knights have zeroed in on total sustainable revenues at public companies worldwide in order to show both the share and scale of sustainable revenues in absolute terms. 'The Clean200 follows revenues, not rhetoric,' Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights and report co-author, said in a statement. 'Even when politics turns hostile, markets continue to reward companies that are supplying what the global economy is structurally demanding – clean power, electrification, efficiency, and resilient infrastructure'… On average, more than half the revenue (53.7%) at Clean200 companies is sustainable… whereas companies in the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) generate only 16.7% of their revenue from sustainable activities… From July 1, 2016, to January 26, 2026, the Clean200 portfolio returned 282.9%, compared with 221.3% for the MSCI ACWI. The fossil fuel benchmark, meanwhile, returned a much slimmer 111%... Methodology The Clean 200 is selected from 8,229 eligible companies, of which 103 were excluded. The list employs a wide range of negative screens to exclude: for example, fossil-fired utilities or big banks and insurers financing fossil fuel companies, as well as for-profit prisons, weapons makers and others… The United States and China have 69 companies on the list between them, 41 and 28 respectively. Five years ago, the United States had 46 companies on the list, and China had 17, which suggests a subtle but marked rebalancing trend. About half the list consists of 'middle power' countries: Japan (15), France (12), Canada (11), Germany (11), Spain (8), Brazil (8), South Korea (7), Denmark (7), United Kingdom (5), Sweden (5) and India (5). Sixteen other countries share the remaining 14.5% of the list, underscoring how widely distributed the clean‑economy opportunity has become." End quotes. The top five companies are Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZM), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Tesla Inc. (TSLA), and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (C7A0.DU ). However, I suggest investors also look at the 'pure-play' companies, those with the highest sustainable revenue ratio! ------------------------------------------------------------- The Best Sustainable Funds and ETFs to Buy This second article is from one of the top investment sites and is titled The Best Sustainable Funds and ETFs to Buy on morningstar.com. It's by a well-respected analyst and writer, Leslie P. Norton. She compiled some comments from two analysts. Here are some quotes from her article. "We screened for the lowest-cost primary share classes with a Medalist Rating of Gold and 100% analyst coverage. All the funds on the list carry the ESG Intentional Investment tag and have at least $100 million in assets. All data is as of Feb. 3. Because the screen was created with the lowest-cost share class for each fund, some may be listed with share classes that are not accessible to individual investors outside of retirement plans, or they may be aimed at institutional investors and require large minimum investments. The individual investor versions of those funds may carry higher fees, reducing returns to shareholders. Medalist Ratings may differ among the share classes of a fund. Morningstar expects the highly rated sustainable funds on this list to outperform their peers over a full market cycle. But though all these funds fall under the same theme, they may practice different strategies and behave differently. Investors need to do their homework to understand exactly what a particular fund invests in before buying. 1) Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund (BTSMX) by Eric Schultz, analyst Fund Size: $746.4 million Morningstar Category: US Fund Mid-Cap Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Gold Prospectus Net Expense Ratio: 0.75% Morningstar assigns… a High rating to its parent company, Boston Trust Walden… The $746.4 million fund has gained 0.49% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 9.56%. The fund, launched in November 2011, has climbed 5.60% over the past three years and 7.63% over the past five. The managers focus on identifying strong small- and mid-cap businesses with durable and predictable earnings profiles that also have reasonable valuations… The strategy has recently trailed the Russell 2500 benchmark as the rally after early April 2025 was led by lower-quality businesses that the strategy typically avoids, as they tend to underperform higher-quality businesses over longer periods. Read Morningstar's full report on the Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund. 2) Boston Trust Walden Small Cap Fund (BOSOX) by Eric Schultz, analyst Fund Size: $1.1 billion Morningstar Category: US Fund Small Blend Morningstar Medalist Rating: Gold Prospectus Net Expense Ratio: 1.00% This $1.1 billion fund has lost 1.88% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 11.16%. The Boston Trust Walden fund, launched in December 2005, has climbed 4.01% over the past three years and 7.01% over the past five. The strategy (which has an impact mandate) focuses on identifying strong small-cap businesses with durable and predictable earnings profiles that also have reasonable valuations… The strategy's long-term performance was impressive. From the mutual fund's December 2005 inception through July 2025, total and risk-adjusted returns on its sole share class beat the category average and Russell 2000 Index by wide margins. Read Morningstar's full report on the Boston Trust Walden Small Cap Fund. 3) PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG Exchange-Traded Fund (EMNT) by Paul Olmsted, senior analyst Fund Size: $211.1 million Morningstar Category: US Fund Ultrashort Bond Morningstar Medalist Rating: Gold Prospectus Net Expense Ratio: 0.24% Morningstar assigns a High rating to the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG Exchange-Traded Fund management team and an Above Average rating to its parent company, PIMCO… The $211.1 million fund has gained 4.65% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 4.72%. The PIMCO fund, launched in December 2019, has climbed 5.27% over the past three years and 3.22% over the past five. Veteran leadership, specialized short-term expertise, effective collaboration, and a time-tested process makes Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF a best-in-class selection among ultrashort bond peers… While the ETF extensively uses derivatives, Pimco has consistently proved its ability to manage these instruments effectively. Read Morningstar's full report on the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG Exchange-Traded Fund." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Green ETFs to Watch as Global Energy Transition Investment Crosses $2T My third article is titled Green ETFs to Watch as Global Energy Transition Investment Crosses $2T on theglobeandmail.com. It's by Zacks Investment Research. "1. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) This fund, with net assets worth $2.17 billion, offers exposure to 102 companies that produce energy from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. Its top three holdings include: Bloom Energy (BE) (10.91%), a fuel cell technology proprietor, Nextpower (NXT) (9.63%), a smart solar tracker manufacturer, and First Solar (FSLR), a prominent solar panel producer.  iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has surged 66.8% over the past year. The fund charges 39 basis points (bps) as fees. 2. ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) This fund, with net assets worth $122.9 million, offers exposure to a diverse set of U.S. and Canadian companies involved in the clean energy sector, including renewables and clean technology. Its top three holdings include Albemarle Corp. (ALB) (6.60%), a supplier of critical lithium compounds used in energy storage batteries; Nextpower (NXT) (5.94%); and Enphase Energy (ENPH) (5.80%), a leading manufacturer of solar microinverters that also provides energy storage management solutions. ALPS Clean Energy ETF has soared 44.3% over the past year. The fund charges 55 bps as fees. 3. Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) This fund, with a market value worth $784.4 million, offers exposure to 63 stocks of companies that are publicly traded in the United States an

  7. Jan 22

    January 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    January 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks… Covers the world's most sustainable companies, cleantech and renewable energy stocks, and more. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 163, January 23, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 163, published on January 23, 2025, titled "January 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a huge crop of 24 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 6 to quote from. The other 18 can be found with their titles and links on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- The 2026 Global 100 list puts speed in the spotlight The first article I'm quoting from is hot off the press and is about one of my favourite company rankings! It's titled The 2026 Global 100 list puts speed in the spotlight on corporateknights.com. The introduction is by Tristan Bronca. Here's some of what he says. "As the global economic transition accelerates, more companies are recognizing that sustainability isn't just good marketing – it's good for business, too… This was the animating spirit of the new methodology behind the Corporate Knights Global 100 ranking. The revised methodology introduces 'sustainable revenue momentum' to measure how fast companies are growing their sustainable revenues. A change of method Last year, sustainable revenues and investments together accounted for 50% of the score, and the other 50% was scored across 22 common environmental, governance and social performance indicators (KPIs) such as water use, emissions, workplace fatalities, and diversity on the board and among executives. The change has reordered the deck in a big way… A dramatic departure? 'In terms of performance, the G100 companies are back in top form, beating the benchmark MSCI AWCI index over the past year,' Toby Heaps says, referring to a stock market index of 85% of global investable equities across almost 50 countries." End quotes. Incidentally, the top five companies are ERG SpA (ERG.MI), Pandora A/S (PNDORA.CO), EDP Renováveis SA (EDP.LS), Fluence Energy, Inc. (FLNC), and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (2633.TW). ------------------------------------------------------------ Top 4 Clean Tech Companies to Watch in 2026 This next article brings us back to highly familiar territory. It's titled Top 4 Clean Tech Companies to Watch in 2026 on carboncredits.com and is by Jennifer L. Here are some brief quotes. "1. NextEra Energy (NEE) is the largest clean energy company in the world. It owns and operates wind farms, solar fields, and battery storage systems across the United States… NextEra has also increased its dividend for more than 26 years in a row. 2. First Solar (FSLR) is one of the top makers of solar panels worldwide. It uses a technology called thin‑film photovoltaic modules. These panels are lighter, use fewer raw materials, and often perform better in hot climates compared to traditional silicon panels. The company builds large solar power plants that send power to utilities and corporate customers… Financially, First Solar is a strong player. Its market cap was around $24 billion in 2025, and it has shown double‑digit revenue growth. 3. Bloom Energy (BE) makes a special type of power generator called a solid‑oxide fuel cell. These units produce electricity efficiently and with low emissions. Customers include data centers, large buildings, and industrial sites that need reliable power without high carbon output. Bloom's fuel cells can run on hydrogen or biogas, which makes them flexible for future clean energy systems… Premium financial news reported that its stock jumped more than 410 % in 2025 after strong earnings results. 4. Plug Power (PLUG) focuses on hydrogen fuel cell systems. Its products are designed to replace traditional batteries and fossil fuels in heavy equipment, forklifts, and industrial vehicles. The company is also building hydrogen production and fueling infrastructure across North America and Europe. This supports a broader 'green hydrogen' economy… Plug Power has faced financial challenges, including consistent net losses and stock price volatility… Its long‑term growth story depends on hydrogen demand and policy support worldwide." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 ESG Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Sustainable Returns in 2026 - December 30, 2025 The third article I've chosen to quote from is titled 3 ESG Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Sustainable Returns in 2026 - December 30, 2025 on zacks.com. It's By Aniruddha Ganguly. Now, some quotes from the article. "1. NVIDIA (NVDA) achieved 100% renewable electricity for all its global offices and controlled data centers in fiscal 2025. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company targets to reduce direct emissions by 50% for operations (Scope 1) and electricity consumption (Scope 2) by 2030… The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 increased a couple of cents to $4.66 per share, indicating 55.9% growth from the figure reported in fiscal 2025. (NVDA - Free Report). 2. IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of products and services primarily for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, water testing and dairy markets. IDEXX has set goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and aims to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030… This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company plans to improve diversity and representation of underrepresented groups… IDEXX shares have surged 66% in the trailing 12-month period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has been steady at $14.42 per share, indicating 11.7% growth from the 2025 consensus estimate figure of $12.93 per share. (IDXX - Free Report). 3. Microsoft (MSFT) targets to become carbon negative, water positive, and generate zero waste by 2030… This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is leveraging AI for Good Lab and tools like the Microsoft Planetary Computer to drive biodiversity conservation… Microsoft shares have returned 14.7% in a year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 increased a couple of cents to $15.61 per share, indicating 14.4% growth from the figure reported in fiscal 2025. (MSFT - Free Report)." End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch Today This next article picks a few lesser-known, and for some sustainable investors, a few controversial companies for review. It's titled Top Renewable Energy Stocks To Watch Today on marketbeat.com and is by MarketBeat. Here are several brief quotes from the article. "1. Quanta Services (PWR) provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. Read Our Latest Research Report on PWR. 2. WEC Energy Group (WEC) through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments. Read Our Latest Research Report on WEC. 3. NOV (NOV) designs, constructs, manufactures, and sells systems, components, and products for oil and gas drilling and production, and industrial and renewable energy sectors in the United States and internationally. Read Our Latest Research Report on NOV. 4. Clearway Energy (CWEN) operates in the renewable energy business in the United States. The company operates through Conventional and Renewables segments. Read Our Latest Research Report on CWEN. 5. HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI) through its subsidiaries, engages in the investment of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure markets in the United States. Read Our Latest Research Report on HASI. 6. Ameresco (AMRC) a clean technology integrator, provides a portfolio of energy efficiency and renewable energy supply solutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. Read Our Latest Research Report on AMRC. 7. Gibraltar Industries (ROCK) manufactures and provides products and services for the renewable energy, residential, agtech, and infrastructure markets in the United States and internationally. Read Our Latest Research Report on ROCK." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Wind Energy Stocks Poised to Benefit From Clean Energy Transition My fifth article is titled Top Wind Energy Stocks Poised to Benefit From Clean Energy Transition on finance.yahoo.com. It's by Avisekh Bhattacharjee and originally published on zacks.com. In the US, the wind industry could be gaining ground despite President Trump's protestations. Here are some quotes from the article. "1. NextEra Energy (NEE) is a public utility holding company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources LLC (NEER), is the leading gene

  8. 12/18/2025

    December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks

    December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Covers America's most responsible companies, AI infrastructure and renewable energy stocks, and more. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 162, December 19, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 162, published on December 19, 2025, titled "December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 8 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Some companies are covered more than once. ------------------------------------------------------------- December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks (1) In this edition, I'm starting with a ranking of responsible companies. It's titled America's Most Responsible Companies 2026 on rankings.newsweek.com. It's by Newsweek and Statista. Here are some quotes from the introduction by Jennifer H. Cunningham. "According to a study by The Roundup, 84 percent of customers say that they are deterred from companies with poor environmental practices, and 62 percent 'always or often' specifically look for products that are sustainable. That is why Newsweek is proud to partner with Statista for the seventh time to present America's Most Responsible Companies 2026, highlighting 600 companies that are taking action each day to uphold their social responsibility.  This ranking is built on an evaluation of company CSR/ESG or sustainability reports, financial reports, history of lawsuits and 2024 top polluter indexes from the Political Economy Research Institute. Additionally, over 30 KPIs were researched from the three areas of ESG—environmental, social and governance performance. Companies included in this ranking are American Tower (AMT), Ingersoll Rand (IR), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), NVIDIA (NVDA), and Tapestry (TPR )." End quotes The top five companies in the ranking are NVIDIA (NVDA), Mastercard (MA), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Ecolab (ECL), and T-Mobile (TMUS). ------------------------------------------------------------- December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks (2) As renewable energy companies make gains, this article reviews some top companies in the sector. The article is titled Top 7 companies offering digital transformation solutions for renewable energy on azbigmedia.com. It's by Eric Kelly. Here are some of his comments. "1. DXC Technology (DXC) builds Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems – DERMS for short. What that means in plain English: software that can juggle thousands of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries at once. Their renewable energy digital services do real-time forecasting and balancing. When a cloud covers a solar farm, the system already knows and has adjusted before anyone notices a flicker. They use predictive analytics to figure out what's going to happen hours or days ahead, which matters when you're trying to keep the lights on for millions of people. 2. Siemens Energy (ENR.DE) Their Omnivise Digital Solutions covers pretty much everything – from the moment you build a power plant to the day you tear it down decades later. They make distributed control systems that pull data from every sensor, every turbine, every transformer, and show it all in one place. What's interesting is their edge computing for substations. Instead of sending all data to some central cloud and waiting for instructions, the processing happens right there on-site. Milliseconds matter when you're managing a grid. Siemens is also deep into green hydrogen tech. They're working on projects in over 100 countries and their equipment generates about half the world's electricity. 3. Schneider Electric (SU.PA) built EcoStruxure. It connects hardware, software, and services to optimize energy use in buildings, factories, and grids. Their new One Digital Grid Platform uses AI to manage planning, operations, and asset management all in one place. The AI automatically catches when the digital model of a grid doesn't match reality – like when someone forgot to update the system after installing new equipment. Sounds simple, but that kind of mismatch causes real problems. 4. ABB (ABBNY) make robotic systems for manufacturing solar panels, complete instrumentation packages for solar and wind plants, and the smart grid systems that tie it all together. Their battery storage solutions are particularly interesting. BESS-as-a-Service means companies can use battery systems without buying them outright. For industrial users trying to cut electricity costs during peak hours, that's huge. You get energy independence without the capital expenditure. ABB supplies converters for the world's biggest offshore wind farms and generators for hydroelectric plants. 5. GE Vernova (GEV) is the spinoff from General Electric that focuses purely on power generation and grid management. They generate about 25% of the world's electricity through their installed base of 2200 GW worth of equipment.  Their Grid Orchestration Software uses AI to predict demand, optimize energy flow, and integrate all those distributed resources we keep talking about. Their Advanced Asset Performance Management system pulls data from information systems, operational systems, and engineering models to help people make faster decisions. GE Vernova partnered with Amazon Web Services to accelerate cloud migration and bring generative AI into energy infrastructure. 6. IBM Energy and Utilities (IBM) brings Watson and AI expertise to energy. Their Maximo platform manages assets, and Watson handles the heavy data analytics. They're using AI to forecast renewable energy production, optimize maintenance schedules, and manage distributed resources. IBM is also experimenting with quantum computing for modeling complex energy systems. Their blockchain platforms enable peer-to-peer energy trading – imagine selling excess solar power from your roof directly to your neighbor. They build digital twins that simulate how turbines, transformers, and entire grids will behave under different conditions. 7. Accenture (ACN) isn't selling hardware or software directly. They're consultants who help energy companies figure out their entire digital transformation strategy. Sometimes the problem isn't technology – it's knowing which technology to use and how to implement it without disrupting your business. They work with industry leaders on IoT, Big Data, AI, and cloud solutions. Their approach covers operational excellence, asset management, customer experience, and decarbonization. Renewable energy digital services from Accenture include predictive maintenance for wind and solar farms, platforms for managing virtual power plants, and real-time carbon emission monitoring. They also help companies integrate ESG principles into operations and reporting." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- December 2025 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks (3) This next article is titled Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Bloom Energy, OPAL Fuels and FuelCell on finance.yahoo.com. It's by Zacks Equity Research. Now, some quotes from the article. "1. FuelCell Energy (FCEL) Based in Danbury, CT, the company makes ultra-clean, highly efficient power plants that can run on fuels like renewable biogas and natural gas, producing electricity with far less pollution and fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil-fuel plants. In September 2025, the company announced its fiscal third-quarter results. The company reported a loss of 95 cents per share, which improved 45% year over year. The company's top line also improved 97% year over year to $46.74 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FuelCell Energy's fiscal 2026 sales implies an improvement of 21.5% year over year. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings implies 51.3% growth year over year. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 2. OPAL Fuels (OPAL) Based in New York, the company is a vertically integrated renewable fuels platform involved in the production and distribution of renewable natural gas for the heavy-duty truck market. During the third quarter, the company produced renewable natural gas of nearly 1.3 million Metric Million British Thermal units (MMBtu), which was up 30% year over year. The Fuel Station Services segment sold, dispensed, and serviced an aggregate of 38.9 million GGEs of transportation fuel for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2025, reflecting an increase of 1% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's 2025 sales implies an improvement of 21.8% from the previous year's reported figure. The estimate for 2025 earnings implies 128.6% growth from the previous year's reported figure. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. 3. Bloom Energy (BE) Based in San Jose, CA, the company generates and distributes renewable energy. On Oct. 28, 2025, Bloom Energy announced its third-quarter results. It reported earnings of 15 cents per share against a loss of a cent in the year-ago quarter. The company's top line also improved 57.3% year over year to $519 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales implies an improvement of 28.6% from the previous year's reported figure. The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings implies 92.9% growth from the previous year's reported figure. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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These podcasts will help you find stocks, funds, and bonds that reflect YOUR personal values. Each podcast is filled with top analyst investment picks encompassing the best sustainability, ESG, and ethics traits. My name is Ron Robins and I've been following this style of investing since the 1970s. Now it's mainstream because it can be very profitable too! Beginning in 1969, I held investment industry positions in investment analysis, over-the-counter stock trading, and global private equity sales. And for almost two decades I've been a leading writer and tutor in ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible investing (SRI). I've been interviewed or quoted in The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Forbes, The Financial Post, BNN, The Globe & Mail, and numerous other media. In 2002, I founded the globally popular and highly respected ethical investing website, Investing for the Soul. Now, it's my pleasure to help you with these podcasts to be successful in profitably applying your personal values to your investments. And, please subscribe to my RSS feed and my blog.

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